Passive intermodulation (PIM) probe
First Claim
1. A passive intermodulation (PIM) test system, comprising:
- a PIM antenna tuned by loop size to receive one or more PIM frequencies of interest generated by one or more broadcast frequencies of a site antenna;
a wand supporting the PIM antenna on one end configured for positioning the PIM antenna by hand;
a coaxial cable electrically connected to and extending from the PIM antenna;
a filter connected to the coaxial cable configured to suppress the broadcast frequencies and pass the PIM frequencies of interest; and
a signal analyzer connected to the coaxial cable configured to display a representation of PIM received by the PIM antenna;
wherein the PIM antenna comprises a near field magnetic loop antenna for locating a source of PIM interference characterized by a wavelength by placing the PIM antenna within one wavelength of the source of the PM interference.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A PIM probe that includes a PIM antenna carried on a wand sized for positioning by hand. The PIM antenna is tuned by loop size to receive PIM corresponding to uplink reception channels of a site antenna generated by downlink broadcast frequencies F1 and F2 of the duplex antenna. The PIM antenna vanes may include conductors printed on a PC boards or wire loops. A PIM probe system includes a signal analyzer that displays a representation of PIM received by the PIM antenna. The PIM probe system further includes an RF filter for passing the PIM frequencies of interest and suppressing the test frequencies transmitted by the site antenna, such as a cellular base station antenna. When the site antenna is broadcasting the test frequencies, the technician places the PIM antenna in various locations to detect the presence of PIM in those locations.
11 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A passive intermodulation (PIM) test system, comprising:
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a PIM antenna tuned by loop size to receive one or more PIM frequencies of interest generated by one or more broadcast frequencies of a site antenna; a wand supporting the PIM antenna on one end configured for positioning the PIM antenna by hand; a coaxial cable electrically connected to and extending from the PIM antenna; a filter connected to the coaxial cable configured to suppress the broadcast frequencies and pass the PIM frequencies of interest; and a signal analyzer connected to the coaxial cable configured to display a representation of PIM received by the PIM antenna; wherein the PIM antenna comprises a near field magnetic loop antenna for locating a source of PIM interference characterized by a wavelength by placing the PIM antenna within one wavelength of the source of the PM interference. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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2. A passive intermodulation (PIM) probe, comprising:
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a PIM antenna tuned by loop size to receive one or more PIM frequencies of interest associated with one or more broadcast frequencies; a wand supporting the PIM antenna on one end configured for positioning the PIM antenna by hand; a coaxial cable electrically connected to and extending from the PIM antenna; wherein the PIM antenna comprises two orthogonal loop conductors; wherein the PIM antenna comprises a near magnetic loop antenna for locating a source of PIM interference characterized by a wavelength by placing the PIM antenna within one wavelength of the source of the PIM interference.
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3. A method for detecting one or more passive intermodulation (PIM) frequencies of interest associated with one or more broadcast frequencies, comprising:
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obtaining a passive intermodulation (PIM) probe, comprising; a PIM antenna tuned by loop size to receive the PIM frequencies of interest comprising a near field magnetic loop antenna for locating a source of PIM interference characterized by a wavelength by placing the PIM antenna within one wavelength of the source of the PIM interference, a wand supporting the PIM antenna on one end configured for positioning the PIM antenna by hand, a coaxial cable electrically connected to and extending from the PIM antenna; a filter connected to the coaxial cable configured to suppress the downlink frequencies and pass the PIM frequencies of interest, and a signal analyzer connected to the coaxial cable configured to display a representation of PIM received by the PIM antenna; positioning the probe by hand with the PIM antenna located adjacent to a PIM source illuminated by a the broadcast antenna while standing out of a line of sight between the broadcast antenna and the PIM source; and viewing a representation of the PIM on the signal analyzer.
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11. A passive intermodulation (PIM) probe, comprising:
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a PIM antenna tuned by loop size to receive one or more PIM frequencies of interest associated with one or more broadcast frequencies; a wand supporting the PIM antenna on one end configured for positioning the PIM antenna by hand; a coaxial cable electrically connected to and extending from the PIM antenna; wherein the PIM antenna comprises two orthogonal loop conductors; wherein the PIM antenna comprises a near field magnetic loop antenna configured to locate a source of PIM interference characterized by a wavelength by placing the PIM antenna within one wavelength of the source of the PIM interference. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for detecting one or more passive intermodulation (PIM) frequencies of interest associated with one or more broadcast frequencies, comprising:
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obtaining a passive intermodulation (PIM) probe, comprising; a PIM antenna tuned by loop size to receive the PIM frequencies of interest comprising a near field magnetic loop antenna configured to locate a source of PIM interference characterized by a wavelength by placing the PIM antenna within one wavelength of the source of the PIM interference, a wand supporting the PIM antenna on one end configured for positioning the PIM antenna by hand, a coaxial cable electrically connected to and extending from the PIM antenna; a filter connected to the coaxial cable configured to suppress the downlink frequencies and pass the PIM frequencies of interest, and a signal analyzer connected to the coaxial cable configured to display a representation of PIM received by the PIM antenna; positioning the probe by hand with the PIM antenna located adjacent to a PIM source illuminated by a broadcast antenna while standing out of a line of sight between the broadcast antenna and the PIM source; and viewing a representation of the PIM on the signal analyzer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification