Signal Generator and a Measurement System Including Signal Generator

• US 20190310299A1
• Filed: 04/17/2019
• Published: 10/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science
• Original Assignee: Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science
• Inventors: KANG, No Weon, PARK, Jeongil
• Granted Patent: US 11,125,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/32 in circuits having distributed constants , e.g. having very long conductors or involving high frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/08 Measuring electromagnetic field characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/0871 Complete apparatus or systems; circuits, e.g. receivers or amplifiers G01R29/0878, G01R29/0892 take precedence; dosimeters, warning devices G01R29/0857
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/0878 Sensors; antennas; probes; detectors wave guide measuring sections G01R1/24
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/0892 Details related to signal analysis or treatment; presenting results, e.g. displays; measuring specific signal features other than field strength, e.g. polarisation, field modes, phase, envelope, maximum value
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/10 Radiation diagrams of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/28 Testing of electronic circuits, e.g. by signal tracer EMC, EMP or similar testing of electronic circuits G01R31/002; testing for short-circuits, discontinuities, leakage or incorrect line connection G01R31/50; checking computers or computer components G06F11/00; checking static stores for correct operation G11C29/00 ; testing receivers or transmitters of transmission systems H04B17/00

Abstract

A measurement system according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: an analyzer; a first expansion module for transmitting a first electromagnetic wave signal to a first antenna under control of the analyzer; a second expansion module for receiving a second electromagnetic wave signal through a second antenna; a first signal generator for generating a first local oscillation signal under control of the analyzer, and detecting a reference characteristic of the first electromagnetic wave signal and a first test characteristic of the first antenna by using the first local oscillation signal; and a second signal generator for generating a second local oscillation signal under control of the analyzer, and detecting a second test characteristic of the second antenna by using the second local oscillation signal, wherein the first signal generator comprises a controller for converting instructions transmitted from the analyzer into internal instructions, and a local oscillation signal generator for generating the first local oscillation signal according to the internal instructions.

Claims

1. A measurement system comprising:

an analyzer;

a first expansion module for transmitting a first electromagnetic wave signal to a first antenna under control of the analyzer;

a second expansion module for receiving a second electromagnetic wave signal through a second antenna;

a first signal generator for generating a first local oscillation signal under control of the analyzer, and detecting a reference characteristic of the first electromagnetic wave signal and a first test characteristic of the first antenna by using the first local oscillation signal; and

a second signal generator for generating a second local oscillation signal under control of the analyzer, and detecting a second test characteristic of the second antenna by using the second local oscillation signal,

wherein the first signal generator comprises;

a controller for converting instructions transmitted from the analyzer into internal instructions; and

a local oscillation signal generator for generating the first local oscillation signal according to the internal instructions.

2. The measurement system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first signal generator receives a reference signal from the analyzer, generates a reference local oscillation signal and a first test local oscillation signal based on the reference signal, and transmits the reference local oscillation signal and the first test local oscillation signal to the first expansion module.

3. The measurement system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first expansion module mixes the reference local oscillation signal with the first electromagnetic wave signal and outputs the mixed signal to the first signal generator as a reference intermediate frequency signal, and

the first signal generator transmits the reference intermediate frequency signal to the analyzer.

4. The measurement system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first expansion module transmits a direct current (DC) component of the reference local oscillation signal to the first signal generator as a reference detection signal, and

the first signal generator adjusts levels of the reference local oscillation signal and the first test local oscillation signal using the reference detection signal.

5. The measurement system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the second expansion module mixes a signal that the first electromagnetic wave signal is reflected from the first antenna with the first test local oscillation signal and transmits a result of the mixing to the first signal generator as a first test intermediate frequency signal, and

the first signal generator transmits the first test intermediate frequency signal to the analyzer.

6. The measurement system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first signal generator receives a list of frequencies from the analyzer, stores the received list, and changes frequencies of the reference local oscillation signal and the first test local oscillation signal into another frequency among frequencies, listed in the list, in response to a trigger signal transmitted from the analyzer.

7. The measurement system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the trigger signal is transmitted through an additional hardware signal line.

8. The measurement system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the instructions is transmitted through an Ethernet channel.

9. The measurement system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the second signal generator receives the reference signal from the first signal generator, generates a second test local oscillation signal based on the reference signal, and transmits the second test local oscillation signal to the second expansion module.

10. The measurement system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the second expansion module mixes the second test local oscillation signal with the second electromagnetic signal and transmits a result of the mixing to the second signal generator as a second test intermediate frequency signal, and

the second signal generator transmits the second test intermediate frequency signal to the analyzer.

11. The measurement system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the second expansion module transmits a direct current (DC) component of the second test local oscillation signal to the first signal generator as a test detection signal, and

the first signal generator adjusts a level of the second test local oscillation signal using the test detection signal.

12. The measurement system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the second signal generator receives a list of frequencies from the first signal generator, stores the received list, and changes a frequency of the second test local oscillation signal into another frequency among the frequencies listed in the listed in response to a trigger signal transmitted from the first signal generator.

13. The measurement system of claim 12, wherein the second signal generator outputs the trigger signal to the analyzer when a change in the frequency and detection of characteristics of the second antenna are completed.

14. The measurement system of claim 2, wherein the first signal generator generates the electromagnetic wave signal based on the reference signal and transmits the electromagnetic signal to the first antenna through the first expansion module.

15. The measurement system of claim 1, wherein the analyzer transmits the electromagnetic wave signal to the second antenna through the first expansion module.

16. A signal generator comprising:

a controller configured to convert commands, received through a first channel, into internal commands; and

a local oscillation signal generator configured to generate a local oscillation signal according to the internal commands and to change a frequency of the local oscillation signal in response to a trigger signal received through a second channel.

17. The signal generator as set forth in claim 16, further comprising:

a variable attenuator configured to adjust an attenuation rate of the local oscillation signal in response to a detection signal transmitted through a third channel.

18. The signal generator as set forth in claim 16, further comprising:

a signal divider configured to divide the local oscillation signal into a first local oscillation signal and a second local oscillation signal.

19. The signal generator as set forth in claim 16, further comprising:

a voltage-controlled oscillator configured to receive a reference signal and to output a vibration signal in response to the reference signal,

wherein the local oscillation signal generator outputs the local oscillation signal in response to the vibration signal.

20. The signal generator as set forth in claim 19, further comprising:

a temperature-controlled oscillator;

a first switch configured to transmit the reference signal to the voltage-controlled oscillator in a first mode and to transmit an output of the temperature-controlled oscillator to the voltage-controlled oscillator as the reference signal in a second mode; and

switches configured to output the vibration signal to an external device in the first mode and to output the vibration signal to the external device through a frequency divider in the second mode.