Accurate RF voltage measurements using a sampling voltage tracker

Author

Souders, T. Michael ; Hetrick, Paul S.

Author_Institution

NBS, Gaithersburg, MD, USA

Volume

38

Issue

2

fYear

1989

fDate

4/1/1989 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

451

Lastpage

456

Abstract

The RF voltage measurement capability of an equivalent-time sampling system has been investigated over the frequency range of 1-100 MHz. The system is easily calibrated from step response measurements, independent of thermal transfer standards. Comparison measurements made with NBS-calibrated thermal converters show agreement generally within the stated uncertainties presently provided by NBS for such calibrations. The system offers several advantages over conventional thermal transfer techniques: AC/DC transfers are not required, loading and transmission line problems are reduced, and direct measurement of voltages from 2 V to as low as 10 mV are possible. In addition, other waveform characteristics are readily obtained, e.g. average and peak values, harmonic distortion, etc

Keywords

measurement standards; signal processing equipment; voltage measurement; 1 to 100 MHz; 2 V to 10 mV; NBS-calibrated thermal converters; RF voltage measurements; average value; equivalent-time sampling system; harmonic distortion; peak values; sampling voltage tracker; step response measurements; Calibration; Distortion measurement; Harmonic distortion; Measurement standards; NIST; Radio frequency; Sampling methods; Thermal loading; Transmission line measurements; Voltage measurement;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Instrumentation and Measurement, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9456

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/19.192325

Filename

192325