Signal combining apparatus

• US 9,288,131 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2013
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Viavi Solutions Licensing LLC (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Aeroflex Incorporated (Cobham PLC)
• Inventors: Gilmartin, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Dang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ajid, Abdeltif
• Application Number:
  US13/789,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20130250781A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 370/250, 370/360, 370/244, 370/217
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/0085 using test signal generators
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/17 Detection of non-compliance or faulty performance, e.g. response deviations H04B17/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/20 of receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/21 for calibration; for correcting measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

The present application relates to a signal combining apparatus having an input for receiving a signal from a signal generator and an output for outputting a signal to a signal analyzer. The input signal is split into a plurality of identical signals by a splitter and the signals are transmitted, to inputs a plurality of duplex combiners, each of which has an input/output port to which a device under test can be connected. Outputs of the duplex combiners are connected to a plurality of receive paths, whose outputs are connected to a signal relay which is operative to receive one or more signals received through the receive paths. An output of the signal relay is connected to the output of the signal combining apparatus, such that a composite signal output by the signal relay containing the signals received through the receive paths can be analyzed by the signal analyzer.

Claims

1. A radio frequency (RF) signal combining apparatus comprising:

an input port for receiving an input signal from a signal generator;

an output port for outputting a signal to a signal analyser;

a plurality of test ports for connecting the apparatus to a plurality of devices under test (DUTs), the apparatus further comprising;

a splitter for dividing a signal received at the input port into a plurality of signals;

a plurality of transmit signal paths, each of the plurality of transmit signal paths comprising a switchable gain stage, the switchable gain stage comprising an amplifier and an attenuator and being operative selectively to connect an input of the gain stage to either the amplifier or the attenuator, such that the input signal is either amplified or attenuated by the gain stage;

a plurality of receive paths;

a signal relay, the signal relay being configured to receive one or more signals through one or more of the plurality of receive paths and to output a single composite signal to the output port, the single composite signal output to the output port containing the signals received from the one or more of the plurality of receive paths wherein the apparatus further comprises a plurality of duplex combiners which are each configured to;

receive a signal from one of the plurality of transmit paths;

transmit the signal from the one of the plurality of transmit paths to one of the plurality of test ports;

receive a signal from one of the plurality of test ports; and

transmit the signal received from the one of the plurality of test ports to one of the plurality of receive paths.

2. The signal combining apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of receive paths each comprise a switchable gain stage.

3. The signal combining apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of transmit paths comprises a fine level control.

4. The signal combining apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of receive paths comprises a fine level control.

5. The signal combining apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the fine level control comprises a variable attenuator.

6. The signal combining apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of transmit paths further comprises an isolator for selectively enabling or disabling the transmit path.

7. The signal combining apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the isolator comprises switch means and a resistive termination, the switch means being operative to selectively connect an input of one of the plurality of duplex combiners to an output of one of the plurality of transmit paths or to the resistive termination.

8. The signal combining apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of receive paths further comprises an isolator for selectively enabling or disabling the receive path.

9. The signal combining apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the isolator comprises switch means and a resistive termination, the switch means being operative to selectively connect an output of one of the plurality of duplex combiners to an input of one of the plurality of receive paths or to the resistive termination.

10. The signal combining apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a switchable feedback path for selectively connecting an output of one of the plurality of transmit paths to an input of one of the plurality of receive paths.

11. The signal combining apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the feedback path includes a power sensor for measuring signal power in the one of the plurality of transmit paths.

12. The signal combining apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising heating means for maintaining the power sensor at a constant temperature.

13. The signal combining apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a power sensor for measuring the power of a signal output by one of the plurality of duplex combiners to one of the plurality of receive paths;

a threshold detector for detecting whether the power of the signal output by the one of the plurality of duplex combiners meets a predetermined threshold; and

control means for controlling a switchable attenuation such that if the power of the signal output by the one of the plurality of duplex combiners meets the threshold, the signal output by the one of the plurality of duplex combiners is attenuated.

14. The signal combining apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the control means is operative to control an isolator of the receive path such that when the power of the signal output by the one of the plurality of duplex combiners meets the threshold the output of the one of the plurality of duplex combiners is connected to a resistive termination.