JP5973174B2 - Adjusting device and adjusting method for high-frequency band variable attenuator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an adjustment device and an adjustment method for a high frequency band variable attenuator.

  High frequency band variable attenuators are used in a wide range of fields that handle high frequency signals such as radar. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a high-frequency band variable attenuation circuit using a PIN diode. The attenuation rate is adjusted by changing the resistance value of the PIN diode by changing the bias current of the PIN diode.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a radar apparatus using such a high frequency band variable attenuator for an RF-STC (Radio Frequency-Sensitivity Time Control) in a radar apparatus.

  The high-frequency attenuation characteristics of a high-frequency band variable attenuator usually do not have linearity. However, in RF-STC, for example, linearity of 10 decibels (10 dB / V) may be required per 1 volt of attenuation control voltage.

  FIG. 10A is a diagram showing a change in the resistance value with respect to the bias current of the PIN diode. As shown in FIG. 10A, the attenuation characteristic shows nonlinearity with respect to the bias voltage (applied voltage). In addition, FIG.10 (b) is an example of the attenuation | damping characteristic with the linearity requested | required in RF-STC etc. FIG.

  As described above, a nonlinear amplifier circuit may be used to cause a PIN diode having nonlinearity as shown in FIG. 10A to exhibit linearity as shown in FIG. 10B. In this case, the voltage applied to the PIN diode from the nonlinear amplifier circuit is a nonlinear voltage that cancels the nonlinearity of the PIN diode.

  However, since there are individual differences in PIN diodes, there is a problem that it takes a lot of time to adjust the nonlinear amplifier circuit to obtain attenuation characteristics having linearity over a wide range.

  On the other hand, Patent Documents 3 and 4 disclose techniques for adjusting a variable attenuator by displaying a gain curve with a measuring instrument. For example, Patent Document 3 discloses an automatic gain control device that automatically sets the amount of attenuation of a variable attenuator. That is, the reception signal input to the variable attenuator is detected, and a variable attenuation control signal corresponding to the level of the detected reception signal is generated. In the variable attenuator, a plurality of attenuation amounts are set, and the attenuation amounts are set according to the variable attenuation control signal.

JP 2001-144567 A JP 2008-89469 A JP 2003-158435 A JP-A-11-55644

  However, in Patent Documents 3 and 4, since the variable attenuation control signal is generated based on the signal input to the variable attenuator, it corresponds to the individual difference of the attenuator such as a PIN diode constituting the variable attenuator. There is a problem that cannot be controlled. That is, in the configuration in Patent Document 3, a variable attenuation control signal is generated based on the received signal. Therefore, when receiving signals of the same level, the same variable attenuation control signal is generated and input to the variable attenuator. However, since there is an individual difference in the attenuator, the output signal is different for each attenuator. This means that the attenuation characteristics of the variable attenuator may not be linear due to individual differences of the attenuators.

  Accordingly, a main object of the present invention is to provide an adjustment device and an adjustment method for a high-frequency band variable attenuator capable of adjusting an attenuation amount by taking individual characteristics such as individual differences.

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention relating to the adjusting device for adjusting the high frequency attenuation characteristic of the high frequency band variable attenuator measures the high frequency output signal from the high frequency band variable attenuator under a predetermined sweep signal, and measures this As a signal, a measurement unit for determining the linearity of the high-frequency attenuation characteristic based on the measurement signal and the sweep signal, and a determination of the linearity of the high-frequency attenuation characteristic at the time of attenuation of the sweep signal by a predetermined attenuation amount A control signal generating unit that attenuates the sweep signal by an attenuation amount set according to the result to generate an attenuation control voltage signal and outputs the attenuation control voltage signal to the high-frequency band variable attenuator. To do.

  The invention relating to the adjustment method for adjusting the high-frequency attenuation characteristic of the high-frequency band variable attenuator measures a high-frequency output signal from the high-frequency band variable attenuator under a predetermined sweep signal, and uses the measurement signal as a measurement signal. Measurement procedure for determining the linearity of the high-frequency attenuation characteristics based on the signal and the sweep signal, and the sweep signal is attenuated by a predetermined attenuation amount, and set according to the result of the determination regarding the linearity of the high-frequency attenuation characteristics And a control signal generation procedure for generating an attenuation control voltage signal by attenuating the sweep signal by the attenuated amount and outputting the attenuation control voltage signal to a high frequency band variable attenuator.

  According to the present invention, the attenuation control voltage signal is generated by measuring the output of the high frequency band variable attenuator, and the attenuation amount of the high frequency band variable attenuator can be adjusted based on the attenuation control voltage signal. Attenuation amount taking into account individual characteristics such as individual differences of variable attenuators can be adjusted.

It is a block diagram of the adjustment apparatus concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the control signal generation unit concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a figure explaining the effect | action of the limiter circuit concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a figure of the attenuation amount control voltage signal output from the control signal generation unit concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a figure explaining the effect | action of the adjustment judgment part concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the adjustment method concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the adjustment apparatus of the other structure concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the adjustment apparatus concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the adjustment apparatus concerning the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the attenuation characteristic of the variable attenuator applied to description of a related art, (a) is a nonlinear attenuation characteristic, (b) is a figure which shows an ideal attenuation characteristic.

<First Embodiment>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an adjustment device for a high-frequency band variable attenuator using a voltage control method according to the present embodiment. The adjustment device 10A adjusts the attenuation characteristics of the high frequency band variable attenuator with the high frequency band variable attenuator 3 as an adjustment target. The signal generator 6 is a signal generation source that is input to the high-frequency band variable attenuator 3. The signal from the signal generator 6 is input to the high frequency band variable attenuator 3 as the high frequency input signal G1. The high frequency band variable attenuator 3 performs a predetermined attenuation process on the input high frequency input signal, and the output is input to the adjusting device 10A as a high frequency output signal.

  Such an adjustment device 10A has a measurement unit 11A and a control signal generation unit 12 as main components. The measurement unit 11A includes a measurement unit 11a, an adjustment determination unit 11b, and a display unit 11c. The measurement part 11a measures the high frequency output signal G2 with the sweep signal G3 which is a frequency sweep signal. The sweep signal G3 is generated in the measurement unit 11a. Of course, this invention is not limited to the structure which generate | occur | produces the sweep signal G3 inside the measurement part 11a. Such an embodiment will be described in other embodiments described later. Then, the measurement unit 11a outputs the sweep signal G3 and the measurement signal G4 to the adjustment determination unit 11b, and outputs the sweep signal G3 to the control signal generation unit 12.

  The adjustment determination unit 11b performs a linearity determination process that determines the linearity of the high-frequency attenuation characteristics using the sweep signal G3 and the measurement signal G4. This linearity determination process will be described later.

  The display unit 11c is formed of a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), a liquid crystal panel, or the like, and displays the determination result of the adjustment determination unit 11b.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the control signal generation unit 12. The control signal generation unit 12 includes an attenuator 12a, an offset adjustment circuit 12b, and a limiter circuit 12c.

  The attenuator 12a includes a variable attenuation element, and the attenuation amount (nonlinear attenuation characteristic) of the variable attenuation element can be adjusted. Then, the input sweep signal G3 is attenuated by the adjusted attenuation amount, and the sweep signal G3 'is output. At this time, the attenuator 12a not only attenuates the signal but also performs impedance matching with the measurement unit 11A. In the present embodiment, the case where the user adjusts the attenuation amount of the attenuator 12a based on the determination result of the adjustment determination unit 11b will be described. However, as in the embodiment described later, the attenuator is based on the determination result of the adjustment determination unit 11b. The attenuation amount of 12a may be automatically adjusted.

  The offset adjustment circuit 12b removes the offset amount when the sweep signal G3 'from the attenuator 12a is offset. The measurement unit 11a can include a spectrum analyzer, a network analyzer, a high frequency power meter, a computer device, and the like. In the sweep signal G3 in each measuring instrument such as spectrum analyzer, when sweeping starts from the negative polarity side around 0 volts and ends on the positive polarity side, when sweeping from 0 volts to +10 volts, etc. It varies depending on the model and manufacturer. Therefore, the offset adjustment circuit 12b removes the offset amount so that the sweep signal G3 'starts sweeping from 0 volts.

  The limiter circuit 12c suppresses the voltage value of the signal component exceeding the preset limit value in the output signal (limiter circuit input signal) G6 'of the offset adjustment circuit 12b to the limit value. The signal output from the limiter circuit 12c is input to the high-frequency band variable attenuator 3 as the attenuation control voltage signal G6. As a function of the limiter circuit 12c, impedance matching with a load (in this case, the high-frequency band variable attenuator 3) may be achieved. The load impedance of the high-frequency band variable attenuator 3 is often a low resistance value such as 50 ohms or 75 ohms, which is the same value as the characteristic impedance of a commonly used coaxial cable. For this reason, when the attenuation control voltage signal G6 is input to the high frequency band variable attenuator 3, there is a possibility that the attenuation control voltage signal G6 having an appropriate voltage value is not input to the high frequency band variable attenuator 3 due to a voltage drop or the like. Therefore, in order to prevent such inconvenience, the limiter circuit 12c has an impedance matching function.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the function of the limiter circuit 12c. In the figure, the vertical axis represents the signal value, the horizontal axis represents time, and shows the sweep signal G3, the attenuation control voltage signal G6, and the limiter circuit input signal G6 'of the limiter circuit 12c. The reason why the limiter circuit input signal G6 'and the sweep signal G3 have different slopes is that the sweep signal G3 is attenuated by the attenuation process by the attenuator 12a.

  The sweep signal G3 attenuated by the attenuator 12a is input to the offset adjustment circuit 12b as the sweep signal G3 '. The offset adjustment circuit 12b performs an offset removal process on the sweep signal G3 'and inputs it to the limiter circuit 12c as a limiter circuit input signal G6'. FIG. 3 shows a case where the sweep signal G3 is zero offset. A limit value V_lim is preset in the limiter circuit 12c. When the limiter circuit input signal G6 'exceeds the limit value, the voltage value of the signal component in the exceeding region is suppressed to V = V_lim. Accordingly, the attenuation control voltage signal G6 has a waveform that is bent at the limit value V_lim. Hereinafter, such processing is referred to as limit processing.

  Thus, the limit process is performed because the attenuation control voltage signal G6 does not exceed the upper limit value in order for the high frequency band variable attenuator 3 to operate normally. Therefore, limit processing is performed so that the attenuation control voltage signal G6 does not exceed the upper limit value.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the sweep signal G3 and the attenuation control voltage signal G6 in time. The horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents the value (voltage) of each signal. In FIG. 4, V_off indicates an offset voltage included in the sweep signal G3. The offset adjustment circuit 12b removes the offset voltage V_off. The limiter circuit input signal G6 'subjected to the offset processing is regulated to a limit value V_lim or less by the limiter circuit 12c, and becomes an attenuation control voltage signal G6. In FIG. 4, the region (limit region) in which the limiter circuit 12c operates is indicated by Δt.

  Next, the linearity determination process in the adjustment determination unit 11b will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram in which the measured high-frequency output signal G2 and the ideal high-frequency output signal G2 ′ are displayed with the attenuation control voltage signal on the horizontal axis and the attenuation control voltage-attenuation shown on the vertical axis. It is. Here, the ideal high-frequency output signal G2 'is a signal for determining that the high-frequency attenuation characteristic of the high-frequency band variable attenuator 3 has linearity.

  As can be seen from FIG. 5, the high-frequency attenuation characteristic increases toward the right side (as the attenuation control voltage value increases), so the region (hereinafter referred to as an inclined region) K1 decreases to the right. This inclined area K1 corresponds to the area K in FIG. Then, the limiter circuit 12c of the control signal generation unit 12 operates, and the attenuation amount of the high-frequency output signal G2 becomes a constant value (limit region K2).

  The attenuation amount of the ideal high-frequency output signal G2 'in the inclined region K1 changes linearly with respect to the attenuation amount control voltage within the measurement accuracy and the allowable range. That is, the high frequency attenuation characteristic is linear in the inclined region K1. On the other hand, the measured high frequency output signal G2 in the inclined region K1 is a curve (non-linear). The high-frequency attenuation characteristic of the measured high-frequency output signal G2 in the inclined region K1 needs to match the high-frequency attenuation characteristic of the ideal high-frequency output signal G2 '.

  The adjustment determination unit 11b obtains the largest difference M between the high frequency output signal G2 and the high frequency output signal G2 ′ in the inclined region K1. When the difference M is smaller than the preset linearity determination criterion, the adjustment determination unit 11b determines that the high-frequency attenuation characteristic of the high-frequency band variable attenuator 3 is linear. On the other hand, when the difference M is larger than the linearity determination criterion, the adjustment determination unit 11b determines that the high-frequency attenuation characteristic of the high-frequency band variable attenuator 3 is non-linear.

  The measurement unit 11A is provided with a display unit 11c. The display unit 11c displays an attenuation control voltage-attenuation amount as shown in FIG. Information used for determining linearity such as the difference M is also displayed. Thus, the user can easily know the amount of increase / decrease in the attenuation amount of the attenuator 12a from the amount of deviation between the high frequency output signal G2 'and the high frequency output signal G2 and the magnitude relationship.

  Therefore, the high-frequency attenuation characteristic can be adjusted while observing the high-frequency attenuation characteristic of the high-frequency band variable attenuator in real time, and the adjustment time can be drastically shortened. In addition, since the high-frequency attenuation characteristics can be observed in real time, it is possible to respond quickly even when a failure occurs in the high-frequency band variable attenuator or when it becomes unstable.

  Next, a method for adjusting the high frequency band variable attenuator using such a voltage control method will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  Step S1: First, a high frequency signal (high frequency input signal) G1 is output from the signal generator 6. At this time, the signal level of the high frequency input signal G1 is set according to the attenuation performance of the high frequency band variable attenuator 3.

  Step S2: The high frequency band variable attenuator 3 attenuates the high frequency input signal G1 based on the attenuation amount control voltage signal G6 input from the adjustment device 10A. The attenuated signal is output as a high frequency output signal G2 to the measuring unit 11a of the adjustment device 10A.

  Step S3: The measuring unit 11a measures the high frequency output signal G2. At that time, the measurement unit 11a measures the measurement frequency at the same frequency as that of the signal generator 6 and in a zero span state where the measurement frequency is not swept. In addition, the resolution band filter, the video filter, and the sweep time setting of the measurement unit 11a are set according to the output performance of the high frequency band variable attenuator 3. The signal of this measurement frequency is the sweep signal G3.

  Step S4: The measurement unit 11a outputs the measured signal (high-frequency output signal G3) and the sweep signal G4 used for measurement to the adjustment determination unit 11b. The adjustment determination unit 11b causes the display unit 11c to display at least the attenuation amount control voltage-attenuation amount of the high-frequency output signal G2, and determines whether the inclined region K1 has preset linearity. When it is determined that the high-frequency attenuation characteristic of the high-frequency output signal G2 has linearity, the process ends as the adjustment is completed. On the other hand, when it is determined that the high-frequency attenuation characteristic of the high-frequency output signal G2 has nonlinearity, a display to that effect is displayed. This display is not particularly limited, but it is sufficient that at least the user can be informed that it is insufficient. In the above description, the case where the largest difference M between the high frequency output signal G2 and the high frequency output signal G2 ′ in the inclined region K1 is displayed is illustrated.

  Step S5: The user adjusts the attenuation amount of the attenuator 12a based on the determination result of the adjustment determination unit 11b. Thus, the sweep signal G3 is attenuated by the set attenuation amount, and is output to the high frequency band variable attenuator 3 as the attenuation amount control voltage signal G6 through the offset adjustment circuit 12b and the limiter circuit 12c.

  Step S6: The high frequency band variable attenuator 3 attenuates the high frequency input signal with the high frequency attenuation characteristic set based on the attenuation amount control voltage signal G6 and outputs the attenuated signal. As a result, a high-frequency output signal based on the newly set high-frequency attenuation characteristic is output to the measurement unit, and the above-described processing is repeated.

  As described above, since the linearity of the high frequency attenuation characteristic of the high frequency band variable attenuator can be determined in real time, the high frequency attenuation characteristic can be easily adjusted in a short time.

  In addition, since the linearity of the high-frequency attenuation characteristic is determined in real time, it is possible to quickly cope with a failure or instability in the high-frequency band variable attenuator.

In the above description, the sweep signal is generated in the measurement unit. However, some measuring instruments are based on the assumption that the sweep signal is supplied externally. In such a case, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the adjustment determination unit 11b may generate the sweep signal G3 and output it to the measurement unit 11a and the attenuator 12a. Further, a signal generator that generates the sweep signal G3 may be provided separately.
<Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, about the same structure as 1st Embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted suitably using the same code | symbol.

  In the first embodiment, the user adjusts the attenuation amount of the attenuator 12a based on the determination result of the adjustment determination unit. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the adjustment determination unit outputs the determination result as a signal to the attenuator 12a, and the attenuator 12a adjusts the attenuation based on the determination result signal.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the adjusting device 10C according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, a determination result signal G7 is input from the adjustment determination unit 11b to the attenuator 12a. Then, the adjustment determination unit 11b determines the difference M (M = M1-M2) between the attenuation amount M1 of the measured high-frequency output signal G2 and the attenuation amount M2 of the ideal high-frequency output signal G2 ′ in the inclined region K1 as shown in FIG. ) And a preset linearity determination reference Mt, ΔM (ΔM = Mt−M) is calculated, and the value is output as a determination result signal G7.

  When the determination result signal G7 is a positive value (M1> M2), the attenuator 12a changes the attenuation control voltage signal G6 to a value smaller than the current value by a predetermined amount. On the other hand, when the determination result signal G7 is a negative value (M1 <M2), the attenuation control voltage signal G6 is changed to a value larger than the current value by a predetermined amount. In this way, the attenuation amount control voltage signal G6 is changed and input to the high frequency band variable attenuator 3, and the high frequency attenuation characteristic of the high frequency band variable attenuator 3 is adjusted.

Therefore, it is possible to automatically adjust the high-frequency attenuation characteristics of the high-frequency band variable attenuator without user intervention.
<Third Embodiment>
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, about the same structure as 1st or 2nd embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted suitably using the same code | symbol.

  The adjustment device described so far has been constituted by a measurement unit and a control signal generation unit. This does not require the measurement unit and the control signal generation unit to be provided separately. Therefore, in this embodiment, the adjustment device is configured by a computer device for measurement. Since the measurement computer apparatus handles digital signals, it is necessary to convert a high-frequency output signal, which is an analog signal, into a digital signal. If such an analog-digital conversion function is not provided, a separate analog-digital converter (A / D converter) is provided to take in a high-frequency output signal. In the following description, it is assumed that the measurement computer device has an analog-digital conversion function.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the adjustment apparatus 10D according to the present embodiment. As described above, the adjustment device 10D includes a measurement computer device, and includes the measurement unit 13a including the measurement unit 13a, the adjustment determination unit 13b, the display unit 13c, and the A / D converter 13d, the attenuator 15a, and the offset. The control signal generation unit 15 includes an adjustment circuit 15b, a limiter circuit 15c, and a D / A converter 15d.

  The measurement unit 13a, the adjustment determination unit 13b, the display unit 13c, the attenuator 15a, the offset adjustment circuit 15b, and the limiter circuit 15c are respectively the measurement unit 11a, the adjustment determination unit 11b, the attenuator 12a, the offset adjustment circuit 12b, and the limiter circuit 12c. Since it is the same function, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  With this configuration, the high-frequency output signal G2 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 13d, and the measurement unit 13a receives this signal. Then, the measurement signal G4 and the sweep signal G3 are sent to the adjustment determination unit 13b, and the sweep signal G3 is sent to the attenuator 15a. The adjustment determination unit 13b performs the adjustment determination process as described above, and outputs a determination result signal G7 to the attenuator 15a.

  The determination result signal G7 and the sweep signal G3 are input to the attenuator 15a. Therefore, the attenuator 15a sets the attenuation amount according to the determination result signal G7, attenuates the sweep signal G3, and outputs the sweep signal G3 '. The offset adjustment circuit 15b removes the offset contained in the sweep signal G3 'and outputs a limiter circuit input signal G6' to the limiter circuit 15c. The limiter circuit 15c suppresses the signal component exceeding the limit value in the limiter circuit input signal G6 '. At this stage, the signal is a digital signal, and the high-frequency band variable attenuator 3 operates with an analog signal. Therefore, the signal from the limiter circuit 15c is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 15d, and this is subjected to attenuation control. The voltage signal G6 is output to the high frequency band variable attenuator 3.

  The attenuation, offset removal, and limit processing of the sweep signal G3 can be easily performed by data software, and various parameters can be easily changed. Therefore, the adjustment device 10D configured by such a computer device has high versatility.

  As described above, the linearity of the high frequency attenuation characteristic of the high frequency band variable attenuator can be adjusted accurately and in a short time.

  If the computer device does not have a D / A conversion function, a reference voltage generator or a DC stabilized power source that can be controlled by a digital signal may be used as the D / A converter in FIG.

A part or all of the above embodiment can be described as in the following supplementary notes, but is not limited thereto.
<Appendix 1>
An adjustment device for adjusting a high frequency attenuation characteristic of a high frequency band variable attenuator,
A measurement unit that measures a high-frequency output signal from the high-frequency band variable attenuator under a predetermined sweep signal, and uses this as a measurement signal to determine linearity of the high-frequency attenuation characteristic based on the measurement signal and the sweep signal When,
The sweep signal is attenuated by a predetermined attenuation amount, and at that time, the sweep signal is attenuated by an attenuation amount set in accordance with the result of the determination regarding the linearity of the high-frequency attenuation characteristic, and an attenuation control voltage signal is obtained. And a control signal generation unit that generates and outputs the attenuation control voltage signal to the high-frequency band variable attenuator.
<Appendix 2>
An apparatus for adjusting a high-frequency band variable attenuator according to appendix 1,
The apparatus for adjusting a high frequency band variable attenuator, wherein the measurement unit includes one of a spectrum analyzer, a network analyzer, a high frequency power meter, and a computer device.
<Appendix 3>
A device for adjusting a high-frequency band variable attenuator according to appendix 1 or 2,
The measurement unit is
A measurement unit for measuring a high-frequency output signal from the high-frequency band variable attenuator under a predetermined sweep signal;
An adjustment device for a high-frequency band variable attenuator, comprising: an adjustment determination unit that inputs the sweep signal and the measurement signal from the measurement unit and determines the linearity of the high-frequency attenuation characteristic based on these signals.
<Appendix 4>
An adjustment device for a high-frequency band variable attenuator according to any one of appendices 1 to 3,
The sweep signal is generated internally in the measurement unit and supplied to the control signal generation unit, or generated internally in the control signal generation unit and supplied to the measurement unit. Adjustment device.
<Appendix 5>
A high-frequency band variable attenuator adjusting device according to any one of appendices 1 to 4,
The control signal generation unit includes:
An attenuator for attenuating the sweep signal;
An offset adjustment circuit for removing an offset included in the sweep signal;
A high-frequency band variable attenuator comprising: a limit circuit that suppresses a signal component exceeding the limit value so that a signal from the offset adjustment circuit does not become larger than a preset limit value. Adjustment device.
<Appendix 6>
An adjustment device for a high-frequency band variable attenuator according to any one of appendices 3 to 5,
The adjustment determination unit determines that the high frequency attenuation characteristic is linear when the relationship between the value of the attenuation control voltage signal and the value of the attenuation in the high frequency band variable attenuator is within a preset range. An apparatus for adjusting a high-frequency band variable attenuator, characterized in that it is present.
<Appendix 7>
The adjustment device for a high-frequency band variable attenuator according to any one of appendices 3 to 6,
The adjustment determination unit outputs a result of determining the linearity of the high-frequency attenuation characteristic to the attenuator as a determination result signal, and the attenuator attenuates the sweep signal by an attenuation amount corresponding to the determination result signal. A high-frequency band variable attenuator adjustment device characterized by the above.
<Appendix 8>
A high-frequency band variable attenuator adjusting device according to any one of appendices 3 to 7,
The adjustment determination unit includes an indicator that displays a relationship between at least the value of the attenuation control voltage signal and the value of the attenuation in the high frequency variable attenuator. apparatus.
<Appendix 9>
An adjustment method for adjusting a high frequency attenuation characteristic of a high frequency band variable attenuator,
Measurement procedure for measuring a high-frequency output signal from the high-frequency band variable attenuator under a predetermined sweep signal, and using this as a measurement signal to determine the linearity of the high-frequency attenuation characteristic based on the measurement signal and the sweep signal When,
The sweep signal is attenuated by a predetermined attenuation amount, and at that time, the sweep signal is attenuated by an attenuation amount set in accordance with the result of the determination regarding the linearity of the high-frequency attenuation characteristic, and an attenuation control voltage signal is obtained. A control signal generation procedure for generating and outputting the attenuation control voltage signal to the high frequency band variable attenuator, and a method for adjusting the high frequency band variable attenuator.
<Appendix 10>
A method of adjusting a high frequency band variable attenuator according to appendix 9,
The measurement procedure is as follows:
A procedure for measuring a high frequency output signal from the high frequency band variable attenuator under a predetermined sweep signal;
An adjustment determination procedure for receiving the sweep signal and the measurement signal and determining the linearity of the high-frequency attenuation characteristic based on the sweep signal and the measurement signal, and an adjustment method for the high-frequency band variable attenuator.
<Appendix 11>
An adjustment method of the high frequency band variable attenuator according to appendix 10,
The adjustment determination procedure is such that when the relationship between the value of the attenuation control voltage signal and the value of the attenuation in the high frequency band variable attenuator falls within a preset range, the high frequency attenuation characteristic is linear. A method of adjusting a high frequency band variable attenuator, characterized in that it is determined to be present.
<Appendix 12>
A method for adjusting a high-frequency band variable attenuator according to appendix 10 or 11,
The adjustment determination procedure includes a procedure of outputting a result of determining the linearity of the high-frequency attenuation characteristic as a determination result signal;
And a procedure for attenuating the sweep signal by an attenuation amount corresponding to the determination result signal.
<Appendix 13>
A method for adjusting a high-frequency band variable attenuator according to any one of appendices 9 to 12,
The adjustment determination procedure includes a display procedure for displaying a relationship between at least a value of the attenuation control voltage signal and a value of the attenuation in the high frequency variable attenuator. Method.

3 High-frequency band variable attenuator 6 Signal generator 10A, 10C, 10D Adjustment device 11A, 13 Measurement unit 11a, 13a Measurement unit 11b, 13b Adjustment determination unit 11c, 13c Display unit 12A, 15 Control signal generation unit 12a, 15a Attenuator 12b, 15b Offset adjustment circuit 12c, 15c Limiter circuit

Claims (10)

An adjustment device for adjusting a high frequency attenuation characteristic of a high frequency band variable attenuator,
A measurement unit that measures a high-frequency output signal from the high-frequency band variable attenuator under a predetermined sweep signal, and uses this as a measurement signal to determine linearity of the high-frequency attenuation characteristic based on the measurement signal and the sweep signal When,
The sweep signal is attenuated by a predetermined attenuation amount, and at that time, the sweep signal is attenuated by an attenuation amount set in accordance with the result of the determination regarding the linearity of the high-frequency attenuation characteristic, and an attenuation control voltage signal is obtained. And a control signal generation unit that generates and outputs the attenuation control voltage signal to the high-frequency band variable attenuator. An adjustment device for a high-frequency band variable attenuator according to claim 1,
The apparatus for adjusting a high frequency band variable attenuator, wherein the measurement unit includes one of a spectrum analyzer, a network analyzer, a high frequency power meter, and a computer device. An apparatus for adjusting a high frequency band variable attenuator according to claim 1 or 2,
The measurement unit is
A measurement unit for measuring a high-frequency output signal from the high-frequency band variable attenuator under a predetermined sweep signal;
An adjustment device for a high-frequency band variable attenuator, comprising: an adjustment determination unit that inputs the sweep signal and the measurement signal from the measurement unit and determines the linearity of the high-frequency attenuation characteristic based on these signals. It is an adjustment apparatus of the high frequency band variable attenuator according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The sweep signal is generated internally in the measurement unit and supplied to the control signal generation unit, or generated internally in the control signal generation unit and supplied to the measurement unit. Adjustment device. An adjustment device for a high-frequency band variable attenuator according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The control signal generation unit includes:
An attenuator for attenuating the sweep signal;
An offset adjustment circuit for removing an offset included in the sweep signal;
A high-frequency band variable attenuator comprising: a limit circuit that suppresses a signal component exceeding the limit value so that a signal from the offset adjustment circuit does not become larger than a preset limit value. Adjustment device. An adjustment device for a high-frequency band variable attenuator according to claim 5 ,
The adjustment determination unit determines that the high frequency attenuation characteristic is linear when the relationship between the value of the attenuation control voltage signal and the value of the attenuation in the high frequency band variable attenuator is within a preset range. An apparatus for adjusting a high-frequency band variable attenuator, characterized in that it is present. An adjustment device for a high-frequency band variable attenuator according to claim 5 ,
The adjustment determination unit outputs a result of determining the linearity of the high-frequency attenuation characteristic to the attenuator as a determination result signal, and the attenuator attenuates the sweep signal by an attenuation amount corresponding to the determination result signal. A high-frequency band variable attenuator adjustment device characterized by the above. An adjustment device for a high-frequency band variable attenuator according to any one of claims 3 to 7,
The adjustment determination unit includes an indicator that displays a relationship between at least the value of the attenuation control voltage signal and the value of the attenuation in the high frequency variable attenuator. apparatus. An adjustment method for adjusting a high frequency attenuation characteristic of a high frequency band variable attenuator,
The measured RF output signal from a high frequency band variable attenuator under a predetermined sweep signal, as this measurement signal, to determine the linearity of the high frequency attenuation characteristics on the basis of the said measurement signal before Symbol sweep signal measurement Procedure and
The sweep signal is attenuated by a predetermined attenuation amount, and at that time, the sweep signal is attenuated by an attenuation amount set in accordance with the result of the determination regarding the linearity of the high-frequency attenuation characteristic, and an attenuation control voltage signal is obtained. A control signal generation procedure for generating and outputting the attenuation control voltage signal to the high frequency band variable attenuator, and a method for adjusting the high frequency band variable attenuator. A method for adjusting a high-frequency band variable attenuator according to claim 9,
The measurement procedure is as follows:
A procedure for measuring a high frequency output signal from the high frequency band variable attenuator under a predetermined sweep signal;
An adjustment determination procedure for receiving the sweep signal and the measurement signal and determining the linearity of the high-frequency attenuation characteristic based on the sweep signal and the measurement signal, and an adjustment method for the high-frequency band variable attenuator.

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