Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) on a Chip

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

p-0002The present invention relates to the field of vector network analyzers, and more particularly to an integrated circuit with VNA functionality.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

p-0003A vector network analyzer (VNA) is a useful instrument for many applications where electrical and/or microwave measurements, such as transmission and reflection properties, are needed. VNA's are usually used where the electrical signals have a high frequency, such as from 10 kHz to 100 GHz. Since a VNA can be used to measure complex impedances of circuits at high frequencies, VNAs can be found in many electronic and radio frequency (RF) laboratories, as well as in chip/microwave device or system manufacturing facilities.

p-0004A VNA can apply a stimulus sine wave to a device under test (DUT) and perform a series of measurements and calculations. A two-port VNA can measure both reflected signals from the DUT and transmitted signals through the DUT. Additionally, the VNA can calculate S-parameters and other related parameters for that DUT. The VNA can repeat this procedure using different frequencies and/or power levels to measure the desired characteristics of the DUT.

p-0005A traditional VNA is a complex device which usually occupies a large volume and is expensive. A traditional VNA typically uses multiple heterodyne receivers for operating on a frequency of an incoming signal, mixing it with a locally generated signal and converting it to an intermediate frequency (IF) in order to facilitate amplification, analog-to-digital signal conversion, and analysis. The heterodyne receivers may require several frequency synthesizers to facilitate frequency locking among stages. However, the use of heterodyne receivers also introduces unwanted spurs (i.e., spectral signals), which are attempted to be removed by filters. A traditional VNA usually generates a stimulus sine wave through frequency multiplication or division, which requires filtering to remove any resulting harmonics and sub-harmonics. Because of all these complicating factors (e.g., complexity, size, and cost) of a traditional VNA, only a few companies venture to build VNA's, which usually makes them large and expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

p-0006Various embodiments of a vector network analyzer (VNA) on an integrated circuit (IC) are presented below. In some embodiments, the VNA IC may be an ASIC that may replace many of the components in a VNA system. Using this VNA IC, a full-featured VNA can be built at a fraction of the cost of a traditional VNA while occupying less physical space.

p-0007The VNA IC may include a clock generator and two ports. The clock generator may comprise a tone generator, a signal conditioning unit, and a quadrature generator (e.g., a poly-phase filter bank). The tone generator may be able to generate a single clock signal, which may be transmitted to the signal conditioning unit. The signal conditioning unit may generate a filtered first clock signal and the stimulus signal, where the filtered clock signal may be transmitted to the quadrature generator. The quadrature generator may generate the I clock signal and the Q clock signal in response to receiving the filtered single clock signal. These I and Q clock signals may be used with receiver mixers to facilitate direct conversion.

p-0008Each of the two ports in the VNA IC may be coupled to a device under test (DUT) and may include a plurality of receivers and a VSWR bridge. Each of the two ports can be configured as an input or an output, for example the first port can act as an input with the second port as an output, and vice versa. The output port can provide the stimulus signal to the DUT and measure reference power using one of its receivers and reflected power using the other receiver, where its VSWR bridge may function as a directional device (and distinguish between the applied and reflected powers).

p-0009The input port can measure transmitted power through the DUT using a second VSWR bridge as a pass-through device. The receivers on both ports can receive the measurements and generate proportional DC signals by using direct conversion, which may use the I and Q clock signals from the clock generation unit. The VNA IC can provide the DC measurements to a processing unit after being low pass filtered and/or digitized (e.g., using analog-to-digital converters) for S-parameter calculations and/or or further analysis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

p-0010A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment is considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

p-0011<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a block diagram of a VNA system, including the VNA IC, according to some embodiments;

p-0012<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a block diagram of an exemplary VNA IC, according to some embodiments;

p-0013<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a block diagram of exemplary ports of the VNA IC, according to some embodiments;

p-0014<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a block diagram of an exemplary VSWR bridge, according to some embodiments;

p-0015<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a block diagram of an exemplary clock generator, according to some embodiments;

p-0016<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a block diagram of an exemplary receiver, according to some embodiments; and

p-0017<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is a flowchart of an exemplary operation of the VNA, according to some embodiments.

p-0018While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG.

1

—Block Diagram of a VNA System

p-0019<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> illustrates a general block diagram of a VNA system <b>100</b> that uses a VNA integrated circuit (IC), according to some embodiments. As used herein, the term “VNA IC” is intended to include any of various types of integrated circuits that are customized for a particular use. For example, the term “VNA IC” may include an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), including various types of ASICs such as a hybrid ASIC and/or an embedded array ASIC, an application specific standard product (ASSP), system-on-a-chip (SoC), programmable system on a chip (PSoC), and other integrated circuits customized by a user to contain the described VNA functionality. In some embodiments, more than one IC may be used to implement the described VNA functionality, i.e., a combination of two or more of any of the above described IC's may be used to implement the described VNA functionality. Additionally, in some embodiments, the one or more VNA IC's may contain additional elements and/or may contain fewer elements than described herein.

p-0020Thus <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> illustrates an exemplary VNA IC <b>106</b> that may be used in a dual-port VNA system <b>100</b>, according to some embodiments. The VNA system <b>100</b> may be coupled to a device under test (DUT) <b>104</b> (such as a dual-port DUT) through at least two connections <b>132</b> A/B. Furthermore, the VNA IC <b>106</b> may be directly coupled to the DUT <b>104</b>; alternatively there may be one or more components (not shown), such as electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection devices, pre-amplifiers, and/or attenuators, among others, between the connections of the VNA system <b>100</b> and the connections of the VNA IC <b>106</b>.

p-0021The VNA IC <b>106</b> may thus couple to the DUT <b>104</b> through port A and port B. As explained below, the VNA IC <b>106</b> may generate a stimulus signal and apply it to the DUT <b>104</b> through either port A <b>130</b>A or port B <b>130</b>B. At the same time, the VNA IC <b>106</b> may read applied power to the DUT <b>104</b>, reflected power back from the DUT <b>104</b>, and transmitted power through the DUT <b>104</b> through ports A and B <b>130</b>A/B respectively. In some embodiments, if port A <b>130</b>A outputs the stimulus signal to the DUT <b>104</b>, then port A <b>130</b>A can measure applied and reflected power, and port B <b>130</b>B can measure transmitted power; alternatively port B <b>130</b>B can measure applied and reflected power, and port A <b>130</b>A can measure transmitted power when port B <b>130</b> B outputs the stimulus signal to the DUT <b>104</b>. The VNA system <b>100</b> may repeat the measurements using different signal frequency and/or intensity, in order to gather more parameters and their possible variations when using different frequencies and/or power levels of the stimulus signal.

p-0022In some embodiments, the VNA IC <b>106</b> may repeat the measurements until it can output four sets of orthogonal in-phase (I) outputs, e.g., signals <b>140</b>A-<b>144</b>A, and quadrature (Q) outputs, e.g., signals <b>140</b>B-<b>144</b>B. In some embodiments, the I and Q outputs <b>140</b>A-<b>144</b>B are differential. In some embodiments, differential analog to digital converters (ADC's) <b>110</b>A-<b>110</b>H may be used to read the I and Q outputs <b>140</b>A-<b>144</b>B. In some embodiments, there may be eight differential ADC's (<b>110</b>A-<b>110</b>H) that are used to read four sets of differential I and Q data from the VNA IC <b>106</b>. The four sets of orthogonal outputs I signals <b>140</b>A-<b>144</b>A and Q signals <b>140</b>B-<b>144</b>B may be low-pass filtered by one or more low-pass filters <b>190</b>A-H and possibly amplified with one or more gain stages (not shown) prior to being propagated to the differential ADC's <b>110</b>A-H. The one or more optional gain stages may be incorporated into the low pass filters <b>190</b>A-H.

p-0023Thus the I and Q outputs <b>140</b>A-<b>144</b>B generated by the VNA IC <b>106</b> may be analog, and thus may need to be digitized prior to processing by one or more of a processing unit and/or a computer. The one or more low pass filters <b>190</b>A-H may be used to reject any out-of-band spurs and noise, which could alias and affect signal integrity (such as by increasing the signal to noise ratio) that may directly affect the quality of the measurement. The low-pass filters <b>190</b>A-H may also use one or more gain stages (also external to the VNA IC) that could translate the VNA IC output signal levels and biasing to those of the ADCs <b>110</b>A-H.

p-0024In some embodiments the ADC's <b>110</b>A-H may have a 12 bit or higher resolution. In some embodiments the ADC's <b>110</b>A-H may be able to sample at a rate of 2 mega samples per second or higher, but different resolutions and sampling rates are also contemplated. For example, lower effective sampling rates may be achieved by using programmable digital filtering inside the processing unit, i.e., in effect achieving better signal to noise ratios at the cost of slower measurement. In some embodiments, the ADC's <b>110</b>A-H may be operable to use a single common differential DC reference voltage. In some embodiments, the ADC's <b>110</b>A-H may use various other elements (not shown), such as a common low phase noise clock that controls the sampling of the ADC's <b>110</b>A-H.

p-0025The four sets of analog orthogonal signals (<b>140</b>A-<b>144</b>B) may first be low-pass filtered by the low pass filters <b>190</b>A-H before being processed by ADC's <b>110</b>A-H in order to avoid any aliasing issues in the ADC's. In some embodiments, the ADC's <b>110</b>A-H may digitize the analog signals from the I and Q outputs <b>140</b>A-<b>144</b>B to create digitized I and Q data signals <b>112</b>A-<b>112</b>H. In some embodiments, the digitized I and Q data signals <b>112</b>A-H may be received by a processing unit <b>108</b> for initial processing. The term “processing unit” includes various processing entities such as an FPGA, microprocessor, microcontroller, system on a chip (SoC), and/or a programmable system on a chip (PSoC), among others.

p-0026In some embodiments, the processing unit <b>108</b> may receive digitized I and Q data signals <b>112</b>A-<b>112</b>H and may perform initial processing. In some embodiments, the processing unit may send the processed data to a monitor for display via data lines <b>170</b>, or it may send the data to one or more storage devices (not shown). In some embodiments, the processing unit <b>108</b> may send the processed data to a host computer (not shown) for display via control and data lines <b>170</b>. The processing unit <b>108</b> may also communicate with memory, such as RAM, EEPROM, flash, among others, to store and/or retrieve any calibration constants to correct for any VNA system <b>100</b> errors.

p-0027The processing unit <b>108</b> may also control one or more of the ADC's <b>110</b>A-H, the Frequency Detector/PLL <b>116</b>, and the VNA IC <b>106</b>. For example, the processing unit <b>108</b> may instruct the ADC's <b>110</b>A-H when to start sampling and whether to apply any internal calibration constants when acquiring data from the VNA IC <b>106</b>. The PLL <b>116</b> may be operable to calibrate frequency. For example, in some embodiments, a system clock may be used to calibrate any VNA IC internal voltage controlled oscillators (VCO, such as the tone generator <b>502</b> of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>) with the use of the PLL <b>116</b>. In some embodiments, a system clock of 100 MHz may be used, but other rates are also contemplated. However, since the VNA IC <b>106</b> may not use intermediate frequency (IF), it may not need any other separate PLL's, such as may be needed for other VNA designs.

p-0028Specifically, in some embodiments, the tone generator <b>502</b> (e.g., a VCO) may have a high frequency tolerance due to component tolerances. To obtain higher frequency accuracy, each of the settings of the tone generator <b>502</b>, such as the addition or removal of a binary weighted capacitor from the VCO tank or switching to a different VCO body, may be characterized. The clock output <b>118</b> of the VNA IC may be compared to a reference clock whose frequency accuracy is well known, e.g., either a 100 MHz system clock <b>120</b> or an external clock reference <b>122</b>. In some embodiments, the comparison of frequency may be done by the PLL <b>116</b>.

p-0029In some embodiments, the processing unit <b>108</b> may configure the tone generator <b>502</b> of the VNA IC to output a desired frequency. Due to the tolerances mentioned above, this frequency may be only approximately met. The processing unit may also configure the PLL <b>116</b> to expect a set frequency coming out of the VNA IC (e.g., via signal <b>118</b>). Depending on the difference between the set frequency and the actual frequency generated by a clock generator <b>500</b> (see <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>), the PLL <b>116</b> may determine and inform the processing unit <b>108</b> of any discrepancy. The processing unit <b>108</b> may then attempt to change and optimize (e.g., send control signals and/or configure some register(s)) component parameter(s) inside the tone generator <b>502</b>, such as changing a voltage applied across a varactor (not shown) to minimize any difference between the set frequency and the actually generated frequency. This calibration procedure may be repeated until the error is smaller than some specified value. As mentioned above, the PLL <b>108</b> may use a reference clock whose accuracy is well known (e.g., the system clock <b>120</b> and/or the external clock reference <b>122</b>) for the frequency comparison. The processing unit may store the VCO settings that resulted in optimum frequency accuracy in a memory device to later retrieval of the VCO settings and subsequent use during measurements.

p-0030Furthermore, during frequency calibration, the processing unit <b>108</b> may instruct the PLL <b>116</b> which frequency rates to compare—either of its two reference clock inputs with a clock output <b>118</b> of the VNA IC <b>106</b>. The processing unit <b>108</b> may also instruct the PLL <b>116</b> to use one or more calibration constants to correct any errors (and/or to compensate for some discrepancy such as drift) inside the PLL itself <b>116</b>. The processing unit <b>108</b> may also program the VNA IC <b>106</b> with one or more settings, such as an amount of gain needed at a particular receiver, a frequency to be generated, which port is an input or an output, among others.

FIG.

2

—Block Diagram of a VNA IC

p-0031<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> illustrates a general block diagram of a VNA integrated circuit (IC), according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the VNA IC <b>106</b> is a dual-port device, although devices with more ports are contemplated. In some embodiments, the VNA IC <b>106</b> may operate in a fully differential mode, but can also operate in a single-ended mode if it is properly terminated. The VNA IC <b>106</b> may be connected to the DUT <b>104</b> to find the DUT's S-parameters. The VNA IC <b>106</b> may get its power (e.g., DC power) via power connections <b>180</b>. The VNA IC <b>106</b> may also contain implicit ground connections for power return and signal grounding (not shown). The VNA IC <b>106</b> may be controlled and/or programmed by control lines <b>160</b> by the processing unit <b>108</b> (see <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>).

p-0032Thus the VNA IC <b>106</b> may comprise two or more ports, such as port A <b>130</b>A and port B <b>130</b>B. The VNA IC <b>106</b> may be coupled to the DUT <b>104</b> using the two ports <b>130</b>A-B. The VNA IC may generate a stimulus signal (e.g., a sine wave) and transmit the stimulus to the DUT. Each of the two (or more) ports <b>130</b>A-B may include at least two receivers. In the first port (e.g., output port A <b>130</b>A), the receivers may measure the output power as a reference and measure the reflected power from the DUT <b>104</b>. One of the receivers in the other port (e.g., input port B <b>130</b>B) may measure the transmitted power through the DUT <b>104</b>. In some embodiments, the stimulus signal may be used as a local clock for all the receivers, which may result in the outputs having a frequency of 0 Hz (or DC). The outputs, after being digitized and/or calibrated, may represent S-parameters of the DUT <b>104</b>. The processing unit (element <b>108</b> of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>) may change the frequency and/or amplitude by communicating with the VNA IC <b>106</b> through its control lines <b>160</b>.

p-0033In some embodiments, ports A and B <b>130</b>A-B of the VNA IC <b>106</b> may be radio frequency (RF) measurement ports that connect via leads <b>132</b> A/B to the DUT <b>104</b>. In some embodiments, each of the ports A and B <b>130</b>A/B may have two receivers (e.g., port A may have a first and a second receiver and port B may have a third and a fourth receiver). If port A <b>130</b>A is used as an output port, the first receiver may be used as a reference to measure the output power and the second receiver may read the reflected power from the DUT. In this case, port B may be used as an input port where the fourth receiver may measure the transmitted power through the DUT. After digitization and processing, this measurement may result in two of the total four S-parameters of the dual-port DUT (these two S parameters being S₁₁and S₂₁). Ports A and B may exchange their roles to generate the remaining S-parameters of the dual-port DUT (where these two remaining S parameters may be S₂₂and S₁₂).

p-0034In some embodiments, direct-conversion may be used by the receivers (see below). Thus the output of the receivers may be at a DC level, and two orthogonal measurements may be used to represent gain and phase information. The two orthogonal measurements may include an I (in-phase component) and Q (quadrature-phase component) signals. For instance, with reference to exemplary <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, signal named “Rx1DC_I” <b>140</b>A may be the I-channel DC output of the first receiver. As mentioned above, the output signals <b>140</b>A-<b>144</b>B may be differential signals comprising two connections for each of the signals <b>140</b>A/B (e.g., Rx<b>1</b>_DC_I+ and Rx<b>1</b>_DC_I−), which may be received by a differential-input analog-to-digital converter (ADC), such as one or more of the ADC's <b>110</b>A-<b>110</b>H of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>. As mentioned above, the output of the ADC may be transmitted to the processing unit for further analysis. In some embodiments, the VNA IC <b>106</b> may have four receivers, thus there may be eight differential DC outputs <b>140</b>A-<b>144</b>B coming out from the VNA IC <b>106</b>, which may use eight differential-input ADC's.

p-0035In some embodiments, the VNA IC <b>106</b> may also output a clock signal <b>118</b> (e.g., a sine wave). The clock signal may be provided as an output so that other devices of the VNA system <b>100</b> may perform frequency calibration or multiple device synchronization (i.e., may be used by the processing unit and/or the PLL as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>).

FIG.

3

—Block Diagram of Ports A and B of the VNA IC

p-0036<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a block diagram of ports A and B of an exemplary VNA IC, according to some embodiments.

p-0037In some embodiments, port A <b>130</b>A of the VNA IC <b>106</b> may comprise a first switch S<b>1</b><b>340</b>A, a first voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) bridge <b>302</b>A, and receivers <b>310</b>A and <b>312</b>A, such as a first receiver <b>310</b>A and a second receiver <b>312</b>A. Similarly, in some embodiments, port B <b>130</b>B of the VNA IC may comprise a second switch S<b>2</b><b>340</b>B, a second VSWR bridge <b>302</b>B, and receivers <b>310</b>B and <b>312</b>B, such as a third receiver <b>310</b>B and a fourth receiver <b>312</b>B. The VNA may contain one or more switches (e.g., switch S<b>1</b><b>340</b>A and switch S<b>2</b><b>340</b>B) that may control which of the two ports acts as the output and which port acts as the input.

p-0038In some embodiments, if port A <b>130</b>A is selected as an input, then port B <b>130</b>B may be the output. In some embodiments, each port may have two receivers. In some embodiments one or more of the ports has only one receiver. In some embodiments, each port may have a different number of receivers, e.g., port A may have <b>1</b> receiver and port B may have <b>3</b> receivers, or both ports may have <b>3</b> receivers each. In some embodiments, switches S<b>1</b> and S<b>2</b><b>340</b>A-B may be the same switch. In some embodiments, switches S<b>1</b> and S<b>2</b><b>340</b>A-B may be two separate switches controlled by a single control signal and/or a hardware register. In some embodiments, other implementations of switching functionality between the ports are contemplated.

p-0039For example, Port A may have two receivers: “Rx1” and “Rx2” (e.g., see <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1 and 2</figref>). In some embodiments, a first receiver may provide a reference measurement when Port A is set as the output port (and port B is the input port). In some embodiments, under the same conditions, the second receiver <b>312</b>A of the first port (e.g., port A <b>130</b>A) may read (via <b>132</b>A) a reflected power measurement from the DUT. It is noted that the first and second receivers are naming conventions only. Furthermore, one of the receivers on the second port (e.g., port B <b>130</b>B) may measure (e.g., via <b>132</b>B) transmitted power through the DUT.

p-0040In some embodiments, after the first port <b>130</b>A makes its measurements, the functionality of the two ports may switch. Thus the first measurement port <b>130</b>A (i.e., first port or port A) may be used as an input port and the second measurement port <b>130</b>B (i.e., second port or port B) may be used as the output port. The second receiver <b>312</b>A may measure the (reverse) transmitted power through the DUT when Port A is the input and Port B is set as the output.

FIG.

4

—Exemplary VSWR Bridge

p-0041<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a block diagram of an exemplary voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) bridge according to some embodiments.

p-0042In some embodiments, each VSWR bridge <b>302</b> may act as a directional device that allows distinct measurements between applied and reflected powers. In other words, in some instances the same port may both provide a stimulus signal to the DUT and measure reflected power back from the DUT. In order to somehow differentiate between the measurement of the applied and reflected powers, a directional device may be used, such as a VSWR bridge <b>302</b>. Thus the use of a directional device, such as a VSWR bridge <b>302</b>, may allow the VNA to measure both the applied and reflected powers using the same port, but using separate receivers. In some embodiments other directional devices are contemplated.

p-0043Thus in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, an exemplary VSWR bridge <b>302</b> may allow measurements of both applied and reflected powers from the DUT. The applied power measurement may be used as a reference measurement, i.e., measure the actual stimulus signal being applied to the DUT. In some embodiments, each receiver may use differential signals to connect to the VSWR bridge <b>302</b>. For example, the first receiver may connect to the VSWR bridge using connections <b>408</b>A-D, and the second receiver may connect to the VSWR bridge <b>302</b> using connections <b>412</b>A-D. In some embodiments, the reflected or transmitted power (depending on the configuration of the port containing the receiver that contains/uses the VSWR bridge, i.e., output or input respectively) may be measured using the <b>412</b>A-D connections. In some embodiments, the reference measurement may be taken using the <b>408</b>A-D leads (such as when using the port that contains the receiver as the output port).

p-0044In some embodiments, the VSWR bridge <b>302</b> may couple to the DUT using connections <b>406</b>A-B, which correspond to the leads <b>132</b>A-B of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1-3</figref> (such as <b>406</b>A and <b>406</b>B corresponding to differential connections <b>132</b>A for port A, with similar differential connections <b>132</b>B for port B). In some embodiments, the connections <b>406</b>A-B to the DUT are also differential connections. In some embodiments, some or all of the listed connections are single-ended connections.

p-0045In some embodiments, the VSWR bridge <b>302</b> may comprise multiple resistors <b>404</b>A-F. In some embodiments, each of the resistors <b>404</b>A-F are substantially similar. In some embodiments, each of the resistors <b>404</b>A-F are precision resistors. It is noted that the number and placement of resistors <b>404</b>A-F is exemplary only, and solutions with a different number and/or placement of resistors are contemplated. The resistors <b>404</b>A-F may be “on-chip” resistors, i.e., may be a part of the VNA IC; however, in some embodiments one or more of the resistors <b>404</b>A-F may be external resistors to the VNA IC.

FIG.

5

—Exemplary Clock Generator

p-0046<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a block diagram of an exemplary clock generator, according to some embodiments.

p-0047In some embodiments, the VNA IC may include a single clock generation unit <b>500</b>. In some embodiments, the clock generation unit <b>500</b> may comprise one or more of a tone generator <b>502</b>, a signal conditioning unit <b>504</b>, and/or a poly-phase filter bank <b>506</b> (e.g., that may act as a quadrature generator). The tone generator <b>502</b> may be operable to output a single clock signal <b>510</b>, such as a sinusoidal wave with a first frequency. It is understood that the frequency of the tone generator <b>502</b> may be tunable. Thus the VNA IC may be able to repeat the measurements described herein using different frequencies. In some embodiments, a system clock (e.g., inputs <b>120</b>/<b>122</b>) may be used to calibrate the tone generator <b>502</b>, such as a voltage controlled oscillators (VCO). The tone generator <b>502</b> may be controller by a user and/or an application, meaning that the user and/or the application may control one or more frequencies at which the VNA IC takes its measurements.

p-0048In some embodiments, the tone generator <b>502</b> may output two or more clock signals (or a copy of the single clock signal <b>510</b>). In other words, the single clock generation unit <b>500</b> may also output a copy <b>118</b> of the single clock signal (or the single clock signal may be split-up/buffered into the copy of the single clock signal). The tone generator <b>502</b> may be a voltage controlled oscillator operable to generate a single clock signal <b>510</b> having a wide range of frequencies. The tone generator <b>502</b> may be controlled by a variety of devices, such as by setting one or more registers to switch in binary weighted capacitors (not shown), and/or by powering up different sections of the tone generator <b>502</b> (where each section may cover some portion of a frequency range), among others. In some embodiments, a varactor diode (not shown) may be connected in parallel with the binary weighted capacitors to facilitate fine tuning of frequency of the VCO. Capacitance of the varactor diode may be controlled by a digital-to-analog converter DAC (not shown). This DAC may be controlled by a register that may be set (e.g., by some logic and/or a user).

p-0049The signal conditioning unit <b>504</b> may perform signal conditioning on the single clock signal <b>510</b> and generate several signals, including a stimulus signal <b>512</b> and/or a fixed amplitude copy of the stimulus signal <b>514</b>, among others. Thus the signal conditioning unit <b>504</b> may perform amplification and/or attenuation adjustment on the single clock signal <b>510</b>. The stimulus signal <b>512</b> may be applied to the DUT; alternatively the stimulus signal <b>512</b> may be further filtered and/or amplified/attenuated before applying to the DUT. As mentioned above, the stimulus signal <b>512</b> may be applied to one of the ports.

p-0050In some embodiments, the signal conditioning unit may perform some gain adjustments on the received single clock signal <b>510</b> prior to generating the stimulus signal <b>512</b> and/or the filtered clock signal <b>514</b>, among others. In some embodiments, the signal conditioning unit may generate a clock signal <b>118</b> that may be propagated to the PLL <b>116</b> of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>. Alternatively the clock signal <b>118</b> can be generated by the tone generator <b>502</b> directly.

p-0051The poly-phase filter bank <b>506</b> may receive the fixed amplitude copy of the stimulus signal <b>514</b> and generate orthogonal in-phase (I) <b>520</b> and quadrature (Q) <b>522</b> clock signals. The poly-phase filter bank <b>506</b> may comprise multiple stages and/or a bank of multi-stage poly-phase filters to cover a wide range of frequency and achieve a desired accuracy. Additional gain units internal to the poly-phase filter bank block may be used, such as to make up any loss in signal level due to passing of the clock signal(s) through the multiple stages of the poly-phase filter bank <b>506</b>.

p-0052Use of direct conversion has numerous advantages to the VNA IC, such as it enables the VNA IC to use only one clock generator as opposed to multiple clock generators (such as used by traditional VNA's). Furthermore, the use of the single clock generation unit <b>500</b> may limit the number and use of PLLs. For example, in some embodiments only one PLL (e.g., PLL <b>110</b> of Figure may be needed as opposed to multiple PLL's, which may limit the space and power requirements of the VNA IC.

FIG.

6

—Exemplary Receiver

p-0053<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a block diagram of an exemplary receiver, according to some embodiments.

p-0054In some embodiments, the dual-port VNA IC may comprise four or more receivers, but VNA ICs that use fewer receivers are also contemplated. For example, in some embodiments, one or more of the ports in the VNA IC may not use a second receiver to measure its reference voltage (e.g., the actual output stimulus signal), and may use a different method to measure and/or use the value of the stimulus signal, and/or may operate in single-ended fashion.

p-0055<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> shows an exemplary receiver <b>600</b> comprised in the VNA IC. In some embodiments, the receiver <b>600</b> may receive an input <b>400</b> (also referred to as intermediate measurement signal(s)) from a VSWR bridge, such as indicated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> (e.g., using leads <b>408</b>A-D or <b>412</b>A-D). In some embodiments, the receiver may have an amplifier <b>602</b>, such as a multi-stage variable gain amplifier (VGA). In some embodiments, other types of the amplifier <b>602</b> are contemplated. In some embodiments, two or more amplifiers may be used instead. The amplifier <b>602</b> may propagate two signals <b>608</b> A-B to two mixers <b>604</b>A and <b>604</b>B. In some embodiments, the amplifier <b>602</b> may generate/propagate one amplified signal <b>608</b> which then may be split.

p-0056Each of the mixers <b>604</b> A/B may receive a clock signal <b>520</b>/<b>522</b> from the clock generator. For example, a first mixer <b>604</b>A may receive the I clock signal <b>520</b> as well as the input <b>400</b> from a VSWR bridge. The first mixer <b>604</b>A may then mix these two signals (i.e., the I clock signal <b>520</b> and the input <b>400</b>) together to generate a first in-phase (I) signal <b>140</b>A. Similarly, a second mixer <b>604</b>B may receive the Q clock signal <b>522</b> as well as the input <b>400</b> from a VSWR bridge. The second mixer <b>604</b>B may then mix these two signals (i.e., the Q clock signal <b>522</b> and the input <b>400</b>) together to generate a first quadrature (Q) signal <b>140</b>B.

p-0057As mentioned above, the VNA IC <b>106</b> may comprise four or more receivers, such as receiver <b>600</b>, and repeat the above calculations until it can output four sets of orthogonal signal outputs, i.e., I signals <b>140</b>A-<b>144</b>A and Q signals <b>140</b>B-<b>144</b>B. As mentioned above with reference to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, the four sets of orthogonal signals may first be low-pass filtered before being processed by ADC's and then propagated to a processing unit for analysis.

FIG.

7

—Flowchart of VNA Operation

p-0058<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is an exemplary flowchart of operation of the VNA. The method shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> may be used in conjunction with the VNA IC shown in the above Figures, among other devices. In various embodiments, some of the method elements shown may be performed concurrently, in a different order than shown, or may be omitted. Additional method elements may also be performed as desired.

p-0059In <b>702</b>, a first measurement may be taken. For example, in the exemplary VNA of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, port A may be set as an output and port B may be set as an input. The DUT may be coupled to the VNA as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>. Port A may propagate a stimulus signal to the DUT, and it may measure reflected power using one of its receivers. Port A may also use another receiver to measure the actual signal being applied to the DUT (e.g., take an applied power measurement for reference). The resulting measurement may be the S-parameter S₁₁of the DUT. Port B may be idle in this part of the measurement.

p-0060In <b>704</b>, a second measurement may be taken. For example, in the exemplary VNA of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, port A may still be an output and port B may still be an input. The DUT may be coupled to the VNA as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>. Port A may propagate a stimulus signal to the DUT, and it may use a receiver to measure the actual signal being applied to the DUT (e.g., take a reference measurement). Port B may measure the transmitted, or pass-through, power using one of its receivers. The resulting measurement may be the S-parameter S₂₁of the DUT. In some embodiments, measurements <b>702</b> and <b>704</b> may be performed simultaneously. In some embodiments, the measurements <b>702</b> and <b>704</b> may be performed in reverse order.

p-0061In <b>706</b>, a third measurement may be taken. For example, in the exemplary VNA of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, port B may be set as an output and port A may be set as an input. The DUT may be coupled to the VNA as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>. Port B may propagate a stimulus signal to the DUT, and it may measure reflected power using one of its receivers. Port B may also use another receiver to measure the actual signal being applied to the DUT (e.g., take an applied power measurement as a reference). The resulting measurement may be the S-parameter S₂₂of the DUT. Port A may be idle in this part of the measurement.

p-0062In <b>708</b>, a fourth measurement may be taken. For example, in the exemplary VNA of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, port B may still be an output and port A may still be an input. The DUT may be coupled to the VNA as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>. Port B may propagate a stimulus signal to the DUT, and it may use a receiver to measure the actual signal being applied to the DUT (e.g., take a reference measurement). Port A may measure the reverse transmitted, or reverse pass-through, power using one of its receivers. The resulting measurement may be the S-parameter S₁₂of the DUT. In some embodiments, measurements <b>706</b> and <b>708</b> may be performed simultaneously. In some embodiments, the measurements <b>706</b> and <b>708</b> may be performed in reverse order. Furthermore, in some embodiments, all the above measurements <b>702</b>-<b>708</b> may occur in different order than described.

p-0063Although the embodiments above have been described in considerable detail, numerous variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. For example, most of the discussion up to this point assumed a dual-port DUT. However, a single-port DUT may be connected to either of the VNA ports to have reflection measurements performed on it. Thus it is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such variations and modifications.