Berkeley Nucleonics has developed a state-of-the-art Impedance Tuner/Generator, that puts reliable, repeatable noise parameter measurements in a lab at about $10K, much below what a mechanical tabletop system usually costs.
The Model 8060, is a compact digital device that has a standard frequency range from 0.1 MHz to 6.0 GHz and can be customized to tune up or down for application-specific needs. Berkeley Nucleonics’ proprietary wideband impedance tuner method allows for quick and precise measurements of noise parameters for a large number of frequencies with astounding repeatability. It has an on-board that memory stores calibration data and documentation. A temperature sensor is included for monitoring the internal temperature which improves measurement accuracy. The Model 8060 frequency range is optimized for most commercial applications, such as WiFi, WiMax, LTE, 3G, 4G, 5G, and Bluetooth wireless standards.
A cryogenic option (Model 8060C) provides greater performance capability allowing cold noise parameter measurements. The small size and fully electronic design allow noise-parameter measurements of packaged and on-wafer devices, ensuring flexibility and short test times. The Model 8060C is designed to work down to absolute zero temperature (Zero Kelvin) use primarily in Radio Astronomy and Space Exploration, cryogenic Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and Quantum Computers. A host of MATLAB and other scripts are provided to allow users to take advantage of their own VNA, Spectrum Analyzer, and Noise Source.
Features of Model 8060/8060C Impedance Tuner/Generator
- Wideband Impedance Tuner / Generator
- USB Driven, Compact Form Factor
- Solid-state Design for Fast Measurements
- On-board Temperature Sensor
- On-Board Memory Retains Calibration Dat
- WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS/GNSS, 4G, and 5G Optimized
- Most Repeatable Noise Parameter Measurements
Receiver Design
To design a receiver, engineers will need to select transistors for the design. Using Model 8060 they could obtain a sample of the transistor and perform noise parameter measurements while setting the transistor to different power consumption settings and also varying the temperature. This gives engineers complete information on how to select "matching" components (inductors and capacitors) that go at the input of the transistor to obtain the lowest noise figure and ultimately allows them to design the best-performing receiver.
Amplifier Design
When engineers develop an amplifier, they may want to know its noise figure given that an antenna is not exactly 50 ohm. The engineer can measure noise parameters using Model 8060 and then use them to calculate the amplifier noise figure for a particular antenna.
When engineers have an amplifier and want to know whether its noise figure can be improved. The measurement of noise parameters can also reveal how far away the amplifier noise figure is from the minimum possible noise figure. Noise parameters can then be used to determine what needs to be done (i.e. what "matching" network is needed) to improve the noise figure.
Component Manufacturing
Component manufacturers look to bin parts (these could be transistors that are not designed for 50 ohms) based on their performance. A quick measurement of the minimum noise figure using Model 8060 at just one frequency could allow binning parts by performance.
Click here to learn more about Model 8060/8060C from Berkeley Nucleonics.
