The ME7838A is also particularly well-suited for performing signal integrity measurements on emerging high-speed designs such as 28 Gbps serializer/deserializer (SerDes) transceivers used in servers, routers, and other networking, computing, and storage products. Equipped with the 3743A millimeter-wave module, the ME7838A can accurately measure 28 Gbps SerDes transceivers at higher frequencies than those required for proper analysis.
Real-time Power Level Control
Among the many advantages of the ME7838A is its superior RF performance thanks to real-time power level control, a market first, offering the best accuracy and stability for power levels as low as -55 dBm. The technique used in the ME7838A is faster, less tedious, and more accurate than the conventional method of adjusting the power level in the millimeter wave band using electronically controlled mechanical attenuators and power linearity correction tables. The VectorStar® wideband system provides a precise, real-time method for sweep power in compression measurements. As a result, the ME7838A performs the most accurate gain compression measurements on high-frequency active devices available on the market.
Thanks to the ME7838A's design, millimeter-wave modules can be mounted near or directly on the wafer probe. This advantage, along with the fact that the ME7838A performs transitions at 54 GHz, gives the vector broadband network analyzer the widest dynamic range in its class: 107 dB at 110 GHz and 92 dB at 125 GHz.
The ME7838A is the first broadband vector network analyzer to provide good basic directivity across the entire frequency range thanks to its innovative design and the elimination of the multiplexers (MUX) used in traditional systems. Best-in-class basic performance allows the ME7838A to offer engineers and designers improved calibration and reliable measurement stability of 0.1 dB magnitude and 0.5 degrees phase across the entire frequency range of 70 kHz to 110 GHz within a 24-hour period. Measurement speed is 55 ms for 201 points in a 10 kHz IF bandwidth, 10 times faster than comparable broadband vector network analyzer systems.
No need for bulky positioners.
The ME7838A design also provides users with configuration advantages. Its use of smaller, lighter RF and millimeter-wave modules reduces the need for bulky positioners, which increase costs. The modules are also more economical, and the freed-up space on the test bench can be used for other probes and devices required for wafer measurements.
Designed for a wide range of applications,
the ME7838A is not only suitable for characterizing high-frequency devices for communication designs, but also for many other applications. It is an excellent tool for analyzing devices used in spectroscopy-based security systems and radio astronomy. Furthermore, the ME7838A is a high-precision tool for designers of passive devices requiring broadband coverage, such as connector and test element designers.
