Automated Six-Port Microwave Calibration System.

This report presents the results of research on the analysis, design, fabrication, and testing of an automated microwave six-port system to meet the field calibration requirements of the Army Metrology and Calibration Center. A matrix description of the six-port junction is used as the basis for a new calibration procedure. A re-examination of the self-calibration procedure as an eigenvalue problem results in new insights and a faster numerical computation. The Sperry programmable calculator controlled six-port system described herein is designed to measure S11 and S21 over the frequency range 2 to 18 GHz without perturbing the device under test. Measurements on the completed system taken from 7 to 12 GHz show that results within 1 can be obtained. Indications are that with further hardware and software improvements, considerably better performance could reliably be achieved. Author