Microwave Measurements

Vinay B. Narayane
Ph.D. Student
Electrical Engineering Department, IIT Bombay
vinaynarayane21@gmail.com

Supervisor: Prof. Girish Kumar

Electrical Engineering Department, IIT Bombay
gkumar@ee.iitb.ac.in, prof.gkumar@gmail.com
(022) 2576 7436
 Introduction
Microwave Circuits Power and Phase measurements in frequency domain
The basic quantities measured in RF and Microwave circuits are
Frequency, Power, Impedance, Port parameters and Noise

Spectrum Analyzer Network Analyzer

1. Signal Frequency Measurement 1. S-parameter Measurement

2. Signal Power Measurement 2. Impedance Measurement
3. Phase Noise Measurement 3. Gain Compression Point Measurement
4. Harmonic Distortion Measurement
5. Intermodulation Distortion
Measurement (IMD)

Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 2

Frequency, Power and Phase Noise Measurements
Spectrum of a Sinusoidal Signal
Ideal Practical

Phase Noise

Setup
Spectrum Analyzer
DUT (VCO/PLL) has to be noisier
than Spectrum Analyzer’s
IN
DUT reference source.

Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 3

 Harmonic Distortion Measurement
Sinusoidal signal at the input Output contains signals with integer
of a non-linear system multiple of the input signal frequency

Set-up
Spectrum Analyzer

RF Source IN

Non-linear DUT
Precaution
DUT output power < the maximum rated input power of SA
Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 4
 IP3 Measurement
Set-up
Spectrum Analyzer

IN

Power
Combiner

DUT

Image Source: http://www.markimicrowave.com/assets/appnotes/mixer_basics_primer.pdf

Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 5
 Noise Figure Measurement
Set-up
Spectrum Analyzer

IN

50 Ω DUT, Gain = G

Noise Figure (NF) [dB] = Output Noise Density [dBm/Hz] + 174 [dBm/Hz] – G [dB]

Reference: https://www.maximintegrated.com/en/app-notes/index.mvp/id/2875

Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 6

 S-Parameters Measurements
Set-up Calibration
Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) A process to remove measurement errors
arising due to imperfections within the
VNA system (systematic errors).
P1 P2
In calibration, the systematic errors are
quantified by measuring characteristics
of known devices (standards).

DUT
Precaution
For devices with gain, power input to one of the VNA ports must be
less than the maximum rated input power for the VNA
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 Gain Compression Point Measurement
Set-up VNA

P1 P2

DUT
VNA Settings
Power: Sweep
Image Source: http://www.electronicdesign.com/what-s-difference- Frequency: Fixed at device center frequency
between/what-s-difference-between-third-order-intercept-and-1-db-
compression-point Sweep Rate: Around 5 sec
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 Reference

RF and Microwave Circuits, Measurements and Modelling - RF and Microwave Handbook,

2nd edition, CRC Press, 2008

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