Abstract:
Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) is a microwave measurement device that is used to
characterize different Radio Frequency (RF) components. It measures the scattering
parameters of RF devices in order to determine their electrical behavior for an accurate
characterization and analysis of RF circuits.
The VNA consists of many RF components that are connected together in order to
enable suitable S-parameters measurement of a device under test (DUT). In addition, a
software controls the interaction between the different components and the DUT in
order to determine its parameters and characteristics.
The focus of this thesis is on the novel design of one component in the RF chain of the
VNA. This component, which is the power divider, is responsible for dividing the input
RF power into two output branches. This thesis presents a new continuous phase tunable
Wilkinson power divider. The tuning of the power divider enables the
extraction of a variable phase difference between the two output ports of the power
divider. The presented power divider is compact, reconfigurable and relies on two
varactor diodes to achieve output phase tuning between 0o and 55o.
The proposed design maintains very good impedance matching and isolation across the
entire operating bandwidth from 2 GHz to 3.8 GHz and across all the various phase
states. Such tuning potential of the power divider enables its wide integration into
advanced VNA RF chains, feeding networks of phased arrays, and new communication
platforms.
