Patent ID: 7768271
Filing Date: 2010-08-03
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
1. Method for calibrating a vectorial network analyzer, which exhibits n measurement ports (n>2) and at least m measurement sites, where m>n+1, by measurements of three different n-port calibration standards, which are connected between the measurement ports in any desired order and which are not permitted to show any transmission (reflection standards), and by successive measurement of reflection and transmission parameters at k=sum(n−i) for (i=1, 2, . . . , n−1) different two-port calibration standards, which are connected between the measurement ports in any desired order and must all exhibit a transmission path (transmission standards), and by computational determination of error coefficients of the network analyzer with 10-term method in k-fold application by using the measured two-port calibration standards as well as by computational determination of error-corrected scattering matrices [S x ] of the n-port calibration standards from the error coefficients of each two-port calibration standard, taking into consideration transmission error variables of remaining n−2 measurement ports with the 10-term multiport method, wherein a) one of the n-port calibration standards measurements carried out at an n-fold one-port (n-one-port), which is realized by n known impedances, b) one of the n-port calibration standards measurements is a reflection standard Short carried out at an n-one-port, which is realized by n unknown, highly reflecting terminations (R=Reflect), whose electronic properties are similar to those of ideal short circuits (S=Short), c) one of the n-port calibration standards measurements is a reflection standard Open carried out at an n-one-port, which is realized by means of n unknown, highly reflecting terminations (R=Reflect), whose electronic properties are similar to those of ideal open circuits (O=Open), d) the reflection standards Short and Open are realized so as to be physically identical at each port, e) reflection values of the n-one-ports for reflection standards Short and Open, are determined computationally, f) one of the two-port calibration standards measurements is carried out at a two-port, which is realized by a short adapted line (L=line) of known length and attenuation, g) remaining k−1 two-port calibration standards measurements are carried out at k−1 two-ports, which are realized by thru connections, whose length, attenuation and impedances are unknown and are identical for an incident and reflected wave (U=unknown, reciprocal thru connection), and h) transmission values of the two-ports, which are realized by unknown reciprocal thru connections, are determined computationally.