Calibration of microwave network analyzer

This paper presents a systematic description of the methods for calibrating microwave network analyzer and test fixtures, and discusses the problems arising in the calibration. The general criteria for choosing calibration standards and corresponding algorithms are discussed and suggestions to overcome these problems and improve the calibration accuracy are also given. It has been found that for reciprocal test fixtures, the four equations obtained with the thru standard can be used at the same time. Meanwhile, the calibration accuracy can be improved. It has been shown that using the same calibration procedures but different algorithms may lead to the occurrence of frequency limitation.

An Inexpensive Digital Network Analyzer

Frequency response analysis is critical in understanding the steady and transient state behavior of any electrical network. Network analyzeror frequency response analyzer is used to determine the frequency response of an electrical network. This paper deals with the design of an inexpensive digitally controlled Network Analyzer. The frequency range of the network analyzer is from 10Hz to 50kHz (suitable range for system studies on most power electronics apparatus). It is composed of a microcontroller (as central processing unit) and a personal computer (as analyzer and display). The communication between the microcontroller and personal computer is established through one of the USB ports. The testing and evaluation of the analyzer is done with RC, RLC and multi-resonant circuits. The design steps, basis of analysis, experimental results, limitation in bandwidth and possible techniques for improvement in performances are presented.

Frequency limitation in the calibration of microwave test fixtures

The problem of frequency limitation arising from the calibration of asymmetric and symmetric test fixtures has been investigated. For asymmetric test fixtures, a new algorithm based on the thru-short-match (TSM) method is outlined. It is found that the conventional TSM method does not have any inherent frequency limitation, but using the same procedure with an unknown match may lead to the said problem. This limitation can be avoided by using a different algorithm. The various calibration methods for symmetric test fixtures using known standards are also discussed and the origin of the frequency limitation is identified. Several ways in avoiding the problem are proposed. There is good agreement between the theories and experimental data.

Two-port calibration of test fixtures with different test ports

The open-short-load (OSL) method is very simple and widely used for one-port test fixture calibration. In this paper, this method is extended, for the first time, to the two-port calibration of test fixtures with different test ports. The problem of phase uncertainty arising in this application has been solved. The comparison between our results and those obtained with the SOLT method shows that the method established is accurate for practical applications. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Correlation of calibration equations for test fixtures

This paper begins from the thru-short-open (TSO) and thru-line-match (TLM) methods to investigate the correlation of the calibration equations of these two methods, The relations among the measurements with the corresponding standards are obtained. It is found that the line standard with zero length can be used instead of ideal open and short, in case that two test fixtures are symmetrical. For asymmetrical fixtures, the measurements with the standards line, open and short are related at certain frequencies, and the matched load can be replaced by the line standards. The relations established are used to test short and match standards and analyze the freqPuency limits of the TSO method, Good agreement between theory and experiment is obtained, It is found that the TSO method becomes very poor when the insertion phase of the thru standard is near n pi/4, and this method has a lower frequency limit. The TLM method is found unsuitable for calibrating asymmetrical fixtures.

Two-port calibration of test fixtures with OSL method.

The open-short-load (OSL) method is very simple and widely used, for one-port test fixture calibration. In this paper, this method. is extended to the two-port calibration of test fixtures for the first time. The problem of phase uncertainty arising in this application has been solved. The comparison between our results and those obtained with the short-open-load-thru (SOLT) method shows that the method established is accurate enough for practical applications.

Choice of calibration equations of the TSM method

For the reciprocal-test fixtures, there are six independent S-parameters to. be determined, and the thru-short-match (TSM) calibration can provide eight calibration equations. In this paper, the relation of calibration equations is investigated. It has been shown that the four equations obtained from the measurement with a transmission standard can be used simultaneously in the calibration. Experimental results show that the different choice of equations will lead to quite different solution, and the calibration accuracy can be improved by taking advantages of the established relation among the calibration equations and properly choosing calibration equations.

Studying fluid systems with the McIlroy fluid network analyzer.

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A 16-term error model based on linear equations of voltage and current variables

Formulation of a 16-term error model, based on the four-port ABCD-matrix and voltage and current variables, is outlined. Matrices A, B, C, and D are each 2 x 2 submatrices of the complete 4 x 4 error matrix. The corresponding equations are linear in terms of the error parameters, which simplifies the calibration process. The parallelism with the network analyzer calibration procedures and the requirement of five two-port calibration measurements are stressed. Principles for robust choice of equations are presented. While the formulation is suitable for any network analyzer measurement, it is expected to be a useful alternative for the nonlinear y-parameter approach used in intrinsic semiconductor electrical and noise parameter measurements and parasitics' deembedding.

New algorithms of the TSM and TOM methods for calibrating microwave test fixtures

Based on the conventional through-short-match (TSM) method, an improved TSM method has been proposed in this Letter. This method gives an analytical solution and has almost all the advantages of conventional TSM methods. For example, it has no phase uncertainty and no bandwidth limitation. The experimental results show that the accuracy can be significantly improved with this method. The proposed theory can be applied to the through-open-match (TOM) method. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals. Inc.

Phase uncertainty in calibrating microwave test fixtures

The problem of phase uncertainty arising in calibration of the test fixtures is investigated in this paper, It is shown that the problem exists no matter what kinds of calibration standards are used. It is also found that there is no need to determine the individual S-parameters of the test fixtures. In order to eliminate the problem of phase uncertainty, three different precise (known) reflection standards or one known reflection standard plus one known transmission standard should be used to calibrate symmetrical test fixtures. For the asymmetrical cases, three known standards, including at least one transmission standard, should be used. The thru-open-match (TOM) and thru-short-match (TSM) techniques are the simplest methods, and they have no bandwidth limitation. When the standards are imprecise (unknown), it is recommended to use any suitable technique, such as the thru-reflect-line, line-reflect-line, thru-short-delay, thru-open-delay,line-reflect-match, line-reflect-reflect-match, or multiline methods, to accurately determine the values of the required calibration terms and, in addition, to use the TOM or TSM method with the same imprecise standards to resolve the phase uncertainty.

Frequency limitation in calibrating microwave test fixtures

The problem of frequency limitation arising in calibration of the test fixtures is investigated in this paper. It is found that at some frequencies periodically, the accuracy of the methods becomes very low, and. the denominators of the expressions of the required S-parameters approach zero. This conclusion can be drawn whether-the test fixtures, are symmetric or not. A good agreement between theory and experiment is obtained.

Measurement of a reciprocal four-port transmission line structure using the 16-term error model

A new method to measure reciprocal four-port structures, using a 16-term error model, is presented. The measurement is based on 5 two-port calibration standards connected to two of the ports, while the network analyzer is connected to the two remaining ports. Least-squares-fit data reduction techniques are used to lower error sensitivity. The effect of connectors is deembedded using closed-form equations. (C) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Scattering-parameter measurements of laser diodes

An accurate and simple technique for measuring the input reflection coefficient and the frequency response of semiconductor laser diode chips is proposed and demonstrated. All the packaging parasitics could be obtained accurately using a calibrated probe, and the impedance of the intrinsic diode chip is deduced from the directly measured reflection coefficient. The directly measured impedance of a laser diode is affected strongly by the short bond wire. In the frequency response (S(2)1) measurements of semiconductor laser diode chips, the test fixture consists of a microwave probe, a submount, and a bond wire. The S-parameters of the probe could be determined using the short-open-match (SOM) method. Both the attenuation and the reflection of the test fixture have a strong influence on the directly measured frequency response, and in our proposed technique, the effect of test fixture is completely removed.

Measurement of 3db Bandwidth of Laser Diode Chips

An accurate technique for measuring the frequency response of semiconductor laser diode chips is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The effects of test jig parasites can be completely removed in the measurement by a new calibration method. In theory, the measuring range of the measurement system is only determined by the measuring range of the instruments network analyzer and photo detector. Diodes' bandwidth of 7.5GHz and 10GHz is measured. The results reveal that the method is feasible and comparing with other method, it is more precise andeasier to use.