Passive intermodulation (PIM) distance to fault analyzer with selectable harmonic level

An apparatus for determining the location and magnitude of one or more unknown passive intermodulation (PIM) sources along a transmission line at distances unknown relative to the test port, comprising:

• a first signal source which outputs a first signal with a frequency of F1;
• a second signal source which outputs a second signal with a frequency of F2;
• a module which connects the first signal source and the second signal source to a test port, wherein the module includes
• a first port which receives the first signal and a second port which receives the second signal, wherein the first signal and second signal are combined to create a combined signal,
• a third port which is connected to a first coupler which extracts a portion of a reflected intermodulation signal (RIS) from the test port,
• a fourth port which is connected to a second coupler which extracts a portion of the combined signal for use in generating a reference signal, and
• a fifth port connected to the test port;
• a signal port which provides the reference signal;
• and
• a second signal combiner which
• receives the portion of the RIS from the first coupler,
• receives the reference signal, and
• provides an output signal which is used to determine a distance to a PIM source.

An apparatus for determining the location and magnitude of one or more unknown passive intermodulation (PIM) sources along a transmission line at distances unknown relative to the test port, comprising:

• a first signal source which outputs a first signal with a frequency of F1;
• a second signal source which outputs a second signal with a frequency of F2;
• a six port module which connects the first signal source and the second signal source to a test port, wherein the six port module includes
• a first port which receives the first signal and a second port which receives the second signal, wherein the first signal and second signal are combined to create a combined signal,
• a third port which is connected to a first coupler which extracts a portion of a reflected intermodulation signal (RIS) from the test port,
• a fourth port which is connected to a second coupler which extracts a portion of the combined signal for use in generating a reference signal,
• a fifth port connected to the test port, and
• a sixth port connected to a third coupler which extracts a portion of a reflection signal from the test port to monitor the reflection signal;
• a signal port which provides the reference signal;
• and
• a second signal combiner which
• receives the portion of the RIS from the first coupler,
• receives the reference signal, and
• provides an output signal which is used to determine a distance to a PIM source.