Test & Measurement Channel - Leading Manufacturer News, Articles & Content

A New Wideband Family of Oscillators

Introduction to a new line of voltage controlled oscillators designed to increase power and widen bandwidth by incorporating multiple tuned circuits
Product Feature A New Wideband Family of Oscillators Vari-L Co. Inc. Denver, CO Modern communication systems are designed to handle ever increasing amounts of data by utilizing more bandwidth and more sophisticated modulation schemes. Voltage controlled oscillators (VCO) are used in almost all radio and RF applications including cell...
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Measurement of On-wafer Transistor Noise Parameters Without a Tuner Using Unrestricted Noise Sources

Presentation of a method for calibrating the four noise parameters of a noise receiver that does not require a tuner
Technical Feature Measurement of On-wafer Transistor Noise Parameters Without a Tuner Using Unrestricted Noise Sources This article presents a method for calibrating the four noise parameters of a noise receiver which does not require a tuner. The method permits using general (mismatched) noise sources, which may present very different...
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Two-tone vs. Single-tone Measurement of Second-order Nonlinearity

Use of a method to correctly locate the second-order intercept point (IP2) from one- and two-tone tests
Technical Feature Two-tone vs. Single-tone Measurement of Second-order Nonlinearity Darioush Agahi, William Domino and Nooshin Vakilian Conexant Systems Inc. Newport Beach, CA This article describes how to correctly find the second-order intercept point (IP2) from one- and two-tone tests, and presents measurement results in support of the theory. Relation...
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Low Phase Noise SiGe Voltage-controlled Oscillators for Wireless Applications

Description of transmit and receive voltage-controlled oscillator design solutions developed in high performance SiGe technology
Technical Feature Low Phase Noise SiGe Voltage-controlled Oscillators for Wireless Applications A low phase noise voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) is one of the critical circuits in modern telecommunications systems. In recent years, silicon germanium (SiGe) BiCMOS technology has become one of the most promising technologies for VCO designs. This article...
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A Varactor-tuned Oscillator with Linear Tuning Characteristics

Proposed design procedure for emphasizing the tuning linearity of a varacter-tuned oscillator
Technical Feature A Varactor-tuned Oscillator with Linear Tuning Characteristic Munkyo Seo, Joo-Yeol Lee and Kyung-Kuk Lee LG Electronics Inc. Seoul, Korea Sangwook Nam Seoul National University Seoul, Korea In certain areas of microwave applications such as FMCW radars, FM modulators and phase-locked loop (PLL) circuits, the system performance is...
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Externally Induced VCO Phase Noise

Description of the degradation of voltage-controlled oscillator phase noise due to noise on tuning and supply lines
Tutorial Externally Induced VCO Phase Noise This article describes the degradation of VCO phase noise due to noise on tuning and supply lines, particularly from tuning source resistance and supply voltage regulators. Dennis Colin Micronetics Wireless Hudson, NH VCOs, especially low noise wideband units, are extremely sensitive voltage-to-frequency converters,...
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Cost-effective Wireless Antenna Measurement Systems

Introduction to two new antenna measurements systems for single- or dual-axis antenna pattern measurements in the wireless frequency ranges
Product Feature Cost-effective Wireless Antenna Measurement Systems MI Technologies Duluth, GA Two new antenna measurement systems have recently been introduced that add to the MI-3600 antenna measurement product line. The MI-3600 family is comprised of 20 antenna measurement systems for single- or dual-axis antenna pattern measurements in the popular...
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A Mobile Ultra-low Phase Noise Sapphire Oscillator

Introduction to a low noise fixed-frequency X-band sapphire cavity oscillator
Product Feature A Mobile Ultra-low Phase Noise Sapphire Oscillator Poseidon Scientific Instruments Pty Ltd. Fremantle, Western Australia Radar, communications, and test and measurement designers require ever-improving phase noise performance in their master oscillator. For mobile system success, ultra-low phase noise performance must be coupled with exceptional immunity to vibration...
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Axial Ratio Measurements of Single Circularly Polarized Antennas

Presentation of a procedure for measuring the axial ratio of single circularly polarized antennas
Technical Feature Axial Ratio Measurements of Single Circularly Polarized Antennas Robert Gunnels Andrew Corp. Orland Park, IL The measurement of antenna axial ratios must be done properly if accurate results are to be obtained. When measuring on a terrestrial antenna test range, a straightforward approach is often used whereby...
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Performing Transient Analysis on PLL Frequency Synthesizers

Use of system-level simulation tool with flexible behavorial modeling capability to simulate and enhance the performance of a wireless PLL circuit
Technical Feature Performing Transient Analysis on PLL Frequency Synthesizers A PLL can be considered a subsystem within a larger communications system, so it is appropriate to analyze this type of network with the help of a system-level simulator. The use of flexible behavioral models within the simulator allows only...
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