Dream Catcher ME1000 RF User manual

ME1000 RF Circuit Design Courseware
Out-of-Box Teaching Solution for the RF Circuit Design
Quick Start Guide
revision 2.41
Printed on 28 March 2013

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ME1000 RF Circuit Design Quick Start Guide - 2/23
NOTE:
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference. (2) This
device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause
undesired operation.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for Class B
digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential
installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency
energy; and if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television
reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following
measures:
•Reorient or relocate the receiving unit.
•Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver unit.
•Connect the equipment into an outlet on a different electrical circuit from the
receiver.
•Consult the dealer or/and an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
WARNING:
CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS NOT EXPRESSLY APPROVED BY THE PARTY
RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE FCC’ RULES (THE FCC’
GRANTEE’) COULD VOID THE USER’S AUTHORITY TO OPERATE THE
EQUIPMENT.

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ME1000 RF Circuit Design Quick Start Guide - 3/23
Table of Contents
Table of Contents....................................................................................................................................3
1. Read Me First......................................................................................................................................4
2. Courseware Overview.........................................................................................................................5
3. Courseware Configuration ..................................................................................................................6
4. Quick Setup and Verification.............................................................................................................11
5. Support and Warranty.......................................................................................................................18
Appendix A: ME1000 Transmitter Unit..................................................................................................19
Appendix B: ME1000 Receiver Unit......................................................................................................20
Appendix C: Technical Specifications...................................................................................................21

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ME1000 RF Circuit Design Quick Start Guide - 4/23
1. Read Me First
Congratulations on your purchase of the ME1000 RF Circuit Design courseware! Please read this
Quick Start Guide carefully to ensure you get the most out of your investment in this solution.
This courseware includes the following items:
Item
Quantity
Description
CD 1
oTeaching slides (Microsoft
®
PowerPoint
®
format)
oLab sheets (Microsoft
®
Word format)
oProblem-based assignments (Microsoft
®
Word format)
oCAE design files (based on Agilent ADS and Genesys software)
oMeasurement Automation Program (Agilent VEE format)
o
Windows-based RF Trainer Control Panel software
ME1000 RF Circuit
Design Training Kit 1 Transmitter unit and receiver unit
Antennas 2 One each for the transmitter unit and the receiver unit
Calibration kit 1 Thru-Reflect-Match (TRM) standard calibration kit
RF power combiner 1 Power combiner for OIP3 measurement
Jumper cables 9 SMA(m)-to-SMA(m) coaxial cables (0.18 m)
Coaxial cables 2 SMA(m)-to-SMA(m) coaxial cables (1 m)
USB cables 3 USB cables
RF connectors 2 N(m)-to-SMA(f) adapter
Ground cables 2 For grounding purpose (1 m)
The following items are not included in this solution but are required/recommended:
•One PC running Microsoft
®
Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7
®
with a minimum of 512 MB RAM and
USB ports
•Appropriate measurement instruments and software (see Section 3.6, "Lab Station" for
details)
•Appropriate Train-the-Trainer Program (see Section 3.7, "Train-the-Trainer Program" for
details)
Complete the steps in Section 4, "Quick Setup and Verification" to start using the ME1000 RFCD TX
(transmitter unit) and RX (receiver unit).
Thank you for your purchase and do contact us (see Section 5, "Support and Warranty") if you require
any assistance.
IMPORTANT
The ME1000 RF Circuit Design training kit can be damaged by excessive power levels from the
instruments. Please adhere strictly to the power levels recommended in the instructions.

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ME1000 RF Circuit Design Quick Start Guide - 5/23
2. Courseware Overview
The ME1000 serves as an out-of-box teaching solution in the areas of RF and wireless
communication targeting final year undergraduates or postgraduates. The modules can be used as
standalone trainers to demonstrate basic RF concepts and design principles. These include the
characterization of antennas, filters, low-noise amplifier (LNA), power amplifier (PA), mixers, and
phase-locked loop (PLL) based frequency synthesizers. The modules can also be connected together
to create a fully functional end-to-end RF transceiver. To achieve a better understanding and enhance
design knowledge of RF and wireless communications, students are required to complete the lab
exercises and assignments.
This courseware consists of:
•Teaching slides (editable with Microsoft PowerPoint)
•Training kit: RF Transceiver kit
•Lab sheets (editable with Microsoft Word)
•Problem-based assignments (editable with Microsoft Word)
•Model answers and solutions (downloadable by registered instructors)
The following items are not included but recommended:
•Agilent Technologies RF Signal Generator and Spectrum Analyzer
oN9310A RF Signal Generator, 9 kHz to 3 GHz
oN9320B 3 GHz RF Spectrum Analyzer, 9 kHz to 3 GHz
•Agilent Technologies Vector Network Analyzer
oN9912A FieldFox RF Analyzer, 4 GHz (with option 104, 110, 303)
•Agilent Technologies Noise Figure Analyzer
oN8973A Noise Figure Analyzer, 10 MHz to 3 GHz
oN4000A SNS Series Noise Source, 10 MHz to 18 GHz (ENR 6 dB)
•Agilent Technologies EDA Software
oW1418L Genesys Integrated; or
oE8975L Advanced Design System
This complete solution is designed to impart knowledge in:
•Basic RF concepts
•RF circuit design concepts
•RF communication systems concepts
•RF circuit characterization
•Usage of RF Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software
•RF circuit simulation and construction
•Usage of RF measurement instruments
•Measurement automation

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ME1000 RF Circuit Design Quick Start Guide - 6/23
3. Courseware Configuration
3.1 Teaching Slides
Editable slides in Microsoft PowerPoint format are provided for the following topics:
•Advanced Transmission Line Theory
•Transmission Line Circuits and RF Microwave Network Analysis
•Impedance Transformation and Impedance Matching
•RF Microwave Filters
•3-Port and 4-Port Microwave Components
•Coaxial Components and Rectangular Waveguide Components
•Passive and Active RF Lumped Components
•Small-Signal Amplifier Theory
•SSA Design – Maximum Power Gain and Fixed Transducer Power Gain
•SSA Design – Low-Noise Amplifier
•SSA Design – Constant Mismatch and Effective Power Gain
•General Single-Stage SSA Design
•Multistage SSA Design
•RF Oscillator
•High Power Circuits
•Broadband Amplifiers
3.2 Design Files and Measurement Automation Program
•CAE design files (based on Agilent ADS and Genesys software)
•Measurement Automation Program (Agilent VEE format)
•Windows-based RF Trainer Control Panel software
3.3 ME1000 RF Circuit Design Training Kit
Transmitter unit:
o1 x frequency synthesizer
o1 x mixer (upconversion)
o1 x power amplifier
o2 x RF band-select filter
o1 x antenna
o1 x microcontroller-based control unit
Receiver unit:
o1 x antenna
o1 x RF band-select filter
o1 x low-noise amplifier
o1 x mixer (downconversion)
o1 x frequency synthesizer
o1 x IF bandpass filter
o1 x IF amplifier
o1 x microcontroller-based control unit

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ME1000 RF Circuit Design Quick Start Guide - 7/23
3.4 Lab Sheets
Lab Sheet
Objective
Duration
Calibration with Spectrum Analyzer To perform scalar offset calibration, to
verify the signal purity of a signal
generator, and to determine the losses
contributed by the cables, connectors, and
PCB traces
3 Hours
Calibration with Vector Network Analyzer To modify the built-in TRM standards in the
VNA, to perform TRM calibration using
user-defined calibration kits, and to verify
the calibrated results using the Smith Chart
plot
3 Hours
Power Amplifier Characterization Using
Spectrum Analyzer
1
To measure gain, gain compression, harmonic distortion, third-order intercept
point, and isolation of power amplifier
3 Hours
Power Amplifier Characterization Using
Vector Network Analyzer To characterize the power amplifier with reflection and transmission measurement,
and to measure gain compression using
power sweeps
3 Hours
Low-Noise Amplifier Characterization
Using Spectrum Analyzer To measure gain and isolation of a low- noise amplifier 3 Hours
Low-Noise Amplifier Characterization
Using Vector Network Analyzer
2
To characterize a low-noise amplifier with reflection and transmission measurement 3 Hours
Low-Noise Amplifier Characterization
Using Noise Figure Analyzer
3
To measure the noise figure of a low-noise amplifier 3 Hours
Filter Characterization Using Spectrum
Analyzer To measure insertion loss, bandwidth, and rejection of an RF bandpass filter 3 Hours
Filter Characterization Using Vector
Network Analyzer To characterize the RF filter with reflection and transmission measurement, and to
display results in multiple plots, such as the
Smith Chart, Magnitude, and Phase plots.
3 Hours
Mixer Characterization Using Spectrum
Analyzer To measure some important characteristics of the frequency mixer and to understand
the frequency conversion principles of the
frequency mixer
3 Hours
Mixer Characterization Using Vector
Network Analyzer To measure the standing wave ratio, return loss, RF feedthrough, and LO isolations of
a mixer
3 Hours
Frequency Synthesizer Characterization
Using Spectrum Analyzer To measure the output power level, harmonic frequencies, and phase noise of
a frequency synthesizer
3 Hours
1
The third-order intermodulation measurement in this lab requires an additional signal generator.
2
Extra exercises on transmission measurements in this lab sheet require a network analyzer with vector
S
12 /S 21 measurement capability.
3
This lab requires a noise figure analyzer.

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ME1000 RF Circuit Design Quick Start Guide - 8/23
Measurement Automation Using Agilent
VEE Pro To introduce Agilent VEE Pro for measurement automation and instruments
control
3 Hours
Antenna Reflection Measurement with
Vector Network Analyzer To characterize an antenna through reflection measurement 3 Hours
Antenna Gain Measurement with
Spectrum Analyzer To estimate the gain of an antenna 3 Hours
End-to-End RF Transceiver
Measurement To analyze the signal flow through each module in the transceiver chain 3 Hours
3.5 Problem-based Assignments
No
Assignment
1 Maximum Operating Distance Measurement Using Spectrum Analyzer
2 Maximum Operating Distance Measurement Using Oscilloscope
3 RF Bandpass Filter Design
4 RF Amplifier Design
3.6 Lab Station
Basic
Setup
1 x PC running Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7 with a minimum of 512 MB RAM
1 x Agilent N9310A RF Signal Generator, 9 kHz to 3 GHz
1
1 x Agilent N9320B 3 GHz RF Spectrum Analyzer, 9 kHz to 3 GHz
1 x Agilent N9912A FieldFox RF Analyzer, 4 GHz [with option 104, 110, 303]
2
1 x Agilent N8973A Noise Figure Analyzer, 10 MHz to 3 GHz
1 x Agilent N4000A SNS Series Noise Source, 10 MHz to 18 GHz (ENR 6 dB)
1 x Agilent W1418L Genesys Integrated or E8975L Advanced Design System
3
1 x Agilent VEE Pro
The above list can be replaced by instruments and software of similar functions and capabilities.
1
An additional signal generator is required for the third-order intermodulation measurement in the Power
Amplifier Characterization lab.
2
This instrument only performs scalar S 12 /S 21 measurements. It may be replaced by a network analyzer with full
vector measurement capability to perform the extra lab exercises.
3
This software is used for the problem-based assignments.

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ME1000 RF Circuit Design Quick Start Guide - 9/23
The following table shows the training kit and recommended instruments used in each lab.
Lab Sheet
Training Kit
Instrument
ME1000
Training Kit
Option 1
RF Signal
Generator &
Spectrum
Analyzer
Option 2
Vector Network
Analyzer
Option 3
RF Signal Generator,
Spectrum Analyzer, &
Vector Network
Analyzer
Calibration with Spectrum
Analyzer 
Calibration with Vector
Network Analyzer 
Power Amplifier
Characterization Using
Spectrum Analyzer

Power Amplifier
Characterization Using
Vector Network Analyzer

Low-Noise Amplifier
Characterization Using
Spectrum Analyzer

Low-Noise Amplifier
Characterization Using
Vector Network Analyzer

Low-Noise Amplifier
Characterization Using Noise
Figure Analyzer

Filter Characterization Using
Spectrum Analyzer 
Filter Characterization Using
Vector Network Analyzer 
Mixer Characterization Using
Spectrum Analyzer 
Mixer Characterization Using
Vector Network Analyzer 
Frequency Synthesizer
Characterization Using
Spectrum Analyzer

Measurement Automation
Using Agilent VEE Pro 
Antenna Reflection
Measurement with Vector
Network Analyzer 
Antenna Gain Measurement
with Spectrum Analyzer 
End-to-End RF Transceiver
Measurement 

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ME1000 RF Circuit Design Quick Start Guide - 10/23
3.7 Train-the-Trainer Program (recommended, not included in courseware)
Lectures
•Essential RF Microwave Concepts
•RF Circuit Validation and Testing
•RF Circuit Design – Passive Circuits
•RF Circuit Design – Active Circuits
•PLL and Frequency Synthesizer – Concept and Characterization
•Quick Start to Agilent ADS
•Agilent VEE Programming
•Selected topics from the courseware teaching material
Lab Exercises
•Selected exercises from the lab sheets
Training details are available at http://dreamcatcher.asia/