THMA5: Understanding the Error Vector Magnitude "Bathtub Curve" for RF System Design

Presentation Abstract
Error vector magnitude (EVM) is a key figure of merit for wireless systems. The cascaded noise and linearity of an RF signal chain can directly impact the system-level EVM performance. As a result, analyzing the EVM of an RF signal chain can provide valuable insights for optimizing system-level tradeoffs to achieve the desired performance outcomes. This presentation explores RF system-level design considerations, the relationship between system performance and EVM, the interpretation of the EVM "bathtub" curve for system optimization, and accessible tools that can be used for this analysis.