United S ta tes P a tent [ 1 9 ]

[ 1 1 ] 4 , 0 0 1 , 6 8 1
Hoer et a l . [ 4 5 ] J a n. 4 , 1 9 77
[ 5 4 ] VECTOR VOLTMETER P rim a ry Ex a m iner- Rob ert S eg a l
A s s is ta nt Ex a m iner- Micha el J . Tok a r
[ 75 ] I nv entors : Cl etu s A Hu e" ; G l enn F - Eng en, A ttorney , A g ent, or F irm . l os ep h E. Ru s z ; J u l ia n L.
[ 73 ]
[ 2 2 ]
[ 2 1 ]
[ 5 2 ]
[ 5 1 ]
[ 5 8 ]
[ 5 6 ]
3 , 0 8 3 , 3 3 6
b oth of B ou l der, Col o.
The United S ta tes of A m erica a s
rep res ented b y the S ecreta ry of the
A ir F orce, W a s hing ton, DC.
A s s ig nee:
F il ed: J a n. 2 8 , 1 9 76
A p p l . N o. : 6 5 2 , 9 5 7
US . Cl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 4 /8 3 R; 3 2 4 /1 1 4 ;
3 2 4 /1 4 ( ) R
I nt. Cl . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G 0 1 R 2 5 /0 0
F iel d of S ea rch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 4 /8 3 R, 8 3 A , 8 4 ,
3 2 4 /9 5 , 1 1 4 , 1 4 0 R, 1 4 1
Ref erences Cited
UN I TED S TA TES P A TEN TS
3 /1 9 6 '3 P oirier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 4 /8 3 A
S ieg e]
[ 5 7] A B S TRA CT
A v ector v ol tm eter f or m ea s u ring the a m p l itu de a nd
p ha s e dif f erence b etw een tw o s ig na l s . A ? rs t s ig na l is
f ed to a p ow er div ider in w hich one of its ou tp u ts is
m ea s u red w ith a p ow er detector a nd the other ou tp u t is
f ed to a s econd div ider, ea ch ou tp u t thereof b eing f ed
one ea ch to a third a nd f ou rth p ow er div ider. The s ec
ond s ig na l is f ed to a ? f th p ow er div ider in w hich one of
its ou tp u ts is m ea s u red b y a s econd p ow er detector a nd
the other ou tp u t of the ? f th div ider is f ed to a hy b rid
circu it ha v ing q u a dra tu re ou tp u ts , one of w hich is f ed
to the third p ow er div ider w hos e ou tp u t is m ea s u red b y
a third p ow er detector a nd the other q u a dra tu re ou tp u t
is f ed to the f ou rth p ow er div ider w hos e ou tp u t is m ea
s u red b y a f ou rth p ow erdetector. The f ou r p ow er de
tectors a re connected to tw o dif f erentia l a m p l i? ers
w hich driv e the X a nd Y a x is of a n os cil l os cop e.
7 Cl a im s , 4 Dra w ing F ig u res
US . P a tent J a n. 4 , 1 9 77 S heet 1 of 2 4 , 0 0 1 , 6 8 1
: EI E 0 1 a .
3 5 '
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I /2 5
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: 1 [ V1 V2 I t .
i 1 3 3 3 2 6 z
U. S . P a tent J a n. 4 , 1 9 77 S heet 2 of 2 4 , 0 0 1 , 6 8 1
77 Q 79 P
8 5
8 3
79
I l a - 1 0 . 2 ]
Y
X- P m s
77
75
75 .
: EI EJ . Z b
4 , 0 0 1 , 6 8 1
1
VECTOR VOLTMETERI
S TA TEMEN T OF G OVERN MEN T I N TERES T"
The inv ention des crib ed herein m a y b e m a nu f a c
tu red a nd u s ed b y or f or the G ov ernm ent f or g ov ern
m enta l p u rp os es w ithou t the . p a y m ent of . a ny roy a l ty
thereon. _ '
B A CKG ROUN D OF THE I N VEN TI ON ' '
This inv ention rel a tes to el ectrica l s ig na l m ea s u re
m ent, a nd m ore p a rticu l a rl y to v ector v ol tm eters .
The p res ent inv ention ca n m ea s u re the com p l ex v ol t
a g e ra tio of tw o s inu s oida l s ig na l s ha v ing the s a m e
f req u ency in a ny p a rt of theel ectrorna g netic s p ectru m
in w hich s ing l e- m ode g u ided w a v e p rop a g a tion is f ea s i
b l e. I t is s im il a r to ex is ting . v ector v ol tm eters in tha t, it
m ea s u res the a m p l itu de of b oth s ig na l s a nd the p ha s e
a ng l e b etw een them . How ev er, it'dif f ers f rom p rior
v ector v ol tm eters a nd m os t other p ha s e m ea s u ring
ins tru m ents in tha t the p ha s e a ng l e is ob ta ined f rom
f ou r s im p l e a m p l itu de detectors ra ther tha n f rom m ore
com p l ica ted s chem es s u ch a s heterody ning the s ig na l
dow n to a l ow er f req u ency w here the, p ha s e a ng l e is
m ea s u red directl y u s ing z ero- cros s ing or other tech
niq u es . The s ix - p ort a p p roa ch el im ina tes tim ing p rob
l em s a s s ocia ted w ith z ero- cros s ing techniq u es , a nd
s im p l i? es the m ea s u rem ent b y not u s ing heterody ne
techniq u es ( w hich u s u a l l y req u ire tw o . , s ep a ra te
s ou rces ) . 1 \ _ , _ f y Y .
S UMMA RY 'OF THEv I N VEN TI ON '
The s ix - p ort v ector v ol tm eter ca n b e cons tru cted
f rom com m ercia l l y a v a il a b l e, rionp recis ion com p o
nents . N o p ha s e- l ock ed s ou rces a re req u ired, no f re
q u ency conv ers ion is needed. The s ix - p ort , ( or eig ht
p ort) ca n b e des crib ed b y ex a ct circu it m odel s y iel ding
s im p l e eq u a tions . B eca u s e of the s im p l e, , ex a ct circu it
m odel , thes ix - p ort v ector v ol tm eter ca n b e m a de s el f
ca l ib ra ting b eca u s e no s ta nda rds a re req u ired to ca l i
b ra te it f or ra tio m ea s u rem ents . .
P ha s e inf orm a tion is ob ta ined f rom a m p l itu de ( e. g . ,
p ow er m ea s u rem ents ) , P rev iou s l y , circu its f or ob ta in
ing a ccu ra te p ha s e inf orm a tion f rom a m p l itu de m ea
s u rem ents w ere l im ited to the a u dio f req u ency ra ng e.
A ccu ra cy is p rim a ril y a f u nction of the l inea rity of
the p ow er detectors . _ Dep a rtu res f rom l inea rity ca n
rea dil y b e determ ined a nd corrected f or a t the f re
q u ency of interes t. A n ex p erim enta l v ector v ol tm eter
u s ed a t X- b a nd ( 8 ~1 2 G l - I z ) ha d g rea ter ra tio a ccu ra cy
tha n com m ercia l v ector v ol tm eters ha v e a t m u ch l ow er
f req u encies . _ . : I _ v
The concep t of the inv ention is v a l id a t a l l v f req u en
cies w here s ing l e m odes ca n b em a inta ined. Com m er
cia l v ector v ol tm eters op era te a t f req u encies u p to 2 . 5
G Hz a t m os t. S y s tem s ca p a b l e of m ea s u ring p ha s e
a b ov e 2 . 5 G Hz a re cos tl y a nd com p l ica ted. The s ix
p ort ca n b e cons tru cted f rom com m ercia l l y , a v a il a b l e
com p onents u p to a t l ea s t 1 0 0 G HZ , a nd p rob a b l y into
the op tica l ra ng e. > _ e _
I t is theref ore a n ob j ect of this inv ention to p rov ide a
nov el a nd im p rov ed m icrow a v e ca l ib ra tions y s tem . ,
I t is a nother ob j ect to p rov ide a m ethoda nd s y s tem
of m ea s u ring com p l ex a m p l itu des f or determ ining in;
s ertion l os s es . - I i r v r "
I t is s til l a nother ob j ect to p rov ide a s y s tem tha t " ca n
ca l ib ra te a ttenu a tors , directiona l cou p l ers , term ina
tions , detectors , is ol a tors , ? l ters , a nda ntenna s . '
'1 0
1 5
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
6 0
6 5
2
I t is y et a nother ob j ect to p rov ide a m ethod a nd s y s
tem f or m ea s u ring a p ha s e a ng l e b etw een tw o s ig na l s
w ithou t com p l ica ted s chem es s u ch a s heterody ning a nd
u s ing z ero- cros s ing detectors .
' Thes e a nd other ob j ects , f ea tu res a nd a dv a nta g es of
the inv ention w il l b ecom e m ore a p p a rent f rom the
f ol l ow ing des crip tion w hen ta k en in conj u nction w ith
the il l u s tra tiv e em b odim ent in the a ccom p a ny ing dra w
ing s .
DES CRI P TI ON OF THE DRA W I N G S
'F I G . 1 a is a b l ock dia g ra m s how ing a s ix - p ort em
b odim ent of the v ector v ol tm eter; - \
F I G . l b is a b l ock dia g ra m s how ing the dis p l a y s y s
tem u s ed w ith the em b odim ent of F I G . 1 b ; '
F I G . 2 a is a b l ock dia g ra m s how ing a n eig ht- p ort
em b odim ent of the v ector v ol tm eter; a nd
F I G . 2 b is a b l ock dia g ra m s how ing the dis p l a y s y s
tem u s ed w ith the em b odim ent of F I G . 2 a .
DETA I LED DES CRI P TI ON OF THE P REF ERRED
EMB ODI MEN T
' The s ix ~p ort v ector v ol tm eter circu it a s s how n in
F I G S . 1 a a nd 1 b u s es ? v e p ow er div iders , one q u a dra
tu re hy b rid a nd f ou r p ow er detectors . The p ha s e a ng l e
6 b etw een tw o inp u t s ig na l s a , a nd a 2 is ob ta ined f rom
the f ol l ow ing eq u a tions :
I n term s of the f ou r p ow er rea ding s , the a m p l itu de a nd
p ha s e inf orm a tion is ob ta ined f rom
Ref erring to F I G . I n, there is s how n s ix - p ort v ector
v ol tm eter 1 1 in w hich a p a ir of s ig na l s ha v ing a p ha s e
dif f erence a re a p p l ied. The s ig na l s v , a nd v 2 cons is t of
em erg ent com p onents a , a nd a 2 a nd re? ected com p o
nents b 1 a nd b 2 s u ch tha t v , = a , + b 1 a nd v 2 = a 2 + b 2 .
A , is a p p l ied a t p ort 1 3 a nd is div ided b y p ow er div ider
1 5 w here one- ha l f of the s ig na l is f ed to p ow er m eter 1 7
a nd m ea s u res [ a l l 2 '2 . The other ha l f of the s ig na l f rom
div ider 1 5 is f ed to div ider 2 1 w here it is a g a in div ided
into tw o p a rts a nd f ed to div iders 2 3 a nd 2 5 . The s ig na l
a 2 is a p p l ied a t p ort 2 6 a nd is f ed to div ider 2 7 w here
one- ha l f of it is f ed to p ow er m eter 2 9 w hich m ea s u res
| a 2 | 2 '2 . Div ider 2 7 f eeds the other ha l f of a 2 to hy b rid
q u a dra tu re circu it 3 1 w hich ha s a 9 0 ou tp u t a nd a z ero
deg ree ou tp u t. The z ero deg ree ou tp u t is f ed to div ider
2 3 a nd is the ou tp u t f rom div ider 2 1 a nd the ou tp u t of
div ider 2 3 is f ed to p ow er m eter 3 3 w hich m ea s u res | a 1
+ a z l 2 '8 . The 9 0 ou tp u t of q u a dra tu re circu it 2 7 is f ed
to div ider 2 5 w ith the ou tp u t of div ider 2 1 . The div ided
ou tp u t of div ider 2 5 is f ed to p ow er m eter 3 5 w hich
m ea s u res I a , j a z l 2 '8 .
A n im p orta nt a dv a nta g e of this s ix - p ort v ector v ol t
m eter ov er p rior v ector v ol tm eters is tha t p recis ion
com p onents a re not req u ired to ob ta in a ccu ra te a m p l i
' tu de a nd p ha s e m ea s u rem ents . I f the com p onents u s ed
a re not idea l , the inf orm a tion a b ou t a , a nd a 2 ca n s til l
b e a ccu ra tel y ob ta ined f rom the f ou r p ow er rea ding s .
4 , 0 0 1 , 6 8 1
3
A ny l inea r s ix - p ort dev ice w ith f ou r l inea rl y indep en
dent ou t u t s ig na l s , eq u a tions ( 3 ) throu g h ( 6 ) b ecom es
l a il g =z a r P 1 ( 7)
| a , | 1 =2 p , 1 =, i=a . . . 6 ( 8 )
0 , 1 1 4 cos d= 2 Y, P , ( 9 )
l a l a z l s in =z l p l ( '0 )
w here ea ch s u m is ov er the f ou r p ow er rea ding s . The
G reek l etters a re rea l cons ta nts w hich dep end on the
con? g u ra tion of the s ix - p ort a nd the im p eda nce of the
f ou r detectors . I f the com p onents in F I G . 1 a a re idea l ,
the cons ta nts in Eq u a tions ( 7) throu g h ( 1 0 ) redu ce to
the integ ers in Eq u a tions ( 3 ) throu g h ( 6 ) . I f the com
p onents a re nea rl y idea l , the cons ta nts in Eq u a tions ( 7)
throu g h ( 1 0 ) dif f er onl y s l ig htl y f rom thos e in Eq u a
tions ( 3 ) throu g h ( 6 ) . Thes e cons ta nts ca n b e deter
m ined w ithou t a ny k now l edg e of the contents of the
s ix - p ort or the im p eda nce of the f ou r detectors . B e
ca u s e the cons ta nts of the s ix - p ort v ector v ol tm eter
des ig n ha v e the l a s t tw o p rop erties m entioned, one ca n
u s e nonp recis ion com p onents w ith no s ig ni? ca nt l os s in
a ccu ra cy .
I f the p ow er detectors ea ch ha v e a n ou tp u t v ol ta g e in
p rop ortion to the inp u t RF p ow er, the dis p l a y ing a p p a
ra tu s a s s how n in F I G . l b ca n b e u s ed to dis p l a y a p oint
w hos e dis ta nce f rom the orig in is I a , a 2 I a t a n a ng l e ( 1 ) ,
the p ha s e a ng l e b etw een a , a nd a 2 . P ow er m eters 1 7
a nd 2 9 a re connected to p otentiom eter 3 7 w hich is
u s ed f or a dj u s tm ent. P otentiom eter 3 7 connects to the
m inu s inp u t term ina l of dif f erentia l a m p l i? er 3 9 w hich
ha s the p os itiv e term ina l connected to p ow er detector
3 5 . P otentiom eter 3 7 is a l s o connected to the neg a tiv e
inp u t term ina l of dif f erentia l a m p l i? er 4 1 w hich ha s the
p os itiv e inp u t term ina l connected to p ow er m eter 3 3 .
A m p l i? er 3 9 driv es the Y a x is a nd a m p l i? er 4 1 driv es
the X a x is of os cil l os cop e 4 3 .
A correl a tor or v ector detector w hich a re ex a m p l es
of p a s t v ector v ol tm eters ca n b e conv erted to a n eq u iv
a l ent of the s ix ~p ort v ector v ol tm eter b y a dding tw o
p ow er div iders . This v a ria tion, a s econd em b odim ent of
the inv ention, is s how n in F I G . 2 a a nd is a n eig ht- p ort
v ector v ol tm eter. S ig na l a , is a p p l ied a t p ort 5 3 of v ec
tor v ol tm eter 5 1 a nd div ided b y p ow er div ider 5 5 w hich
is connected to p ow er detector 5 7 tha t m ea s u res
[ a l l 2 '2 . The ou tp u t of p ow er div ider 5 5 is f ed to p ow er
div ider 5 9 w hich div ides the s ig na l a nd s ends it to the
tw o hy b rid q u a dra tu re circu its 6 1 a nd 6 3 . S ig na l a 2 is
a p p l ied a t p oint 6 5 to div ider 6 7 w hich div ides the
s ig na l a nd s ends it to hy b rid q u a dra tu re circu it 6 9 a nd
p ow er m eter 71 w hich m ea s u res l a g ] 2 '2 . Hy b rid q u a d
ra tu re circu it 6 9 f eeds one of its ou tp u t s ig na l s to hy
b rid q u a dra tu re circu it 6 3 w hich is a l s o f ed b y p ow er
div ider 5 9 . Hy b rid q u a dra tu re circu it 6 3 ha s tw o ou t
p u ts , one connected to p ow er m eter 73 tha t m ea s u res
I a , + a 2 | 2 /8 a nd the other to p ow er detector 75 tha t
m ea s u res I a , a 2 | 2 '8 . Hy b rid q u a dra tu re circu it 6 1 is
f ed b y hy b rid q u a dra tu re circu it 6 9 a nd p ow er div ider
5 9 a nd ha s tw o ou tp u ts . One is f ed to p ow er detector
77 tha t m ea s u res | a 1 j a g l 2 '8 a nd the other ou tp u t is
f ed to p ow er m eter 79 tha t m ea s u res | a 1 + j a z l m .
Hy b rid q u a dra tu re circu its 6 ] a nd 6 3 ca n b e rep l a ced
w ith 1 8 0 hy b rids to ob ta in the s a m e s a id s ix ou tp u ts in
term s of the tw o inp u t s ig na l s a , a nd a 2 .
F I G . 2 b s how s the dis p l a y u s ed w ith v ector v ol tm eter
5 1 of F I G . 2 a . P ow er detectors 73 a nd 75 a re con
nected to dif f erentia l a m p l i? er 8 1 w hil e p ow er detec
I 0
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
6 0
6 5
4
tors 77 a nd 79 a re connected to dif f erentia l a m p l i? er
8 3 . Os cil l os cop e 8 5 is connected to a m p l i? er 8 1 w hich
driv es the X a x is a nd a m p l i? er 8 3 w hich driv es the Y
a x is .
Dis ca rding ou tp u ts f rom p ow er m eters 75 a nd 79 , a
s ix - p ort dev ice is rea l iz ed w ith es s entia l l y the s a m e f ou r
ou tp u ts a s in F I G . l a . F or the eig ht- p ort dev ice in F I G .
2 a , a ny com b ina tion of p ow er m eters 5 7 or 71 p l u s
m eters 73 or 75 , p l u s m eters 77 or 79 , p l u s a ny detector
tha t ha s not y et b een u s ed, m a k e u p a s et of f ou r l in
ea rl y indep endent ou tp u ts f or w hich eq u a tions ( 7)
throu g h ( 1 0 ) do a p p l y , ha v ing cons ta nts w hich a re w el l
b eha v ed. '
Either the s ix - p ort v ector v ol tm eter in F I G S . 1 a a nd
l b or the eig ht- p ort v ector v ol tm eter in F I G S . 2 a a nd
F I G . 2 b ca n b e u s ed to dis p l a y the a p p rox im a te p ha s e
a ng l e on a n'os cil l os cop e a s w el l a s to a ccu ra tel y ca l cu
l a te the p ha s e, a m p l itu des , a nd ra tio of the tw o inp u t
s ig na l s .
W ha t is cl a im ed is :
1 . A v ector v ol tm eter f or m ea s u ring ? rs t a nd s econd
s ig na l s com p ris ing :
a . a ? rs t p ow er div ider connected to the ? rs t s ig na l ;
b . a ? rs t p ow er detector f ed b y the ? rs t p ow er di
v ider; ' '
c. a s econd p ow er div ider f ed b y the s econd s ig na l ;
( I . a s econd p ow er detector f ed b y the s econd p ow er
div ider;
e. a third p ow er div ider f ed b y the ? rs t p ow er div ider;
f . a hy b rid - q u a dra tu re circu it f ed b y the s econd
p ow er div ider a nd ha v ing a 0 p ha s e ou tp u t a nd a
9 0 p ha s e ou tp u t;
g . a f ou rth p ow er div ider f ed b y the third p ow er di
v ider a nd the 0 p ha s e ou tp u t of the hy b rid q u a dra
tu re circu it; , I
h. a third p ow er detector f ed b y the f ou rth p ow er
div ider;
i. a ? f th p ow er div ider f ed b y the third p ow er div ider
a nd the 9 0 ou tp u t of the hy b rid q u a dra tu re circu it;
a nd '
j . a f ou rth p ow er detector f ed b y the ? f th p ow er
div ider.
2 . A v ector v ol tm eter a ccording to cl a im 1 w herein
the ? rs t a nd s econd p ow er m eters a re connected to a
? rs t com m on p oint a nd the v ector v ol tm eter f u rther
com p ris es :
a . a ? rs t dif f erentia l a m p l i? er ha v ing ? rs t a nd s econd
inp u ts w ith the third p ow er m eter connected to the
? rs t inp u t; _
b . a s econd dif f erentia l a m p l i? er ha v ing ? rs t a nd
s econd inp u ts w ith the f ou rth p ow er m eter con
nected to the ? rs t inp u t a nd w ith the s econd inp u ts
of the ? rs t a nd s econd dif f erentia l a m p l i? ers b eing
connected to a s econd com m on p oint, the ? rs t a nd
s econd com m on p oints b eing connected tog ether;
a nd
c. a n os cil l os cop e ha v ing X a nd Y inp u ts connected
to the ? rs t a nd s econd dif f erentia l a m p l i? ers .
3 . A v ector v ol tm eter a ccording to cl a im 2 w hich
f u rther com p ris es a p otentiom eter interp os ed b etw een
the ? rs t a nd s econd com m on p oints . _
4 . A v ector v ol tm eter f or m ea s u ring ? rs t a nd s econd
s ig na l s com p ris ing :
a . a ? rs t p ow er div ider f ed b y the ? rs t s ig na l ;
b . a ? rs t p ow er detector f ed b y the ? rs t p ow er di
v ider;
c. a s econd p ow er div ider f ed b y the ? rs t p ow er di
v ider;
4 , 0 0 1 , 6 8 1
5
d. a third p ow er div ider f ed b y the s econd s ig na l ;
e. a s econd p ow er detector f ed b y the third p ow er
div ider;
6
j . ? f th a nd s ix th p ow er detectors connected one ea ch
to the ? rs t a nd s econd ou tp u ts of the s econd p ha s e
hy b rid circu it.
5 . A v ector v ol tm eter a ccording to cl a im 4 w hich
f . a q u a dra tu re hy b rid circu it f ed b y the third p ow er 5 f u rther com p f is es i
div ider;
g . a ? rs t p ha s e hy b rid circu it ha v ing ? rs t a nd s econd
ou tp u ts f ed b y the q u a dra tu re hy b rid circu it a nd
the s econd p ow er div ider;
h. third a nd f ou rth p ow er detectors connected one
ea ch to ? rs t a nd s econd ou tp u ts of the ? rs t p ha s e
hy b rid circu it;
i. a s econd p ha s e hy b rid circu it ha v ing ? rs t a nd s ec
ond ou tp u ts f ed b y the q u a dra tu re hy b rid a nd the
s econd p ow er div ider; a nd
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
6 0
6 5
a . a ? rs t dif f erentia l a m p l i? er connected to the third
a nd f ou rth p ow er detectors ;
b . a s econd dif f erentia l a m p l i? er connected to the
f ou rth a nd ? f th p ow er detectors ; a nd
c. a n os cil l os cop e ha v ing X a nd Y inp u ts connected
to the ? rs t a nd s econd dif f erentia l a m p l i? ers .
6 . A v ector v ol tm eter a ccording to cl a im 5 w herein
the ? rs t a nd s econd p ha s e hy b rid circu its ha v e q u a dra
tu re ou tp u ts .
7. A v ector v ol tm eter a ccording to cl a im 5 w herein
the ? rs t a nd s econd p ha s e hy b rid circu its ha v e 1 8 0
ou tp u ts .
=l = * * * *