RF Component Pocket Guide€¦ · Block Diagram of US Land-Mobile Repeater using a duplexer and single antenna for simultaneous transmission and receiving. (451.775 and 456.775 are

RF Component Pocket GuideImportant parameters and measurements for active and passive components

Table of Contents

Passive Components Filters Power Splitters Couplers Cables Duplexers Isolators/Circulators

Active Components Amplifiers Scalar Mixers Vector Mixers Oscillators

RF Component Test Solutions

2 4 811151619

2123434751

52

What are Passive and Active Components?

* Power losses are the same between any two ports

regardless of direction of propagation

Filters

Power Splitters/Dividers

Couplers

Cables

(Mixers)

Duplexers

Isolators/Circulators

Amplifiers

Mixers

Oscillators

Reciprocal* Non-Reciprocal

Activ

ePa

ssiv

e

RF Component Pocket Guide http://resources.rohde-schwarz-usa.com/rfguide 1

What are Passive Components?

Filters


Couplers

Cables

(Mixers)

Duplexers


Amplifiers

Mixers

Oscillators

Reciprocal Non-Reciprocal

Activ

ePa

ssiv

e


A passive device contains no source that could add

energy to your signal, with one exception*.

The important properties of a passive network are:

1. Is it reciprocal or non-reciprocal?

2. Is it lossy or lossless?

3. Is it impedance matched or unmatched?

*Exception: For mixers, the local oscillator adds

energy, but because of the way that a mixer works,

no signal gain is possible.

What are Passive Components?


H Insertion Loss H Return Loss H Group Delay H Center Frequency H 3 dB Bandwidth H Quality Factor

Filters: Important Parameters


Filter Measurements

Trace Statistics in the Pass Band

Segmented Sweep optimizes measurement speed & dynamic range.


Filters: SAW and BAW

Tranceiver ICFront End

Acoustic Filters J SAW - Surface Acoustic Wave

J BAW - Bulk Acoustic Wave


Tx

Rx

Filters: SAW and BAW


Power Splitters: Important Parameters

H Insertion Loss H PortReflection H Group Delay H Isolation between the Output Ports H Phase Shift (Deviation) between the

Output Ports


Power Splitters: Important Parameters


Insertion Loss, Group Delay

Phase Shift (Deviation)

PortReflection

Isolation

a1

b2

b3

a1 b2

b3

b1a3

a2

a2

b3

50 Ohm

Power Splitter Measurements


3-Port VNA Measurement

Phase Deviation (2 - Port VNA)

Transmission

Isolation

Phase Shift Deviation

PortReflection

Group Delay

Couplers: Important Parameters


H Transmission Loss H Coupling Loss H PortReflection H Directivity H Input Power Coaxial RF Coupler

Port 4Port 3

TL1

I1

CL1

=

=

==

S31S42I2; =

S11 S221 2=

S21TL2 S12= S31 CL2 S42=

Couplers: Important Parameters


S41

S31 S42

S32D1 D2= =;

Port 1

Port 1

Port 1

Port 1

Port 1

Port 2

Port 2Port 2

Port 2

Port 2

Port Reflection

Port 3Port 3

Port 3

Port 3Port 3

Port 4

Port 4Port 4

Port 4Port 4

Transmission Loss Coupling Loss

Directivity D Isolation

;

;;

Coupler Measurements


4 - Port VNA S-Parameters

Directivity Calculated by “User Def. Math”

Transmission

Coupling

Isolation

Directivity

Cables: Important Parameters

H Attenuation H Return Loss H Group Delay H Crosstalk/Isolation H Impedance (vs. length) distortion measurements (TDR)


t t

Cable Measurements

Group Delay is required to be constant within the whole cable.

Impedance measurements in the Time Domain


Duplexers: Important Parameters

H Insertion Loss H Isolation H PortReflection H Input Power H Group Delay


Ant

Low

High

Duplexers: Important Parameters

Insertion Loss, Group Delay

PortReflection

a2

Isolation

a1 b2

a3

a1

b2

b3a3

a2

b3

50 Ohm


Duplexers: Applications

Block Diagram of US Land-Mobile Repeater using a duplexer and single antenna for simultaneous transmission and receiving. (451.775 and 456.775 are industrial pool frequencies)

Antenna Port

Filter Passes 456 MHz

Filter Passes 451 MHz

RECEIVER

451.775 MHz

TRANSMITTER

456.755 MHz

DUPLEXER

Duplexer antenna port looks electrically like 50 OHMS at pass band frequencies.


Isolators/Circulators: Important Parameters

H Insertion Loss H Isolation H PortReflection

Port 1 Port 2

Port 3


Isolators/Circulators: Important Parameters

Port 1 Port 2

Port 3

Circulator

IsolatorPort 1 Port 2

S0

0

0

00

1

11 0=

S11

S21

S12

S33

S23

S13

S32

S22

S31( )


What are Active Components?


Filters


Couplers

Cables

(Mixers)

Duplexers


Amplifiers

Mixers

Oscillators

Reciprocal Non-Reciprocal

Activ

ePa

ssiv

e

What Are Active Components?

An active device is a device where an external energy source increases the output energy on one or more ports.

MicrowaveChipAmplifier


Amplifiers: Important Parameters

(Measurements 1 of 2) H Harmonics H ACLR H Spectrum Emission Mask H EVM H Noise Figure H Envelope Tracking / Pre-Distortion


VCC

LAN

R&S FSWR&S SMW200A

matching - network 1

matching - network 2

a1

b1

a2

b2

PAPOUT

RF

RF analysis

PIN

Amplifiers: ACLR Measurements

H The Adjacent Channel Leakage Power Ratio (ACLR) is definedastheratiobetweenthetotalpoweroftheadjacent channel to the carrier channel’s power.

H An ACLR measurement with several carrier channels is possible and is referred to as a “multicarrier ACLR measurement”.

H Ameasurementstandardisprovidedtodefinemultiplediscontinuoustransmitchannelsatspecifiedfrequencies, independent from the selected center frequency.


H To determine the modulation quality of a signal, the magnitude of the error vector is referenced to the nominal value of the ideal vector.

H This ratio is known as the vector error or the errorvectormagnitude(EVM)andisspecifiedas

a percentage or in decibels as shown above.

Amplifiers: EVM Measurements


Amplifiers:

What is Noise Figure (NF) and Gain (G)?

Note there are two methods tomeasuringnoisefigure.Reference page 26 - page 28 for both methods.


Amplifiers:

What is Noise Figure (NF) and Gain (G)?

Method 1 -

using a VNA


H An additional noise source is required to perform noisefiguremeasurementsonamplifiersandmixers.

H Measurement results are given either graphically or numerically.

Amplifiers: Noise Figure Measurements


Noise Source

AmplifierUnderTest

Method 2 - using a

Spectrum Analyzer

H A noise source generates a calibrat-ed output noise level, represented by Excess Noise Ratio (ENR).

H ENR calibration information is supplied with the noise source and is valid at

T0 = 290K.

H The noise source switches between two different noise levels.

Amplifiers: What is a Noise Source?


H PAsaremostefficientneartheirmaximumoutputpower.

H ETimprovesPAefficiencybymodulatingtheDCsupplyaccording to the envelope of the I/Q signal.

H AsaresultthePAisworkingintheefficientregionsmostofthe time.

H Requires a high bandwidth DC modulator to vary the supply voltage.

H Inaccurate tracking of the signal amplitude causes distortion of the RF signal.

Amplifiers: Envelope Tracking (ET)


Amplifiers:

Traditional Approach vs. Envelope Tracking

Traditional Approach

Envelope Tracking


DC/DC Converter

Baseband/

RF Up Converter

Power

Amp

DC/DC Converter

DC/DC Modulator

Baseband/

RF Up Converter

Power

Amp

H Simultaneous operation of RF and analog baseband ports for PAE measurements.

H High speed measurements, including channel concept for fast switching between measurements.

H High dynamic range, e.g. for RX band noise measurement.

Amplifiers:

Envelope Tracking Measurements


Envelope

Optional: Measure Voltage/Current

RF analysis

DC Modulator

PARF

VOUT

Generate RF and Envelope Signal

Vcc

PIN POUT

LAN

Control PC

H Gain H PortReflection H Harmonics H Stability H PowerAddedEfficiency H AM / PM Conversion H 1 dB Compression Point H Maximum Available Gain H Intermodulation H Noise Figure H PulseProfile H Non-linear S-Parameters

Amplifiers: Important Parameters

(Measurements 2 of 2)


Amplifiers: S-Parameter

Measurement Results

Gain 1dB Compression

Harmonics Reflection


Amplifiers: 1 dB Compression Point


H Measurement of S22 ofanamplifierintheactivestate

H High power driving signal from Port 1

H S22 measurement signal from Port 2 with low power

H Real condition: f = f1 = f2, but no reasonable measurement possible, as f2 covers f1

H Solution: H Frequency offset between swept signals f1 and f2 H High frequency selectivity allows to suppress f2 and measure f1

Amplifiers: Hot S22

f1

f2f2


Definition

AM-to-PM Conversion means the unwanted phase devi-ation (PM) at the output of the DUT caused by amplitude variations (AM) of the component.

These amplitude variations are caused by H temperature drift H power supply ripple H multi path fading

These variations cause bit errors in communication systems using PSK.

Amplifiers: AM / PM Conversion

180º Offset

0.35º/dBAmplifier

(non-linear device)

0.02º/dBThrough - Adapter

(linear device)

Measurement Results


H The stability factor K provides a criteria for linear stability of anamplifiers.

H AnamplifierisunconditionallystableifKisgreaterthanone.

H The Maximum Available Gain (MAG) of a device is only definedwhereKisgreaterthanone.

Amplifiers: Stability and MAG


∆

√

Calculation of MAG

Measurement of K-factor

Amplifiers: Power Added Efficiency (PAE)Definition


Amplifiers: Intermodulation


Amplifiers: Intermodulation


Interception Point IP

Measurement Results

IM3LO IM3UO

H Avoid destruction of DUT due to thermal effectsoravoidinfluenceofthermaleffectson measurement results.

H Poweramplifiersnotdesignedfor continuous operation

H Lack of heat sinking (e.g. on wafer components)

H Measurements under real conditions with wireless communications.

H Example:GSMpoweramplifiersunder burst conditions

H Bursted nature of TDMA systems

H Requirements for Radar and Antenna Measurements.

H Active antenna arrays operate in pulsed mode

H Scattered pulse incorporates information

Amplifiers: Why Pulsed Measurements?


H Magnitude Conversion Loss H Isolation H Reflection H 1 dB Compression Point H Intermodulation H Noise Figure

Scalar Mixers: Important Parameters


2-PORT VNA

4-PORT VNA with 2 internal sources


Conversion Loss

Isolation

Reflection


PRF(fRF) PIF(fIF)

PLO(fLO)

PRF(fRF) PIF(fIF)

PLO(fLO)

PRF(fLO) PIF(fLO)

aRF

bRF

aIF

bIF

aLObLO


Intermodulation

1 dB Compression Point

Pin Pout


PRF(fRF) PIF(fIF) PRF(fRF) PIF(fIF)

PLO(fLO) PLO(fLO)

PRF1(fRF1)

PRF2(fRF2)

The one dB compression point of a mixer istypically6dBlessthanthespecifiedLOpower.

Mixernoisefigureisroughlyequaltothemagnitude of its conversion loss, or just a little bit less. For example, a mixer with -6 dB conversion gain might have 5.5 dB noise figure.

The return loss of a mixer’s three ports shouldbemeasuredatthespecifiedLOdrivelevel otherwise the diodes won’t be turned on.

Scalar Mixers: Some Mixer Rules of Thumb


H Absolute and Relative Phase H Absolute and Relative Group Delay H Group Delay Ripple H Deviation from Linear Phase H Magnitude Ripple

Vector Mixers: Important Parameters

PRF(fRF) PIF(fIF)

PLO(fLO)


H RF and IF frequencies are different. H All VNA receivers (reference & measurement) work on

identical frequencies. H LO phase has a direct impact on IF phase. H Full system error correction requires a frequency

converting Through standard.*Note the traditional approach uses a golden mixer

Vector Mixers: Challenges


H Stimulationwithtwocarriersf1andf2(=f1+Δf) H Measurement of phase difference of the input

signals H ( 1in - 2in)

H Phase shift of 1out and 2out due to the phase response of the DUT

H Measurement of phase difference of the output signals

H ( 1out - 2out) H Δ=(1out-2out)-(1in-2in)

Vector Mixers: Group Delay Measurements

on Mixers with Embedded LO

Definitionofphaseandapertureshift

*Note the ZVA network analyzer uses a 2-tone technique that does not require a golden mixer.


H VCO Tuning Characteristic H VCO Tuning Sensitivity H RF Power H Phase Noise H Pushing On / OFF H Harmonics H DC Characteristic

Oscillators: Important Parameters


Oscillators: Importance of Phase Noise


INCREASING PHASE NOISE

RF Component Test Solutions


Millimeter-Wave Solutions Signal & Spectrum Analyzers

Network Analyzers

Signal Generators Power Sensors

Multiport Solutions

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https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/us/products/test-measurement/network-analyzers/multiport-solutions_229192.html?utm_source=RFCPG

https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/us/products/test-measurement/extensions_229189.html?utm_source=RFCPG

https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/us/products/test-measurement/signal-spectrum-analyzers/signal-analyzer-rohde-schwarz/pg_overview_63665.html?utm_source=RFCPG

https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/us/products/test-measurement/network-analyzers/pg_overview_64043.html?utm_source=RFCPG

https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/us/products/test-measurement/signal-generators/pg_overview_63667.html?utm_source=RFCPG

https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/us/products/test-measurement/power-meters-voltmeters/products/pg_power-sensors_87319.html?utm_source=RFCPG

https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/us/products/test-measurement/network-analyzers/multiport-solutions_229192.html?utm_source=RFCPG

Rohde & Schwarz USA, Inc.

6821 Benjamin Franklin Drive

Columbia, MD 21046

www.rohde-schwarz.com

http://www.rohde-schwarz.com/?utm_source=RFCPG

Documents

RF Component Pocket Guide€¦ · Block Diagram of US Land-Mobile Repeater using a duplexer and single antenna for simultaneous transmission and receiving. (451.775 and 456.775 are