Correlated, Multi-Domain /

Multi-Channel RF Signal
Analysis

ALAN WOLKE – W2AEW

alan.wolke@tektronix.com
Agenda
TOPICS COVERED TODAY

• Introduction

• Traditional RF signal analysis

• New technology adds new capabilities

• Time-correlated Multi-Domain analysis

• Multi-channel RF analysis
• Wideband signal analysis

29 SEPTEMBER 2021
Traditional RF Signal Analysis
…HOW IT’S TYPICALLY BEEN DONE

• Swept Spectrum Analyzers

• Vector Signal Analyzers

• Realtime Spectrum/Signal Analyzers

• The good and the not-so-good…

◦ + Realtime Performance, Triggering, Multi-domain correlation
◦ + Deep memory, comprehensive analysis features
◦ - Most have less than 1GHz acquisition BW
◦ - Single Channel only

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What about Oscilloscopes?
FOR RF ANALYSIS?

• Overcome some of the SA / VSA / RTSA limitations

• Multi-channel operation

• Time correlated multi-domain operation

• Wide bandwidth

• RF limitations of scopes? Bit depth and typical trade-off between

◦ Dynamic Range bandwidth and dynamic range

◦ Memory Depth Direct Sampling vs. other techniques

◦ Pre-selection
An issue for VSA/RTSA too

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New Developments in Oscilloscopes
HIGH RESOLUTION – H/W DDC – MULTI-CHANNEL

• New 12 bit ADC system in latest oscilloscope platform

• Innovative hardware features enable new measurement capabilities

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Flexible Channel Inputs
MORE CHANNELS WHEN NEEDED

• New FlexChannel™ technology enables each input to

be configured as either:
◦ (1) analog channel
◦ (8) digital channels
◦ (1) analog + RF/VSA Channel – more on this next
• A FlexChannel input is configured simply by plugging Traditional VPI connection
an analog or digital probe into that input accepts existing probes

• Any combination of analog and digital probes is Additional connections enable

new digital probe
supported
• Enables unprecedented flexibility and adaptability to
Each logic-probe adds 8 digital inputs
the debug task at hand
MUCH more than digital signals!
Best thought of as 8 comparators,
with individually adjustable
FlexChannel is a Tektronix exclusive technology
threshold of +/-40V
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RF DDC Based Spectrum Processing
ADVANCED RF PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS

• Provides simultaneous time & frequency

domain views of the analog input signal with
independent acquisition settings in each domain
• Traditional spectrum display setup:
◦ Center Frequency
◦ Span
◦ Resolution Bandwidth

• Time-correlated time/frequency domains

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Demonstration
BASIC SPECTRUM VIEW OPERATION

• How to set it up
◦ A look at a Spread Spectrum clock signal

• Comparison with FFT

◦ See dependence on acquisition settings

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How Does a Digital Downconverter Work?
Bandwidth

KEY TO SPECTRUM VIEW OPERATION Baseband

(Span)

• ADC samples “numerically” mixed down to

baseband
• Same process used in Vector Signal Analyzers 0 Hz Carrier Frequency
(Center Frequency)

• IQ data recorded in parallel with usual time Q

domain samples
I
• Large reduction in memory requirements
I = Amplitude*cos(Φ)

Decimate by N I Data

Q = Amplitude*sin(Φ)

Decimate by N Q Data

Acquired Sample points are Half Band 25 GS/s*

N=
waveform multiplied point-by-point FIR Filter 1.25 x Span
record from with Sine & Cosine waves f = Span/2
* on a 4/5 Series, this is 6.25 GS/s
ADC at Center Frequency
DDC Integration into Acquisition ASIC
All scopes have this –
INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY to setup resolution of
acquired waveform

• Signal processing path Sample

Signal
ADC
• Hardware DDC Conditioning Processing

• IQ Baseband acquired for each

channel – with Trigger capability
Trigger Acquisition
• Time correlated to analog capture System Memory
• Spectrum Processing vector
independent of analog signal path
Digital
• Wide RF acquisition bandwidth Down-
Acquisition Converter
• On ALL channels! ASIC
Innovative
◦ Same or different center frequencies
Feature

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DDC Setup Controls
ON EACH CHANNEL

• SPECTRUM VIEW panel

◦ Available on each channel

• Turn on/off
• 4 Spectrum Traces
• Available RF vs. Time Traces
◦ …more about these shortly…

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Spectrum Control Badge
SPECTRUM ANALYZER LIKE CONTROLS

• Similar to a spectrum analyzer:

◦ Center Frequency
◦ Span
◦ RBW (auto vs. manual)
◦ Window Type

• Can unlock common Center Frequencies

◦ Example: Look at spectrum before
and after up/down conversion

• Can unlock common Spectrum Times

◦ Compare frequency domain at different times

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Basic Vector Signal Analysis
AND RF TRIGGERING

• The DDC outputs baseband IQ Q

• IQ data gives you magnitude and

phase at each point in time.
I
• RF vs Time waveforms
◦ RF Magnitude vs. Time
◦ Frequency Deviation vs. Time
◦ Phase Deviation vs. Time

• All Scope measurements can be

applied to RF vs Time
• Trigger on Magnitude &
Frequency vs. Time

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Demonstrations
RF VS TIME WAVEFORMS AND TRIGGERING

• SSC Clock example:

◦ Add RF vs Time waveforms
◦ Trigger setup
◦ Measurements
◦ Tricky “glitches”

• ASK Modulation
◦ Uncover “hidden” secrets…

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Multi-Domain Signal Analysis
SYSTEM LEVEL VIEW

• Any combination of:

◦ Analog channels/signals
◦ Digital channels/signals
◦ Parallel/serial Buses
◦ Math Waveforms
◦ …along with the RF IQ capture
▪ Spectral activity vs. time
▪ RF Traces vs. Time

• Complete choreography of each

signal in their own domain
• All time-correlated

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Demonstration
MULTI-DOMAIN SIGNAL CAPTURE AND ANALYSIS

• SPI-bus controlled
PLL/Synthesizer example

RF
Analog
Digital/Bus

PLL
uController
Synthesizer
SPI

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Multi-Channel RF Capture & Analysis
TYPICAL USE CASES

• Simultaneous time/phase
correlated RF capture across
multiple channels
◦ RF recording multiple sensors
◦ Beam steering
◦ MIMO applications
◦ EA: Threat/Response systems

• Same or different center

frequencies across channels
◦ Frequency conversion / mixers
◦ Dynamic Harmonic/IMD generation
◦ Time correlated spurious RF

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Demonstration
MULTI-CHANNEL RF CAPTURE AND ANALYSIS

• Frequency Conversion example

200MHz
LFM @
1GHz
IF
X RF
LO

~
4GHz

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Demonstration
MULTI-CHANNEL RF CAPTURE AND ANALYSIS

• Channel-Channel Phase example

3.9GHz
CW Ư Step Phase Change
Pulse

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Wideband RF Signal Analysis
APPLICATIONS

• Frequency hopping/agile systems

• High resolution Radar
• High speed RF Communications

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Comprehensive Vector Signal Analysis
WHEN YOUR NEEDS GO BEYOND THE BASICS
Vector Signal Analysis software
on the scope

• In-Depth VSA capability

• Uses the DDC’s IQ data
(…also on platforms w/o DDC)
• Full available IQ acquisition BW
• Comprehensive VSA Analysis
◦ Spectrum, spectrum over time
◦ Amp/Freq/Phase vs Time
◦ Modulation Analysis
◦ Pulse Analysis (Radar/EW)
◦ Transient RF activity
◦ More
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SignalVu-PC and the MSO Platform
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
• Retain the use of the scope
• Scope controls the triggering
• Add other analog, digital and RF signals / channels
• See the choreography of all the analog, digital and RF signals

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Demonstration
SIGNALVU-PC ON THE MSO

• Radar Example – LFM Pulse Analysis

• Modulation Example – wideband 16QAM

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VSA / RTSA vs. Oscilloscope
COMPARISON OF SIGNAL ANALYSIS SOLUTIONS

VSA / RTSA DDC enabled Oscilloscope

• Fully Preselected • Multi-Channel RF
(except for extremely wide acquisition BW) ◦ Multiple RF inputs
• Realtime Signal Processing ◦ Channel-Channel Phase
◦ Same/different Center Frequencies
• Comprehensive VSA
• Very wide Acquisition BW
• High Dynamic Range
• Time Correlated multiple channels
• Single channel
and domains
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Thank you very much!

Alan Wolke – W2AEW

Sr. Field Applications Engineer

alan.wolke@tektronix.com

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