Methods and apparatuses for reflection measurements

A system, comprising:

• a bidirectional coupler having an input port, an output port, a forward coupled port, and a reverse coupled port, where the input port is configured to receive input signal from a signal source coupled to the input port, and the output port is configured to provide output signal to a load coupled to the output port;
• at least one analog to digital converter circuit having at least one input coupled to the forward coupled port and the reverse coupled port, and at least one output;
• a processing system, comprising processing circuitry coupled to memory circuitry, having at least one input coupled to the at least one output of the at least one analog to digital converter circuit, and an output configured to generate an output signal related to a level of at least one of a coupled reverse signal and an output reflected signal;
• and
• wherein the processing system is configured to:
• measure an amplitude and a phase of a coupled forward signal at a forward coupled port of a bidirectional coupler;
• measure an amplitude and a phase of a coupled reverse signal at a reverse coupled port of the bidirectional coupler;
• and
• determine an amplitude and a phase of an output reflected signal at the output port as a function of the following:
• the amplitude and the phase of the coupled forward signal coupled into the forward coupled port;
• the amplitude and the phase of the coupled reverse signal coupled into the reverse coupled port;
• an electrical transmission parameter from an input port of the bidirectional coupler to the forward coupled port;
• an electrical transmission parameter from the input port to the reverse coupled port;
• and
• an electrical transmission parameter from the output port of the bidirectional coupler to the reverse coupled port.

A program product comprising a non-transitory processor readable medium on which program instructions are embodied, wherein the program instructions are configured, when executed by at least one programmable processor, to cause the at least one programmable processor to:

• measure an amplitude and a phase of a coupled forward signal at a forward coupled port of a bidirectional coupler;
• measure an amplitude and a phase of a coupled reverse signal at a reverse coupled port of the bidirectional coupler;
• and
• determine an amplitude and a phase of an output reflected signal at an output port of the bidirectional coupler as a function of the following:
• the amplitude and the phase of the coupled forward signal coupled into the forward coupled port;
• the amplitude and the phase of the coupled reverse signal coupled into the reverse coupled port;
• an electrical transmission parameter from an input port of the bidirectional coupler to the forward coupled port;
• an electrical transmission parameter from the input port to the reverse coupled port;
• and
• an electrical transmission parameter from the output port of the bidirectional coupler to the reverse coupled port.