Module 6

Microwave Measurements

By
Dr. Mamta Kurvey
Department of Electronics and Telecommunication
Microwave Measurements

Microwave Engineering Sem-VII

Introduction

• At low frequencies
• parameters such as voltage, current, etc. can be
measured.
• from these impedance, power factor and phase
angle can be calculated.
• At microwave frequencies
• It is more convenient to measure power instead of
V and I.
• Properties of devices and circuits at microwave
frequencies are characterized by S-parameters,
power, frequency and VSWR and noise figure.

Microwave Engineering Sem-VII

Microwave Test Bench-Measurement set up

Microwave Engineering Sem-VII

 Microwave Test Bench-Measurement set up
• The signal generator is a MW source whose output is of the order of milliwatts
• It could be a Reflex klystron tube or Gunn diode oscillator
• It can provide either a continuous wave or square wave modulated at an audio rate which is
normally 1 KHz
• The precision attenuator can provide 0 to 50 dB attenuation
• A frequency meter is used for direct reading of frequency that consists of single cylindrical
cavity which can be adjusted to resonance and is slot coupled to the wave guide
• The crystal detector, inserted in the E probe of the slotted line is connected in the
detector mount at the end of the wave guide
• The SWR(Standing Wave Ratio) indicator is basically a sensitive tuned voltmeter that
provides direct reading of the SWR value
• A slotted line carriage is a microwave instrument which is used to measure:
Wavelength, Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) and standing wave pattern, Impedance,
reflection coefficient and return loss measurement
Slotted Line Section :

• It has a coaxial E-field probe which penetrates inside a rectangular waveguides slotted in
sections from the outer wall. The probe is able to transverse a longitudinal narrow slot
and locate the standing waves maxima(Vmax) and minima(Vmin) along the line giving VSWR.

Microwave Engineering Sem-VII

 Slotted Line and measurement of VSWR
• A coupling probe moving along the waveguide can be used to detect the standing wave
pattern present inside the waveguide
• It is used for measuring the standing wave ratio
• It consist of a slotted section of a transmission line (waveguide), a travelling wave carriage
and facility for attaching detecting instruments
• The slot is made in the centre of the broad face of the waveguide parallel to the axis of
the waveguide
• A small probe inserted through the slot senses the relative field strength of the standing
wave pattern inside the waveguide
• As the position of the probe is moved along the waveguide slot, it gives an output
proportional to the standing wave pattern inside the waveguide
• The ratio of Vmax to Vmin when the travelling probe is moved along the slot gives VSWR

Microwave Engineering Sem-VII

Measurement of VSWR > 10(Double Minimum Method)

Microwave Engineering Sem-VII

 Frequency measurement
• Microwave frequency is measured using a commercially available frequency counter and
cavity wavemeter.
• The frequency also can be computed from measured guide wavelength in a voltage
standing wave pattern along a short circuited line by using a slotted line
Wavemeter Method
• A typical wavemeter is a cylindrical cavity with a variable short circuit termination
which changes the resonance frequency of the cavity by changing the cavity length.
• TE011 mode is most suitable for wave meter because of its higher Q and absence of axial
current. Since this is higher order mode, possibility of generation of lower order modes
exits. Hence for practical purposes dominant TM010 mode is used in wavemeter
applications.

Microwave Engineering Sem-VII

 Frequency measurement
• Wavemeter axis is placed perpendicular to the
broad wall of the waveguide and coupled by
means of a hole in the narrow wall.
• This excites TM010 mode in the cavity due to
the magnetic field coupling.
• A block of absorbing material (polytron) placed
at the back of the tuning plunger prevents
oscillation on top of it.
• Thus the cavity resonates at different
frequencies for different plunger positions.

• The tuning can be calibrated in terms of frequency by known frequency input signals and
observing the dip in the display unit (power meter) connected at the output side of
waveguide.
• The accuracy of such a wavemeter is in the range of 1 % to 0.005 % for available Q of 1,000–
50,000, respectively. Since the power is absorbed in the wavemeter at resonance this is
called absorption type wavemeter

Microwave Engineering Sem-VII

Frequency measurement-Slotted-Line Method
• Since the distance dmin between two successive minima of voltage
standing wave pattern in a short circuited line is half wavelength λg/2.
frequency can be determined from the relations

and measuring the dmin by the slotted-line probe carriage

λg = 2 dmin

Frequency (f)=c/ λg = 3*108/ λg

Microwave Engineering Sem-VII

Power measurement
 Power is defined as the quantity of energy dissipated or stored per unit time.
 Microwave power is divided into three categories:
 low power (less than 10mW),
 medium power (from 10mW to 10W) and
 high power (greater than 10W).
 Average power concept is used in microwaves
 PAvg = PPeak X Duty cycle
 The general measurement technique for average power is to attach a
properly calibrated sensor to the transmission line port at which the
unknown power is to be measured.
 The output from the sensor is connected to an appropriate power meter.
 The RF power to the sensor is then turned off and the power meter
zeroed. This operation is often referred to as “zero setting” or “zeroing.”
 Power is then turned on. The sensor, reacting to the new input level, sends
a signal to the power meter and the new meter reading is observed.

Microwave Engineering Sem-VII

Power measurement
 Sensors for the measurement of microwave power can be divided into two
categories:
 Devices whose resistance changes with applied power such as Schottky
diode detectors, bolometer, thermocouple, etc. (used for low power
measurements).
 Devices whose temperature changes with the applied power like
calorimeter (used for medium to high power measurement).

Microwave Engineering Sem-VII

 Power measurement
• Bolometer Bridge Method
 Bolometers are power sensors that operate by changing resistance due to a
change in temperature.
 The change in temperature results from converting RF or microwave energy into
heat within the bolometric element.
 There are two principle types of bolometers, barretters(positive temperature
coefficient.) and thermistors(negative temperature coefficient).
 Bolometers are usually operated in standard Wheatstone bridge circuit.

 A bolometer mounting is placed on one of the arms of the bridge.

 The microwave power incident
on the bolometer changes its resistance
which imbalances the bridge.
 The change in the galvanometer current
measures the incident power.
 Proportionate calibration of galvanometer
can be done to read the power.

Microwave Engineering Sem-VII

 Power measurement

• Initially the bridge is at its balanced

condition under zero incident power.
• The microwave power applied to
bolometer arm will change its resistance
causing an unbalance
• The non-zero power is recorded in voltmeter
which is calibrated to read the level of input
microwave power.
• Suppose under balanced condition, the dc
bias voltage of bolometer is E1 and E2 is the
dc bias voltage of bolometer after
microwave input is applied.
• The change in dc bias voltage (E1 – E2) is
directly proportional to the microwave
power.

Microwave Engineering Sem-VII

Key Points
• Bolometer is used for measurement of low power whereas
calorimeter is used for measurement of high power
• Double minima method using slotted line is used for measurement
of VSWR >10 whereas Vmax/Vmin on slotted line is used for VSWR<10
• Attenuation can be measured on microwave bench setup by
changing the position of knob on variable attenuator device and
noting down the change in output voltage amplitude on DSO
• Frequency can be measured by using frequency meter which can
be connected on MW bench or can be measured by using slotted
line section by measuring the distance between two minima,
λg = 2 dmin

Frequency (f)=c/ λg = 3*108/ λg

VSWR, frequency, wavelength and attenuation can be measured on

microwave bench setup

Microwave Engineering Sem-VII

 Impedance Measurement using Slotted Line
Impedance at MW frequencies can be measured using any of the following 3
methods : 1. Using magic Tee, 2. Using slotted line, 3. Using Reflectometer

Measurement of impedance using Slotted Line :

Incident and reflected waves will be present proportional to the mismatch of the
load under test, resulting in standing waves. Using slotted waveguide and with the
load ZL in the circuit given. The position of Vmax and Vmin can be accurately
determined.

Crystal Power
Detector Meter

Microwave Pad(Variable Unknown

Slotted Line
Source attenuator) Load

Microwave Engineering Sem-VII

Impedance Measurement using Slotted Line
Crystal Power
Detector Meter

Microwave Shorted
Pad Slotted Line
Source Termination

Now the load ZL is replaced by

short circuit as shown in Fig. and
the shift in minimum is measured if
the minimum is shifted to the left
then the impedance is inductive
and if it shifts to the right it is
capacitive. Unknown impedance
can be obtained by using a Smith
chart.

Microwave Engineering Sem-VII

Measurement of Q factor (Transmission Method)
• Figure shows the set up for measurement of Q of cavity resonator
• In this, cavity resonator is used as a transmission device and the output signal is
measured as a function of frequency, it results in the resonance curve.
• 1. Frequency of the MW source is varied keeping the signal level constant and the
output power is measured.
• 2. Alternately, by keeping both signal level and frequency constant, cavity can be
tuned and output power can be measured.
• 3. From the resonance curve, Half power bandwidth = 2∆ = ±
QL
where QL is loaded Q
QL = = ± = ±
2∆ ( )
• If the coupling between detector and cavity is ignored, QL = Q0(unloaded Q)

Microwave Cavity Power

Pad Detector
Source Resonator Meter

Microwave Engineering Sem-VII

Measurement of Attenuation
• Attenuation(dB) = 10 log (Pin/Pout)

Microwave Engineering Sem-VII

Microwave Engineering Sem-VII