Patent ID: 8296086
Filing Date: 2012-10-23
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
1. A method of measuring signals over a continuous and wide bandwidth, said method comprising: using baseband frequency signals, which are repeatable, clocked, and triggered, and which are up-converted to radio frequency signals to create a transmitter signal; using a common local oscillator for two or more receiver channels and the transmitter signal; measuring upper and/or lower mixer sidebands along with a varying intermediate frequency; comparing successive measurements of the signal in sequential frequency-stepped measurement bands with those signals that are simultaneously measured in a fixed-frequency reference band; using changes in the common local oscillator frequency and intermediate frequencies, together with variable YIG filters, to sequentially move the center frequency of each measurement band while keeping the reference band fixed; using a repeatable, clocked, and triggered analog-to-digital converter to measure these signals; using a predetermined table to determine which analog-to-digital converter Nyquist band and which mixer sideband is used for each offset frequency band; using the same mixer sidebands for close-in measurements; using two different mixer sidebands for wide-band measurements; using multiple sets of these reference and offset frequency bands together to create ultra wideband measurements; thereby measuring absolute magnitudes and absolute phase relationships over a continuous and ultra wide bandwidth.