Broadband vector network analyser

It utilises an advanced design that eliminates the need for large, heavy millimetre wave (mmWave) modules and coax combiners. According to Anritsu, it provides engineers, designers, and researchers with a system that conducts highly accurate and efficient broadband device characterisation of active and passive microwave/mmWave devices. This includes those designed into emerging 60GHz wireless personal area networks (WPANs), 40Gb/s and higher optical networks, 77 and 94GHz automotive radar, digital radio links, 94GHz imaging mmWave radar, and Ka-Band satellite communications. The ME7838A also suitable for conducting signal integrity measurements on emerging high speed designs, such as 28Gb/s serialiser/deserialiser (SerDes) transceivers used on servers, routers and other networking, computing and storage products. Anritsu says the device, equipped with the 3743A mmWave module, can accurately measure 28Gb/s SerDes transceivers at the higher frequencies required for proper analysis. The ME7838A has improved rf performance, due to an 'industry first', real time power levelling control that provides power accuracy and stability to power levels as low as -55dBm. According to Anritsu, the approach employed in the ME7838A takes less time, is less tedious, and more accurate than the conventional method of adjusting power level in the millimetre band through the use of electronically controlled mechanical attenuators and power linearity correction tables. The VectorStar broadband system is designed to provide an accurate and fast real time method to sweep power for compression measurements. The result, claims Anritsu, is that the ME7838A performs the most accurate gain compression measurements on high frequency active devices in the industry. With the ME7838A design, mmWave modules can be mounted close to or directly on the wafer probe. It transitions at 54GHz, gives the broadband VNA the widest dynamic range in its class – 107dB at 110GHz and 92dB at 125GHz. Delivery of the ME7838A is scheduled for Q3 of 2011.