Modulated Phase Reference Signal for Accurate Multi-Tone Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional test instruments struggle to accurately measure nonlinear characteristics of modern electronic devices due to noisy measurements caused by insufficient signal power at closely spaced reference tones, particularly in multi-tone stimulus signals with tones spaced less than 1 MHz apart.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that generate a modulated phase reference signal with reference tones clustered around multiples of a carrier frequency, where the spacing between adjacent tones is equal to or an integer multiple of the modulation frequency, improving signal power and enabling accurate phase-related measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional phase reference signal with closely spaced reference tones is used, then the tone spacing can match the narrow stimulus signal spacing, but the signal power at each reference tone becomes insufficient and is lost in the noise floor
Solution Approach 1:
The reference signal is segmented into multiple clusters, where each cluster contains multiple reference tones. The clusters are spaced farther apart in frequency than individual tones within a cluster, allowing the system to provide sufficient power at each reference tone while still supporting narrow stimulus signal spacing through the dense arrangement of tones within each cluster.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a one-dimensional uniform frequency grid to a two-dimensional structured grid with clusters. This dimensional change allows reference tones to be organized in groups that are both densely packed within clusters (for narrow stimulus spacing) and sufficiently spaced between clusters (for adequate power levels), resolving the power-vs-spacing contradiction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If reference tones are spaced closely together to match narrow stimulus signals, then the stimulus signal can be measured accurately, but the power of each reference tone decreases until it is lost in the noise floor
Solution Approach 1:
Reference tones are segmented into clusters with multiple tones per cluster. The intra-cluster spacing allows compatibility with narrow stimulus signals, while the inter-cluster spacing ensures adequate power levels at each reference tone, preventing them from being lost in the noise floor.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference signal exhibits periodic clustering in the frequency domain, where groups of reference tones are periodically distributed across the frequency spectrum. This periodic structure ensures that reference tones appear at predictable locations with sufficient power, while maintaining the ability to measure narrow-spaced stimulus signals through the dense intra-cluster tone distribution.
3Device complexity
If conventional phase reference signal generator is used, then the system structure remains simple, but it cannot provide sufficient signal power at reference tones for noisy measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The phase reference signal generator is enhanced with dynamic modulation capabilities, allowing it to generate clustered reference tone patterns adaptively. This dynamic functionality enables the generator to produce reference signals with optimized power distribution across clusters, improving measurement quality while maintaining reasonable structural complexity through software-defined signal generation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system of providing a phase reference signal includes generating a reference signal having a reference frequency, modulating the reference signal at a modulation frequency lower than the reference frequency to obtain a modulated drive signal, receiving the modulated drive signal at a phase reference, and generating the phase reference signal based on the modulated drive signal. The phase reference signal including multiple reference tones having corresponding tone frequencies clustered around multiples of the reference frequency. A spacing between adjacent tones of the multiple reference tones is the same as the modulation frequency or an integer multiple of the modulation frequency.