RF measurements I: signal receiving techniques

TL;DR

This paper reviews RF signal receiving techniques, focusing on sampling methods, the role of Schottky diodes, spectrum analyzers, and noise measurement techniques, providing foundational insights into RF measurement instrumentation.

Contribution

It offers a comprehensive overview of RF sampling, spectrum analyzers, and noise measurement methods, highlighting the fundamentals and development of key RF measurement tools.

Findings

Explanation of RF sampling techniques and Schottky diode applications

Discussion of spectrum analyzer architecture and limitations

Overview of noise temperature and noise figure measurement methods

Abstract

For the characterization of components, systems and signals in the RF and microwave range, several dedicated instruments are in use. In this paper the fundamentals of the RF-signal sampling technique, which has found widespread applications in 'digital' oscilloscopes and sampling scopes, are discussed. The key element in these front-ends is the Schottky diode which can be used either as an RF mixer or as a single sampler. The spectrum analyser has become an absolutely indispensable tool for RF signal analysis. Here the front-end is the RF mixer as the RF section of modern spectrum analysers has a rather complex architecture. The reasons for this complexity and certain working principles as well as limitations are discussed. In addition, an overview of the development of scalar and vector signal analysers is given. For the determination of the noise temperature of a one-port and the noise figure of a two-port, basic concepts and relations are shown. A brief discussion of commonly used noise measurement techniques concludes the paper.