RF Signal Meter

1 . A radio-frequency (RF) meter, comprising:

a) a forward-signal input and a reflected-signal input;

b) respective couplers attached to the inputs;

c) respective power detectors attached to the respective couplers;

d) a phase detector attached to both of the respective couplers; and

e) a processor connected to the power detectors and the phase detectors.

2 . The meter according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is adapted to determine an impedance mismatch using data from the power detectors and the phase detectors.

3 . The meter according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is adapted to perform a calibration to account for properties of an external coupler attached to the inputs.

4 . The meter according to claim 1 , wherein said respective couplers comprise microstrip couplers.

5 . The meter according to claim 4 , wherein a first port of the microstrip coupler is connected to the phase detector and a second port of the microstrip coupler is connected to a ground via a resistor.

6 . The meter according to claim 1 , wherein the meter is configured to connect to a four-port external coupler.

7 . The meter according to claim 6 , wherein said respective couplers comprise microstrip couplers.

8 . The meter according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to transmit phase and amplitude information to a display.

9 . The meter according to claim 8 , wherein the processor is adapted to perform a calibration prior to transmitting said phase and amplitude information to the display, the calibration accounting for properties of an external coupler attached to the inputs.

10 . A method of measuring an RF signal, comprising:

a) receiving from an RF source the RF signal in a coupler connected to the RF source and an RF load;

b) transmitting a portion of the received RF signal and a portion of a reflected signal received from the RF load to an RF meter;

c) receiving the portions in respective couplers in the RF meter;

d) automatically determining respective amplitudes of the signals using amplitude detectors connected to the respective couplers in the RF meter; and

e) automatically determining a phase of the RF signal using a phase detector connected to the respective couplers in the RF meter.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , further comprising: transmitting said respective amplitudes and phase to an external display.

12 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein a processor operatively connected to the meter is adapted to determine an impedance mismatch using data from the power detectors and the phase detectors.

13 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the processor is adapted to perform a calibration to account for properties of an external coupler attached to the inputs.

14 . The meter according to claim 10 , wherein said respective couplers comprise microstrip couplers.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein a first port of the microstrip coupler is connected to the phase detector and a second port of the microstrip coupler is connected to a ground via a resistor.

16 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the meter is configured to connect to a four-port external coupler.

17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein said respective couplers comprise microstrip couplers.

18 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to transmit phase and amplitude information to the display over a network, wherein the display is located remotely from the meter.

19 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the processor is adapted to perform a calibration prior to transmitting said phase and amplitude information to the display, the calibration accounting for properties of an external coupler attached to the inputs.

20 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein the calibration includes determining a directivity of the external coupler.