Millimeter-Wave Noise-Figure Measurement Techniques & Results

Noise-figure measurement techniques at millimeter-wave frequencies are discussed and example results are shown at V-band (50 to 75 GHz) using an automated instrumentation set-up to cover the full WR-15 waveguide bandwidth. The approach shown involves extending available microwave noise-figure measurement instruments into the millimeter-wave region by the use of broadband millimeter-wave down-converters and frequency agile local oscillator sources. A developmental approach to full waveguide bandwidth noise-figure measurements in W-band (75 to 110 GHz) is also described which employes a double-conversion technique with fixed local oscillator at W-band followed by a broadband swept LO and down-converter at the microwave IF.