Intermodulation distortion: Nonlinear distortion characterized by the appearance, in the output of a device, of frequencies that are linear combinations of the fundamental frequencies and all harmonics present in the input signals.
Note:Harmonic components themselves are not usually considered to characterize intermodulation distortion. When the harmonics are included as part of the distortion, a statement to that effect should be made.
Intermodulationdistortion in passive microwave components is caused by internal nonlinearities.
Intermodulationdistortion is most pronounced in systems where the high power transmission and low power receiver signals are carried simultaneously in the same transmission line, such as in the cable between the duplexer and the antenna in GSM base stations and in certain space applications.
Intermodulationdistortion in connectors is usually caused by thin-surface oxide layers at the connector junctions or by insufficient contact pressure when the current-carrying contact zones become separated.
The total harmonicdistortion, or THD, of a signal is a measurement of the harmonicdistortion present, that is, any departure of the output signal waveform from that which should result from the input signal waveforms being operated on by the system's specified or ideal transfer function.
This is a measurement of the extent of that distortion.
The THD is usually expressed in percent as distortion factor or in dB as distortion attenuation.
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