The document describes the NM600, a fast, simple, and low-cost solution for performing source- and load-pull measurements using a vector network analyzer. The NM600 allows a user to perform source- and load-pull measurements electronically in around 1 second per point using the VNA's internal sources and by measuring the device's DC and RF characteristics. This provides a low-cost way to characterize devices like amplifiers across different source and load impedances. The document outlines the NM600's setup, measurement concepts, and application software for controlling measurements and analyzing the collected data.

1. NM600 FSLP
Source- and Load-Pull
using your VNA
at its full power
- Fast, Simple and Low-Cost -
November 2010

2. Outline
● Target Markets and Requirements
● Key Benefits of NM600
● Problem description
● Fast Source- and Load-Pull Concepts
● Setup for NM600
● NM600 FSLP Application
● Examples of Source- and Load-pull
● Customization of NM600 for power applications
● Conclusion
© NMDG 2009 - 2010 2

3. Target Markets and Requirements
● Semiconductor Manufacturers
● Low cost and fast characterization
● Minimize the number of measurement setups
● VNA is typically already being used
● Handsets
● Cheap
● Small
● Talk forever without recharging
● Speech, data, movies, conferencing etc...
NM600
● Base-stations ● Needing to perform non-50 Ohm
● Low maintenance cost characterization
● More cells ● Owning a vector network analyzer
● Smaller units ● Not willing to invest in tuners
© NMDG 2009 - 2010 3

4. NM600: Key Benefits
● Fast
● Electronic tuning
➢ ~0.6s/point in Fast Mode (no control loop of independent variables)
➢ ~1.4s/point in Control Loop Mode
● Simple and Accurate
● Standard network analyser connection to device under test (*)
● Only VNA relative and power calibrations required
● Low-cost
● No tuner required (passive techniques)
● No expensive external sources required (active techniques)
● Direct feedback
● Source and load impedances
● Fundamental power and phase spectrum of input and output waves
● Derived quantities such as input and output delivered power, PAE
(*) Circulator advised for source protection
© NMDG 2009 - 2010 4

5. The Amplifier as essential Power Transformer
Amplify
LDMOS
GaN
GaAs OK
SiGe...
Information
Signal
Do not distort
© NMDG 2009 - 2010 5

6. The Amplifier as essential Power Transformer
Convert DC Power
LDMOS into RF Power
GaN
GaAs DC Power
SiGe...
RF Power
Information
Signal Avoid Power
Dissipation
© NMDG 2009 - 2010 6

7. Classic Technique: Fundamental Source and Loadpull
f0 PIn
DUT
f0 POut
Bias
P source
f0
● Measure
● Input and output DC and RF power
● For different values of
● Input power
● Bias
● Load impedances
● Source impedances
● Display and analyse collected data
● Until “some optimal” point is reached
© NMDG 2009 - 2010 7

8. What now?
● S-parameters
● Small-signal characterisation
● Only when no distortion
● 50 Ohm environment
● Matching requires non-50 Ohm
● Harmonic and Intermod distortion
● Only in 50 Ohm environment
© NMDG 2009 - 2010 8

9. Concept of Fast Source-Pull
To VNA VDD
VGG To VNA Port 2
Port 1 id
Power Sweep ig
Pin
b2
a1 a2 ZL
Source b1 vd
f0 vg
1
Measure ∀ Pin vg, ig, vd, id at DC
a1, b1, a2, b2 at f0
Calculate mathematically ∀ PAV and Zsource Pdelin, Pdelout, PAE, ... at f0
Source Pull Contours
© NMDG 2009 - 2010 9

10. Concept of Fast Load-Pull
ΓL Active Injection
To VNA VDD
VGG To VNA Port 2
Port 1 id
ig
Fixed Pin
b2
a1 a2
b1 vd Optional f0
Source
f0 vg Prematch Pinject
1
Tuner Φinject Source
2
Adapting Pinject and Φinject for given Pin Synthesize ΓL
Measure vg, ig, vd, id at DC
a1, b1, a2, b2 at f0
Calculate Pdelin, Pdelout, PAE, ... at f0
Load Pull Contours
© NMDG 2009 - 2010 10

11. NM600
2/4-port VNA + Hardware (opt.) + Software
● direct gen. & rec. access ● Circulator
NM600
● Second internal source ● Amplifier
● Manual tuner FSLP
© NMDG 2009 - 2010 11

12. NM600 Block Diagram on R&S ZVA24
4-port R&S ZVA24
SRC SRC
#1 Port 1 Port 2 Port 4 #2
Receiver
a1 b1 b2 a2
20 dB
Possible DUT Possible
Signal Signal
Conditioning Conditioning
Test-Set Limitations: 27 dBm
© NMDG 2009 - 2010 12

13. NM600 Setup with ZVA and ZVAX
© NMDG 2009 - 2010 13

14. NM600 Block Diagram on R&S ZVA24
4-port R&S ZVA24
SRC SRC
#1 Port 1 Port 2 Port 4 #2
14 dB Receiver
a1 b1 b2 a2
-22 dBm
-3 dBm
12.5 dB 35 dB
20 dB 26 dB
10 dB 20 dB
DUT
Possible
Signal ZVAX
Conditioning 43 dBm 43 dBm
Possible
Test-Set Limitations: 43 dBm Signal
Conditioning
Customized Test-sets are possible
© NMDG 2009 - 2010 14

15. NM600 FSLP Application
Multi-tab Displays
Source- or Load Pull Mode
Selection of
independent variables
Display Configuration
● Style
➢ Points
➢ Contours
➢ Contours + Points Off-line
● Derived Quantity: Display
➢ Selection of Qty & Unit
➢ Multiple quantities at once
Selection of Datasets
● Multiple datasets at once
➢ Union of indep. variables
Data
Collection
© NMDG 2009 - 2010 15

16. NM600 FSLP Application – Data Collection
Log of messages
Verbose, Warning & Errors
Live Status Monitor
Desired & realized sweep points
Sweep Start / Pause / Stop
Sweep Plan Configuration
Progress Bar
Tune independent fixed variables
Change value & start automatically a new sweep
© NMDG 2009 - 2010 16

17. NM600 FSLP Application – Sweep Plan
ΓLoad Sweep
Sweepable Configuration
Variables
Sweep Plan Sequence
● Sweep Order
● Turn On/Off Sequences
Advanced Settings
● Sweep Mode
● Control Loop Settings
© NMDG 2009 - 2010 17

18. NM600 FSLP Application – Source Pull Display
For a given Pav
@ Selected
For given Γs sets f0, ΓL, vDC1, vDC2
Calculate
mathematically
Display
Source Pull Contours
● # Contour levels
● Min (▼) & Max (▲)
● Colour Scale to map values
© NMDG 2009 - 2010 18

19. NM600 FSLP Application – Load Pull Display
@ Selected
Pin, f0, ΓL, vDC1, vDC2
Calculate
mathematically
Display
Load Pull Contours
● # Contour levels
● Min (▼) & Max (▲)
● One colour per derived qty
© NMDG 2009 - 2010 19

20. Example: EPA120B-100P
● EPA120B-100P
● high efficiency heterojunction power FET
● power output: + 29.0dBm typ.
● power gain: 11.5dB typ. @ 12 GHz
© NMDG 2009 - 2010 20

21. Source-Pull
Load
Measure for power sweep Pin = -20 to -5 dBm, F0 = 1.5GHz
Vg = -1.2V, Vd = 5V
Calculated for Pav = -12 dBm Class AB
Pdelin Pdelout PAE
Min = -23.2 dBm Min = -4.6 dBm Min = 0.8 %
Max = -12.2 dBm Max = 6.6 dBm Max = 6.4 %
Δ = 1 dB Δ = 1 dB Δ = 0.4 %
© NMDG 2009 - 2010 21

22. Load-Pull
Pin = -10 dBm, F0 = 1.5GHz
Vg = -1.2V, Vd = 5V
Class AB Pdelout
Min = -5.5 dBm
Max = 4.1 dBm
Δ = 1 dB
PAE
Min = 0.4 %
Max = 5 %
Δ = 0.23 %
Synthesized load impedances
with active injection
© NMDG 2009 - 2010 22

23. A Technical Note: Power Requirements for Active Injection
Active
Amplifier Tuner
E Amp
E TunerTuner E Amp
 Amp  Tuner  Load =
E Amp Amp E Tuner
E Tuner
E Tuner  Load −Tuner
 Load
∣ ∣∣
E Amp
=
1− Amp  Load ∣
If perfect circulator:  Tuner =0
E Tuner
 Load =
E Amp Amp E Tuner
 Load =1
E Tuner 1
E Tuner  Load
∣ ∣∣
E Amp
=
1− Amp  Load ∣ ∣ ∣∣
E Amp
=
1− Amp ∣
© NMDG 2009 - 2010 23

24. Getting more insight...
Dynamic Load line including Harmonics
with the NM300 ZVxPlus
© NMDG 2009 - 2010 24

25. Conclusion
The NM600 FSLP Application enables
fundamental Source and Load Pull
using only a VNA
It is fast, simple, low-cost and accurate
For more information info@nmdg.be
www.nmdg.be
© NMDG 2009 - 2010 25

26. Want to try?
Contact us
at
icesupport@nmdg.be
© NMDG 2009 - 2010 26