Novel cost-effective passive intermodulation measurement technique using a single power amplifier

Abstract The growing number of cellular devices and the introduction of high-speed data affect the network performance of mobile communication systems. Evaluation of passive intermodulation (PIM) phenomenon in the field of microwaves and mobile communications improve system performance. Typically, the PIM of the device-under-test (DUT) is measured using a set-up that involves two power amplifiers (PA), making it an expensive measurement set-up. This research aims to make PIM measurements cost-effective by using a single PA. Reflected (RFL) PIM distortion measured for two different DUTs, i.e., circulator and a microstrip (MS) line containing radio frequency interference (RFI) shielding gasket, using the presented and standard techniques. The presented PIM analyzer has a residue PIM of - 104.5 d B m . Comparison and error analysis suggested that the presented single PA method is feasible for DUTs having PIM between - 60 and - 94.5 d B m at 43 d B m input power. The residual PIM of the presented analyzer is high compared to the standard PIM analyzers; it is investigated that IM generated by the PA is the leading cause of this higher residual PIM product (RPIM). The proposed method will reduce overall system cost and size; it will also improve the battery efficiency of portable and desktop PIM analyzers.