Improving Transmit/Receive Module Test Accuracy and Throughput

Phased arrays have been used in radar applications for many decades. Recent trends are driving their adoption into other applications such as Electronic Warfare (EW), satellite systems, and even 5G communications. There are several new component technologies that are driving this migration: multiple transmit/receive (T/R) modules on a chip, higher-performance PCB laminates, and the acceptance of GaN as a power amplifier (PA) semiconductor process.

Characterizing a T/R module places a high demand on a test system's performance and flexibility. The test system needs to support a variety of test modes while maintaining accuracy and constantly improving throughput. In many cases, it must measure high output power while at the same time delivering very low, highly accurate stimulus power. The system must provide intermodulation measurements on pulsed signals and also on frequency-converting devices under test (DUTs). As a rule, noise figure and/or spectral measurements are also required. T/R modules with separate TX and RX paths and an antenna connector call for three-port measurements and also typically require two LO signals.