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Introduction
General Information
The Agilent E-Series E9300 Power Sensors in Detail
Most power sensors used for measuring average power employ either
thermocouple or diode technologies. Diode based sensors frequently rely on
the application of correction factors to extend their dynamic range beyond
their square law response region, typically –70 dBm to –20 dBm. However,
while this technique achieves wide dynamic range capability, it is limited to
continuous wave (CW) signals outside the square law region. Modulated
signals must be padded down or at low levels, with their average and peak
power levels within the diode square law region, to be measured accurately.
Accurate, average power measurement of high level signals carrying
modulation cannot be obtained using a CW correction factor technique.
Specialized modulation sensors provide accurate measurements but are
bandwidth limited.
The Agilent E- series E9300 power sensors are true average, wide dynamic
range RF microwave power sensors. They are based on a dual sensor
diode pair/attenuator/diode pair proposed by Szente et. al. in 1990
Figure 1- 2 shows a block diagram of this technique.
RF in
Figure 1-2 Simplified Block Diagram of Diode Pair/Attenuator/Diode Pair
This technique ensures the diodes in the selected signal path are kept in
their square law region, thus the output current (and voltage) is
proportional to the input power. The diode pair/attenuator/diode pair
assembly can yield the average of complex modulation formats across a
1. US Patent #4943764, assigned to Agilent Technologies
14
+
Low Sense
Lower Range
(-60 dBm to -10 dBm)
–
Low Sense
+
High Sense
Upper Range
(-10 dBm to +20 dBm)
–
High Sense
1
.
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