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Passive Intermodulation
Wolfgang Damm
Topics
Modulation Schemes
PIM Spectrum
Calculating PIM
dBm vs. dBc
PIM Standard IEC 62037
PIM vs. VSWR Measurements
Causes of PIM
Component Surfaces
Rusty Bolt Effect
Q&A
Modulating RF Signals
Modulation combines two or more
signals. Modulating RF with other signals
adds information on the carrier. The RF
carrier adopts the characteristics of the
information signal .
Simple: Amplitude Modulation (AM)
Frequency Modulation (FM)
Advanced: Phase Shift Key (PSK)
QPSK ( 2bits / symbol)
Complex: QAM 16 ( 4 bits / symbol) HSPA
QAM 64 ( 6 bits / symbol) LTE
QAM256 ( 8 bits / symbol)
Amplitude
Modulation
Frequency
Modulation
16 QAM
(Quadrature Amplitude
Modulation)
2
II
I
1
III
VI
3
QAM-256
Every yellow dot represents a specific 8 bit
Symbol, examples: 01101110, 11101001.
Passive Intermodulation
Equally to modulation that is required for
data transmission, Passive Intermodulation
(PIM) is also a result of mixing two (or
more) different frequencies.
However
Other than intentional modulation, PIM
acts completely uncontrolled.
PIM is caused by non-linear behavior of
system and components.
This non-linear behavior may distort Rx
signals, producing (unwanted) signal
components that are not present in the
original signal.
PIM !
Topics
Modulation Schemes
PIM Spectrum
Calculating PIM
dBm vs. dBc
PIM Standard IEC 62037
PIM vs. VSWR Measurements
Causes of PIM
Component Surfaces
Rusty Bolt Effect
Q&A
f1 f2
IM2
f
Passive Intermodulation (PIM)
Wolfgang Damm
f1 f2
IM3
IM3
IM2
f
Passive Intermodulation (PIM)
Wolfgang Damm
f1 f2
IM3
IM5
IM2
IM4
IM6
IM9
IM11
IM13
IM7
IM3
IM5
IM7
IM9
IM8
f
Passive Intermodulation (PIM)
Wolfgang Damm
IM3
IM5
IM2
IM4
IM6
IM9
IM11
IM13
IM8
IM7
IM3
IM5
IM7
IM9
f1
f2
fIM3
fIM5
fIM7
f
Passive Intermodulation (PIM)
Wolfgang Damm
Topics
Modulation Schemes
PIM Spectrum
Calculating PIM
dBm vs. dBc
PIM Standard IEC 62037
PIM vs. VSWR Measurements
Causes of PIM
Component Surfaces
Rusty Bolt Effect
Q&A
IM3=
2x F1 F2
IM3=
2x F2 F1
IM5=
IM5=
3x F1 2x F2
3x F2 2x F1
IM7=
IM7=
4x F1 3x F2
4x F2 3x F1
and so on
IM 3 = 2 x F1 1 x F2
3 = 2
F1
IM3-
IM3+
IM5+
IM5-
IM7+
IM7-
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
dBm
Reference
0 dBc
The m in dBm
stands for
milliwatts
The c in dBc
stands for
carrier
-163 dBc
-174 dBm / Hz
(-144 dBm / 1 kHz)
PIM
-120 dBm
20 W Carrier
Reference
0 dBm
(1mW)
PIM
20 W Carrier
43 dBm
Topics
Modulation Schemes
PIM Spectrum
Calculating PIM
dBm vs. dBc
PIM Standard IEC 62037
PIM vs. VSWR Measurements
Causes of PIM
Component Surfaces
Rusty Bolt Effect
Q&A
Excerpt Page 10
Impedance:
50 Ohms
20 W
2W
Volts
Power
Components, cables
Apply 2 x 20W power, measure 30 seconds to fully energize the DUT. The PIM reading should be
at least 3-4 dB better than the required limit.
The test finds bad material, scratched & dirty component surfaces.
Cables
Apply 2 x 20W power, wiggle cable 10 times. PIM must not change.
This test detects loose contacts, quality of cable assembly, finds cracks & bad solderings.
Dynamic 2 Tapping
What:
How:
Cables, connectors
Apply 2 x 20W power, use rigid device but not metal (e.g. skrew driver handle), tap connectors
10 times lighty. PIM vs Time display should not show spikes when tapping.
Results:
Finds contaminations, dust, chips and other alien bodies in the connectors.
Topics
Modulation Schemes
PIM Spectrum
Calculating PIM
dBm vs. dBc
PIM Standard IEC 62037
PIM vs. VSWR Measurements
Causes of PIM
Component Surfaces
Rusty Bolt Effect
Q&A
Impedance Mismatch
Intermodulation Effects
Power
Power
100%
100%
Reflected Power
Diverted Power
Effective Transmitted
Power
Effective Transmitted
Power
IM3
IM3
IM5
Frequency
IM5
Rx
Tx
Frequency
Open Circuit
Short Circuit
Deformed Coax Cable
Loose connection
Water ingress
Corrosion
Poor material / components
Contaminations (filings, wire edge, plating flecks)
Poorly fitting coaxial cable and connector surface
Spark marks in surface (from hot disconnects)
Dielectric material between coax-cable & connector surface
Split in flare due to over-tightening
Cracked Solder Joint
Unmatched connector parts
Internal antenna faults, loose screws, cracked joints
Small cracks in coaxial cable
Loose braid in jumper cable
Cell ageing
Passive Intermodulation (PIM)
Wolfgang Damm
PIM
PIM
indirect
indirect
probably
yes
probably
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
VSWR
VSWR
yes
yes
yes
probably
probably
probably
probably
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
Topics
Modulation Schemes
PIM Spectrum
Calculating PIM
dBm vs. dBc
PIM Standard IEC 62037
PIM vs. VSWR Measurements
Causes of PIM
Component Surfaces
Rusty Bolt Effect
Q&A
Connector Surfaces I
Atomic lattice dimensions of metals is
often no more than 25 Angstroms.
Mechanically produced surfaces do not
have this degree of smoothness.
Connector Surfaces II
Structural material discontinuity causes
also a discontinuity in electron flow.
Skin Effect
Due to the skin effect, RF current densities
occur only within a few skin depths at the
surface of the conductor.
At 1 GHz, on a silver plated surface,
approximately 98% of the
current density occurs within
approximately 0.01 mm of depth.
For comparison: the average human hair
has a diameter of only 0.08mm
Scratches on the material, even on a
microscopic scale, interrupt homogeneous
flow of electrons and with that are sources
of PIM.
Skin Effect
Current Flow
@ 1GHz
Cables
Splitters
Hybrids
Filters
Antennas
Attenuators
DC blocks
Lightning Arrestors
Causes of PIM
Dissimilar metals
Topics
Modulation Schemes
PIM Spectrum
Calculating PIM
dBm vs. dBc
PIM Standard IEC 62037
PIM vs. VSWR Measurements
Causes of PIM
Component Surfaces
Rusty Bolt Effect
Q&A
Remedies:
Remove the corroded object.
If the rust is superficial clean object.
Place an insulator between the two metal
objects which cause the problem.
Use antenna with more directional
characteristics.
Passive Intermodulation (PIM)
Wolfgang Damm
Rx
Tx
PIM
Conclusion
Modulation Schemes
PIM Spectrum
Calculating PIM
dBm vs. dBc
PIM Standard IEC 62037
PIM vs. VSWR Measurements
Causes of PIM
Component Surfaces
Rusty Bolt Effect
Questions
&
Answers
Thank You !