Advanced TRL (Through-Reflect-Line) Fixture Design and Error Analyses for RF High Power Transistor Characterization and Automatic Load Pull Measurement

This article discussed the design methodology of the low impedance TRL fixture and a detailed error analysis of the commercial computer controlled load pull system. Especially, an associated advanced TRL calibration software routine has been created to resolve the difficulty of non-50 Ohm calibration used by the vector network analyzer. Since this technique is regardless of the termination impedance, the probing port can always be designed to comply with the same dimension as the measured port. Because this unique match of measured and probing ports, users can apply this technique to measure a circuit with any configuration of impedance without worrying the discontinuity and fringing effect.