FOCUS MICROWAVES GROUP

Focus Device
Characterization SuiteEverything a test engineer needs to fully characterize transistors
from 10MHz to 110GHz in power and noise

V05/18powered by FOCUS MICROWAVESFDCS

The Focus Device Characterization Suite (FDCS) includes several software products aimed at characterizing transistor devices. These comprise load pull andnoise measurements as well as data plotting and API functionalities.

Load Pull LPEx
The Load Pull Explorer (LPEx) is a load pull characterization and test software. Advanced software routines areused for tuner control/calibration, driver based instrument
communication, and reference plane de-embedding.
Standard frequency based, time domain based (vector-receiver based) measurements are supported. Additionally,
hybrid active injection load pull allows the combination ofactive injection and passive tuning.

Calibration

The software uses a vector network analyzer and proprietary software algorithms to perform a variety of calibration operations.

Instrument Drivers

The software provides an open structure for instrument
driver support and implementation. This structure isbased on industry standard VISA instrument communication. Additionally, standardized IVI drivers can be imported by the user for many instrument types.

LP-Basics

This software option provides automated load pullmeasurements for basic power, gain, efficiency and DC
measurements.

LP-Harmonic (LP-2H, LP-3H, LP-4H)
The harmonic options provide tuning functionality
for our multi-harmonic tuners using our proprietary
impedance synthesis algorithms.

LP-Spectrum

Provides automated spectrum analyzer measurements
including IMD, ACPR and EVM.
Tuner Calibration Dialog

LP-User

Provides the capability to create custom measurementsthat allows the user to operate any test andmeasurement instrument.

LP-Wave

Provides automated vector-receiver measurements
using Focus’ 8 term method. Mesuro Phase Reference,Keysight NVNA and X-Parameters compatible.

LP-Active∞ Hybrid Active impedance synthesis using thecombination of passive and active impedance synthesis
techniques.
∞ Hybrid Active injection load pull (F0 & harmonics) andsource pull (harmonics only) supported.
∞ Active injection impedance synthesis with fixed passive
tuner as prematch.

LP-Pulse∞ Pulsed DC-IV curve measurement support using Focus
MPIV, or Auriga pulsed systems (4750, 4850, or 5 series).

LP-Differential
LP Harmonic Functionality

2www.focus-microwaves.com∞ Load pull measurements.
∞ For differential impedance synthesis in the device
reference.

Noise Measurements NPEx
The Noise Parameter Explorer (NPEx) which is used toperform noise characterization of transistors. This option permits the user to perform wideband noise figure
measurements and extract noise parameters. Additionally, noise measurements can be measured directly or bedown-converted to suit bandwidth considerations withsupport for fixed LO or swept LO down-conversion.

Additional features include:∞ Stability circle, available gain circle display.
∞ Software controlled DC biasing.
∞ Multi-Bias S-parameter and noise measurements, extraction and display.
∞ Graphical wizard for setup calibrations.
∞ Noise measurements are de-embedded to the device
reference plane.
∞ The noise setup can be created using cold noise (coldin or cold out) or hot/cold measurement method.
∞ Advanced, proprietary methods are used to improveextracted noise parameter results.
∞ Automated noise testing at single or multi-bias DCsettings.

Noise Calibration Wizard – VNA Calibration in DUT reference plane

4 Noise Parameters
www.focus-microwaves.com

3Data Plotting
Graph Ex

Data Explorer is included in FDCS for graphical display of any data produced for Load Pull, Noise or I/V measurements.

Contour plot Comparing Multiple Files

Programming Interfaces (API)LP Macro / NP Macro

FDCS offers several programming interfaces (APIs) thatallow the user to automate measurements for tuner andprobe station for load pull and noise in their ActiveX
programming platform of choice. Such platforms include
LabView, Agilent Vee, C++, C#, Visual Basic, and Matlab.

Standalone Tuner Control∞ iTunerActiveX: Used for tuner movement andimpedance control with CCMT tuners in any ActiveX
compatible programming platform.

4

info@focus-microwaves.com∞ iTunerActiveXPlus: Provides the same functionality
as iTunerActiveX without the limitations of on tuner
processing (more accurate, unlimited density, no limit on
number of calibrations).
∞ MPTActiveX: Used for tuner movement and impedancecontrol with MPT tuners in any ActiveX compatible
programming platform.
∞ LFTActiveX: Used for tuner movement and impedancecontrol with LFT tuners in any ActiveX compatible
programming platform.
∞ DMTActiveX: used for tuning and controlling differential
tuners in any ActiveX compatible programming platform.

+1 514 684 4554

www.focus-microwaves.com