A calibration system will consist of the following hardware components: (see System Topology)

  • A Windows Computer (Win7 or greater with .net 4.1 or greater)

The Microsoft Windows computer runs the user's calibration program that utilizes the ATE Systems Calibration Library.

  • A TCP/IP Hub (switch or router)

This is the communications hub that distributes the SCPI commands to the hardware components via TCP/IP.

  • A Keysight PNA-X (firmware version 10.49 or greater)

This is the network analyzer used to make RF measurements.

  • One or more of the following calibration devices
    • An Instrument Calibration Module (ICM)
      This is an ATE Systems instrument that facilitates RF calibration and measurements.
    • Device Calibration Module (DCM)
      This hardware unit is a custom calibration product tailored to specific client devices that provides system calibration at the DUT reference plane.    
    • Fixture Calibration Module (FCM)
      This hardware units allows in-line calibration of RF paths and planes.
    • Switched Calibration Module (SCM)
      This hardware units allows in-line calibration of RF paths and planes integrated with a SP4T solid state switch.

The following configuration components will be required to calibrate the system:

Specifies the mapping of calibration device(s) to the PNA port(s), also includes Switch Paths if required.

Defines the parameters and type of the calibration to be performed.

Defines the communication address of the calibration device.

Defines the switches within the RF switch matrix, when controlled by a ATE Systems MultiSwitch.

Defines the communication address of the PNA.

Defines the sequence of steps to perform during a sequence execution. While not technically required, most systems consist of more than one calibration that needs to be executed and the sequence component allows them to be run with one function call.

A complete calibration might consist of several events to extend from one calibration reference plane to the next (see System Topology), see examples below:

  • A baseline calibration to the ICM input plane
  • A baseline calibration to the DUT reference plane utilizing a DCM.
  • An extended calibration to the cal device input plane.
  • An extended calibration to the cal device output plane.
  • An extended calibration to the DUT plane.