On the applicability of the self-linearization technique for linearizing real PN junction based circuits

New theoretical and experimental results pertaining to the self-linearization phenomenon are presented. The possibility of linearizing the U-I characteristics of a real PN junction by means of only one linear resistance is investigated. The effect of the junction diffusion capacitance is also investigated. A highly accurate approximation for the frequency-dependent coefficients of the first, second, and third harmonics is developed. Dual series and parallel linearizing circuits are theoretically analyzed and experimentally tested. The results show that the thirdorder and all even-order nonlinearities are suppressed. Measurements of DC U-I characteristics and high-frequency spectra of linearized (to the fifth order) PN junction based circuits of both series and parallel configurations are presented. The linearity is enhanced by a factor exceeding 40 dB. The presented principle and circuits can be applied to both discrete and integrated circuits. At present, this linearization phenomenon seems to be a rather promising method.