System and method for measurement of s-parameters and dispersion and providing a blended solution of both

A method, comprising:

• generating with a test signal generator a test signal having a carrier and at least two sidebands having corresponding sideband frequencies;
• providing the test signal to a device under test;
• sensing an incident signal, a reflected signal, and a transmitted signal for the device under test at corresponding test ports of a test system when the test signal is supplied to the device under test;
• detecting S-parameters for the device under test from the carrier present in each of the incident signal, reflected signal, and transmitted signal for the device under test;
• measuring a dispersion for the device under test at each of the test ports of the test system from the two sidebands present in the incident signal, reflected signal, and transmitted signal for the device under test;
• and
• combining the detected S-parameters and the measured dispersions to output enhanced measurements of the S-parameters and the dispersions.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a first optical source configured to output a first optical signal having a first frequency, wherein the first optical source is further configured for modulating the first optical signal to produce a modulated first optical signal;
• a second optical source configured to output a second optical signal having a second frequency different from the first frequency;
• an optical combiner configured to combine the modulated first optical signal and the second optical signal;
• and
• a square law detection device configured to receive the combined modulated first optical signal and second optical signal and in response thereto to produce an electrical signal which includes a carrier as a beat frequency between the first frequency and the second frequency, and which further includes at least two sidebands having corresponding sideband frequencies generated in response to modulating the first optical signal.

A method of generating a test signal, the method comprising:

• outputting a first optical signal having a first frequency;
• modulating the first optical signal to produce a modulated first optical signal;
• outputting a second optical signal having a second frequency different from the first frequency;
• combining the modulated first optical signal and the second optical signal;
• and
• detecting the combined modulated first optical signal and second optical signal with a square law detector to produce the test signal which includes a carrier as a beat frequency between the first frequency and the second frequency, and which further includes the at least two sidebands having corresponding sideband frequencies generated in response to modulating the first optical signal.