Attenuator and signal generator for stepwise attenuating a radio frequency signal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9991933-B2
Application number	US-201514714688-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2015
Priority date	May 18, 2015
Publication date	Jun 5, 2018
Grant date	Jun 5, 2018

Abstract

The invention relates to an attenuator for stepwise attenuating a radio frequency signal. The attenuator comprises a first attenuation module that is configured to stepwise attenuate a radio frequency signal within a first signal frequency range. The attenuator comprises a second attenuation module that is configured to stepwise attenuate a radio frequency signal with a second signal frequency range, wherein the second attenuation module is arranged in parallel to the first attenuation module. The attenuator further comprises a switching element, wherein the switching element switches either the first attenuation module or the second attenuation module to an output node of the attenuator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An attenuator for stepwise attenuating a radio frequency signal, wherein the attenuator comprises:
a first attenuation module that is configured to stepwise attenuate a radio frequency signal within a first signal frequency range;
a second attenuation module that is configured to stepwise attenuate a radio frequency signal with a second signal frequency range, wherein the second attenuation module is arranged in parallel to the first attenuation module; and
a switching element, wherein the switching element switches either the first attenuation module or the second attenuation module to an output node of the attenuator,
wherein:
a signal source is applied to an input node of the attenuator;
an input node splitting element is used to apply the signal from the signal source to the first attenuation module or the second attenuation module; and
in dependence on the radio frequency signal's frequency either the first attenuation module or the second attenuation module is used.

2. The attenuator according to claim 1 , wherein the first signal frequency range is higher in frequency than the second signal frequency range.

3. The attenuator according to claim 1 , wherein the first attenuation module comprises at least an attenuation section having at least one PIN diode.

4. The attenuator according to claim 3 , wherein first attenuation module comprises an inductance element to apply at least one bias current.

5. The attenuator according to claim 1 , wherein the first attenuation module comprises at least an attenuation section having at least one field effect transistor.

6. The attenuator according to claim 5 , wherein the field effect transistors is controllable via a control voltage.

7. The attenuator according to claim 1 , wherein a digital step attenuation is arranged upstream in the first attenuation module and/or in the second attenuation module comprising a first step range.

8. The attenuator according to claim 7 , wherein the step range of each attenuation step in the first attenuation module and/or in the second attenuation module is fixed.

9. The attenuator according to claim 1 , wherein an amplifying element is arranged in the first attenuation module and/or in the second attenuation module.

10. The attenuator according to claim 9 , wherein the amplifier element comprises a variable amplification.

11. The attenuator according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first attenuation module or the second attenuation module comprise a series connection of at least two attenuation sections, selectable via an attenuation switch.

12. The attenuator according to claim 11 , wherein at least one attenuation section of the at least two attenuation sections is a fixed attenuation section.

13. The attenuator according to claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first attenuation module or the second attenuation module comprises at least a third attenuation section, which is selectable via an attenuation switch.

14. The attenuator according to claim 13 , wherein at least one attenuation section of the at least two attenuation sections is a fixed attenuation section.

15. A signal generator for investigating a device under test, the signal generator comprising:
a signal source for providing a radio frequency signal, wherein the signal source includes a phase-lock-loop, the phase-lock-loop comprising:
a first output node that supplies a radio frequency signal within a first frequency range to the first input node of the attenuator; and
a second output node that supplies a radio frequency signal within a second frequency range to the first input node of the attenuator; and

an attenuator according to claim 1 for adjustment of the radio frequency signal power level.

Assignees

• Rohde & Schwarz

Inventors

• Schmid Simon

Classifications

• H03H7/24

  Frequency- independent attenuators · CPC title

• H04B3/466 Primary

  Testing attenuation in combination with at least one of group delay and phase shift · CPC title

• H03H7/25

  comprising an element controlled by an electric or magnetic variable (H03H7/27 takes precedence) · CPC title