Passive intermodulation (PIM) distance-to-fault analyzer and method to resolve distance-to-fault within a constrained receive band
US8903324B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 24, 2012 |
| Grant date | Dec 2, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 20, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B17/23
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention for determining a distance to a source of passive intermodulation (PIM) in a radio frequency (RF) transmit/receive system comprises a two step process. As a first step, a first and second signal with frequencies in a transmit band are generated at a first power and a third order harmonic signal generated by a source of PIM within the system is obtained in the receive band. If the magnitude of the PIM exceeds a noise threshold, a second step is performed. The second step includes generating a third and fourth signal at a second power higher than the first power to obtain a higher order harmonic signal generated by the source of PIM. The PIM magnitude and a distance to the source of the PIM are calculated using the higher order harmonic signal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.