Implementation of Waveguide Terminations With Low-Passive Intermodulation for Conducted Test Beds in Backward Configuration

This letter proposes a simple procedure to implement low-passive intermodulation (PIM) terminations in waveguide technology to measure conducted backward PIM. The procedure consists in inserting a filter before the waveguide termination of the test bench. This approach reduces the PIM contribution from the load and, consequently, lowers the residual PIM noise floor of the test bench. To validate the procedure, a conducted backward low-PIM setup working in <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$K$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-band has been assembled and tested. The PIM performance improvement obtained fully confirms the validity of the proposed solution.

[1]  B. Gimeno,et al.  Experimental Analysis of Passive Intermodulation at Waveguide Flange Bolted Connections , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[2]  Vicente E. Boria,et al.  Efficient Design of Waveguide Manifold Multiplexers Based on Low-Order EM Distributed Models , 2015, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[3]  J. Henrie,et al.  Prediction of Passive Intermodulation From Coaxial Connectors in Microwave Networks , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[4]  J.W. Boyhan,et al.  Satellite passive intermodulation: systems considerations , 1996, IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems.

[5]  W.J. Chappell,et al.  Higher Order Intermodulation Product Measurement of Passive Components , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[6]  George T. Flowers,et al.  Modeling of Passive Intermodulation With Electrical Contacts in Coaxial Connectors , 2018, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[7]  M. Guglielmi,et al.  A Wideband Diplexer for Ka-Band Passive Intermodulation Measurement , 2018, 2018 IEEE/MTT-S International Microwave Symposium - IMS.

[8]  B. Deats,et al.  Measuring the passive-IM performance of RF cable assemblies , 1997 .

[9]  F. A. Benson,et al.  Intermodulation products from nonlinearities in transmission lines and connectors at microwave frequencies , 1975 .

[10]  Vicente E. Boria,et al.  Advanced Compact Setups for Passive Intermodulation Measurements of Satellite Hardware , 2018, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.

[11]  V.F. Fusco,et al.  Passive Intermodulation Generation on Printed Lines: Near-Field Probing and Observations , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques.