Measurement Of Resonance Parameters in

Radiofrequency Circuits With Discrete Elements

Jonathan Rosas
Santiago Venegas
Universidad de las fuerzas armadas
jrrosas@espe.edu.ec
smvenegas2@espe.edu.ec

Abstract—In the following document the analysis of resonance • Place the connector and press until it clicks.
parameters such as cutoff frequencies, bandwidth and quality • Tighten the tube inserted in step one.
factor in radiofrequency circuits that were obtained in the • Perform the same procedure for each end of the cable.
laboratory practice will be performed with an RLC circuit that
is composed of passive elements. for which fundamentally it was
necessary to use RG-58U type cable, male and female type N B. Measurement of the output power of the R.F.(Circuit 1)
connectors, passive elements and a metallic box to simulate a
Faraday cage.
1) Assemble the radio frequency circuit of figure 1.
I. I NTRODUCTION
The purpose of the laboratory practice is to test resonance
circuits in a serial and parallel RLC circuit created with passive
elements and to take the values measured by the spectrum
analyzer to be able to compare with the calculated values.
II. DEVELOPING
A. Development of the box and cables
1) Faraday cage
: Materials:
• Type N
Fig. 1: Direct measurement of RF generator power
• female connectors
through the spectrum analyzer
• Screwdriver
• Drill 2) Set the generator frequency between 1 to 150 MHz and
• Metal box with lid measure the output power with the spectrum analyzer
: Process: according to Table No. I.
• Select the point where the holes will be made to insert
Frecuency Output Power Frecuency Output Power
the N-type female connectors. (MHz) (dBm) (MHz) (dBm)
• Perform the holes separated by a suitable distance. 1 -7,8 80 -14,6
• Place the screws on the connectors and tighten them with 5 -7,6 85 -14,6
the screwdriver. 10 -7,4 90 -14,6
15 -15,4 95 -14,4
• Place the metal cover.
20 -16,1 100 -14,4
25 -15,4 105 -14,2
2) Coaxial cable 30 -15,2 110 -14
35 -15,2 115 -14
: Materials: 40 -15,2 120 -13,8
• Coaxial cable type RG- 58U. 45 -15,2 125 -13,8
50 -15 130 -13,8
• Connectors male type N to RG- 58U.
55 -15 135 -13,8
• welding elements 60 -15 140 -13,6
: Process: 65 -14,8 145 -13,6
70 -14,8 150 -13,6
• Cut the cable with the appropriate size and insert the tube 75 -14,6
of the connector to be able to tighten later.
• Strip the cable and remove the metal mesh
TABLE I: Measurement of output power as a function of
• Insert the connector needle into the coaxial cable and
frequency
solder it right into the hole in it.
C. Measurement of resonance frequency of a rlc series circuit 3) Measure the output power with the spectrum analyzer
of R.F. as a function of frequency with the metal lid according
to table No III.
1) assemble the radio frequency circuit of the figure Frecuency Output Power Frecuency Output Power
(MHz) (dBm) (MHz) (dBm)
1 -6.2 80 -32
5 -34 85 -32,4
10 -26 90 -32,6
15 -18,6 95 -33
20 -12 100 -33,6
25 -14 105 -33,6
30 -20 110 -33,4
35 -24 115 -33,2
40 -27 120 -33,2
45 -26 125 -33,6
50 -27 130 -34,2
55 -27,8 135 -34,6
Fig. 2: Measurement of resonance frequency of an RLC 60 -28,6 140 -34,4
circuit series of R.F. 65 -29,8 145 -34,6
70 -31 150 -33,4
75 -31,8
Our chosen resonance frequency is 20 Mhz, for which
it was used in a 22 pF capacitor and 2.3 µH inductor, TABLE III: Measurement of resonance frequency of a series
Using the formula of the resonance frequency for an RLC circuit with metal lid
RLC series circuit:
r
1 D. Measurement of resonance frequency of a mixed RLC
wo = = 140.58 ∗ 106 circuit of R.F.
LC
140.58 ∗ 106 1) Assemble the radio frequency circuit shown in Figure
fo = = 22.37 ∗ 106 = 22.37M Hz
2π No. 4.

for the next circuit the power measurements will be

made for each frequency of the table considering 2
possibilities that are:
1.- Resonant Circuit without the metal lid or Faraday
cage
2.- Resonant circuit with the metal lid.

2) Measure the output power with the spectrum analyzer as

a function of frequency without the metal lid according
to table No II.
Fig. 3: Measurement of resonance frequency of a mixed
Frecuency Output Power Frecuency Output Power RLC circuit of R.F.
(MHz) (dBm) (MHz) (dBm)
1 -7,6 80 -24
5 -25 85 -24,2 Our chosen resonance frequency is 85 Mhz, for which
10 -27 90 -24,2
15 -20 95 -24,8 it was used in a 1.5 nF capacitor and 2.3 µH inductor,
20 -13 100 -25,6 Using the formula of the resonance frequency for a
25 -15 105 -25,2 mixed RLC circuit:
30 -20,8 110 -25,2
35 -24 115 -25,2 s
40 -26,4 120 -25,2 L − R12 C
45 -27 125 -25,8 wo = = 547.165 ∗ 106
L2 C − LC 2 R22
50 -28 130 -27,2
55 -29 135 -37,2
60 -30 140 -38,6 547.165 ∗ 106
65 -28 145 -35,2 fo = = 87.08 ∗ 106 = 87.08M Hz
2π
70 -26 150 -34,2
75 -25
2) Measure the output power with the spectrum analyzer
TABLE II: Measurement of resonance frequency of a series as a function of frequency according to table No. IV.
RLC circuit without metal lid
 Frecuency Output Power Frecuency Output Power Fig. 5: R.F resonance measurement of the RLC series
(MHz) (dBm) (MHz) (dBm)
circuit without metal lid from 1 MHz to 150 Mhz
1 -16 80 -12
5 -16 85 -12,5
(Generated with Matlab)
10 -16,2 90 -12,6 Figure 5 shows a curve with a tendency to resonance
15 -16,4 95 -12,7 frequency with a maximum power of -13 dB at 20 MHz
20 -16,6 100 -12,4
25 -15 105 -13 because the armed circuit resonates at said frequency.
30 -15,4 110 -13,2 When the circuit is closed by the metal lid the response
35 -15 115 -13,4 varies according to Figure 6 and it can be noted that the
40 -15 120 -13,6
maximum power of -12 dB is generated at 20 MHz.
45 -15 125 -13,6
50 -14 130 -13,8
55 -14 135 -13
60 -13,2 140 -14,2
65 -13,3 145 -14,4
70 -13,6 150 -14,6
75 -13,8

TABLE IV: Measurement of resonance frequency of a mixed

RLC circuit of R.F.

E. Analysis of results
Fig. 6: R.F resonance measurement of the RLC series
circuit with metal lid from 1 MHz to 150 Mhz (Gener-
1) Make a graph with each of the data tables obtained
ated with Matlab)
in this practice. Comment the results according to
each armed radio frequency circuit. About the first The parallel circuit of figure 4 generates the response
circuit, the figure 4 gives a explain of the wires frecuency described by figure 7 and allows to verify the frequency
response. at which the circuit resonates. The result indicates that
the resonance frequency is 80 MHz with a power of 12
dB.

Fig. 4: Direct power measurement of figure 1 circuit

from 1 MHz to 150 Mhz (Generated with Matlab)
It will generally be observed that the highest power
delivered from the generator is around the resonance
frequency with which the cable was constructed. The
next graph explains the circuit 2 (Fig 2) frecuency
response:
Fig. 7: R.F resonance measurement of the RLC parallel
circuit from 1 MHz to 150 Mhz (Generated with Matlab)
In the case of the series RLC circuit, the resonance
frequency is at 20 MHz both with metal cover and
without metal cover although the difference between
these two measurements is 1 dB which certifies the
effectiveness of adhering protection against parasitic
waves external to the circuit. On the other hand, for the
parallel circuit, there is a great difference with respect
to the series on its resonance frequency, due to the fact
that it is 80 MHz and this due to the materials occupied
in practice.
2) For each circuit of Figures 2 and 3 measure the
resonance frequency, minimum and maximum cutoff
frequencies, the bandwidth and the quality factor of
the circuit. What would happen to these variables
if the internal resistance (50 Ohms) of the spectrum
 analyzer (A.E.) changed to double its initial value?
For each circuit of figure 2 the bandwidth corresponds to
a -3 dB frecuency range. The lower frequency is 17.79
MHz and the higher frequency of 25.91 MHz therefore
the bandwidth generated is 8.12 MHz and the quality
factor associated with this circuit corresponds to the
value of 2.46.
4) In the circuit of Figure 2, considering as constant the
Fig. 8: R.F resonance measurement of the RLC series
circuit from 1 MHz to 150 Mhz (Generated with Matlab)
Like the series circuit, the parallel circuit has a resonance
frequency but different with 80 MHz that at -3 dB has
a lower frequency of 10 and a higher frequency of 20
therefore a bandwidth equivalent to 10 that generates a
factor of quality of 10.
Fig. 9: R.F resonance measurement of the RLC parallel
circuit from 1 MHz to 150 Mhz (Generated with Matlab)
From the -12 dB maximum power at the resonance
frequency is the upper and lower cutoff frequencies of
45 and 150 respectively MHz that produce an AB of
105 MHz and in turn a quality factor of 0.76.
5) What is the objective of the metallic box used in the
Fig. 10: Series RF circuit armed in class
Figure 10 shows the series circuit assembled in the
laboratory.
3) Considering a propagation factor other than 0.6666
of the EM signal on the RG58 cable, discuss the
effects on the radio frequency circuits analyzed in
this practice and the possible results. Compare with
the results obtained in the previous point.
The propagation factor is the ratio between the speed
of propagation of a signal in a cable and the speed
of propagation of light in free space (without losses).
the attenuation and propagation constant is a function
of frequency, so that the attenuation is not uniform
throughout the band and the line introduces distortion
that in some cases can be severe, considerably altering
the received signal.
value of the capacitor in the frequency range used
in this practice, calculate the value of the unknown
inductance Lx. Explain what would happen if this
inductance were changed Lx, the air core by a
ferrite core. If necessary, take measurements again
considering the new core.
The power in a series RLC resonance circuit for a
frequency of 22 Mhz, a 22 pF capacitor was used. using
the following formula:
1
L = 2 = 2.38 ∗ 106 = 2.38µH
W0 C
It is known that the following formula is used for the
design of an inductor:
N 2 µS
L=
l
Donde:
• L is the value of the inductance (H)
• N is the number of turns of the coil (without units)
• µ is the permeability of the core (Wb / A.m)
2
• S is the cross section of the core (m )
• l is the length of the inductor (m)
the air permeability is less than the permeability of the
ferrite and in the formula we can see that the value of the
inductance is directly proportional to the permeability of
the core, therefore when changing the air nucleus of our
inductor through a ferrite nucleus the L value increases
so that our resonance frequency decreases because it is
inversely proportional to the value of the inductor.
radiofrequency circuits implemented in this practice?
What is the purpose of making measurements with
the metal case covered and uncovered?
The operation of the Faraday cage is based on the
properties of a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium
that aims to cancel the effect of external fields that can
affect the correct operation of the RLC circuit, in other
words that the circuit does not lose power due to external
effects. If the power measurements are made with the
box open, we will receive all the resonance frequencies
that are in the middle, but if we cover the metal box,
 we will only receive the desired frequency.
6) What is the disadvantage of using discrete RF ele-
ments at higher frequencies than those used in this
practice? Which parameters would be most affected
?.
The disadvantages of using discrete elements are basi-
cally that these elements at high frequencies change their
physical properties and generate another set of discrete
elements that directly affect the behavior of a circuit
that is designed. The most affected are the inductances
and capacitances because each one generates a resistance
that consumes energy and at the same time inductances
and parasitic capacitances that modify the resonance
frequency in a circuit.
III. C ONCLUSION
To achieve an optimum frequency response when perform-
ing an RLC circuit both in series and in parallel it is necessary
to take into account that the discrete elements are modified as
the frequency at which the resonance is desired is modified and
therefore when they are made measurements with apparently
ideal elements the resonance frequency of said circuits will
vary with respect to the original and will affect the expected
results of the measurements.
The choice of elements with reduced losses or minimum
tolerance is much more useful than choosing elements that can
be modified with the slightest change in frequency to which
the manufacturer specifies their values.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
It is advisable to use elements with low tolerances and
materials that work at high frequencies (precision materials)
that avoid changing the resonance frequencies in the circuits
that you want to analyze.
The cables used for the test must be at the resonance length
that you want to check and in turn the circuits must be
protected from the eternal noise for a better response in the
measurement.
R EFERENCES
[1] H. Kopka and P. W. Daly, A Guide to LATEX, 3rd ed. Harlow, England:
Addison-Wesley, 1999.