Nonlinear transmission line (NLTL)-based miniature reflectometers with reduced heat dissipation and scalable tether length
US10871508B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 30, 2018 |
| Grant date | Dec 22, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 31, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R27/06
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system for measuring an electrical response of a device under test (DUT) includes a reflectometer with reduced heat dissipation used with a vector network analyzer (VNA). The reflectometer is tethered to the VNA using a tether of scalable length which carries low frequencies. The reflectometer has a distributed harmonic generator including a non-linear transmission line (NLTL) for multiplying a frequency of an RF signal received from the VNA to generate a test signal having a frequency in the millimeter wave range at a test port connected to the DUT. A sampler in the reflectometer receives a local oscillator (LO) signal from the VNA and includes another NLTL for receiving the LO signal and generating pulses at a frequency in the millimeter wave range. When the test signal is transmitted to the DUT, the sampler outputs intermediate frequency signals which are transmitted to the VNA for characterization of the DUT.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.