Millimeter-wave components for use in a variable state four-port network analyzer

The analyzer contains a phase shifter which varies the state of the network, thus allowing accurate measurements to be made with approximately half the hardware required by conventional six-port analyzers. The phase shift is obtained using either a p-i-n diode reflection type phase-shifter or a mechanically positioned sliding short. Reflection measurements from two such waveguide analyzers are presented: one operates in the 27- to 40-GHz Ka-band, the other in the 75- to 100-GHz W-band. Waveguide-to-microstrip transitions have been developed for these analyzers, to characterize millimeter-wave planar circuits. A back-to-back Ka-band transition was built with a maximum VSWR of 1.9. A second back-to-back transition displayed a maximum VSWR of 1.45 over the W-band.<>