Constant Wave Inc., a developer and provider of measurement analysis software, announced the release of the latest version of its software for use with vector network analyzers: Spectro™ VNA Pro version 2.3.
This new version includes a number of industry-first capabilities, which are built on Constant Wave’s innovative de-embedding methodology: Time Domain Substitution™ (patent pending). New features include S-parameter resampling of acquired data and the ability to create an equivalent two-port network that can be used to de-embed a Device Under Test (DUT) from measured S-parameters in a more traditional way.
• S-parameter Resampling: It is customary for the frequencies used to make S-parameter measurements to form a harmonic data set. However, if an engineer has not appropriately sampled an S-parameter with the vector network analyzer (VNA), measurement accuracy can be compromised.
“If the original data is not derived from a harmonic calibration, Spectro VNA Pro can resample the data easily,” said Donald Metzger, president and chief technologist of Constant Wave. “The engineer does not need to recalibrate the VNA and make a new measurement.”
• De-embedding two-port network (patent pending): Sometimes a DUT being measured by a vector network analyzer is not simply a single device. The DUT may include connectors, cables, transmission lines and other components that lie between the calibration reference plane and the target device being measured. While conventional test methods compensate for measurement errors up to the calibration reference plane, the intervening components represent another source of measurement error.
Metzger concluded, “Spectro VNA Pro’s new de-embedding two-port function is derived from our Time Domain Substitution methodology. The software characterizes two-ort adapters or networks quickly and creates a de-embedding file which can be put back into a VNA.”