RF Cascade Workbook© 2005 User's Guide - Chapter 4

Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

Version 1.11

by Kirt Blattenberger

RF Cafe Website

(www.rfcafe.com)

Chapter 4


4    Device Specification

Each device is specified similar to what is shown in Table 3. Figure 5 identifies each of the special features in the worksheet, so please review it carefully before proceeding. Note that device parameter input cells from RF Cascade Workbook 2003 may be copied and pasted into this version, provided that care is taken to not paste over formula cells (white backgrounds). Noise Bandwidth values are now entered on the “Filter-Mixer” worksheet rather than on the “Inband” worksheet. All cell input data is validated for correctness.

 

RF  Cascade Workbook 2005 - RF Cafe

Figure 5    Device Specification Input Area

A description of and allowable input range for each device parameter is given in Table 3. Limits have been set using the “Data->Validation” menu selection (Figure 6), and may be changed by the user. Keep in mind if you decide to increase the limits on dB values (although it is hard to imagine why the need would arise) that the VBA functions use double precision numbers with a maximum value of around 10308, so values like NF, IP2 and IP3 that need to be converted from decibels to linear numbers during calculation could exceed the limit and cause an error to display in the cells. Cell contents are validated using the built in Excel data validation feature (use Validation… menu to modify).

RF  Cascade Workbook 2005 - RF Cafe

Figure 6    Data Validation Menu Access

Parameter

Description

Range

Tolerance

Units

Designation

Descriptive name

-

-

-

Gain

Linear power Gain

-1000 to +1000

-1000 to +1000

dB

NF

Noise Figure

0 to +1000

0 to +1000

dB

I/O

Input/Output parameter reference – applies only to IP2 and IP3. Conversion of the input value is not made automatically by switching between “I” and “O,” so entering +20 dBm as the IIP3 (with an “I” in the “I/O” cell) and then changing to an “O” will result in the +20 dBm being interpreted as the OIP3. Make the conversions as follows:OIP2(3) = IIP2(3) + GainIIP2(3) = OIP2(3) - Gain

“i” or “I” for

input

“o” or “O” for

output

-

-

IP2

2nd-Order Intercept Point

-1000 to +1000

-1000 to +1000

dBm

IP3

3rd-Order Intercept Point

-1000 to +1000

-1000 to +1000

dBm

P[sat]

Saturated Power

-1000 to +1000

-1000 to +1000

dBm

!!!

(this is not an input)

Displays alert for the following conditions:

N = A negative value is entered in the Gain cell, but the NF

      is not equal to the absolute value of the Gain.

S = The input power plus linear Gain results in an output

      power greater than the saturated power for the device.

      P[sig]max power is used for testing worst case.

T = Tolerance exceeded on any of the following

 

 

 

 

 

 

 > | ±Gain÷2,

 > | ±NF÷2 |,

 > | ±IP2÷2 |,

 > | ±IP3÷2 |

-

-

Input Return Loss

  RL = RF  Cascade Workbook 2005 - RF Cafe

10-3 to 50

-

dB

Output Return Loss

  RL = RF  Cascade Workbook 2005 - RF Cafe

10-3 to 50

-

dB

Table 3    Device Input Parameters

Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,

        9, 10, 11, 12, 13

Version 1.11

by Kirt Blattenberger

RF Cafe Website

(www.rfcafe.com)

Chapter 4