A New Indirect Calibration Method for an Equivalent Source Mismatch of a Power Splitter Using Measurements at Only One Port

A new measurement procedure is described for determining the equivalent source mismatch Γ_G of a power splitter. It uses a vector network analyzer (VNA) configured for one-port calibration and measurement. The power splitter ports that are not connected to the VNA test port are loaded in turn with characterized standards, such as an open, a short, a load, and a termination. It also takes advantage of the reciprocity characteristic of the power splitter. As the system impedance is normalized to the impedance of the termination, the termination works as a perfect load in measurements and calculations for the S-parameters of the power splitter. Γ_G is calculated from the renormalized S-parameters to Z₀ . The propagation of uncertainties is analyzed.