Download Power Meter 6460

Inarcon I
Instruments
With compliments
Helmut Singer Elektronik
Power Meters
www.helmut-singer.de [email protected]
fon +49 241 155 315
fax +49 241 152 066
Feldchen 16-24 D-52070 Aachen Germany
Th e rmoe Iectri c
Power Meter
6460
With compliments.doc
D Powermeasurement
trom 0'03 ~W to
3 watts
D Instrumentationaccuracy1%
D Negligiblenoise and drift
D Temperaturestability 0'1% per deg, C
The 6460 is a thin-film microwave power meter combining the sensitivity and speed of bolometers with the
accuracy and stability of a calorimeter. Among its other
outstanding features are its very wide dynamic range,
almost complete freedom from errors due to noise and
drift, and virtually negligible sensitivity variation with
temperature.
Its unrivalled performance has been achieved principalIy by the use, in the instrument's interchangeable power
heads, of tft* dissipative elements formed by advanced
thin-film techniques. Each element comprises an array of
thermoelectric junctions which delivers a d.c. output
e.mJ. that is linearly proportional to the rJ. power
dissipated.
Frequencyrange 10M Hz to 40 GHz
0
q
Coaxial and waveguide power heads
Fast response
Fjeld replaceabletft* Power Head
elements
power heads,coversa total dynamit rangeof 80 dB, with
about 0.01 dB measurement discrimination for all but
the lowest power levels.
Dissipated power is indicated on a taut-band mirrorstare panel meter, calibrated directly in terms of mean
power and in decibels relative to its full-scale reading.
Eight push-button selected sub-ranges give 35 dB
variation in full-scale sensitivity in 5 dB steps, the
absolute-power range being determined by the tft
Power Head used. Respective power heads cover each
of the following full-scale-sensitivity ranges: 0,3 I1Wto
1 mW,3 I1Wto 10 mW, 30 I1Wto 100 mW, and 3 mW
to 3 watts.
The Type 6460 features automatic scale selection,
wh ich ensures that only the scale corresponding to the
sensitivity of the tft power head in use is activated.
tft POWER METER
Wide Dynamic Range
The tft Power Meter, 6460 with its interchangeable .~
Thin-Film
Thetmoelec1ric.
6460
Instrument Accuracy
The special circuit techniques employed minimise unwanted thermal e.m.f.'s, drift, and hum pick-up, to ensure
an instrumentation accuracy of ::1% of full-scale on all
measurement ranges.
Low Noise and Drift
Noise and drift are completely negligible on all but the
lowest power range settings, where random changes in
meter reading are perceptible, but do not normally
exceed 1% (peak-to-peak) of full scale, unless the most
sensitive power head is used, when peak-to-peak values
of noise and drift may reach 2% of full scale.
Battery Operation
The 6460 normally draws its energising power from the
a.c. mains supply. Provision is made, however, for
fitting a rechargeable battery pack, which is available as
an optional accessory,a built-in mains operated battery
charger being a standard feature of the instrument.
tft
POWER
HEADS
Coaxial Power Heads
Four coaxial power heads of the 6420 series give respective measurement sensitivities corresponding to those
given in the tour columns of the Power Meter's in-
dicator panel.
Fast Response
Coaxial Power Head type 6422 covers the measureWhereas calorimetric power meters of comparable
ment range 0,03 I1W to 1 mW, and type 6423 covers the
accuracy require at least several minutes to yield final
power readings, the time constant of the tft Power Head range 0.3 mW to 3 watts, so that only these two cois only a lew milliseconds. The overall response time of axial heads are required to cover the complete 80 dB
the Power Meter 6460 is normally of the order of 100 ms, dynamic range,
For many applications, however, it is more convenient
so that it can conveniently be used as the indicator for
to use apower head covering one of the intermediate
tuning adjustments or similar applications where simple
sub-ranges; so two further tft Power Heads are availthermocouple type power meters cause difficulty.
For high-accuracy measurements at low power levels, abte: type 6420 covers 0,3 I1W to 10 mW, and type
6421 covers 3 I1W to 100 mW.
however, a rather slower response has the advantage
The 6420 series of coaxial Power Heads are designed
that it eliminates the ~ffects of low-frequency noise from
the power indication. Provision is therefore made for tor frequencies from 10 MHz -12,4 GHz and the 6440
switching into the circuit an integrating network which
series extend the frequency of operation of the power
Increases the response time to about 1 second. This is meter to 18 GHz. Low VSWR and compensated efficisufficient to prevent errors in mean power reading due to ency combine to provide precision power measurements
at levels trom 10 mW to as low as 0,3 I1W. Type N, and
random noise, but the response remains fast enough
SMA connectors are available on the 6440 series Heads.
to follow normal fluctuations in r.f. power.
Simplicity
01 Use
Unlike instruments based on thermistor-bridge or bolometer-bridge power sensors, the Thermoelectric Power
Meter requires no balancing or bias-current adjustments.
It is as simple to operate as a conventional electronic
voltmeter, the only pre-adjustment being that of normal
zero setting. This is done with the instrument switched to
maximum sensitivity, and no further zero adjustment is
then necessary after any subsequent measurement-range
selection. Zero adjustment is unnecessary when the
instrument is used at lower sensitivity settings.
Remote Measurements
By use of extension cables the Power Meter may be
operated at distances up to 120 metres (400 ft) from the
tft Power Head, a feature wh ich is very useful when the
measuring point is not easily accessible.
Recorder Output
A d.c. output directly proportional to the meter reading
is available from a jack connection at the rear of the
Power Meter.
This output level is also adjustable to suit the sensitivity
of an external digital monitor or pen recorder. (0 to -1
volts full scale on 10 ranges; 0 to 0,3 volts on 3 ranges).
Waveguide Power Heada
Waveguide tft Power Heads covering the power range
0,3 I1W to 10 mW are available, in the standard waveguide sizes, tor use over the frequency range 8.2 GHz to
40 GHz. Details of performance, waveguide size, and
frequency range ot each of these Power Heads is given
in the 6420 series table (page 20).
Burnout
Protection
The tft Power Head is, of course, completely immune
to burnout due to bias transients, which causes failure
in thermistor and bolometer bridge types of sensor. It can
also be connected to or disconnected from the 6460
Power Meter in all conditions without causing damage
to the element.
Each tft Power Head is rated to withstand overloads
ot up to 300%. all elements being factory tested tor a
minimum ot tour hours continuous at 300% overload
and an additional tour hours at rated loading.
Field-ReplaC8able
Power Elementa
In the event of tailure, tft elements may be replaced in
the fjeld, the procedure tor doing so being described in
the operating instructions tor the tft Power Head,
Power Meters
6460
ACCURACY IN POWER MEASUREMENT
The total uncertainty in measurements with thermoelectric power meters stems from tour main sources of
potential error, as foliows:
(1 ) RF lossessnd d.c. -microwsve substitution error in
the tft power hesd. An EHectiveEHiciency control
on the power head is adjusted to a calibrated setting
appropriate to the power meter with which it is to
be used.
(2) Mismatch between tft power hesd and the microwsve source. The power meter is calibrated in
terms of avaiiable power to a load giving unity
v.s.w.r.
The limits of uncertainty are determined by the
v.s.w.r. of the tft head and of the source impedance. If either were equal to unity the mismatch error would be zero. Thus the uncertainty
can be reduced considerably by improvement in
source v.s.w.r.
(3) Cslibration standards. The accuracy of any instrument obviously depends on the accuracy of the
standards against wh ich it is calibrated. All
standards are traceable to the most accurate
available, and the limits of uncertainty tor those
used tor calibration of tft power heads are given
in the accompanying table.
(4) Instrumentation error. The limits of measurement
uncertainty with the 6460 Power Meter are :1%
f.s.d. on all ranges. This can be reduced to 0.5% by
accurately monitoring the recorder-output voltage.
FIft88n r8ng.
wim
"W
0.3
1
3
10
30
100
300
f.lod.
*1~J.a.d.
~
Total
Uncertainty %,
0.4
1
2
3
4
6
8
10
12-4
Probable
Uncertainty %,
3,5
3,5
3,5
3.5
3.5
3,5
3-5
4,0
4,3
. Including unc.n.inty
2,1
2,1
2'1
2-1
2,1
2.1
2-1
2-5
2-7
in .b.solut. .st.nd.,d
plu.s tr.n.sf"
un-
c,rt.inty.
a
Squ.,. ,oot of the sum of th, individu.1 uncert.inti,.s squ."d.
British
Calibration
Service
Each tft Head or tft Head/Power Meter combination can
be calibrated in our Microwave Standards Laborstory
wh ich is approved within the British Calibration Service.
The accuracy of the resultant calibrstion depends upon
the current BCS approval. which 10r coaxial measurements can be as good as 2%. The BCS Certi1icate issued
js acceptable to all inspecting authorities within the
UK and to most oversess. This service is now available
at extra cast. Full details will be supplied upon request.
~
mW d8m
1
0
3
+5
10 +10
~
+15
100 +20
300 +25
on ~I r8ne-1rom
1~ f...d.
on
low.st
W
1
3
d8m
+30
+35
O-C to +56-C
r.ng.
(.xc.pt
lor dI. high~ Hnlitlvlcy position. wh.,. iI
lnIY,iM 10~ peä). . _18ftt .~
t...;Pef8tur.. cc.,:..-,.:ingiy
high« r8IIga
D8pth
350 mm
131 in
Weight
4kg
alb
~OW.. cabl. 2.50 m (8 ft) Iong.
lI88din _.
100 ln8 .pprox. or 1- then 1 I8COnd.
PIOportioneI10 WlClc8I8d~
( - 1 volt
CGrrWPondInvto tuU _Ie .o-w GI '.SÄ.)
1000 Q OUtputim~.
M 8d~
.On 1.10. 100,."..,-0'3
». ~,.,.,...
Width
200 mm
8 in
1- on
Le88th.n 0'1% per d8g. C. ulinv .ny
tft POW8tHMd.
10 MHz 10 40 GHz. d8pendinv on the tft
~
Freq. GHz
tor Power Calibntion
GI:
d8m
-35
-30
-25
-20
-11
-10
-I
L888 than
in lau,
limits ot Uncertainty
Standards
vo/r on 3.
Celi0r8tOf- ~rovides 811requi*
=aWbration
~
Iar type8480.
RKharg..bl. 8attery PKk - Permita
~.
or !leid UM 0' type 8480.
~rovMIingUp to 18 hau.. op-.dorI.
Inal-con I
Instruments
tft
Power Heads 6 44016420
serles
74794/72
tJ
Frequencyrange 10 MHz-40GHz
Q
Q
Type N and SMA connectors
0 High overload rating-300%
a
a
Power range 30 nano watts-3 watts
0:' Compatible with all tft power meters
Fjeld replaceable tft
Waveguideheads
.-
elements
All the thin film thermoelectric (tft)
~). Power Heads
can be used with the complete range of tft Powermeters.
These include the Type 6460 ~wermeter,
the Type
6550B Programmable Powermeter and the Type 6555
Powermeter, as weil as the various system instruments.
Measurement of power levels as low as 0.03\1W
(-45 dBm) can be made with the Type 6422. Direct
reading power measurements as high as 3 watts
(+35 dBm) can be made with the Type 6423. Power
Heads with intermediate power ranges are available.
Coaxial tft Power Heads are available that cover the
frequency range from 10 MHz to 18 GHz.
Aseries of waveguide tft Power Heads are available
from 8.2 to 40 GHz with a mean power rating of up to
10mW.
18 GHz Coaxial tft Power Heads
The 6440 series is a new range 01 coaxial tft Power
Heads wh ich extends the operating frequency of the tft
Powermeters to 18 GHz. Low VSWR and compensated
efficiency combine to provide precision power measurements at levels tram 10 mW to as low as 0,3 I1W.
Type N, and SMA connectors are available on the
6440 series Heads.
High power Coaxial tft Power Heads
Four coaxial Power Heads with precision Type N input
connectors are available. The Type 6422 covers the
measurement range 0.01 I!W to 1 mW and the Type 6423
covers the range 0.1 mW to 3 watts, so that only these
two coaxial Heads are required to cover the complete
80 dB dynamic range. For many applications. however, it
is more convenient to use aPower Head covering one ot
these intermediate sub-ranges; two turther tft Power
Heads are availabl&; Type 6420 covers 0'1 I!W to.1 0 mW
and Type 6421 covers 1 I!W to 100 mW.
All these coaxial Power Heads are suitable tor
trequencies ranging from 10 MHz to 12.4 GHz.
6440/6420
set up the basic tft
W.veguide tft Power He.da
Waveguide tft Power Heads covering the power range
0.3 I1Wto 10 mW are available in standard waveguide
sizes tor use over the frequency range 8.2 GHz to
40 G Hz. These heads are fitted with SQuare mating
flanges. Details of performance. waveguide size. and
frequency range of each of these Power Heads are given
in the table 6420 series.
Long Cable operation
By use of extension cables the tft Power Head may be
operated at distances up to 120 metres (400 tt) trom the
Powermeter.
Fjeld Replacement
In the event of failure of the tft Power Heads the
~ollowing replacement procedures are available:I.
Head Exchange Scheme
Under this scheme a new, fully calibrated replacement tft Head will be shipped within 24 hours of the
customer contacting the Technical Services Dept.
The customer retains this unit and returns the
original damaged tft Head tor repair and is billed tor
relevant work. This means minimum down-time.
Z. tft replacement Power elementa
The tft element may be replaced in the fjeld and a
simple audio frequency calibration procedure used to
Power Head sensitivity. This
calibrationholdstor freQuencies
up to about2 GHz.
Above this freQuency the original Eff.Eff. or Cal.
Factor calibration points may be used as good approximation. unless the best accuracy is reQuired.
when a recalibration against an RF Standard is
necessary.
Tool Kit TK-1
This Kit contains all the special tools necessary for
fjeld replacementof any type of tft power element.
Powermeesurementeccur8CY
Every tft Power Head is individually calibrated using
standards traceable to the most accurate available. and
wh ich have British Calibration Service (BCS) approval.
The permanent calibration graph on the power heads
shows CALJBRATION FACTOR and EFFECTIVE
EFFICIENCYinformation end a calibrated variable control
on the rear of elch power head can be used to compensate tor either parameter.
(i)
EFFECTIVE EFFICIENCY is the ratio of audio
referencepower to RF power dissipated within the
tft Head tor the same d.c. output voltage.
(ii)
'tft'Ai
74794/5
series
CALJBRATION FACTOR is the ratio ot audio
reterence power to RF power incident on the tft
Head tor the same d.C. output voltage.
Thin Film Thermoelecuic
141941'0
6440/6420
series
8440 SERIES OF TFT POWER HEADS
The Type 6440 Serieser. co.xi.1 thermoelectric Power He.ds with ~o.xi.1 connectOfSin type N. ultrl precisionAPC7 end miniltu,. SMA. Thele
Power He.d, extend the operating frequencies to 18 G H%.
Type
~
FfeQ.ftanp
(GHz)
0001-18
Av.-808~R...(')
From
To
0'3 ~W
4
~N
0.01-18
-..
5 dl
Mex.E~
PuI8I
Me., peak PerPul..
Dur8tlon
puI8I power et +258C et +258C
8t +258C
10 mW
m
0
+1 dem
1W
W-
.
~.
..
Field
...(max)
Rlpiecement
M8x. VSWR
1.5:1 from
0-01 to 00015GHz
1,35:1 from
0.015to10GHz
1.6:1 from
10 to 18 GHz
5
RF
tft ellmlnt
TL-4A
ConnICtOf
SMA.m811
TvpeNmlll(2)
Temper.tureCo.Hici.nt: Leu ttl.n 0.1~ per die. C. wtlen uNd with any m Po_meter
Dimenlionl
6440
2.88"L .1.28" 01.. (67.6 .32.5 mm) (3)
6440N
3'42"L x 1.28" Die, (86.9 . 32.5 mm) (3)
Nen Weight:
Approx. 3 oz. (35.1 Gm)
.
(1)
For Po~r
Type 6555 ttle 10- polimit is increaed by 20 dB
end tor Type 8550B the Iower ~
limit is increasedby 10 da.
Over1o8dReting 300%. Whil. th. he.ds will t.k. overto.ds tor short
p.riods ot tim.. ext.nded periods ot operltion It overload levels may
rnult in permanentchange in the element characteristicsor even burn out.
M.ximum Clre Ihould be extrClled to avoid such an occurrenCl.
(2)
PrlClsion type N 50 Q male to MIL-C-39012
(3)
Maximum, including r.l. connector but .~cluding
8420 SERIES OF TFT POWER
in coaxie' end waveguide.
Type
Preq.A."98
(GHz)
8420
8421
0001-12-4
8422
8423
cable and multi-pin connector.
HEADS
MIx. Enervv
PutM
Av"1G8 Power Aanve Max. P88k P. Pu18
o..-on
From
To
Pu-. Power W ~
~ (-)
-
0-3 "W
-35 dem
3"W
-25 d8m
10 mW
+10 d8m
100mW'"
+20 dem
0-03"W
-45 d8m
0-3 mW
-5 dem
1mW
0 dem
3W
+36 dem
3W
1.
11
7
IOW
500
8
(I)
21
10
1'1
TL.XO-A
18
1.S
TL-UO-A
Tl.KO-A
2.M
8426
12.4-18.0
20M.
8427
18'0-26-5
8428
28'~.0
8
Tl-OA
2
003W
8.2-12-4
10 mW
+10 dem
M-.~
10MHz-15MHz1.4:1
15 MHz -10 MHz 1-35:
50 MHz - 2 GHz 1-25:1
2GHzto 12-4GHz 1.4:
8425
0'3"W
-3& dlm
34
Field
Aeptacement
tft
Element
1.ew
10
.
1.1
1...
10
.
1.81
(I)
Excepc 8423 where VSWR from 11 to 12-4 GHz mev rise (0 2.0:1
Nett Weightl:
6420. 8421. 5422: 11b 20z 5O6g
8423 21b 20z 975g
8425. 8426. 8427. 5428 11b100z 8OOV
Tl.1A
Tl-2A
Con...~
Pr8CiIion
Type N
5O0mlll
to
Mll-C39012
Tl-3
Tl.AO-A
A100. WR90
UG39/U
A140. WA62
UG419/U
A220. WA42
UG595/U
A320.WR28.
UG599/U