Date: 27/07/2009

First diode power sensor operating at microwave range upto 33 GHz

The new R&S NRP-Z31 from Rohde & Schwarz is the first diode power sensor to operate up to 33 GHz. It does not require a base unit. It can be connected to a PC via the USB interface with its power measurements displayed on the PC screen by the accompanying PC software. This low cost solution is targeted for communications systems (Ka band), RF/microwave components and radio-relay link systems.

R&S says NRP-Z31 achieves double the measurement accuracy (0.119 dB) and its 4 ms measurement speed is faster by a factor of 10. For measuring modulated signals, the R&S NRP-Z31 achieves precision over the entire dynamic range of 90 dB thanks to its multipath technology.

Using the multipath technology NRP-Z31 diode power sensor measures power simultaneously on three separate diode paths that cover different power ranges. Each path is weighted differently depending on the measured power. As a result, modulated signals can be measured independently of their RF bandwidth. The power ranges of the paths overlap in order to improve the linearity in the transition ranges. The result is maximum measurement accuracy over the entire dynamic range (90 dB).

Due to it's simplicity, measurements can be carried out any place using just a laptop. Multiple measurement modes - including trace, timeslot and gated - allow flexible signal analysis. The embedding function makes it possible to store the influence of adapters or attenuators in the sensor so that these values can be included in the measurement.

The new R&S NRP-Z31 diode power sensor is now available from Rohde & Schwarz. It can be operated as a standalone unit or connected to all signal generators and most signal, spectrum and network analyzers from Rohde & Schwarz.