US 6,714,898 B1Granted

Flexible noise figure measurement apparatus

AssigneeAnritsu Corporation

InventorsPeter Kapetanic, Jon Martens, David Rangel

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Abstract

An instrument is provided for measuring a noise figure with significant flexibility. The instrument includes a noise source (306) and a vector network analyzer (VNA) (300). The VNA (300) includes an external connector port (302) for removable connection of the noise source (306). The noise source (306) can be connected to the VNA backplane port (302), or directly to a DUT (350). The DUT (350) can be connected to both VNA test ports (310,314) if the noise source (306) is connected to port (302), or only to test port (314) if the noise source (306) is directly connected to the DUT. A receiver connected to the test port (314) includes a downconverter (324) providing an IF signal through either a narrowband IF channel (350) or a wideband IF channel (352) for providing both wideband and narrowband power measurements enabling fast accurate measurement of a noise figure.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A kit for measuring a noise figure for a device under test, the kit comprising:

a noise source having a connector;
and
a vector network analyzer (VNA) comprising;
a signal source;
a first switch having a common terminal coupled to the signal source, a first switching terminal, and a second switching terminal;
a first noise source connection port for connecting to the connector of the noise source;
a first test port;
a second switch having a common terminal coupled to the first test port, a first switching terminal coupled to the first noise source connection port, and a second switching terminal coupled to the first switching terminal of the first switch;
a second test port;
a third switch having a common terminal coupled to the second test port, a first switching terminal coupled to the receiver, and a second switching terminal coupled to the second switching terminal of the first switch;
a first reflectometer coupler having a signal path connecting the first switching terminal of the first switch to the second switching terminal of the second switch;
and
a second reflectometer coupler having a signal path connecting the second switching terminal of the first switch to the second switching terminal of the third switch.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.