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www.microwavejournal.com/articles/31910-analytical-calculations-for-trl-calibration
The well known TRL calibration method eliminates measurement errors at the input and output of a device
under test (DUT). It uses a matrix formalism, which is not easy to realize in experimental software. In this
article, we provide the analytical version of this calculation which may be easier to implement.
Vector network analyzers (VNA) are calibrated at their own reference planes, which are generally different
from the DUT reference planes. In the case of S-parameter measurements using VNAs, the DUT is measured
through connecting devices, such as cables and connectors that introduce measurement errors due to phase
shifts, losses and mismatches (see Figure 1). The true behavior of the DUT is obtained when these errors are
removed through calibration. Various calibration methods - such as short, open, load, thru (SOLT); thru,
reflect, line (TRL); and thru, reflect, match (TRM) - are used to determine the error terms. Most require
accurate standards. The TRL calibration, however, does not rely on perfectly known standards.1-4
Figure 1 Calibration model comprises the DUT with input and output
transitions to the VNA reference planes.
TRL CALIBRATION
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Analytical Calculations for TRL Calibration | 2019-03-07 | Microwave J... https://www.microwavejournal.com/articles/print/31910-analytical-calcul...
CALIBRATION STEPS
Sij are the DUT parameters and eij describe the error terms. A limited number of values for the standards
must be known in advance. This is called the “calibration kit.”
The thru standard fixes the reference planes of the DUT, obtained when the DUT reference planes coincide.
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Analytical Calculations for TRL Calibration | 2019-03-07 | Microwave J... https://www.microwavejournal.com/articles/print/31910-analytical-calcul...
The line standard is generally an actual line with ∣X∣ close to unity, although it can be any passive reciprocal
symmetrical two port.5 Then, the reference impedance corresponds to the characteristic impedance of this
two port. The phase of X used in the calibration kit must be known within 90 degrees.
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Analytical Calculations for TRL Calibration | 2019-03-07 | Microwave J... https://www.microwavejournal.com/articles/print/31910-analytical-calcul...
Generally ∣ΓB∣ is close to unity. The phase of the reflection coefficient must be the same on both ports. If it is
not, the references planes must be shifted until phase equality is found. The phase of ΓBin the calibration kit
must be known within 90 degrees.
CALCULATIONS
If
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Analytical Calculations for TRL Calibration | 2019-03-07 | Microwave J... https://www.microwavejournal.com/articles/print/31910-analytical-calcul...
There are two solutions for this equation, and both values for ∣X∣ are close to unity for a line with small
losses, making it difficult to choose the right solution. It is safer to choose ∣α∣ << 1.
From Equations 5 and 9, the directivity (e00 and e33) is the ratio of the leakage of the incident signal to the
reflected signal:
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Analytical Calculations for TRL Calibration | 2019-03-07 | Microwave J... https://www.microwavejournal.com/articles/print/31910-analytical-calcul...
So
All the following results correspond to transmission elements. They only need to be known by their products.
Transmission tracking:
Reflection tracking:
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Analytical Calculations for TRL Calibration | 2019-03-07 | Microwave J... https://www.microwavejournal.com/articles/print/31910-analytical-calcul...
Sij corresponds to the extracted behavior of the DUT alone. The de-embedding technique described below
extracts the parameters of the DUT by eliminating the embedded system of errors.
With representing the S-parameters of the measured DUT between the VNA reference planes,
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Analytical Calculations for TRL Calibration | 2019-03-07 | Microwave J... https://www.microwavejournal.com/articles/print/31910-analytical-calcul...
VALIDATION
Figure 4 |S21| (a), ∠S21 (b) and S11 (c) measurements using the internal VNA and
calculated TRL calibrations.
CONCLUSION
Analytic calculations associated with the well-known TRL calibration method reduce calculation complexity
compared with the classical matrix formalism.3 This approach can be extended for further measurement
configurations, particularly for differential inputs and outputs.6-7
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Analytical Calculations for TRL Calibration | 2019-03-07 | Microwave J... https://www.microwavejournal.com/articles/print/31910-analytical-calcul...
References
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