USB power sensors employ dual-path architecture

Anritsu has introduced the MA24108A/MA24118A microwave USB power sensors that provide accurate average power measurements from 10MHz to 18GHz over 60dB of dynamic range.

Employing a 'dual-path' architecture to achieve True-RMS measurement, the power sensors can measure CW, multi-tone, and digitally modulated signals used in commercial, aerospace and defence systems.

Both sensors can either internally trigger or receive an external trigger signal, allowing them to conduct multi-slot and burst average power measurements of TDD waveforms, typically found in GSM, Wimax, and TD-SCDMA signals.

The MA24108A/MA24118A power sensors do not require a separate module for triggering.

They have built-in external trigger circuitry with an MCX connector interface to receive triggers from external stimuli.

Incorporating a microcontroller, signal conditioning circuitry, ADC, and power supply in the sensor makes it a miniature power meter.

The MA24108A/MA24118A sensors provide users with three modes of operation - continuous average, scope, and time slot.

A scope mode allows power measurements to be displayed with respect to capture time of up to 300ms.

This is particularly useful when measuring non-periodic waveforms with video bandwidth up to 50kHz.

The time-gating feature in the scope mode enables measurement of the desired portion of a waveform that contains very short duty cycle timing information that otherwise skews average power measurement.

For TDMA waveforms, the time-slot mode can be used.

It breaks up the measurement into individual time intervals and calculates the average power reading of each.

This feature allows entire frames of various communication signals to be analysed with as many as 128 slots.

All three modes can be accessed via Powerxpert or through remote programming commands.

Powerxpert is Windows-based data analysis and control software developed by Anritsu.

Its features, such as data logging, power versus time graphs, and a big numerical display, enable quick and accurate measurements.

A compact design, high accuracy and affordability make the MA24108A/MA24118A sensors well suited for any environment in which signal power must be measured.

They can be used for research and development of general purpose and wireless devices and systems.

The MA24108A/MA24118A sensors enable lab quality measurements on the production floor at a fraction of the cost of alternative methods.

Test time and handling is reduced because 1mW calibration is not required for the sensors.

Their ability to connect directly to a PC saves rack space and because the sensors accept external triggering from other instruments, they can be used in ATE systems.

Designed for use in continuous average mode with Anritsu's Spectrum Master, BTS Master, and VNA Master handheld analysers, as well as the MS271xB Economy Spectrum analysers, the MA24108A/MA24118A can conduct highly accurate power measurements on signals with bandwidths of >100 MHz.

Field and services technicians can carry the compact, lightweight sensors in their shirt pockets or laptop case.

Combining a wide operating temperature range of 0C-55C, high damage level of +33 dBm, and ESD protection, the MA24108A/MA24118A are ideal for cellular base-station and microwave point-to-point radio installation and maintenance applications.

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