Triggered narrow-band method for making pulsed-RF networking measurements
View Patent ↗A method of measuring a device under test (“DUT”) includes applying a pulsed-RF input signal to the DUT and coupling an output of the DUT to a receiver having an output bandwidth selected to measure a center tone in an RF pulse response spectrum from the output of the DUT. The receiver is triggered so as to sample data output from the DUT during a window period, and stops taking data after the window period.
1. A method of measuring a device under test (“DUT”) comprising:
1) applying a pulsed-RF input signal to the DUT;
2) coupling an output of the DUT to a receiver selectively measuring a center tone in an RF pulse response spectrum from the output of the DUT;
3) triggering the receiver so as to sample data output from the DUT during a window period;
4) stopping data taking after the window period;
5) determining if a filter condition has been satisfied; and, if the filter condition has not been satisfied;
6) repeating triggering the receiver so as to sample data output from the DUT during a window period and stopping data after the window period.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of stopping data taking is performed from a trailing edge of a first window period to a leading edge of a second window period.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein stopping data taking after the window period comprises at least one of measuring zeroed analog data, measuring zeroed digital data, multiplying digital data by a zero coefficient, and stopping data collection.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein stopping data taking after the window period occurs during a noise portion of the pulsed-RF input signal.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein triggering the receiver so as to sample data output from the DUT during a window period occurs during a noise portion of the pulsed-RF input signal.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein stopping data taking after the window period includes tapering.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein tapering includes multiplying a digital output by a coefficient transitioning between a value of “1” and a value of “0” over a plurality of samples.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein tapering includes filtering an analog-to-digital converter input signal.
9. The method of claim 6 wherein tapering includes multiplying a digital input to a digital signal processor by a coefficient transitioning between a value of “1” and a value of “0” over a plurality of samples.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising disabling data collection when the coefficient has decreased to “0.”
11. The method of claim 6 wherein the tapering occurs within a digital signal processor.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein stopping data taking after the window period includes programming a digital signal processor to process null pseudo-data after the window period.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein triggering the receiver so as to sample data output from the DUT during a window period comprises providing an external trigger signal to the receiver.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein triggering the receiver so as to sample data output from the DUT during a window period comprises generating an internal trigger signal in the receiver.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein the window period is established according to a pre-determined RF pulse duration.
16. The method of claim 1 wherein the window period is established according to a measured RF pulse duration.