Microwave power meter

There are a variety of different technologies which have been used as the power sensing element. Each has advantages and disadvantages.

Thermal sensors can generally be divided into two main categories, thermocouple power sensors and thermistor-based power sensors. Thermal sensors depend on the process of absorbing the RF and microwave signal energy, and sense the resulting heat rise. Therefore, they respond to true average power of the signal, whether it is pulsed, CW, AM/FM or any complex modulation. (Agilent 2008). Thermocouple power sensors make up the majority of the thermal power sensors sold at present. They are generally reasonably linear and have a reasonably fast response time and dynamic range. The microwave power is absorbed in a load whose temperature rise is measured by the thermocouple. Thermocouple sensors often require a reference DC or microwave power source for calibration before measuring; this can be built into the power meter. Thermistor-based power sensors such as the Agilent 8478B are generally only used in situations where their excellent linearity is important, as they are both much slower and have a smaller dynamic range than either thermocouple or diode-based sensors. Thermistor-based power sensors are still the sensor of choice for power transfer standards because of their DC power substitution capability (Agilent 2006). Other thermal sensing technologies include microwave calorimeters and bolometers,and quasi-optic pulsed microwave sensors.

Many microwave power heads use one or more diode(s) to rectify the incident microwave power, and have extremely fast response. The diode would generally be used in its square-law region and hence give an output voltage proportional to the incident RF power. In order to extend their dynamic range beyond the square-law region, linearity correction circuits or multiple diode stacks are used. With advancement in comprehensive data compensation algorithm and diode stacks topology, diode sensors like the Agilent E9300A is able to respond properly to complex modulated signals over a wide dynamic range (Agilent, 2006). Like thermocouple sensors, they often require a reference source.

Other technologies have been investigated or implemented for use as power sensors but are not widely used today; these include torque-vane, electron-beam, MEMS, Hall effect and atomic fountain based sensors.

The two main types of microwave power meters are:

• Average power meter – measures true average power of the signal and displays the power much like a digital voltmeter
• Peak and average power meter - has the feel of an oscilloscope. It displays profile or envelope power of the signal versus time and can make triggered measurements. In addition to peak, average and peak-to-average power measurements, high end models can make automated pulse measurements of a pulsed RF signal such as pulse average power, risetime and falltime, pulse width, duty cycle, pulse repetition rate, overshoot, droop, edge delay measurements. It can also make marker measurements as well.

Power meters generally report the power in dBm (decibels relative to 1 milliwatt), dBW (decibels relative to 1 watt) or watts. Manufacturers of microwave power meters include: Aeroflex, Keysight, Anritsu, Bird Technologies, Boonton Electronics, Giga-tronics, Rohde and Schwarz, Tektronix and TEGAM Inc..

• "Principles of Power Measurement Guide". Boonton. Boonton. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
• "First Microwave Power Meter". HPMemory. HPMemory. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
• "4 Steps for Making Better Power Measurements" (PDF). Keysight. Keysight. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
• "Fundamentals of RF and Microwave Power Measurements (Part 2)" (PDF). Keysight. Keysight. Retrieved November 1, 2018.

• Fundamentals of RF and Microwave Power Measurements (AN 1449)
• Choosing the Right Power Meter and Sensor
• 4 Steps for Making Better Power Measurements