Electronically Scanned Array Characterization Reference Architecture Software Components

Electronically Scanned Array Characterization Reference Architecture offers several ways to perform tests.

S-Parameter Measurement Library

The S-Parameter Measurement Library (SPML) is a software add-on that enables measuring the S-parameters of a component through a network of external couplers, common in high-power applications, using the NI PXI Vector Signal Transceiver (VST).

Refer to the S-Parameter Measurement Library User Manual for more information.

Power-Added Efficiency Measurement Library

The Power-Added Efficiency Measurement Library (PAEML) is a software add-on that includes integration of DC and RF measurement examples and programmatic APIs, and nanosecond synchronization between PXI modules.

The featured power-added efficiency (PAE) measurement relies on the combined use of PXI Source Measure Units (SMUs) and PXI Vector Signal Transceivers (VSTs) to help you measure the device-under-test (DUT) RF input and output power concerning the DC supply.

Refer to the Power-Added Efficiency Measurement Library User Manual for more information.

Digital Signal Transceiver Driver

The Digital Signal Transceiver (DST) Driver allows you to perform testing on the digital TRM found in an ESA radar.

Digital TRMs feature a low-noise receiver, a power amplifier, and digitally controlled gain/phase elements. Data is sent and received using the high-speed serial communication over different protocols such as JESD204, Aurora, and many others.

Electronically Scanned Array Characterization Reference Architecture provides a simple interface between the digital TRM and the NI abstracted mixed I/O instrumentation to allow a variety of RF parametric measurements.

Refer to the Digital Signal Transceiver Driver User Manual for more information.

RFmx SpecAn

RFmx SpecAn is a measurement personality that extends the capability of NI RF instrumentation for time-domain and spectral analysis. This software helps you capture I/Q data, view power spectrum, and make common measurements such as transmit power (TXP), channel power (CHP), and complementary cumulative distribution function (CCDF). You can characterize device performance with advanced measurements such as adjacent channel power (ACP), spectrum emission mask (SEM), intermodular distortion (IM), spurious emissions, and more. With RFmx, you can perform and debug measurements quickly and easily with interactive software front panels, create and play back open, unlocked waveforms with RFmx Waveform Creator, and speed up automated testing with the performance-optimized API.

Refer to the RFmx SpecAn User Manual for more information.

RFmx Pulse

RFmx Pulse is a measurement personality that extends the capability of NI RF instrumentation for pulse analysis such as the PXI Vector Signal Analyzer and the PXI Vector Signal Transceiver. With RFmx Pulse, you can analyze pulse signals with pulse profile measurements such as time, level, phase, and frequency, as well as FM chirp modulation measurement and pulse stability measurement on amplitude and phase.

Refer to the RFmx Pulse User Manual for more information.

RFmx VNA

RFmx VNA is a measurement personality that extends the capability of NI RF instrumentation software to help you measure scattering parameters (S-parameters) with the PXIe-5633 Vector Network Analyzer. With the RFmx VNA, you can perform complex 1-port and 2-port S-parameter measurements on RF components like amplifiers, antennas, filters, attenuators, and other devices-under-test (DUTs) in a typical RF front end module.

Refer to the RFmx VNA User Manual for more information.

RFmx Noise Figure

RFmx Noise Figure is application software that runs inside RFmx SpecAn. This software extends the capability of NI RF instrumentation and helps you measure noise figure, gain, and effective temperatures using the Y-factor and Cold Source methods. Additionally, you can use RFmx Noise Figure to improve measurement accuracy with built-in calibration procedures and decrease test time with integrated noise source control and multifrequency measurement optimization. You also can perform and debug measurements with interactive software front panels, create and play back open, unlocked waveforms with the included RFmx Waveform Creator, and speed up automated testing with the performance-optimized API. You can choose from a development license or a deployment license, which you can use to distribute developed code.

Refer to the RFmx SpecAn User Manual for more information.

Pulsed RF Measurement Library

The Pulsed RF Measurement Library (PRFML) is a software add-on that enables a suite of measurements designed to validate pulsed RF signals—such as radar components or power amplifiers—by using the Vector Signal Analyzer in conjunction with some components.

Note This product was replaced by a set of individual products with the same or improved capabilities—Power-Added Efficiency Measurement Library (PAEML), S-Parameter Measurement Library (SPML), RFmx Pulse, and Digital Signal Transceiver (DST) Driver. This product is intended for legacy systems designed with this library.

The PRFML enables you to interact with LabVIEW and instrument drivers to perform and automate the measurements.

  • S-Parameter measurements
  • Pulse measurements (pulse stability and pulse profile)
  • Power-added efficiency measurements
  • Refer to the Pulsed RF Measurement Library User Manual for more information.