An automatic decision to capture power amplifier nonlinear features in electromagnetic susceptibility tests

An automatic method is proposed in this paper which can be used to determine whether a power amplifier exhibit its nonlinear characteristics in electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) susceptibility tests. A general instrument, power amplifier often falls into its saturation region or noise region in EMC tests. This makes the nonlinear characteristic curve of a power amplifier can´t be accurately measured. A specific flowchart of the proposed strategy is presented to capture characteristics of an amplifier via controlling the input power. Practical implementations show that this strategy can improve the test efficiency, and also protect the power amplifier.