What are intermodulation products?

The intermodulation products are spurious frequency components generated when two or more signals pass through a non-linear device. The intermodulation products can be of different orders, such as second-order or third-order, depending on the non-linearity, number, and frequency of signals present in the system.

What is IM3 product?

Overview. The third order intercept (TOI) and intermodulation distortion (IM3) are two closely related specifications that are used to enumerate the linearity of an RF system. Both specifications are insightful in regards to the level of third order distortion products relative to the power of the instrument.

What is 3rd order intermodulation?

3rd order intermodulation products (D3 and D4) are the result of nonlinear behavior of an amplifier. The input power level into the amplifier is increased by 1 dB in each successive frame.

Where does intermodulation occur?

How Does Intermodulation Happen? Intermodulation can occur between closely spaced transmitters, whereby the signal radiated from one transmitter generates IM products in the output stage of other nearby transmitters.

What is the effect of intermodulation products in a linear amplifier?

What is the effect of intermodulation products in a linear power amplifier? Intermodulation products are third order products (or harmonics) that are caused by nonlinearities in amplification/mixing. As these signals are simply byproducts of amplification and are unintended, these signals are by definition spurious.

What is 2nd order intermodulation?

The Second Order Intercept Point, also known as the SOI, IP2, or IIP2 (Input Intercept Point), is a measure of linearity that quantifies the second-order distortion generated by nonlinear systems and devices. Examples of frequently used devices that are concerned with this measure are amplifiers and mixers.

What is IP3 amplifier?

Third order intercept or IP3 is a hypothetical point at which the fundamental signal power and the third order signal power is the same. In practice, we can never reach this point as the amplifier saturates even before this condition occurs. However, IP3 plays an important role in characterizing the device.

What is radio intermodulation?

Intermodulation (IM) or intermodulation distortion (IMD) is the amplitude modulation of signals containing two or more different frequencies, caused by nonlinearities or time variance in a system.

What causes intermodulation in an electronic circuit?

Mixing of signals to produce intermodulation products will occur in any non-linear electrical circuit. The devices in RF output stages are often run in non-linear modes for better efficiency.

How do you calculate intermodulation product?

6.2. The order of the intermodulation product depends on how many input signals are mixed and which harmonics of each of those input signals have mixed. Second-order and third-order intermodulation products are defined as follows. 2 f 1 + f 2 = f 6 f 1 + 2 f 2 = f 7 2 f 1 − f 2 = f 8 2 f 2 − f 1 = f 9 .

What is meant by intermodulation distortion?

Term: Intermodulation distortion (audio) Definition: IMD results when two or more signals of different frequencies are mixed together and additional signals are formed at frequencies that are not, in general, at harmonic frequencies (integer multiples) of either source signal.

What is IP3 and IP2?

Second Order Intercept point(IP2) vs Third Order Intercept Point(IP3) This page on IP2 vs IP3 describes difference between second order intercept point(IP2) and third order intercept point(IP3). These intercept points are observed in saturated amplifier gain response.