Abstract: An improved circuit for phase noise measurements utilizing a frequency down conversion/multiplier and direct spectrum measurement technique. The circuit is particularly useful for field test environments where laboratory instrumentation is normally not available, and fast and accurate phase noise measurements are required. The phase noise measuring circuit includes a frequency mixer which has a first input signal from a device under test and a second input signal from a reference stable oscillator having ultra low phase noise with a fixed center frequency. The frequency mixer produces a down converted signal comprising the frequency difference signal of the first and second input signals. A lowpass filter passes the down converted signal to a frequency multiplier circuit which produces a second harmonic signal, a fourth harmonic signal, and higher harmonic signals of the down converted signal.

Abstract: An improved circuit for phase noise measurements utilizing a frequency down conversion/multiplier and direct spectrum measurement technique which uses a combination of a phase detector method and a direct spectrum approach. The circuit is particularly useful for field test environments where laboratory instrumentation is normally not available, and fast and accurate phase noise measurements are required. The phase noise measuring circuit includes a frequency mixer which has a first input signal from a device under test and a second input signal from a reference stable oscillator having ultra low phase noise with a fixed center frequency. The frequency mixer mixes the first and second input signals to produce a down converted signal comprising the frequency difference signal of the first and second input signals. A lowpass filter then passes the down converted signal to a frequency doubler circuit which produces a doubled frequency, down converted signal.