Method for determining the distance to and magnitude of one or more passive intermodulation (PIM) source
US9176180B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 25, 2013 |
| Grant date | Nov 3, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 17, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B17/27
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A Passive Intermodulation (PIM) measurement circuit enables making forward and reverse PIM measurements on any 1 port (reflection) or 2 port (transmission) device with the ability to determine in distance where individual PIM impairments are located as well as their magnitude. The PIM measurement circuit includes two frequency sources that are provided through a combiner for a CW characterization of the PIM circuit. To enable distance determination, an FM measurement is created by using a saw tooth offset sweep generator attached to one of the two frequency sources. With down conversion and processing of signals from the PIM impairments, the FM signal provides a frequency variation that is converted using a Fourier transform or spectrum analysis for separation of frequencies, enabling determination of the distance of the PIM sources as well as their magnitudes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.