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Looking Into Noise-Figure Measurement Uncertainty

From Micronetics, Inc.
 

 

Microwave modeling software has enabled extremely low noise-figure (NF) amplifiers to become commonplace. There was a time when low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) below 0.7 dB were found only on specialized, expensive systems such as MRI machines or highly sensitive scientific radiometers. However, within many companies, the basic understanding of NF measurement has not kept up with the capability to manufacture LNAs.

Specifications of 0.7 dB are being written for NFs, yet often the devices are being tested with a NF setup in which the noise source itself has an uncertainty of 0.3 dB without even considering other noise that may be added by the instrumentation. Your microwave amplifier company is rolling along smoothly, but when the NF test stand returns from its annual calibration, all the products tested on it suddenly do not meet their NF specifications. Much of the resulting panic could have all been avoided with a little uncertainty planning.

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