An electronic calibration component and a port calibration method for a vector network analyzer

Abstract

An electronic calibration component and a calibration method for a vector network analyzer, wherein the electronic calibration component comprises at least three interfaces connected to the calibrated ports of the vector network analyzer and a load calibration unit, a control processing unit, a switch connection unit and a data communication unit. The load calibration unit performs load calibration on the calibrated port, the control processing unit outputs corresponding control instructions in response to the calibrated port and the calibration mode specified by the user, the switch connection unit connects the load calibration unit and the interface or connects any two interfaces in response to the control instruction, and the data communication unit is used for data transmission between the vector network analyzer and the control processing unit. By calibrating the external ports of the network analyzer through the multiple interfaces of the electronic calibration component, not only can the multiple calibration ports of the vector network analyzer be checked in a time-sharing asynchronous manner, but also the interfaces of the electronic calibration component can be used as calibration ports of the vector network analyzer to expand the number of its external ports.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of communication test instruments and meters, and in particular to an electronic calibration component and a port calibration method for a vector network analyzer. Background Art

[0002] As a universal S parameter test instrument, vector network analyzer is widely used in various scientific research institutions, laboratories, and production lines for S parameter measurement, such as various antenna tests, cavity filter tests, dielectric filter tests, circulator tests, coupler tests, splitter combiner tests, etc. Before using the network analyzer for measurement, the test equipment and the device to be tested need to be physically connected (connect the calibration device or the device under test), and they need to be calibrated separately (the main reason is that there are some errors in the vector network analyzer itself, and calibration is required to ensure measurement accuracy). The measurement errors of the vector network analyzer include directivity error, source matching error, reflection tracking error, load matching error, and transmission tracking error. Among them, directivity error, source matching error, and reflection tracking error are single port errors of the network analyzer, which are determined by directly connecting different types of standard test pieces (OPEN standard pieces, SHORTT standard pieces, and LOAD standard pieces), respectively. Load matching error and transmission tracking error need to be determined by external through-line (THRU standard pieces). Therefore, when calibrating a multi-port vector network analyzer, at least a set of OPEN standards, SHORTT standards, LOAD standards and THRU standards are required for calibration. At present, the through calibration between any ports of the vector network analyzer is implemented by interpolating the electronic calibration parts. This calibration method often ignores the differences between different ports and will also cause measurement errors. Summary of the invention

[0003] The main technical problem solved by the present invention is how to use an electronic calibration component to calibrate multiple external ports of a vector network analyzer.

[0004] According to a first aspect, an embodiment provides an electronic calibration component for calibrating a vector network analyzer, the electronic calibration component comprising:

[0005] At least three interfaces, the interfaces being used at least to connect to a calibrated port of a vector network analyzer during calibration;

[0006] The load calibration units are the same in number as the interfaces, and are used to perform load calibration on the ports to be calibrated;

[0007] A control processing unit, configured to output corresponding control instructions in response to a calibrated port and a calibration mode specified by a user, wherein the calibration mode includes a load calibration mode and a through calibration mode;

[0008] a switch connection unit, comprising a switch matrix composed of at least four switches, wherein the switch connection unit controls corresponding switches to switch in response to the control instruction, and when the control instruction is a first instruction to perform load calibration on the calibrated port specified by the user, the interface connected to the calibrated port specified by the user is connected to the load calibration unit corresponding to the interface, so as to perform load calibration on the calibrated port specified by the user; when the control instruction is a second instruction to perform through calibration on two calibrated ports specified by the user, two interfaces connected to the two calibrated ports specified by the user are connected, so as to perform through calibration on the two calibrated ports specified by the user;

[0009] The data communication unit is used for being electrically connected to the vector network analyzer being calibrated. The data communication unit is also electrically connected to the control processing unit and is used for data transmission between the vector network analyzer being calibrated and the control processing unit.

[0010] In one embodiment, the control processing unit is also used to calculate the vector characteristic parameters of the specified port under a specified calibration mode, and the data communication unit also transmits the vector characteristic parameters of the specified port calculated by the control processing unit to the calibrated vector network analyzer, so that the calibrated vector network analyzer updates its own parameters when measuring the vector characteristics of the network under test.

[0011] In one embodiment, the electronic calibration component further includes a storage unit, and the control processing unit stores the calculated vector characteristic parameters of the designated port in the storage unit.

[0012] In one embodiment, the electronic calibration component also includes an attenuator, which is configured to be connected in series to a path connecting any two interfaces through the switch connection unit, and the control processing unit calculates the vector characteristic parameters of the specified port in the through calibration mode with attenuation, and compares the vector characteristic parameters in the through calibration mode with attenuation with the vector characteristic parameters in the through calibration mode without attenuation, and determines whether the electronic calibration component has completed the calibration of the vector network analyzer based on the comparison result.

[0013] In one embodiment, the data communication unit is a USB module, and when the USB module is electrically connected to the vector network analyzer to be calibrated, it also provides power to the electronic calibration component.

[0014] In one embodiment, the electronic calibration component further includes a temperature control unit for adjusting the operating temperature of the load calibration unit to be maintained within a preset temperature threshold range.

[0015] In one embodiment, the switch is a radio frequency switch.

[0016] In one embodiment, the load calibration unit includes at least one of a test SHORT circuit, a test OPEN circuit and a test LOAD circuit, and the load calibration mode is used to connect the test SHORT circuit, the test OPEN circuit and / or the test LOAD circuit to the interface to calibrate the interface.

[0017] According to a second aspect, an embodiment provides a port calibration method for a vector network analyzer, wherein the vector network analyzer is calibrated by an electronic calibration component, wherein the electronic calibration component includes at least three interfaces, a load calibration unit having the same number as the interfaces, a control processing unit, and a switch connection unit, and the port calibration method includes:

[0018] The electronic calibration component receives instructions of a calibrated port and a calibration mode specified by a user through a calibration display interface of a vector network analyzer, wherein the calibration mode includes a load calibration mode and a through calibration mode;

[0019] Determine whether the interface of the electronic calibration component is connected to the specified calibrated port, and if so, send calibration information to the control processing unit of the electronic calibration component, the calibration information including the calibrated port and calibration mode specified by the user;

[0020] The control processing unit outputs corresponding control instructions in response to the calibrated port and calibration mode specified by the user;

[0021] The switch connection unit controls the corresponding switch to switch in response to the control instruction, so that when the control instruction is a first instruction to perform load calibration on the calibrated port specified by the user, the interface connected to the calibrated port specified by the user is connected to the load calibration unit corresponding to the interface, so as to perform load calibration on the calibrated port specified by the user; when the control instruction is a second instruction to perform through calibration on the two calibrated ports specified by the user, the two interfaces connected to the two calibrated ports specified by the user are connected, so as to perform through calibration on the two calibrated ports specified by the user;

[0022] Calculate a first vector characteristic parameter measured by the vector network analyzer through the electronic calibration component on a designated calibrated port in a designated calibration mode;

[0023] The first vector characteristic parameter is used to update the own parameters corresponding to the parameter type of the first vector parameter recorded by the vector network analyzer, wherein the own parameters are parameters related to the own characteristics of the vector network analyzer used by the vector network analyzer when measuring the vector characteristics of the network under test.

[0024] In one embodiment, the electronic calibration component further includes an attenuator, and the attenuator is configured to be connected in series to a path connecting any two interfaces through a switch connection unit, and the port calibration method further includes:

[0025] After executing calibration of the designated calibrated port in the designated calibration mode, the control processing unit outputs a calibration confirmation instruction;

[0026] The switch connection unit connects the attenuator in series to a path communicating with two interfaces connected to two calibrated ports specified by a user in response to the calibration confirmation instruction;

[0027] Calculate the vector characteristic parameters of the specified port in the through calibration mode with attenuation, compare the vector characteristic parameters in the through calibration mode with attenuation with the vector characteristic parameters in the through calibration mode without attenuation, and determine whether the electronic calibration component has completed the calibration of the vector network analyzer based on the comparison result.

[0028] When the electronic calibration component according to the above embodiment calibrates multiple external ports of the vector network analyzer, each external port of the vector network analyzer can be checked in a time-sharing asynchronous manner, thereby expanding the number of external ports of the vector network analyzer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Figure 1 is a structural block diagram of an electronic calibration component in an embodiment;

[0030] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structural connection of a load calibration unit in an embodiment;

[0031] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a flow chart of a port calibration method in an embodiment;

[0032] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structural connection of a four-port electronic calibration device in an embodiment;

[0033] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structural connection of a switch connection unit in an embodiment;

[0034] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of circuit connection of a switch connection unit in an embodiment;

[0035] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the arrangement of electronic components of a radio frequency switch circuit board in an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The present invention is further described in detail below by specific embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Wherein similar elements in different embodiments adopt associated similar element numbers. In the following embodiments, many detailed descriptions are for making the present application better understood. However, those skilled in the art can easily recognize that some features can be omitted in different situations, or can be replaced by other elements, materials, methods. In some cases, some operations related to the present application are not shown or described in the specification, this is to avoid the core part of the present application being overwhelmed by too much description, and for those skilled in the art, it is not necessary to describe these related operations in detail, and they can fully understand the related operations according to the description in the specification and the general technical knowledge in the art.

[0037] In addition, the features, operations or characteristics described in the specification can be combined in any appropriate manner to form various implementations. At the same time, the steps or actions in the method description can also be interchanged or adjusted in a manner that is obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the various sequences in the specification and the drawings are only for the purpose of clearly describing a certain embodiment and are not meant to be a required sequence, unless otherwise specified that a certain sequence must be followed.

[0038] The serial numbers assigned to the components herein, such as "first", "second", etc., are only used to distinguish the objects described and do not have any order or technical meaning. The "connection" and "coupling" mentioned in this application, unless otherwise specified, include direct and indirect connections (couplings).

[0039] In an embodiment of the present application, the electronic calibration component includes multiple interfaces. When calibrating multiple external ports of a vector network analyzer, each external port is connected to an interface of the electronic calibration component. By connecting the interface of the electronic calibration component to the load calibration unit, each external port of the vector network analyzer can be calibrated in a time-sharing asynchronous manner, and there is no need to manually connect the external ports of the vector network analyzer to the electronic standard component in sequence for calibration, thereby improving the calibration efficiency and calibration accuracy of the vector network analysis. Furthermore, the multiple interfaces of the electronic calibration component can also be used as external ports of the vector network analyzer to expand the number of external ports of the vector network analyzer.

[0040] Embodiment 1:

[0041] Please refer to Figure 1, is a structural block diagram of an electronic calibration component in an embodiment, the electronic calibration component 1 is used to calibrate a vector network analyzer 2, and includes at least three interfaces 11, load calibration units 12 of the same number as the interfaces 11, a control processing unit 13, a switch connection unit 14, and a data communication unit 15. Each interface 11 is at least used to connect to the calibrated port of the vector network analyzer 2 during calibration, the load calibration unit 12 is used to perform load calibration on the calibrated port, and the control processing unit 13 is used to output corresponding control instructions in response to the calibrated port and calibration mode specified by the user, and the calibration mode includes a load calibration mode and a through calibration mode. The switch connection unit 14 includes a switch matrix composed of at least four switches, and the switch connection unit responds to the control instruction to control the corresponding switch to switch. When the control instruction is a first instruction to perform load calibration on the calibrated port specified by the user, the interface 11 connected to the calibrated port specified by the user and the load calibration unit 12 corresponding to the interface 11 are connected, so as to perform load calibration on the calibrated port specified by the user. When the control instruction is a second instruction for performing through calibration on the two calibrated ports specified by the user, the two interfaces 11 connected to the two calibrated ports specified by the user are communicated so as to perform through calibration on the two calibrated ports specified by the user. The data communication unit 15 is used to be electrically connected to the vector network analyzer 2 to be calibrated. The data communication unit 15 is also electrically connected to the control processing unit 13 to perform data transmission between the vector network analyzer 2 to be calibrated and the control processing unit 13.

[0042] In one embodiment, the load calibration mode includes not only single-port calibration of the external port (port to be calibrated) of the vector network analyzer 2, but also single-port calibration of the interface 11 when the interface 11 of the electronic calibration component 1 is used as the extended external interface (port to be calibrated) of the vector network analyzer 2. In one embodiment, the through calibration mode is to directly connect the external port of the vector network analyzer 2 through the electronic calibration component 1 to perform through calibration on the two directly connected external ports.

[0043] In one embodiment, the control processing unit 13 is also used to calculate the vector characteristic parameters of the specified port in a specified calibration mode, and the data communication unit 15 also transmits the vector characteristic parameters of the specified port calculated by the control processing unit 13 to the calibrated vector network analyzer 2, so that the calibrated vector network analyzer 2 updates its own parameters when measuring the vector characteristics of the network under test.

[0044] In one embodiment, the electronic calibration component 1 further includes a storage unit 16, and the control processing unit 13 stores the calculated vector characteristic parameters of the designated port (used as an external port for vector network analysis) in the storage unit 16. In one embodiment, the switch connection unit 14 includes a switch matrix composed of at least six switches, and the electronic calibration component 1 further includes an attenuator 17, which is configured to be connected in series to a path connected by any two interfaces 11 through the switch connection unit 14. The control processing unit 13 calculates the vector characteristic parameters of the designated port in the through calibration mode with attenuation, and compares the vector characteristic parameters in the through calibration mode with attenuation with the vector characteristic parameters in the through calibration mode without attenuation, and determines whether the electronic calibration component has completed the calibration of the vector network analyzer 2 according to the comparison result.

[0045] In one embodiment, the data communication unit 15 is a USB module, which, when electrically connected to the vector network analyzer 2 to be calibrated, also provides power to the electronic calibration component 1. In one embodiment, the USB module includes a type interface. In one embodiment, the electronic calibration component 1 also includes a temperature control unit for adjusting the operating temperature of the load calibration unit 12 to be maintained within a preset temperature threshold range. In one embodiment, the switch of the switch connection unit 14 is a radio frequency switch.

[0046] In one embodiment, different interfaces of the electronic calibration component are also used to respectively connect the device under test and the vector network analyzer, to establish a direct connection between the external port of the vector network analyzer and the device under test, so as to expand the number of external ports of the vector network analyzer.

[0047] Please refer to Figure 2 , is a structural connection diagram of a load calibration unit in an embodiment, the load calibration unit 12 includes at least one of a test SHORT circuit 21, a test OPEN circuit 22 and a test LOAD circuit 23, and the test SHORT circuit 21, the test OPEN circuit 22 and the test LOAD circuit 23 are electrically connected to the interface 11 through a connection switch circuit 24. In the load calibration mode, the connection switch circuit 24 responds to the control electrical signal issued by the control processing unit 13 to connect one of the test SHORT circuit 21, the test OPEN circuit 22 and the test LOAD circuit 23 to the interface 11, so as to connect the test SHORT circuit 21, the test OPEN circuit 22 or the test LOAD circuit 23 to the interface, so as to verify the interface 11.

[0048] Please refer to Figure 3 , is a flow chart of a port calibration method in an embodiment, which is used to calibrate a vector network analyzer through an electronic calibration component, wherein the electronic calibration component includes at least three interfaces, a load calibration unit with the same number of interfaces, a control processing unit and a switch connection unit, and the port calibration method includes:

[0049] Step 101, preset the connection interface and calibration mode.

[0050] The electronic calibration component receives instructions of a calibrated port and a calibration mode specified by a user through a calibration display interface of a vector network analyzer, wherein the calibration mode includes a load calibration mode and a through calibration mode.

[0051] Step 102, verify the interface and obtain calibration information.

[0052] It is determined whether the interface of the electronic calibration component is connected to the designated calibrated port. If so, calibration information is sent to the control processing unit of the electronic calibration component, wherein the calibration information includes the calibrated port and calibration mode designated by the user.

[0053] Step 103: output control instructions.

[0054] The control processing unit outputs corresponding control instructions in response to the calibrated port and calibration mode specified by the user.

[0055] Step 104: Execute the control instruction.

[0056] The switch connection unit controls the corresponding switch to switch in response to the control instruction, so that when the control instruction is a first instruction to perform load calibration on the calibrated port specified by the user, the interface connected to the calibrated port specified by the user is connected to the load calibration unit corresponding to the interface, so as to perform load calibration on the calibrated port specified by the user. When the control instruction is a second instruction to perform through calibration on the two calibrated ports specified by the user, the two interfaces connected to the two calibrated ports specified by the user are connected, so as to perform through calibration on the two calibrated ports specified by the user.

[0057] Step 105, perform verification.

[0058] The first vector characteristic parameter measured by the vector network analyzer through the electronic calibration component on the designated calibrated port in the designated calibration mode is calculated.

[0059] Step 106: Update interface parameters.

[0060] The first vector characteristic parameter is used to update the own parameters corresponding to the parameter type of the first vector parameter recorded by the vector network analyzer. The own parameters are parameters related to the own characteristics of the vector network analyzer used by the vector network analyzer when measuring the vector characteristics of the network under test.

[0061] In one embodiment, the electronic calibration component further includes an attenuator, which is configured to be connected in series to a path connecting any two interfaces through a switch connection unit, and the port calibration method further includes:

[0062] Step 107: Connect an attenuator.

[0063] After executing calibration on the designated calibrated port in the designated calibration mode, the control processing unit outputs a calibration confirmation instruction, and the switch connection unit connects the attenuator in series to the path connecting the two interfaces connected to the two calibrated ports designated by the user in response to the calibration confirmation instruction.

[0064] Step 108, obtaining through calibration parameters.

[0065] Calculate the vector characteristic parameters of the specified port in the through calibration mode with attenuation, compare the vector characteristic parameters in the through calibration mode with attenuation with the vector characteristic parameters in the through calibration mode without attenuation, and determine whether the electronic calibration component has completed the calibration of the vector network analyzer based on the comparison result.

[0066] The electronic calibration component disclosed in this embodiment includes at least three interfaces connected to the calibrated ports of the vector network analyzer and a load calibration unit, a control processing unit, a switch connection unit and a data communication unit. The load calibration unit performs load calibration on the calibrated port, the control processing unit outputs corresponding control instructions in response to the calibrated port and the calibration mode specified by the user, the switch connection unit connects the load calibration unit and the interface or connects any two interfaces in response to the control instruction, and the data communication unit is used for data transmission between the vector network analyzer and the control processing unit. By calibrating the external ports of the network analyzer through the multiple interfaces of the electronic calibration component, not only can the multiple calibration ports of the vector network analyzer be checked in a time-sharing asynchronous manner, but also the interface of the electronic calibration component can be used as the calibration port of the vector network analyzer to expand the number of its external ports.

[0067] Embodiment 2:

[0068] Please refer to Figure 4, is a schematic diagram of the structural connection of a four-port electronic calibration device in an embodiment. The four-port electronic calibration device 100 is used as an electronic calibration component to calibrate the vector network analyzer 2, and includes a housing and four interfaces (a first interface 31, a second interface 32, a third interface 33 and a fourth interface 34) arranged in the housing, four load calibration units (a first load calibration unit 35, a second load calibration unit 36, a third load calibration unit 37 and a fourth load calibration unit 38), a control processing unit 13, a switch connection unit 14 and a data communication unit 15. In one embodiment, the four interfaces, the four load calibration units and the switch connection unit 14 are arranged on the radio frequency switch circuit board 200. Among them, each interface is connected to a load calibration unit, that is, the first interface 31 is connected to the first load calibration unit 35, the second interface 32 is connected to the second load calibration unit 36, the third interface 33 is connected to the third load calibration unit 37 and the fourth interface 34 is connected to the fourth load calibration unit 38. Each interface is at least used to connect the calibrated port of the vector network analyzer 2 during calibration, each load calibration unit is used to perform load calibration on the calibrated port, and the control processing unit 13 is used to output corresponding control instructions in response to the calibrated port and calibration mode specified by the user, and the calibration mode includes a load calibration mode and a straight-through calibration mode. The switch connection unit 14 responds to the control instruction to control the corresponding switch to switch. When the control instruction is a first instruction to perform load calibration on the calibrated port specified by the user, the interface connected to the calibrated port specified by the user and the load calibration unit corresponding to the interface are connected to perform load calibration on the calibrated port specified by the user. When the control instruction is a second instruction to perform straight-through calibration on the two calibrated ports specified by the user, the two interfaces connected to the two calibrated ports specified by the user are connected to each other so as to perform straight-through calibration on the two calibrated ports specified by the user. The data communication unit 15 is used to be electrically connected to the calibrated vector network analyzer 2, and the data communication unit 15 is also electrically connected to the control processing unit 13, and is used to transmit data between the calibrated vector network analyzer 2 and the control processing unit 13. In one embodiment, the four-port electronic calibration device is further used to connect the vector network analyzer 2 and the device under test through at least two interfaces, so that the vector network analyzer 2 can monitor the device under test. In one embodiment, the control processing unit 15 is a single-chip microcomputer (MCU). In one embodiment, the data communication unit 15 is a USB interface. In one embodiment, the four-port electronic calibration device obtains working power through the USB interface.

[0069] Please refer to Figure 5, is a schematic diagram of the structural connection of a switch connection unit in an embodiment. In one embodiment, the switch connection unit is a switch matrix composed of a first RF switch 41, a second RF switch 42, a third RF switch 43, a fourth RF switch 44, a fifth RF switch 45 and a sixth RF switch 46. The first load calibration unit 35 is connected to the first interface 31, the second load calibration unit 36 ​​is connected to the second interface 32, the third load calibration unit 37 is connected to the third interface 33, and the fourth load calibration unit 38 is connected to the fourth interface 34. In one embodiment, the four-port electronic calibration device also includes an attenuator 17, which is configured to be connected in series to a path connecting any two interfaces through the switch connection unit 14. The control processing unit 13 calculates the vector characteristic parameters of the designated port in the through calibration mode with attenuation, and compares the vector characteristic parameters in the through calibration mode with attenuation with the vector characteristic parameters in the through calibration mode without attenuation, and determines whether the electronic calibration component has completed the calibration of the vector network analyzer according to the comparison result.

[0070] In one embodiment, the first RF switch 41 is connected to the first interface 31, the fifth RF switch 45, the sixth RF switch 46 and the third RF switch 43 respectively, and the first RF switch 41 is used to connect or disconnect the third RF switch 43 with the fifth RF switch 45, the sixth RF switch 46 and the first interface 31 respectively. The second RF switch 42 is connected to the third interface 33, the fourth RF switch 44, the fifth RF switch 45 and the sixth RF switch 46 respectively, and the second RF switch 42 is used to connect or disconnect the fourth RF switch 44 with the third interface 33, the fifth RF switch 45 and the sixth RF switch 46. The third RF switch 43 is connected to the first RF switch 41, the fourth RF switch 44 and the attenuator 17 respectively, and the fourth RF switch 44 is connected to the third RF switch 43, the second RF switch 42 and the attenuator 17 respectively, and the third RF switch 43 and the fourth RF switch 44 are used to connect the attenuator 17 between the first RF switch 41 and the second RF switch 42, or to electrically isolate the attenuator. The fifth RF switch 45 is connected to the second interface 32, the first RF switch 41, and the second RF switch 42 respectively, and the fifth RF switch 45 is used to connect or disconnect the second interface 32 with the first RF switch 41 and the second RF switch 42. The sixth RF switch 46 is connected to the fourth interface 34, the second RF switch 42, and the first RF switch 41 respectively, and the sixth RF switch 46 is used to connect or disconnect the fourth interface 34 with the second RF switch 42 and the first RF switch 41.

[0071] Please refer to Figure 6, is a circuit connection diagram of a switch connection unit in an embodiment. In one embodiment, the first RF switch 41 and the second RF switch 42 are single-pole multi-throw RF switches (SP4T), each including a moving end connection terminal and three fixed end connection terminals. The third RF switch 43, the fourth RF switch 44, the fifth RF switch 45 and the sixth RF switch 46 are single-pole double-throw RF switches (SPDT), each including a moving end connection terminal and two fixed end connection terminals. SP4T is a one-to-four switch, including a common port (moving end connection terminal), four conduction ports (fixed end connection terminals), the common port can be connected to any one of the conduction ports, and the four conduction ports cannot be connected to each other. SPDT is a one-to-two switch including a common port (moving end connection terminal), two conduction ports (fixed end connection terminals), the common port can be connected to any one of the conduction ports, and the two conduction ports cannot be connected to each other.

[0072] The movable end connection end of the first RF switch 41 is connected to the movable end connection end of the third RF switch 43, and the three fixed end connection ends of the first RF switch 41 are respectively connected to the first interface, a fixed end connection end of the fifth RF switch 45, and a fixed end connection end of the sixth RF switch 46. The movable end connection end of the second RF switch 42 is connected to the movable end connection end of the fourth RF switch 44, and the three fixed end connection ends of the second RF switch 42 are respectively connected to the third interface, a fixed end connection end of the fifth RF switch 45, and a fixed end connection end of the sixth RF switch 46. A fixed end of the third RF switch 43 is connected to a fixed end of the fourth RF switch 44. The movable end connection end of the fifth RF switch 45 is connected to the second interface, and the two fixed ends of the fifth RF switch 45 are respectively connected to a fixed end connection end of the first RF switch 41 and a fixed end connection end of the second RF switch 42. The movable end connection end of the sixth RF switch 46 is connected to the fourth interface, and the two fixed ends of the sixth RF switch 46 are respectively connected to a fixed end connection end of the first RF switch 41 and a fixed end connection end of the second RF switch 42.

[0073] In one embodiment, the attenuator 17 (ATT) is respectively connected to a fixed end of the third RF switch 43 and a fixed end of the fourth RF switch 44. In one embodiment, the attenuation of the attenuator 17 is 5 dB, 10 dB, 20 dB or 30 dB.

[0074] like Figure 2As shown, the first load calibration unit, the second load calibration unit, the third load calibration unit and the fourth load calibration unit respectively include a connection switch circuit 24 and a test SHORT circuit 21, a test OPEN circuit 22 and a test LOAD circuit 23, and the test SHORT circuit 21, the test OPEN circuit 22 and the test LOAD circuit 23 are respectively connected to the connection switch circuit 24. Among them, OPEN is a direct open circuit of the RF microstrip line (test OPEN circuit), SHORT (test SHORT circuit) is a direct short circuit of the RF microstrip line to the ground, and LOAD (test LOAD circuit) is composed of a 50Ω load. In one embodiment, as Figure 6 As shown, the connection switch circuit 24 is a single-pole multi-throw RF switch (SP4T), including a moving end connection terminal and four fixed end connection terminals. The moving end connection terminal of the single-pole multi-throw RF switch of the switch circuit 24 is connected to an interface of the four-port electronic calibration device, and the four fixed end connection terminals are respectively connected to the test SHORT circuit 21, the test OPEN circuit 22, the test LOAD circuit 23 and the switch connection unit. In one embodiment, the test LOAD circuit is a 50Ω load. In one embodiment, the test SHORT circuit is a RF microstrip line directly short-circuited to the ground. In one embodiment, the test OPEN circuit RF microstrip line is directly open-circuited.

[0075] In one embodiment, the four-port electronic calibration device can realize the connection of the SHORT circuit, the OPEN circuit or the LOAD circuit for any interface connected to the vector network analyzer, so as to realize the pre-test calibration of the vector network analyzer. The four-port electronic calibration device can also realize the physical pass-through of any two interfaces, so that the vector network analyzer can realize direct connection calibration of the two interfaces to be tested in addition to the separate calibration of the interface to be tested (external interface). In addition, the interface of the four-port electronic calibration device can also be used for the external interface of the vector network analysis to expand the number of external interfaces of the vector network analysis. In one embodiment, at least two interfaces of the four-port electronic calibration device are respectively connected to the external interface of the vector network analysis and the device to be tested, so as to realize the free conversion of calibration and measurement under the condition that the physical connection mode will not change. In one embodiment, the attenuator with a preset attenuation amount can realize free loading and isolation according to the test requirements by setting the conduction of the third RF switch and the fourth RF switch.

[0076] like Figure 4 As shown, in one embodiment, the four-port electronic calibration device further includes a temperature control unit 18 connected to the control processing unit 13. The temperature control unit 18 includes a heating circuit and a temperature sensor for maintaining a stable operating temperature of the four load calibration units in the four-port electronic calibration device.

[0077] In one embodiment, the four-port electronic calibration device also includes a storage unit connected to the control processing unit 10, and the parameter storage unit is used to store electrical parameter data related to the testing and calibration of the vector network analyzer 2, wherein the electrical parameter data includes S parameters and attenuation parameter data of OPEN calibration, SHORTT calibration, LOAD calibration and / or THRU calibration of each interface.

[0078] The four-port electronic calibration device disclosed in this embodiment is used to calibrate the external connection port of the vector network analyzer, and includes a housing, four interfaces, four load calibration units, a control processing unit, a switch connection unit and a data communication unit. Each interface is at least used to connect the calibrated port of the vector network analyzer. Each interface is connected to a load calibration unit for load calibration of the calibrated port. The control processing unit is used to output corresponding control instructions in response to the calibrated port and calibration mode specified by the user. The switch connection unit performs load calibration or through calibration on the calibrated port specified by the user in response to the control instruction. The data communication unit is used for data transmission between the vector network analyzer and the control processing unit. By calibrating the external port of the network analyzer through the multiple interfaces of the electronic calibration component, not only can the multiple calibration ports of the vector network analyzer be calibrated in a time-sharing asynchronous manner, but also the interface of the electronic calibration component can be used as the calibration port of the vector network analyzer to expand the number of its external ports. Furthermore, when used as an external port for expansion of a vector network analyzer, since there is no plugging and unplugging operation during the verification and testing process, the physical connection method between the test interface of the vector network analyzer and the device under test will not change, thereby greatly reducing the calibration error of the vector network analyzer caused by the difference when plugging and unplugging the port.

[0079] Embodiment three:

[0080] Please refer to Figure 7 , is a schematic diagram of the electronic device arrangement of the radio frequency switch circuit board in an embodiment, wherein the radio frequency switch circuit board 200 is provided with a control and power supply connection socket 50, at least one temperature sensor 51, a plurality of heating circuits 52, an attenuator 17, four load calibration units and a switch connection unit as described in the second embodiment. The control and power supply connection socket 50 is used to connect to the control processing unit of the four-port electronic calibration device through a connecting cable. The four load calibration units are axially symmetrically arranged on the radio frequency switch circuit board 200, and the four load calibration units are electrically connected to the interface of the four-port electronic calibration device through microstrip lines.

[0081] In one embodiment, the heating circuit 52 is heated by a heating resistor. In one embodiment, an even number of temperature sensors 51 are arranged on the RF switch circuit board 200, and are arranged on the RF switch circuit board 200 in a centrally symmetrical manner. In one embodiment, the heating resistor is composed of a 619Ω 0402 resistor, the power supply voltage is 5V, and the heating power is 1.7W. When the power supply of the switch connection unit is provided by the USB interface of the vector network analyzer, its power supply capacity is 5V and 500mA, a total of 2.5W (universal USB interface), and the remaining 0.8W is consumed by power-consuming devices such as the control processing unit (MCU) and the switch circuit. The power supply voltage of the heating resistor is turned off by the MCU, and the MCU reads the temperature at any time through the temperature sensor 51, and sets a temperature range (for example, 33°C to 35°C) as the operating temperature of the electronic calibration component (testing the SHORT circuit, testing the OPEN circuit, and testing the LOAD circuit). Under this temperature condition, the electronic calibration component has the highest accuracy. When the MCU reads that the operating temperature of the switch connection unit is less than 33°C, heating is enabled. When the MCU reads that the operating temperature of the switch connection unit is between 33°C and 35°C, heating is stopped.

[0082] In one embodiment, the heating circuit 52 includes a plurality of heating resistors which are evenly arranged on the RF switch circuit board to achieve synchronous heating of the entire RF switch circuit board, so that the heating effect is more balanced and a temperature stable state can be reached in the shortest time.

[0083] In one embodiment, the MCU indicates the temperature through red and green indicator lights. When the temperature of the RF switch circuit board is read to be less than 33°C, the MCU controls the red light to light up and the green light to turn off; when the temperature of the RF switch circuit board is read to be between 33°C and 35°C, the green light is on and the red light is off.

[0084] In one embodiment, a DC blocking capacitor 53 is provided on the microstrip line connecting the load calibration unit and the interface to protect the radio frequency chip.

[0085] In one embodiment, the test OPEN circuit in the load calibration unit realizes the OPEN load by leaving the pin floating. In one embodiment, the test LOAD circuit in the load calibration unit connects two 0201 packaged 100Ω in parallel to form 50Ω as a load by connecting the end of the RF trace. The test SHORT circuit realizes the short load by drilling a GND via to the ground through the pin.

[0086] In one embodiment, the six switches of the switch connection unit are electrically connected via microstrip lines. In one embodiment, the control processing unit of the four-port electronic calibration device is a single-chip microcomputer (MCU). In one embodiment, the data communication unit 11 of the four-port electronic calibration device is a USB interface.

[0087] In one embodiment, the attenuator is respectively connected to the third RF switch 43 and the fourth RF switch 44 of the switch connection unit. In one embodiment, the attenuation of the attenuator is 5dB, 10dB, 20dB or 30dB. In one embodiment, the fixed attenuator is a verification piece, which is similar to the straight-through state between the ports, except that the third RF switch 43 and the fourth RF switch 44 simultaneously conduct the attenuator path, and any two interfaces in the four-port electronic calibration device can directly switch to the path that conducts the attenuator. In one embodiment, when writing the calibration piece parameter data, the S21 parameter of the attenuator path is also written into the memory of the storage unit. After the network is calibrated using the electronic calibration piece, the S21 parameter of the attenuation path is remeasured and compared with the S21 parameter stored in the memory, which can be used to evaluate whether the four-port electronic calibration device has completed the calibration of the network analyzer, and whether the calibration is correct can be determined.

[0088] In one embodiment, the switch connection unit includes a first RF switch circuit 41, a second RF switch circuit 42, a third RF switch 43, a fourth RF switch 44, a fifth RF switch 45 and a sixth RF switch 46 which are electrically connected through microstrip lines.

[0089] In one embodiment, the housing 100 is a shielding shell. In one embodiment, the attenuation circuit 17 is disposed in the middle of the RF switch circuit board 200 .

[0090] A radio frequency switch circuit board disclosed in the present embodiment is provided with a control and power supply connection socket, a temperature sensor, a heating circuit, an attenuator, four load calibration units and a switch connection unit. The control and power supply connection socket is used to connect to the control processing unit of the four-port electronic calibration device through a connecting cable. The temperature sensor is used to monitor the working temperature of the load calibration unit. The heating circuit is used to heat up the radio frequency switch circuit board. The four load calibration units are respectively electrically connected to the four interfaces of the four-port electronic calibration device, and each interface of the four-port electronic calibration device is at least used to connect the calibrated port of the vector network analyzer when the vector network analyzer is calibrated. The switch connection unit is connected to each interface and is used to switch the connection between the two interfaces respectively connected to the two calibrated ports. Since the temperature sensor and the heating circuit are provided on the radio frequency switch circuit board, the working temperature range of the load calibration unit can be maintained, thereby improving the measurement accuracy of the vector network analyzer.

[0091] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that all or part of the functions of the various methods in the above-mentioned embodiments can be implemented by hardware or by computer programs. When all or part of the functions in the above-mentioned embodiments are implemented by computer programs, the program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and the storage medium can include: read-only memory, random access memory, disk, optical disk, hard disk, etc., and the program is executed by a computer to implement the above-mentioned functions. For example, the program is stored in the memory of the device, and when the program in the memory is executed by the processor, all or part of the above-mentioned functions can be implemented. In addition, when all or part of the functions in the above-mentioned embodiments are implemented by computer programs, the program can also be stored in a storage medium such as a server, another computer, disk, optical disk, flash disk or mobile hard disk, and can be downloaded or copied and saved in the memory of the local device, or the system of the local device is updated, and when the program in the memory is executed by the processor, all or part of the functions in the above-mentioned embodiments can be implemented.

[0092] The above specific examples are used to illustrate the present invention, which is only used to help understand the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. For those skilled in the art, according to the concept of the present invention, some simple deductions, modifications or substitutions can be made.

Claims

1. An electronic calibration component used to calibrate a vector network analyzer. It is characterized in that The electronic calibration component comprises: At least three interfaces, the interfaces being used at least to connect to a calibrated port of a vector network analyzer during calibration; The load calibration units are the same in number as the interfaces, and are used to perform load calibration on the ports to be calibrated; A control processing unit, configured to output corresponding control instructions in response to a calibrated port and a calibration mode specified by a user, wherein the calibration mode includes a load calibration mode and a through calibration mode; a switch connection unit, comprising a switch matrix composed of at least four switches, wherein the switch connection unit controls corresponding switches to switch in response to the control instruction, and when the control instruction is a first instruction to perform load calibration on the calibrated port specified by the user, the interface connected to the calibrated port specified by the user is connected to the load calibration unit corresponding to the interface, so as to perform load calibration on the calibrated port specified by the user; when the control instruction is a second instruction to perform through calibration on two calibrated ports specified by the user, two interfaces connected to the two calibrated ports specified by the user are connected, so as to perform through calibration on the two calibrated ports specified by the user; A data communication unit, which is used to be electrically connected to the vector network analyzer being calibrated. The data communication unit is also electrically connected to the control processing unit and is used to transmit data between the vector network analyzer being calibrated and the control processing unit. The interface of the electronic calibration component is also used as an extended external interface of the vector network analyzer; The load calibration mode includes performing a single-port calibration on the interface of the electronic calibration component used as the extended external interface of the vector network analyzer when the interface of the electronic calibration component is used as the extended external interface of the vector network analyzer; The through calibration mode includes using the interface of the electronic calibration component as an extended external interface of the vector network analyzer, and directly connecting the extended external interface of the vector network analyzer through the electronic calibration component to perform through calibration on the two directly connected interfaces of the electronic calibration components.

2. The electronic calibration component according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The control processing unit is also used to calculate the vector characteristic parameters of the specified port under the specified calibration mode, and the data communication unit also transmits the vector characteristic parameters of the specified port calculated by the control processing unit to the calibrated vector network analyzer, so that the calibrated vector network analyzer updates its own parameters when measuring the vector characteristics of the network under test.

3. The electronic calibration component according to claim 1, It is characterized in that A storage unit is also included, and the control processing unit stores the calculated vector characteristic parameters of the designated port in the storage unit.

4. The electronic calibration component as claimed in claim 3, It is characterized in that It also includes an attenuator, which is configured to be connected in series to a path connecting any two interfaces through the switch connection unit. The control processing unit calculates the vector characteristic parameters of the designated port in a through calibration mode with attenuation, and compares the vector characteristic parameters in the through calibration mode with attenuation with the vector characteristic parameters in the through calibration mode without attenuation, and determines whether the electronic calibration component has completed the calibration of the vector network analyzer based on the comparison result.

5. The electronic calibration component according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The data communication unit is a USB module, which, when electrically connected to the vector network analyzer to be calibrated, also provides electrical energy for the electronic calibration component.

6. The electronic calibration component according to claim 1, It is characterized in that It also includes a temperature control unit for adjusting the working temperature of the load calibration unit to be within a preset temperature threshold range.

7. The electronic calibration component according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The switch is a radio frequency switch.

8. The electronic calibration component as claimed in claim 1, It is characterized in that The load calibration unit includes at least one of a test SHORT circuit, a test OPEN circuit and a test LOAD circuit. The load calibration mode is used to connect the test SHORT circuit, the test OPEN circuit and / or the test LOAD circuit to the interface to calibrate the interface.

9. A port calibration method for a vector network analyzer, wherein the vector network analyzer is calibrated by an electronic calibration component, wherein the electronic calibration component comprises at least three interfaces, a load calibration unit having the same number as the interfaces, a control processing unit, and a switch connection unit, It is characterized in that The port calibration method comprises: The electronic calibration component receives instructions of a calibrated port and a calibration mode specified by a user through a calibration display interface of a vector network analyzer, wherein the calibration mode includes a load calibration mode and a through calibration mode; Determine whether the interface of the electronic calibration component is connected to the specified calibrated port, and if so, send calibration information to the control processing unit of the electronic calibration component, the calibration information including the calibrated port and calibration mode specified by the user; The control processing unit outputs corresponding control instructions in response to the calibrated port and calibration mode specified by the user; The switch connection unit controls the corresponding switch to switch in response to the control instruction, so that when the control instruction is a first instruction to perform load calibration on the calibrated port specified by the user, the interface connected to the calibrated port specified by the user is connected to the load calibration unit corresponding to the interface, so as to perform load calibration on the calibrated port specified by the user; when the control instruction is a second instruction to perform through calibration on the two calibrated ports specified by the user, the two interfaces connected to the two calibrated ports specified by the user are connected, so as to perform through calibration on the two calibrated ports specified by the user; Calculate a first vector characteristic parameter measured by the vector network analyzer through the electronic calibration component on a designated calibrated port in a designated calibration mode; Using the first vector characteristic parameter to update the own parameters corresponding to the parameter type of the first vector parameter recorded by the vector network analyzer, the own parameters are parameters related to the own characteristics of the vector network analyzer used by the vector network analyzer when measuring the vector characteristics of the network under test; The interface of the electronic calibration component is also used as an extended external interface of the vector network analyzer; The load calibration mode includes performing a single-port calibration on the interface of the electronic calibration component used as the extended external interface of the vector network analyzer when the interface of the electronic calibration component is used as the extended external interface of the vector network analyzer; The through calibration mode includes using the interface of the electronic calibration component as an extended external interface of the vector network analyzer, and directly connecting the extended external interface of the vector network analyzer through the electronic calibration component to perform through calibration on the two directly connected interfaces of the electronic calibration components.

10. The port calibration method according to claim 9, It is characterized in that The electronic calibration component further includes an attenuator, which is configured to be connected in series to a path connecting any two interfaces through a switch connection unit. The port calibration method further includes: After executing calibration of the designated calibrated port in the designated calibration mode, the control processing unit outputs a calibration confirmation instruction; The switch connection unit connects the attenuator in series to a path communicating with two interfaces connected to two calibrated ports specified by a user in response to the calibration confirmation instruction; Calculate the vector characteristic parameters of the specified port in the through calibration mode with attenuation, compare the vector characteristic parameters in the through calibration mode with attenuation with the vector characteristic parameters in the through calibration mode without attenuation, and determine whether the electronic calibration component has completed the calibration of the vector network analyzer based on the comparison result.

Images