Simple Microwave Measurement System Using Bi-Directional Configuration of VCSEL and PD-TIA from 6 to 16 GHz

Abstract

We have already developed a low-cost type microwave receiving system using very low-cost optical fiber link system. Our developed system consists of 850 nm vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser, a photo diode with trans-impedance amplifier and OM3 multi-mode optical fiber. Using bi-directional setup of our developed optical fiber link system and microwave directional coupler, we can measure a transmission coefficient and reflection coefficient for device under test in full 2-port calibration of vector network analyzer. In this paper, we show a measurement result of the refection coefficient and receiving coefficient of step attenuator up to 18 GHz. Our developed system can be measured the microwave device performance from 6 GHz to 16 GHz with 50 dB dynamic range and less than 0.5 dB linearity without temperature control and pre-amplifier.