Spectrum Analyzer (SpectrumAnalyzer) is used to display the frequency domain characteristics of the input signal spectrum, so the signal analysis is indispensable in terms of measurement instruments. Spectrum analyzer through a frequency domain signal analysis, research, and also used in more different areas, such as wireless signal transceiver, signal interference detection, spectrum monitoring, and device characterization, etc., is engaged in electronic product development, production test commonly used tool, especially for wireless communication signal measurement tool is necessary, it is widely used, it is also known as RF engineers to the measurement of the multimeter. Its main features include: frequency setting, reference level set tracking generator set, tracking control settings, the use of tagging measuring return loss, and bandwidth, scan time and trigger control settings and other functions.
in the time domain signal for measurement, the oscilloscope is a very important and very effective measuring instruments, it can directly display the signal amplitude, frequency, period, waveform and phase changes such as the response . In general, the oscilloscope must have two-track output display device, while a built-in IEEE-488, IEEE-1394 or RS-232 and other interface functions to link with drawing instruments, and conducive to follow-up measurements and drawings display information output study comparison. Only disadvantage is confined to low-frequency oscilloscope signal for high-frequency signal analysis has become a major challenge.
advantage of the spectrum analyzer, is the oscilloscope is to make up for the lack of high-frequency signal analysis, and while the multi-frequency signal to frequency-domain approach to present to facilitate the identification of the different frequencies of power device, and display the signal in the frequency domain characteristics.
at immediate domain measurements and frequency domain measurements of the different
spectrum analyzer types
spectrum analyzer (SpectrumAnalyzer) is used to display the input signal frequency domain spectral characteristics. And based on differences in signal processing is divided into two types, namely, real-time spectrum analyzer (Real-TimeSpectrumAnalyzer), and scan tuning spectrum analyzer (Sweep-TunedSpectrumAnalyzer) and other two.
real-time spectrum analyzer can be displayed at the same time frequency domain signal amplitude, its working principle is set for different frequency signals corresponding to the filter and detector device (Detector), and by the simultaneous multi- work scanner signal output to the screen, is its ability to display periodic stray wave (PeriodicRandomWaves) transient response, but the drawback is expensive, and the bandwidth range, the filter and the maximum number of multi-exchange time (SwitchingTime) would restrict its performance.
scanner tuned spectrum analyzer is the most common type of spectrum analyzer, and its basic structure and a similar superheterodyne receivers, mainly works through the attenuator input signal directly into the mixer device, the tunable local oscillator synchronized by a CRT screen at any time scanner generator produces a linear change of the oscillation frequency of inter-cropping, then mixer and mixing the input signal after the down-wave frequency signal (IF) amplification, filtering and detection sent to the CRT screen, so the longitudinal axis of the CRT screen display signal amplitude and frequency of the relative relationship.
As mentioned above, affecting the signal response of the key for the filter bandwidth. Gaussian filter (Gaussian-ShapedFilter) influence function is common to measure the resolution bandwidth (ResolutionBandwidth; RBW). RBW represents the meaning of two different frequency signals can be clearly distinguish the difference out of the minimum bandwidth, so the two signals of different frequencies lower than if the bandwidth spectrum analyzer resolution bandwidth, so the overlap of two signals will can not tell. This seemingly lower RBW will help distinguish between signals of different frequencies and measurement work, however, there may be too low RBW high frequency signal to filter out, resulting in signal distortion when the display. Higher RBW certainly help broadband signal measurements, but it may increase the noise underlying value (NoiseFloor), reduce the measurement sensitivity, and low-intensity signals for detecting prone to obstruction. Distortion value and set the RBW is closely related, so set the appropriate width RBW spectrum analyzer is the correct use of key concepts.
In addition the traditional spectrum analyzer front-end circuit is tunable within a certain bandwidth of the receiver. When the input signal frequency by frequency, by low-pass filter output and filter the output value is the vertical component, as the frequency is the horizontal component, so the screen coordinates on the map is presented by the input signal spectrum. Because the frequency can reach a very wide frequency (eg, from 30Hz ~ 30GHz), and with an external mixer, but can be increased to more than 100GHz, the frequency spectrum analyzer is the widest coverage of measuring instruments, whether measuring continuous signal or modulated signal, the spectrum analyzer is ideal measurement tool. Only the traditional spectrum analyzer has the disadvantage that it can only measure the frequency range, but the lack of phase information, so the nature of the instrument is not part of the scalar vector instruments.
new generation of spectrum analyzers is based on Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) measurement instruments. By computing the Fourier components of the measured signal decomposition established frequency components, thus achieving the traditional spectrum analyzer with the same results. The new spectrum analyzer using digitally, directly from the analog / digital converter (ADC) sampling the input signal, and then by computing the Fourier spectrum obtained after treatment distribution.
In today measurements, no matter what signals can be measured in many ways. The most basic instruments commonly used are the oscilloscope to observe the signal waveform, frequency and amplitude and so on. However, due to changes in the signal is very complicated, a lot of information with the oscilloscope can not be detected, for example, if you want to analyze a non-sinusoidal signal, in theory, it is a different frequency and voltage vector of the superposition. The perspective of the analysis, oscilloscope horizontal axis represents time, vertical axis for the voltage amplitude, the curve is that time-varying voltage waveform, which is the time-domain measurement method. If you want to observe the frequency component, must be frequency-domain method, the abscissa is the frequency axis for the power range. This can be seen at different frequencies on the power distribution range, we can understand these signals of spectrum. With a single signal spectrum, then the signal can continue to reproduce and replicate the complexity out of this for signal analysis is very important.
When a digital signal contains many video and audio signals, and its spectral distribution will be quite complex. In the satellite monitoring, these signals must be analyzed from the perspective of the spectrum to obtain the required parameters. There are two ways to analyze the frequency of the signal. The first is the collection of time-domain signal, then its Fourier transform, convert it into a frequency domain signal, this method is called dynamic signal analysis. Feature is relatively fast, have a higher sampling rate and high resolution. Even the two signals very close intervals, using Fourier transform they can be distinguished. However, with digital sampling and analysis, the maximum frequency that can be analyzed by its sampling rate, constraints on high-frequency signal analysis. Therefore, the analysis of the highest frequency only about 10MHz, so the range is part of the vector analysis. Such analysis methods are generally used for low-frequency signal analysis, such as sound and vibration. Another approach is to rely on the principle of hardware circuit, rather than through mathematical equations conversion. It can directly receive signals, such as analytical instruments tuned superheterodyne receiver directly scan analyzer, which is the above mentioned scan tuning the spectrum analyzer.
spectrum analyzer applications
spectrum analyzer main function is to measure the size or amplitude of the signal, and its wide range of applications, including system maintenance, signal measurement, group pieces of material gain and the frequency of quality control, etc., in the spectrum analyzer into the scope of application.
amplifier gain, frequency response characteristics of passive components and measurement
cable television and communications system using a large number of amplifiers and splitters (Tap), connectors, coaxial cable and other passive components, component quality will affect the quality characteristics of the signal, so the pre-screening will help to ensure signal quality. For example, through the spectrum analyzer tracking generator to evaluate the object under test (DUT) frequency response characteristics, measurement of results by the drawing instruments (Plotter) output and access to information. Measurement frequency range can be pre-set time, and time to obtain the corresponding curve, and so will be significantly reduced in the past through the oscilloscope and function generator according to different frequencies must be measured point by point the complicated operating procedures.
own spectrum analyzer tracking generator (TrackingGenerator) function to generate scanning signals transmitted by the DUT to the spectrum analyzer RF receiver, the frequency response from the DUT and measuring the response of the short wiring mutual comparison, can come to the DUT insertion loss (InsertionLoss), the same way as other related components will be available in the frequency response measurements. distortion measure
measured by the Fourier equation may be that, in addition to undistorted resonance wave (sine wave), the waveform in addition to any basic waves, are also high harmonic wave components, such as periodic sawtooth (PeriodicSawtoothWave), etc., started by Fourier equation, which corresponds to the mathematical display an unlimited number of harmonic style, and harmonic components in the spectrum analyzer can be clearly demonstrated.
oscilloscope can not detect the signal distortion and can only show the signal waveform and time relationship, but the spectrum analyzer from the corresponding harmonic spectrum, can accurately assess the harmonic signal and the signal amplitude, and then assess the distortion of Colonel
communication monitoring wireless communications requirements for spectrum use, you must use high-frequency, and send and receive signals through antennas, antenna with a spectrum analyzer through it is easy to detect the current signal strength and carrier communication frequency, such as using directional antennas, two sets of measurement equipment will be able to identify the source, which is relevant to ban illegal radio units (such as illegal underground radio stations), the main detection technologies .
based on the need to scan the spectrum analyzer bandwidth appropriate adjustments, such as zoom in or out, fine-tuning in order to assess the interference signal by measuring regional conditions, this method can be used as a design regional communication station or kinds of mobile communication system base station reference. By the directional antenna to adjust the amount of the measured maximum signal amplitude can be determined by the directional antenna, the signal source direction, if another group with the adjacent monitoring devices, from the intersection of two antenna signals can be obtained source position, immediately detects that the location of emission sources, in this way, through more sets of measurements will be accurate emission source.
cable television image information measurements
cable TV (CATV) coaxial cable or fiber optic cable through the cable to send video to other users at home. The development of technology, in order to reduce road digging construction of the difficulty of laying cables and reduce costs, manufacturers have proposed an open microwave or by satellite to the point (Spot) means the signal sent to the user at home, currently has in North America service provider for Northern California customers launch video channel has 150 satellite signals. Therefore, cable, microwave and satellite transmission of video approach has been applied to co-exist on the market, providing customers a wider variety of viewing options.
CATV system main function is to transmit video programming and data, and maintain the normal operation of the system, the transmission about 100 or more video channels, as well as information retrieval user terminals timely response to control signals, etc. two-way interactive services and other functions. In the CATV system includes a wide variety of video signals, such as voltage and current amplitude, gain, frequency and power, etc., which gain power mostly on the values ??that the. The RF signal amplitude, frequency can be general instruments (such as an oscilloscope) measured the amount of the signal phase (Phase) by the vector oscilloscope (VectorScope) measurement, the so-called vector oscilloscope is a very stable time base oscilloscope ring, can be used to check time delay between two signals. The spectrum analyzer is indispensable for CATV signal measurement electronic equipment.
antenna characteristics measurement
In addition to the spectrum analyzer measured the amplitude of the signal strength in the air outside, as long as with the bridge (Bridger) also measured the energy reflection loss (Returnloss ). As the popularity of mobile phones, the number of base stations in the city quite a number of concerns due to electromagnetic radiation has been plagued by injuries the user, so the electromagnetic wave intensity measurement has been increasingly the attention of members. Spectrum analyzer for the antenna can be any space electromagnetic radiation intensity or strength measurements.
use of spectrum analyzers for measuring
can be measured with unpredictable or not, depends entirely on the spectrum analyzer settings. This includes the attenuation, frequency range and resolution bandwidth setting. Spectrum analyzer settings including frequency range, resolution and dynamic range, dynamic range and the maximum input power that is involved in burning power gain compression to less than 1W of input signal once the work area will appear over the linear error. In addition, sensitivity is also considered a spectrum analyzer to the input signal can be measured whether or not the key.
parameters observed frequency range from two aspects, first, whether the setting of the frequency range narrow enough to have sufficient frequency resolution capability, which is enough to narrow the sweep width. The second is whether there is sufficient frequency range width can measure to the second and third harmonics. When using a spectrum analyzer measuring harmonic distortion when the amplifier if the amplifier at 1GHz, it the third harmonic is 3GHz, which is to consider the frequency range of the maximum measurable width. If the spectrum analyzer is 1.8GHz, it can not be measured, if the spectrum analyzer is 26.5GHz, can be measured to its third and fourth harmonics.
-resolution spectrum analyzer is a very important parameter. Resolution means that when two frequencies to be measured when the power is not the same, they must be separate. Wide will frequently set in three different widths, the following is the corresponding bandwidth settings see curve. Frequently in the more narrow the width of the higher resolution, the wider the width is frequently lower resolution. Resolution bandwidth directly affects the small signal recognition and measurement results.
This paper briefly describes the application of the spectrum analyzer and operation in many applications, the spectrum analyzer is a good helper engineer. The best spectrum analyzer is determined by many factors and parameters, requiring overall consideration, rather than the pursuit of the perfect single indicator, the basic elements of various types of analysis and measurement, in order to achieve more perfect measurement results .