Characterization of RF and Microwave Systems using a Low- Cost Distributed Measurement Solution

Tech companies must regularly use expensive bench-top instrumentation to test the devices and systems they bring to market by making accurate input-output measurements of the attenuation and time-delay of RF/MW energy when it propagates through, or across, their devices or systems of concern. When the system being measured becomes very large, such as when one wants to characterize how the RF/MW energy propagates between two points in a wireless communication or large sensing network, the measurement task becomes extremely difficult using existing bench-top instrumentation because measuring the time-delay between two points in the network requires the synchronization of the distantly located plurality of instruments needed to make the measurement. Our measurement solution utilizes a novel lowcost
power measurement device which is placed at each point within an RF/MW system, to accurately characterize the RF/MW energy propagation using only independent power measurements without the need to synchronize individual devices with a common source.

Faculty Supervisor:

Joe LoVetri

Student:

Partner:

North Forge

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education; Management of companies and enterprises; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Manitoba

Program: