Six-port-based active source-pull measurement technique

Abstract

The proposed active source-pull measurement technique allows the creation of variable source impedances having true unitary complex reflection coefficients (total reflection at any desired phase). Based on the use of a reverse six-port reflectometer, frequency-independent source impedances can be synthesized and the power available from the source can also be calculated. The technique is found to be suitable for multi-tone characterization of microwave devices, for use as mixers or broadband power amplifiers. Experimental validations show that the linear measurement accuracy of the proposed technique is about ±0.007 ± 0.5 • for the reflection coefficients measurements and ±0.15 dB for the transducer gain evaluation while the accuracy for the nonlinear measurements is ±0.01 ± 1 • and ±0.15 dB.