Abstract: Systems in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can include an adapter having a sliding portion (a slider) slidable to expose an interface, thereby allowing mating—for example, between a test port and a DUT—to be observed and adjusted as required. The slider is removable, allowing an adapter sex change. In one embodiment, an insertion tool is provided which can hold a dual male pin and allow installation and removal of the dual male pin while assisting mating alignment. After calibration, the slider can be locked in place and the adapter can function as a standard coaxial connector.

Abstract: Methods and devices in accordance with the present invention can comprise forming an electrical feed-through assembly to provide a hermetic seal in a coaxial connector. In one embodiment, the electrical feed-through assembly comprises a conductive insert having a bore, a dielectric insert positioned within the bore having a first diameter sized such that an impedance of the dielectric insert is a target impedance, the dielectric insert having a center conductive pin extending there-through, and an air dielectric positioned within the bore, the air dielectric having a second diameter sized such that an impedance of the air dielectric is the target impedance, a portion of the air dielectric extending into the dielectric insert, wherein the portion of the air dielectric extending into the dielectric insert is a compensation gap.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a microstrip termination is provided, the microstrip termination containing a transmission line, a tapered edge ground and a thin film resistor connecting a transmission line to the tapered edge ground. Circuits are manufactured by first cutting holes in a substrate forming alignment holes for dicing the substrate into separate circuits. A saw is then used to cut tapered grooves along the alignment holes for forming tapered edges. The substrate is then plated and etched to form the transmission lines, thin film resistors, and ground planes. Finally, the substrate is diced into the separate termination circuits.

Abstract: A microwave circuit connection method allows many coaxial cable connections between the outside world and microwave circuit components mounted on a carrier in a housing. A coaxial cable 32 extends through a sleeve 30, which is contained within the housing 1. A bore is provided through the carrier 2 for the coaxial cable 32 and is counterbored to form first and second bores 37 and 40 with different diameters. The dielectric 34 provided within the coaxial cable 32 extends through the first bore 37. The dielectric 34 is removed so that a center conductor 36 of the coaxial cable 32 extends through the second bore 40 to a point adjacent the MMIC 10 mounted to the carrier. An air dielectric section is thus formed in the second bore 40. The center conductor 36 of the coaxial cable 32 is attached, using a ribbon bonding cable 42, to an MMIC 10 mounted on the carrier 2.

Abstract: A microwave inductor including a coil with windings tapered from a first end of the coil to a second end of the coil to reduce resonant loss glitches found in conventional inductors which have uniform diameter windings. The coil further includes a core composed of a dielectric material containing a colloidal suspension of magnetic particles, the magnetic material preferably being iron powder and the dielectric preferably being epoxy, making the core a poly-iron material. The magnetic particles being colloidally suspended in dielectric increase the impedance of the coil at high frequencies to reduce resonant glitches without lowering the low frequency Q of the inductor. As such, a single coil can be utilized both in a filter which requires a low impedance at low frequencies to create a high Q, and as a bias line which operates at frequencies well beyond the resonant frequency of the inductor since a high impedance is provided by the core at higher resonant frequencies.

Abstract: A power meter includes components to measure RMS power over an 84 dB range or greater using the I-V square-law relation of a diode for measurements. The power meter includes multiple diodes along with a power distribution manifold which includes power dividers to distribute an input signal to the diodes. In one embodiment, a first power divider (202) distributes power to a first one of the diodes (203), and to the second power divider (204) which distributes power to the second (210) and third (212) diodes. The first power divider (202) is connected without attenuation to the first diode (203). The second power divider (204) is connected to the second diode (210) through a 11 dB attenuator (206), and to the third diode (212) through a 28 dB attenuator (208).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a microstrip termination is provided, the microstrip termination containing a transmission line, a tapered edge ground and a thin film resistor connecting a transmission line to the tapered edge ground. Circuits are manufactured by first cutting holes in a substrate forming alignment holes for dicing the substrate into separate circuits. A saw is then used to cut tapered grooves along the alignment holes for forming tapered edges. The substrate is then plated and etched to form the transmission lines, thin film resistors, and ground planes. Finally, the substrate is diced into the separate termination circuits.

Abstract: A microstrip termination is provided with a thin film resistor connecting a transmission line to a tapered edge ground, enabling high frequency performance, such as for optical modulators. The tapered edge ground is formed with metal deposited on a substrate edge between a top surface of a substrate containing the transmission line with thin film resistor, and a bottom surface with a metal coating forming a ground plane. The tapered edge is cut at an angle in the range of 30 degrees with respect to the top surface. The microstrip termination provides a wider bandwidth of impedance matching than a standard microstrip termination.

Abstract: A microwave inductor including a coil with windings tapered from a first end of the coil to a second end of the coil to reduce resonant loss glitches found in conventional inductors which have uniform diameter windings. The coil further includes a core composed of a dielectric material containing a colloidal suspension of magnetic particles, the magnetic material preferably being iron powder and the dielectric preferably being epoxy, making the core a poly-iron material. The magnetic particles being colloidally suspended in dielectric increase the impedance of the coil at high frequencies to reduce resonant glitches without lowering the low frequency Q of the inductor. As such, a single coil can be utilized both in a filter which requires a low impedance at low frequencies to create a high Q, and as a bias line which operates at frequencies well beyond the resonant frequency of the inductor since a high impedance is provided by the core at higher resonant frequencies.

Abstract: An inductor coil is made with windings turns in a conical shape tapered from a very small diameter and gradually increasing. The core of the coil is composed of a dielectric material with a colloidal suspension of magnetic particles, i.e. poly-iron. The core functions to increase impedance at higher frequencies to reduce resonant loss glitches, while providing a low impedance at low frequencies to provide a high Q at low frequencies. The core can be part air (or non-magnetic dielectric) and part poly-iron, with the air portion provided closest to a transmission line where the inductor is connected to prevent the core from interfering with the magnetic field of signals on a transmission line.

Abstract: A microwave inductor including a coil with windings tapered from a first end of the coil to a second end of the coil to reduce resonant loss glitches found in conventional inductors which have uniform diameter windings. The coil further includes a core composed of a dielectric material containing a colloidal suspension of magnetic particles, the magnetic material preferably being iron powder and the dielectric preferably being epoxy, making the core a poly-iron material. The magnetic particles being colloidally suspended in dielectric increase the impedance of the coil at high frequencies to reduce resonant glitches without lowering the low frequency Q of the inductor. As such, a single coil can be utilized both in a filter which requires a low impedance at low frequencies to create a high Q, and as a bias line which operates at frequencies well beyond the resonant frequency of the inductor since a high impedance is provided by the core at higher resonant frequencies.

Abstract: A power meter includes components to measure RMS power over an 84 dB range or greater using the I-V square-law relation of a diode for measurements. The power meter includes multiple diodes along with a power distribution manifold which includes power dividers to distribute an input signal to the diodes. In one embodiment, a first power divider (202) distributes power to a first one of the diodes (203), and to the second power divider (204) which distributes power to the second (210) and third (212) diodes. The first power divider (202) is connected without attenuation to the first diode (203). The second power divider (204) is connected to the second diode (210) through a 11 dB attenuator (206), and to the third diode (212) through a 28 dB attenuator (208).

Abstract: A power meter includes components to measure RMS power over an 84 dB range or greater using the I-V square-law relation of a diode for measurements. The power meter includes multiple diodes along with a power distribution manifold which includes power dividers to distribute an input signal to the diodes. In one embodiment, a first power divider (202) distributes power to a first one of the diodes (203), and to the second power divider (204) which distributes power to the second (210) and third (212) diodes. The first power divider (202) is connected without attenuation to the first diode (203). The second power divider (204) is connected to the second diode (210) through a 11 dB attenuator (206), and to the third diode (212) through a 28 dB attenuator (208).

Abstract: A dual mode power meter provides a first operation mode in the square law operating range of the diode, and a second mode in the square law region as well as the transition and linear operating ranges of the diode. The power meter includes multiple diodes. A manifold made up of power dividers distributes a signal input to the power meter to the diodes. A different attenuation is provided to each diode so that the square law operating range for each diode covers a different power range. By selecting the appropriate diode output for power measurements in the first mode, the overall square law operating range for the power meter will be greater than a power meter using a single diode. The power meter further includes a memory map of voltage vs. power in the square law, transition and linear regions of a diode measured for an unmodulated CW input for the second operation mode. The map of voltage vs.

Abstract: A wafer probe with built in components to perform frequency multiplication, upconversion, downconversion, and mixing typically performed by an RF module of a vector network analyzer (VNA). The wafer probe is designed for testing integrated circuits used in collision avoidance radar systems and operates over the 76-77 GHz frequency range allocated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for collision avoidance radars. To minimize costs, the wafer probe preferably utilizes integrated circuits for frequency multiplication, upconversion, downconversion, and mixing manufactured for collision avoidance radar systems.

Abstract: An SWR bridge with an accompanying set of connector saving adapters for connecting between the test port of the SWR bridge and a test device. The SWR bridge includes a branch opposite the test port which has an impedance set to substantially compensate for the impedance of the connector saving adapters. The connector saving adapters are configured to mate with connectors from two groups of test device connectors in both male and female versions, a first group including 3.5 mm, SMA and 2.92 mm connectors, and a second group including 2.5 mm and 1.85 mm connectors. To compensate for any capacitive mismatch between an adapter configured for a particular group of connectors and a given connector type, either a center conductor pin setback, an inductive counter bore in the outer conductor of the adapter, or a combination of the center pin setback and inductive counter bore may be utilized.

Abstract: A microwave test kit including a SWR bridge with one or more accompanying precision airlines for connecting between the test port of the SWR bridge and a test device. The SWR bridge includes a branch opposite its test port which includes an adapter having a connector with a center conductor support bead matching the center conductor support bead used in the precision airlines to compensate for impedance mismatch. The test kit may further include a standard 50 ohm termination and an offset termination, having an impedance other than 50 ohms, with the adapter of the SWR bridge configured to enable a user to selectively connect the standard termination to enable measurements to be made in an error averaging mode, or the offset termination to enable measurements to be made in a magnified mode.

Abstract: A method for updating automatic calibration to provide a perfect through connection during the calibration of the VNA. After the VNA is initially calibrated, a user may assess the calibration of the through connection to determine if the quality is sufficient. If the quality is insufficient, the user is able to replace the calibration parameters for the through connection used during initial calibration with parameters for a currently used through connection to create a perceived "perfect" through connection calibration.

Abstract: A test fixture for testing an integrated circuit having leads. The test fixture includes a substrate with top and bottom surfaces and holes extending from the top to the bottom surface. The integrated circuit is mounted on the top surface with each lead located above each hole. Contact flippers are located on the top surface of the substrate, with the contact flippers extending between the leads and the holes. Shuttle springs are located along the bottom surface and extend across the holes. Shuttles are inserted into each hole so that upon contact by the leads against the contact flippers, the shuttles move downward and against the upward pressure from the shuttle springs to provide a resilient connection between the test fixture and the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A calibration technique for a vector network analyzer (VNA) enabling calibration standards to be included internal to the VNA. To calibrate the VNA utilizing the internal calibration standards, error terms a, b and c of two two-port error boxes E are defined between the measurement ports and the reflectometer of the VNA wherein a=-det(E), b=e00 and c=e10. Error terms a, b and c are determined by measuring external calibration standards with known reflection coefficients connected directly to the measurement ports. Reflection coefficients for internal calibration standards are then determined using the error terms a, b and c to enable future automatic calibrations. To measure S-parameters of an arbitrary device under test (DUT), one embodiment of the present invention uses the Ferrero technique to measure a reciprocal thru with estimated S.sub.21 characteristics connected between ports A and B to determine an additional error term .alpha. for the error boxes E, where .alpha.=e01.sub.A /e.sub.01B.