Precision Microwave Attenuation Measurement by Time Interval Ratio,

Abstract

A method of measuring microwave attenuation by substitution is described. As attenuation is inserted into the device under test, the pulse repetition frequency of a pulse modulated PIN diode switch in series with the device is changed to maintain a constant mean power output from the circuit. The ratio of the pulse repetition frequencies before and after insertion is shown to be simply related to the attenuation of the device under test. Sources of error are examined in detail and results are quoted showing inaccuracies of less than + or - 0.002 dB over a range of 0 to 20 dB. (Author)

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1985
Accession Number
ADA154791

Entities

People

  • P. Cummings
  • Richard H. Johnson

Organizations

  • Royal Signals and Radar Establishment

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Amplifiers
  • Attenuation
  • Attenuators
  • Computers
  • Detectors
  • Equations
  • Frequency
  • Intervals
  • Measurement
  • Pin Diodes
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Power Levels
  • Power Meters
  • Pulse Generators
  • Thin Film Transistors
  • Time Intervals

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electromagnetic Wave Scattering and Antenna Radiation Engineering
  • Geodesy
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.