Abstract: In one method of calibrating an instrument having N ports, where N>=2, cables of a first type are characterized by connecting a first cable between two of the ports; performing an “unknown-thru” full two-port calibration between the two ports; obtaining a S-parameter of the first cable; saving the S-parameter of the first cable; and then repeating the connecting, performing, obtaining and saving for additional cables having the first type. The cables having the first type are then disconnected from one of the two ports and a measurement plane is transferred from the connected end of the cable to the disconnected end of the cable. Cables of a second type are then characterized by connecting a second cable between the second of the two ports and the disconnected end of the first cable; measuring a S-parameter of the second cable; and saving the S-parameter of the second cable.

Abstract: A measurement and correction method provides for a complete full correction of a true-mode system using only the single ended error matrix developed for 4 port correction of single ended measurements. The degree of misalignment of the balanced sources may be determined from these measurements.

Abstract: A measurement and correction method provides for a complete full correction of a true-mode system using only the single ended error matrix developed for 4 port correction of single ended measurements. The degree of misalignment of the balanced sources may be determined from these measurements.

Abstract: The present invention is a method to allow a vector network analyzer (VNA) to self calibrate without the addition of calibration standards, e.g. a calibration kit with a network analyzer.

Abstract: A vector network analyzer with one or more ports having each port comprising of an N-port signal separating network, where N>=6, an intermediate frequency (IF) filter interposing an RF downconverter and a power detector. The RF downconverter may be N-2 mixers or N-2 samplers. The IF downconverter (comprising N-2 IF filters and power detectors) may also be realized by an AID converter having N-2 inputs connected to a digital signal processor.

Abstract: A Vector Network Analyzer is equipped with receivers for measuring a1, b1, a2 and b2 and which can each be tuned to track either the RF signal (F1) applied to the FTD or to the IF (F2) produced by the FTD. Additional forward side and reverse side mixers are provided and are driven by the auxiliary LO for the FTD. The additional mixers can be located in the RF/IF path, such that there is a sequential double conversion of the RF/IF: one by the auxiliary LO followed by another conversion of those results by the main LO. The additional mixers could also be located it the LO path, such that the main LO is first converted to an image involving the auxiliary LO, and the RF/IF is then subsequently converted using that image as an ‘artificial’ LO. During a forward direction measurement of an FTD, the applied RF signal (F1) is converted to the IF with the additional forward side mixers that feeds the receivers for a1 and b1.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises storing parameters that are related to switch error correction terms of a vector network analyzer (VNA), and applying a calibration process of a TRL group of calibration processes to the VNA to generate calibration measurements, wherein the calibration process generates calibration measurements, calculates a switch error correction matrix using the stored parameters and a subset of the calibration measurements, and applies the switch error correction matrix to calibration measurements before solving for eight-systematic error terms associated with the calibration process.

Abstract: A system and method for calibrating a multi-port S-parameter measurement device reduces the number of full calibrations necessary to characterize the multi-port S-parameter measurement device by utilizing a reciprocal network concept. The multi-port S-parameter measurement device includes a network analyzer having network ports connected to respective sets of switch ports on a switch. Full calibrations are performed on selected port pairs of the switch to determine the calibration arrays for each of the port pairs. Each port pair includes one switch port from two different sets of switch ports. A switch error having three switch error terms attributable to a reciprocal network introduced by an unselected one of the switch ports not included within any of the one or more port pairs is determined, and the switch error is de-embedded from the calibration arrays to construct a complete set of calibration arrays for all of the measurement paths in the multi-port S-parameter measurement device.

Abstract: A test system and method characterize a balanced device under test (DUT) with a vector network analyzer (VNA) measurement system using a differential or balanced stimulus signal and further calibrate the VNA using conventional calibration standards. An effect of errors introduced by an uncalibrated portion of the measurement system, such as test fixturing and hybrid junction coupling, is de-embedded from measured S-parameters for the DUT. The method includes calibrating the VNA, characterizing the uncalibrated portion, measuring S-parameters for the DUT with the calibrated VNA, and de-embedding the uncalibrated portion characterization from the S-parameter measurements. The test system includes a multiport VNA measurement system that includes a hybrid coupler, an optional test fixture, and a computer program. A processor executes the computer program. Instructions of the computer program implement the method.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of calibrating a multi-port vector network analyzer (VNA) includes (i) performing two-port calibrations on pairs of ports to determine forward and reverse systematic error terms associated with each pair of ports, wherein the pairs of ports are selected such that each port's systematic error terms (directivity, source match, reflection tracking, and load match) are determined, (ii) generating a switch error correction matrix using data from the two-port calibrations, and (iii) performing unknown thru calibration for at least one pair of ports that was not utilized in step (i), wherein the unknown thru calibration comprises applying the switch error correction matrix to measurement data and determining transmission tracking error terms using the corrected measurement data.

Abstract: A test system and method characterize a balanced device under test (DUT) with a vector network analyzer (VNA) measurement system using a differential or balanced stimulus signal and further calibrate the VNA using conventional calibration standards. An effect of errors introduced by an uncalibrated portion of the measurement system, such as test fixturing and hybrid junction coupling, is de-embedded from measured S-parameters for the DUT. The method includes calibrating the VNA, characterizing the uncalibrated portion, measuring S-parameters for the DUT with the calibrated VNA, and de-embedding the uncalibrated portion characterization from the S-parameter measurements. The test system includes a multiport VNA measurement system that includes a hybrid coupler, an optional test fixture, and a computer program. A processor executes the computer program. Instructions of the computer program implement the method.