Apparatus for extending the bandwidth of vector network analyzer receivers
AssigneeAnritsu Corporation
InventorKaram Michael Noujeim
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for measuring a frequency response of an electrical network includes a signal source, a signal source path, a reflectometer receiver interactively associated with the signal source path by a directional coupler, and one or more additional reflectometer receivers arranged in series along the signal source path and associated with the signal source path by one or more respective additional directional couplers. The directional coupler and one or more respective additional directional couplers operate at different frequency ranges.
Claims20
A system for measuring a frequency response of an electrical network, comprising:
- a signal source;
- a signal source path;
- a reflectometer receiver interactively associable with the signal source path by a directional coupler;
- and
- an additional reflectometer receiver arranged in series along the signal source path and selectably associable with the signal source path by an additional directional coupler;
- wherein the directional coupler and additional directional coupler operate at different frequency ranges.
A system for measuring a frequency response of an electrical network, comprising:
- a signal source;
- a signal source path;
- a first reflectometer receiver electro-magnetically connectable with the signal source path by a first directional coupler when a signal having a frequency falling within a first frequency range is applied to the signal source path by the signal source;
- and
- one or more additional reflectometer receivers arranged in series along the signal source path, each additional reflectometer receiver being electro-magnetically connectable with the signal source path by a corresponding additional directional coupler when a signal having a frequency falling within a corresponding frequency range is applied to the signal source path by the signal source;
- wherein at least a portion of the first frequency range and each of the corresponding frequency ranges of the one or more additional reflectometer receivers is non-overlapping so that the frequency response of the electrical network is measurable over a frequency range broader than the first frequency range of the first reflectometer receiver.
A method of extending an operating bandwidth of a VNA, the method comprising:
- connecting a radio frequency (RF) source to a test subject using an RF source path including a first reflectometer receiver and one or more additional reflectometer receivers arranged in series along an RF source path;
- wherein the first reflectometer receiver operates within a first frequency range and the one or more additional reflectometer receivers operates in corresponding frequency ranges;
- wherein at least a portion of the first frequency range and each of the corresponding frequency ranges of the one or more additional reflectometer receivers is non-overlapping so that frequency response is measurable over a combined frequency range broader than the first frequency range,
- generating an RF signal from the RF source having a frequency within the combined frequency range;
- generating an intermediate frequency signal from the RF signal;
- and
- providing the intermediate frequency signal to one or both of a processor and/or display.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.