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Harmonic Tuning Application Software
(MT993H Option)

The MT993H harmonic load/source pull option (used with Maury's MT999A harmonic tuners and MT986C harmonic tuner controller) saves you time and money by making it possible for load pull measurements to be done independently at the fundamental, 2nd harmonic, and 3rd harmonic frequencies.

Typical load and source pull measurements determine device power parameters as a function of load and source impedances at a given frequency of interest. Matching circuit design can become a time-consuming sequence of trade offs between various parameters. Harmonic load pull saves time by allowing these same measurements to be made as a function of harmonic load tuning. In particular, linearity and efficiency at the fundamental frequency may be significantly improved by the harmonic tuning.

The use of matching networks, optimized for both the fundamental and harmonic impedances, can yield the best possible performance.

For harmonic load pull, the device-under-test (DUT) output is connected to separate tuners through a multiplexer. A three-frequency multiplexer (triplexer) is used to do 2nd and 3rd harmonics along with the fundamental frequency. A two-frequency diplexer is used if only the 2nd harmonic tuning is required. A typical power measurement setup with harmonic load pull capability is shown below. Tuners 1 and 2 are used for load and source matching at the fundamental frequency. Tuners 3 and 4 are used for matching at the 2nd and 3rd harmonics respectively.

Figure 9-1 shows a typical harmonic tuning setup as displayed by Maury's Windows® 98/2000/XP compatible power characterization software.