New-Tech Europe Magazine | April 2017

Test & Measurement Special Edition

Table 2: Summary Results of Two-Tone Intermodulation Test in Up-converter Configuration

Mixer

Test Freq. MHz

Filter Type

IF FIL- TERS

IF FILTER @F1dB MHz

RF FILTERS

RF FILTER @F1dB MHz

IM 3 (dBc) 799 MHz

IM 3 (dBc)802 MHz

∆IM 3 (dB)802 MHz

∆IM 3 (dB) 799 MHz

ADE- 10H+ 149&150 None

-

N/A

-

N/A 72.2

70.4

0.3

0.6

ADE- 10H+ 149&150 L-C SLP- ADE- 10H+ 149&150 L-C SLP- ADE- 10H+ 149&150 LTCC VLF- ADE- 10H+ 149&150 LTCC VLF-

950

53.6

52.9 (17.2)

(18.0)

150+ 155 SLP- 1000

63.9

(6.2)

(6.9)

150+ 155 SLP-

1200+ 1050 64.7

51.0

50.8 (19.3)

(20.6)

160+ 160 VLF-

800+ 950

79.9

(9.8)

(21.7)

160+ 160 VLF- XLF- 151+ 150 XLF- XLF- 151+ 150 XLF-

1000+ 1100 49.9

ADE- 10H+ 149&150 Non-Ref. ADE- 10H+ 149&150 Non-Ref. SYM- 30DHW+ 149&150 None

71.6

70.1

861+ 840

Rfrnce Rfrnce

70.4

122+ 1200 71.8

-

N/A

-

N/A 58.9

59.0

(3.7)

(3.6)

SYM- 30DHW+ 149&150 L-C SLP- SYM- 30DHW+ 149&150 L-C SLP- SYM- 30DHW+ 149&150 LTCC VLF-

950

51.3

50.9 (11.8)

(11.2)

150+ 155 SLP- 1000

56.4

(6.3)

(5.3)

150+ 155 SLP-

1200+ 1050 57.2

48.2

48.2 (14.5)

(14.3)

160+ 160 VLF-

800+ 950

SYM- 30DHW+ SYM- 30DHW+ SYM- 30DHW+

149&150 LTCC VLF- 160+ 149&150 Non-Ref. XLF- 151+ 149&150 Non-Ref. XLF- 151+

160 VLF- 1000+ 150 XLF- 861+ 150 XLF- 122+

1100 48.6

48.6

(14.1)

(13.9)

840

62.5

62.7

Rfrnce Rfrnce

1200 62.8

63.0

but RF input of 2200 MHz produced similar results. Again we see that reflectionless filters achieve a reduction of IM 3 levels when compared to conventional filters in the same circuit. Third order intermodulation performance with reflectionless filters on the mixer RF input and IF output is nearly equal to or slightly better than that of the mixer alone

of 1 MHz, and IF output of 150 MHz. The test setup is illustrated in Figure 2 and the test conditions are summarized in Table 3. Low and high third order intermodulation frequencies were measured at IF output for all cases and compared. Summary results are presented in Table 4. Again, for brevity, only measurements for RF input of 800 MHz are shown here,

with no filters. This represents an improvement over traditional filters in the range of 5.5 to 12 dB. Conclusion Maximizing linearity and dynamic range has always been a goal in RF transceiver design. The IP3 of the mixer itself is one obvious factor limiting system performance, but even the best mixers produce

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