Application Note AN-101

RTT
Real Time Tuning System
———–
Application Note AN-101
Advanced Load-Pull and Time-Domain Measurements

RTTSWB
Switch Unit

RTTLUS
Loop Unit

Rev. 1.1 – Nov. 2009

High Frequency
Engineering
Introduction

The fast development of high-frequency active devices is posing new measurement chal-
lenges. When nonlinear characterization is required, switching to Load-Pull measurement
techniques is the correct answer.
Modern Load-Pull measurements demand flexible test-sets to accommodate for a great
variety of devices, and easy-to-use software to diminish the user learning curve and im-
proving productivity.
HFE has the turn-key solution for such needs: the Real Time Tuning System (RTT).

1
RTT Description

The new HFE Real Time Tuning System is the commercially available one-stop-solution
for real-time load-pull measurements.
The RTT unique feature is that no pre-calibration of tuners or adapter is required, and
the overall system calibration takes only few minutes, furthermore, high dynamic range
and accuracy are achieved by using a vector network analyzer in place of traditional
power meters.

Components
The load-pull test-set is sketched in Fig. 1 and is composed by

Vector Spectrum
Network Analyzer
Analyzer (8)
P1 P2
(1) (Opt. TD)
Sampling Scope
or
Switch Unit Microwave Transition
(3) VNA P1 VNA P2 Analyzer
(9)
TO PA A1 B1 B2 A2

Input Output
Tuner/Active Load Tuner/Active Load Attenuator
Input PA (4) (5) or
(6)
50 Ù load

Bias T
à Ultra-low-loss
DUT
Ultra-low-loss
à Bias T
(7) directional directional
(7)
coupler coupler
(2) (2)

Figure 1: Example block schematic of the RTT nonlinear test-set.

1. A Vector Network Analyzer (VNA)

2. Two ultra-low-loss directional couplers (for the input and output sides of the DUT)
3. A switch unit, used to connect the VNA to the directional couplers
4. An input passive tuner or active load unit, depending on the user’s needs
5. An output passive tuner or active load unit, depending on the user’s needs
6. An input power amplifier (if required)
7. Two bias tees, if required (i.e. for on-wafer devices or packaged devices in test
fixtures)
8. A spectrum analyzer (optional)
9. The time-domain waveform option (opt. TD) will require a sampling scope or a
Microwave Transition Analyzer (MTA)

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Real Time Tuning System Application Note AN-101

Moreover, the hardware is fully automated by the MMSNT LP software.

RTT0812H Ultra-Low-Loss Directional Cou-

plers
The most critical element of the system are the direc-
tional couplers, with less than 0.05dB insertion loss
at 2GHz. The two couplers are inserted on either
side of the DUT; in the case of on-wafer measure-
ments, two low-loss cables and probes are needed.
The couplers are very small in size, which makes
them ideal for on-wafer device characterization, pro-
viding an easy access to the DUT via the probes.
Available connectors: 7 mm or type-N.

RTTSWB Switch Unit

The switch unit directly connects to any network
analyzer and to the personal computer. It includes
the microwave electronics to control the DUT input
power, to switch the measurement signals from the
ultra-low-loss couplers and to configure the test-set
for S-parameters or load-pull/source-pull measure-
ments.

RTTLUS Loop Unit

The RTTLUS Loop Unit is the easiest way for per-
forming Active Load-Pull measurements. It includes
the control electronics for the active loops and easily
connects to the personal computer serial interface.

MMSNT LP Software
The MMSNT LP software sets new references for
software usability and flexibility. By this software,
the calibration and measurement steps become a
matter of few “clicks”. It performs scattering pa-
rameters and load-pull measurements, and fully au-
tomates the overall test-set.

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Real Time Tuning System Application Note AN-101

Hardware
The RTT system is a flexible solution that accommodates for different user needs. It
can easily integrate existing load-pull test-sets providing advanced and more accurate
measurement capabilities.

Converting a Manual Tuner System into Semi-Automatic Real

Time Load Pull
Manual tuner systems can be easily upgraded to a real-time system with little effort.
The upgrade package offers the same accuracy as automatic systems, however, it is a
somewhat slower as the tuner has to be manually positioned.
An example of a manual test-set is shown in Fig. 2.

Figure 2: Example of test-set using two manual tuners.

Upgrading Focus Microwave R and Maury Microwave

R systems
to Real Time Load Pull Systems
MMSNT LP software can control Focus Microwave R and Maury Microwave R load Pull
systems. Drivers for both systems are built-in. The use of real-time measurements avoids
complex and cumbersome tuner and system calibrations, and assures an unprecedented
level of accuracy.
An example of a real-time test-set based on commercial tuners is shown in Fig. 3.

Low Impedance Device Measurements and Harmonics Control

The basic RTT system can be extended for low-impedance high-power devices using a
combination of passive and active load-pull techniques (see Fig. 4).
The passive tuner is used mainly at the fundamental to handle the DUT high output
power. A fundamental active loop helps the tuner to reach extreme high reflection co-
efficients (even below 1 Ω impedance), while the other active loops provide independent
control on the harmonic load reflection coefficient.

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Real Time Tuning System Application Note AN-101

Figure 3: Example of test-set using both a Focus Microwave

R and a Maury Microwave
R
tuner.
Variable Phase YIG tuned
Attenuator Shifter Filter Isolator
IN OUT Loop Unit PA
Power @3f0 Power
(from loop (to loop
Splitter Combiner
couplers) amplifiers)
Isolator
Loop Unit PA
RTTLUS Loop Unit @2f0
Number of Harmonics = Number of Loop Units Isolator
NO LIMIT on the number of Harmonics! Loop Unit PA
@f0

(to Switch Unit)

(to other test-set components) DUT

Ultra-low-loss Ultra-low-loss
à Bias T
directional directional Output Tuner
coupler coupler

Figure 4: Example of passive/active load-pull test-set, with harmonic capability.

The configuration can be used for the source side, thus tuning the source reflection
coefficient. With the Time-Domain Waveform Option, the RTT system is the most
comprehensive nonlinear characterization tool commercially available.

5
Real Time Tuning System Application Note AN-101

Software
MMSNT LP software is an advanced microwave measurements environment which lets
the user mix different instruments and calibration techniques to solve a variety of linear
and nonlinear measurement problems. The software can be used for

– active load-pull, passive load-pull and a combination of the two, involving integra-
tion of active loops and mechanical tuners (manual or automatic)
– S-parameters measurements
– other custom measurements, like DC bias sweep and many more.

MMSNT LP Software is a document-based architecture. Different windows are as-

sociated with different kinds of documents, and, even more, multiple windows can be
associated with a single document. There are four different documents:

Test Set Document, which allows for system calibration, instrument driver setting and
general system configuration;

S-parameter Document, which is specialized in measuring, storing and retrieving

scattering parameter data;

Load-Pull Document, which performs load-pull measurements and stores/retrieves

load-pull data;

Macro Document, which can execute custom-made measurement scripts.

Figure 5: The MMSNT LP software graphical user interface.

Each document has its own menu and toolbar, which are automatically modified
depending on the active document type. The design of the user interface maximize the
user productivity and provides an easy, comfortable, graphical interface to the first-time
users.

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Real Time Tuning System Application Note AN-101

Plots and Graphs

The available graph formats are

– Smith chart
– Polar chart
– Log magnitude
– Linear magnitude
– Phase
– Real/Imaginary

There are eight trace memories available to store data traces. The memories are common
to all the open documents so the user can easily compare different data. The Memory
menu can handle the program trace memories, in particular the user can place the current
data in the memory or vice versa can place the memory in the current data array.
Several capabilities are available for Load Pull data processing. In particular, the user
can plot the Stability, Gain Circles, Constant VSWR and Load Pull Contours, etc.

Figure 6: The MMSNT LP software contour plots.

Customizable output
MMSNT LP software uses a custom metalanguage to describe which parameters print
out on its tabular format window (called RunView), and put inside the Excel sheet or
process for sweep window and contouring. As shown in Figure 7, the runview data are
defined by the content of the RunView format file (*.rvf) which contains in ASCII format
the instructions to display the desired parameters.

Excel
R link

The acquired measurements are easily exported to Microsoft Excel

R by a single click

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Real Time Tuning System Application Note AN-101

Vds;V 1 BIAS vs2

Ids;A 1 BIAS is2
Vgs;V 1 BIAS vs1
Igs;I 1 BIAS is1
!SEPARATOR ----------
Freq;GHz 1 FREQ as1
Gload_m;U 1 MAG as2 bs2
Gload_p;Deg 1 ANGLE_DEG as2 bs2
Gin_m;U 1 MAG bs1 as1
Gin_p;Deg 1 ANGLE_DEG bs1 as1
Pin;dBm 1 PWR_IN_DBM ps1
Pout;dBm 1 PWR_OUT_DBM ps2
Gop;dB 1 GAIN_OP_DB ps1 ps2
PAE;% 1 PAE ps1 ps2

Figure 7: Runview example with the corresponding metacode rvf file

Figure 8: Example of Excel

R export.

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Real Time Tuning System Application Note AN-101

Customizing measurements: the Macro engine

The MMSNT LP Software has a built-in macro

engine that is tailored for advanced custom mea-
surements. The user can write a Visual Basic
for Applications (VBA) script to manage the DC
bias, tuner settings, power sweep, and to trigger
load-pull or scattering parameters measurements.
The highest flexibility is provided, and low-level
GPIB bus commands are available for controlling
specific instrumentation.

Controlling MMSNT LP Software from other applications

The MMSNT LP Software has the capability of automating some of its features or to be
driven from any external program supporting OLE automation.
Many functions are available through the software’s ActiveX Interface, which can be
used both inside the MMSNT LP Macro engine (e.g. by creating a Macro Document)
and by any external ActiveX client, like HP VEE ,
R MATLAB , R LabVIEW R and many
others.

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Real Time Tuning System Application Note AN-101

Calibration
System calibration is very simple and takes a fraction of the time when compared with
standard passive load pull systems.
The system is calibrated with a unique procedure for both S-parameter and for Load
Pull Measurements. The calibration can be performed on-wafer (up to the probe tips) or
in coaxial (up to coaxial device sections).
The calibration is based on inserting calibration standards in real time at DUT refer-
ence planes, as in ordinary VNA. All common calibration techniques are fully supported
and can easily be selected in the MMSNT software. Available calibration procedures
include

– Thru-Short-Delay (TSD)
– Thru-Reflect-Line (TRL) and Multiline TRL
– Short-Open-Load-Thru (SOLT)
– Quick Short-Open-Load-Thru (QSOLT)
– Line-Reflect-Match (LRM)
– Short-Open-Load-Reciprocal (SOLR, also known as “unknown thru”).

Load-Pull Measurement Advantages

With respect to traditional passive load pull system the HFE RTT system directly mea-
sures the DUT large-signal performances for each input/output load (fundamental and
harmonics) in real time, without any tuner or adapter pre-characterization.
A short list of common measurable parameters is shown below.

1. Load (ΓL ) and source (ΓS ) reflection coefficients (at all the harmonics)
2. Power level delivered to the loads (at all the harmonics)
3. Available input power level
4. RF and DC pulse measurements
5. Net input power level
6. Actual compression level
7. Transistor bias point (input and output voltages and currents)
8. Device efficiency and power-added efficiency

Measurements that are instead unique to the RTT System are:

1. DUT input reflection coefficient (ΓIN ): the user must know what power is injected
into the device. For example, this is a very important information in multi-state
PA design, device modeling, etc.
2. AM/AM and AM/PM conversion, as all the measurements are vectorial due to the
VNA in the system.
3. Measurements of the actual value of the load and source reflection coefficients
4. Independent harmonic load/source tuning, using active loads
5. Maximum load/source reflection coefficient magnitude of 1 (|Γ| = 1) for extremely
low impedance devices, using active loads

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Real Time Tuning System Application Note AN-101

In addition, the RTT system offers many advantages in terms of performance, versa-
tility, simplicity, compatibility with existing hardware. Moreover, since many instrument
types and models are natively supported, the user is free to choose the ones with lowest
cost or even re-using existing instrumentation.

Accuracy Issue Explained

Comparing traditional load-pull systems vs. the RTT system, the inaccuracy in measured
data depends on

– tuner position repeatability,

– S-parameter measurement uncertainty,
– residual VNA calibration uncertainty,
– measured power uncertainty (power meter dynamic range)

By avoiding the tuner pre-characterization, the RTT system has a considerable advantage
over competitors (see Fig. 9).

Traditional load-pull
systems (competitors)

Real-time load-pull
systems (HFE RTT)

Figure 9: Comparison on the DUT output power standard uncertainty vs. load reflection
coefficient magnitude.

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Real Time Tuning System Application Note AN-101

Key Measurement Features

Real Time Measurements, Measurements are instantaneous unlike in a tradi-
tional system where many measurements and calibrations have to be done in
advance and cumbersome de-embedding procedure has to be applied.

DUT Input Reflection Coefficient Measurement Capability is in real time!

The ΓIN parameter is measured –not computed– for each output load termi-
nation settings. It is very important to know how the DUT input impedance
varies vs. the load impedance or the input power. This information is not
available in traditional systems.

Robust Calibration, there is no effect on the system calibration by connecting

or disconnecting any components before the input ultra-low-loss directional
coupler or after the output coupler. So one can add or change any of the
components outside the couplers section if necessary without the need or re-
calibrating.

Full Vector Error Correction, load-pull data share the same accuracy of the S-
parameter measurements since they are both based on the same receiver.

Absolute Power Accuracy, measurements are made narrow-band using the VNA
and hence the true tone power is taken. Traditional systems use power meter
which integrates also the harmonic power content.

Increased Dynamic Range (only limited by VNA) over traditional available sys-
tems, as they incorporate power meters.

Higher Measurement Speed, based on VNA as receiver, unlike slow power me-
ters.

Higher Tuning Resolution is available as the source/load termination can be po-

sitioned anywhere on the Smith Chart (within the tuner/active load VSWR
range). The RTT system measures the reflection coefficients in real time,
despite traditional systems that provide impedances based on tuners’ pre-
calibration, which need complex interpolation at the non-characterized points.

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Advanced Measurements

Intermodulation Measurement
Vector
Network
Analyzer Spectrum
P1 P2
Analyzer

VNA P1 VNA P2 Switch Unit

TO PA A1 B1 B2 A2

Power Input Output

Combiner Input PA Tuner/Active Load Tuner/Active Load
Auxiliary
RF source

Bias T
à Ultra-low-loss
DUT
Ultra-low-loss Ultra-low-loss
à Bias T
directional directional directional
coupler coupler coupler

Figure 10: Example of configuration for two-tones intermodulation measurement.

If an external spectrum analyzer is used (see

Fig. 10), additional measurement are avail-
able

– Intermodulation Distortion
– ACPR

and can be fully customized by the Macro

scripting engine.

Time Domain Waveforms Measurement

The RTT system can be extended to make time-domain measurements with the addition
of a microwave transition analyzer or sampling oscilloscope. This enables full waveform
visualization, both current and voltage, at the DUT ports (see Fig. 13).
The possibility of tuning the fundamental and harmonic load/source reflection coef-
ficients, as well as setting the DC bias and RF input power is a key feature that allows
to find the optimal design parameters in minutes –not days– and to experiment between
different working classes (see Fig. 12).

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Real Time Tuning System Application Note AN-101

Vector
Network Microwave Transition Analyzer
Analyzer or
Sampling Oscilloscope
P1 P2

VNA P1 VNA P2 Switch Unit

TO PA A1 B1 B2 A2

Input Output
Input PA Tuner/Active Load Tuner/Active Load

Bias T
à Ultra-low-loss
DUT
Ultra-low-loss
à Bias T
directional directional
coupler coupler

Figure 11: Example of configuration for time-domain waveform measurement.

0.2
PAE =65%
0.18
PAE =55%
0.16
PAE =51%
0.14
Ids,
A 0.12

0.1

0.08

0.06
GSII harm
0.04
0.21 149°
0.02 0.65 88 °
0.54 65°
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Vds, V

Figure 12: Example of instantaneous load-line for different harmonic source reflection
coefficients ΓS .

Figure 13: The time-domain waveform interface seamlessly integrates with the MM-
SNT LP Load-Pull Document.

14
RTT System Specifications

Frequency Range 800 MHz – 12GHz (Extensible to 18 GHz and beyond)

Power Capability Only limited by the tuners and connectors
(3.5 mm, 7 mm, type-N, 7/16)
Bias Handling Only limited by bias-T, tuners, connectors and probes
for on-wafer applications.

The start-up basic RTT system would include

1. One RTTSWB Switch Unit

2. Two RTT0812H Ultra-Low-Loss Directional couplers, with customer-defined con-
nectors (7 mm, type-N)
3. Four cables with 3.5 mm connectors, used to connect the directional couplers to the
Switch Unit
4. Mains cord for the Switch Unit
5. MMSNT LP: MMSNT LP Software.

Several options and combination are also available, please contact the factory for
special needs. Standard available choices are listed below.
Model Description
RTTSWB Switch Unit 0.5–18 GHz (note 1)
RTTLUS Loop Unit for Active Load-Pull (note 2)
RTT0812H Ultra Low Loss Directional Coupler 0.8–12 GHz
RTT MTC Focus Tuner Controller Unit

Note 1: The frequency range above 12 GHz requires the use of alternative directional
couplers in place of the ultra-low-loss couplers. This will normally cause an increase
of losses and reduction of available maximum reflection coefficient magnitude.

Note 2: The user must specify the desired frequency range: RTTLUS L (0.8–5 GHz) or
RTTLUS H (2–18GHz).

15
Supports

The RTT system is a comprehensive nonlinear measurement solution. Depending on

the user needs and existing instrumentation, a HFE representative will propose a test-
set configuration that will pursue both the lowest cost and highest performances. The
solution would include installation and system configuration, so that the RTT system
becomes fully functional after few hours work of the HFE representative.
The RTT system and other HFE products are supported via e-mail support. Long
term or yearly contracts are available for both software and hardware.

Products seminars and workshops can be arranged at customer convenient locations.

HFE also offers customized measurement capabilities that are not standard in the RTT
system, either as options or as a separate package.

Figure 14: Seminar on Load-Pull techniques.

We want to hear from YOU!

[email protected]
www.HFEmicro.ch

16
Products and company names listed herein are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies.
Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.
LabVIEW is a trademark of National Instruments Corporation.
MATLAB is a registered trademark of The MathWorks, Inc.
HP VEE is a trademark or registered trademark of Hewlett Packard Company.

High Frequency
Engineering

—————————————————–
HFE High Frequency Engineering Sagl
Zona Industriale
6534 San Vittore (GR)
Switzerland
telephone: +41 918 294 380
fax: +41 918 294 381
e-mail: [email protected]
website: www.HFEmicro.ch
—————————————————–

Data subject to change without notice.

Copyright 2009
c HFE
Printed in Switzerland
Rev. 1.1 – Nov. 2009