Real-time device characterization and analysis

1. A measurement system for determining at least one characteristic of a device under test (DUT) at at least one frequency, the at least one characteristic being a function of time, the measurement system comprising a network analyzer being in connection at least with generator means for generating a first and second frequency component, at least the second frequency component being offset from the at least one frequency at which the DUT is characterized, the network analyzer further comprising signal paths applying the generated first and second frequency components to the DUT and receiving signals from the DUT, the measurement system obtaining a power sweep or a changing and repetitive load impedance at an input or an output of the DUT, whereby the network analyzer further comprises a data acquisition and processing unit calculating from the received signals from the DUT the at least one characteristic as a function of time and a combination of a source match and an available power or a changing and repetitive load impedance as a function of time, such that the characteristic as a function of time can be mapped to a combination of the source match and the available power or to the load impedance.

2. The measurement system as in claim 1 , wherein the at least one characteristic belongs to the group comprising DUT input impedance, gain, net input power, and delivered output power.

3. The measurement system as in claim 1 , wherein the generator means is a vector signal generator.

4. The measurement system as in claim 1 , further comprising at least one pre-match tuner.

5. The measurement system as in claim 1 , wherein the network analyzer is in connection with a passive tuner.

6. The measurement system as in claim 1 , wherein the network analyzer is a large-signal network analyzer.

7. The measurement system as in claim 1 , wherein the DUT has a non-linear behavior.

8. The measurement system as in claim 1 , wherein the DUT is a two-port device.

9. The measurement system as in claim 1 , wherein the DUT is an N-port device.

10. The measurement system as in claim 9 , wherein at each port a plurality of vector signal generators is provided.

11. The measurement system as in claim 10 , wherein at each port a passive tuner is provided between the network analyzer and each vector signal generator of the plurality of vector signal generators.

12. A system for analyzing a device under test (DUT), the system comprising:

the measurement system of claim 1 , the measurement system being connected to the DUT; and

a simulator tool comprising a simulation circuit, the simulation circuit comprising the DUT, the simulator tool being arranged for communicating with the measurement system.

13. The measurement system as in claim 1 , wherein the generator means comprises a first source and a second source.

14. The measurement system as in claim 13 , wherein the first and the second source are synthesizers sharing a same reference clock.

15. The measurement system as in claim 13 , wherein the frequency content generated by the second source comprises a periodic amplitude modulated tone.

16. The measurement system as in claim 1 , wherein the first and second frequency component have an offset +df and −df, respectively, from the at least one frequency at which the DUT is characterized.

17. The measurement system as in claim 1 , wherein the network analyzer maps the determined characteristic onto the source match and available power combination or onto the load impedance.

18. A method for determining at least one characteristic of a device under test (DUT) at a given frequency, wherein the method is used with a measurement system comprising a network analyzer being in connection at least with generator means for generating a first and second frequency component, at least the second frequency component being offset from the at least one frequency at which the DUT is characterized, the network analyzer further comprising signal paths arranged for applying the generated first and second frequency components to the DUT and arranged for receiving signals from the DUT, the measurement system being arranged for obtaining a power sweep or a changing and repetitive load impedance at an input or an output of the DUT, whereby the network analyzer further comprises a data acquisition and processing unit configured to calculate from the received signals from the DUT the at least one characteristic as a function of time and a combination of a source match and an available power or a changing and repetitive load impedance as a function of time, such that the characteristic as a function of time can also be represented as a function of the combination of the source match and the available power or the load impedance, the method comprising:

a) defining on a Smith chart an area where the characteristic of the DUT is to be determined;

b) generating a first frequency component at the given frequency;

c) generating a periodic amplitude modulated signal with a carrier frequency offset from the first frequency component;

d) measuring with the measurement system voltages and currents at one or more device ports, while the signals generated in b) and c) are applied;

e) determining the at least one characteristic at the given frequency as a function of time, using the measured voltages and currents;

f) calculating the impedance at the output of the DUT as a function of time, using the measured voltages and currents; and

g) mapping the determined characteristic onto the calculated impedance.

19. The method for determining at least one characteristic as in Claim 18 , wherein the area comprises a center point that can be moved around by tuning a passive tuner.

20. A method for determining at least one characteristic of a device under test (DUT) at a given frequency, the method comprising:

providing a measurement system comprising a network analyzer to which a generator means for generating a first and a second frequency component is directly connected, the first and second frequency component having an offset +df and −df, respectively, from the given frequency, the network analyzer further comprising signal paths configured to apply the generated first and second frequency component to an input of the DUT and to receive signals output from the DUT;

measuring with the measurement system voltages and currents at one or more device ports for each power setting;

determining the at least one characteristic at the given frequency as a function of time using the measured voltages and currents;

calculating a combination of a source impedance and available power at the input of the DUT; and

mapping the determined characteristic onto the calculated source impedance in combination with the available power.