Abstract: A synthetic test system for swept-frequency measurements that has a clock synchronization device to enable test boxes and devices that form the synthetic test system to have a common sense of time when conducting swept-frequency tests.

Abstract: Frequency converters amplitude-divide an input signal to provide two signals that are applied to corresponding mixers that frequency translate the signals according to an LO signal, to provide corresponding IF signals that are summed to provide an output IF signal.

Abstract: A spectrum analyzer is disclosed. The analyzer includes a detector, a trace memory, a controller, a trace math processor and a display. The controller generates a plurality of frequency selection signal values and records the measured amplitudes at each of the generated frequency selection values to form a measured trace that is stored in slots in the trace memory. The trace math processor performs trace mathematical operations on traces stored in the trace memory to generate a math trace that is stored in the trace memory. The controller stores a plurality of trace math programs, each program corresponding to one of the trace storage slots in the trace memory and specifies the trace mathematical operations that are to be performed to generate a new trace to be stored in that trace storage slot. The controller executes the stored trace math program for each trace slot in a predetermined order.

Abstract: A local oscillator (LO) diversity system for a spectrum analyzer generates a first LO signal having a designated frequency and a first set of spurious signals, acquires a first record of an input signal applied to the spectrum analyzer with the first LO signal set to the designated frequency, generates a second LO signal having the designated frequency and a second set of spurious signals, wherein at least one spurious signal in the first set of spurious signals is at a frequency that is absent of a spurious signal in the second set of spurious signals. The LO diversity system acquires a second record of the input signal with the second LO signal set to the designated frequency, and then processes the first record and the second record to represent the frequency spectrum of the input signal.

Abstract: A Ytrium Iron Garnett (YIG) filter tuning system includes a YIG filter having a filter passband and associated filter bandwidth, a noise source selectively coupled to an input of the YIG filter, and a receiver coupled to an output of the YIG filter, the receiver having a measurement passband with an associated measurement bandwidth that is less than the filter bandwidth. The receiver acquires a series of measurements at the output of the YIG filter within the measurement passband and within the filter passband when the noise source is coupled to the input of the YIG filter.

Abstract: A system and method compensate for phase noise of a spectrum analyzer when measuring the phase noise of an applied signal based on an established model of the phase noise that accommodates a variety of operating states of the spectrum analyzer. Each operating state has a carrier frequency associated therewith. A frequency offset from the carrier frequency of a designated operating state identifies a frequency range for measuring the phase noise of the applied signal. The model, along with the frequency offset, is used to form an array that is applied to extract an output signal from a phase noise measurement signal that is acquired by the spectrum analyzer.

Abstract: A wireless data communications link connects a wireless device to a test station. The test station transmits command and control parameters to the wireless device using the wireless data communications link. The command and control parameters place the wireless device in a test mode and test the quality and operations of a radio frequency (RF) link established between the wireless device and the test station. The wireless data communications link is also used to transmit test and control parameters from the wireless device to the test station.

Abstract: A noise compensation method enables measurements acquired by a spectrum analyzer to be corrected for noise contributed to the measurements by the spectrum analyzer. The correction is based on an established mapping between characterized noise of the spectrum analyzer and operating conditions of the spectrum analyzer, such as gain correction, that is applied to the spectrum analyzer.

Abstract: A system and method compensate for phase noise of a spectrum analyzer based on an established model of the phase noise that accommodates a variety of operating states of the spectrum analyzer. The model is used to form an array that is applied to extract an output signal from measurement traces that are acquired by the spectrum analyzer.

Abstract: Using component-level test data to reduce system test. By modeling a system, sensitivity analysis reveals critical components and parameters of those components required to meet system performance parameters. Critical components are tested for these parameters, and these measurements associated with the components. Systems may be assembled which are modeled to meet the system performance parameters based on the model and the measured parameters. Systems may be assembled and calibration coefficients derived and applied from the model and the measured parameters.

Abstract: A user interface for an electronic instrument includes a display that displays a signal and a band marker. The band marker demarks a bandwidth of the signal by marking both a start frequency of the bandwidth and a stop frequency of the bandwidth. The electronic instrument performs a function on the bandwidth of the signal between the start frequency and the stop frequency.