Patent ID: 9733289
Date: 2017-08-15
CPC Classifications: G01R

Claim:
1. A reflectometer for use in measuring scattering (S-)parameters for a device under test (DUT), comprising: a test port configured to receive radio frequency (RF) signals and selectively transmit RF signals; a first signal source selectively connectable with the test port and configured to provide a test signal to the test port; a second signal source configured to provide a local oscillator (LO) signal to downconvert received and transmitted RF signals to intermediate frequency (IF) signals; a third signal source configured to generate a time base signal, and a synchronization link configured to transmit and receive a synchronization signal; wherein in a master configuration, the reflectometer is configured to synchronize the first signal source and the second signal source to a synchronization signal based on the time base signal and to transmit the synchronization signal via the synchronization link; wherein in a slave configuration, the reflectometer is configured to receive a synchronization signal via the synchronization link and synchronize the first signal source and the second signal source to the received synchronization signal; wherein the reflectometer is adapted to be used as a first reflectometer with a second reflectometer; and wherein both phase and magnitude of one or both of an S21 and an S12 parameter of the DUT are measurable when the DUT is connected between the test port of the first reflectometer and a test port of the second reflectometer and the first reflectometer and the second reflectometer are phase synchronized by a common synchronization signal.