Maury Microwave’s IVCAD measurement and modeling device characterization software has integrated the Planar 814/1 Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) from Copper Mountain Technologies. Engineers can now use Maury’s MT981-series and MT982-series automated mechanical impedance tuners with the CMT analyzer to complete a turnkey fundamental and harmonic load pull bench from low MHz to 8 GHz.
Maury’s load pull software and LXI™-certified, high-precision non-contacting automated impedance tuners provide algorithms and methodologies, which are complemented by the lab-grade performance of the Planar 814/1 VNA, users can achieve a lower cost, highly accurate passive, active and hybrid-active vector-receiver (VNA-based, real-time) load pull.
Vector-receiver load pull is achieved by coupling the input and output a- and b-waves of the device under test (DUT) to the direct-access receivers of the 814/1. With this configuration, IVCAD is able to directly measure the source and load impedances presented to the DUT as well as the DUT’s large signal input impedance, available and delivered input power, output power at the fundamental and harmonic frequencies, transducer and power gain, power-added and drain efficiencies and more.
The Planar 814/1 has a dynamic range of 150 dB, which ensures high-powered drive signals and low-powered harmonic signals, as well as oscillations accurately captured by the IVCAD software platform. With a source power control of -60dBm to +10dBm and resolution of 0.05dB, the 814/1 can be used to independently sweep the power (power sweep measurements, gain compression measurements) of the injected test signal for low-power devices, or can be combined with a driver amplifier for high-powered devices at a multitude of load impedances. The Planar 814/1 is the only commercial VNA which offers simultaneous low-cost and high-performance with the direct-receiver access required for today’s advanced load pull solutions. Alex Goloschokin, Managing Director of Copper Mountain Technologies, agrees, “This represents a step forward for engineering teams that need advanced load pull solutions at a lower cost, but want their system to be high performing and metrologically sound.”
The load pull system is being demonstrated at European Microwave Week in Rome, Italy.
