Speed up your design cycle and standardize your test procedures

Design validation testing of RF/microwave components and circuits is becoming a real challenge for many companies. Eager to get their latest developments to the market, they must achieve performance that highlights the superiority of their products compared to the competition. On the other hand, their customers are continuously requesting additional information on the datasheets. No longer satisfied with simple small-signal measurements and frequency-swept S-parameters, they ask for information related to their specific applications.

Depending on the component and application, the datasheet may include small-signal measurements, frequency sweeps, DC, RF power sweeps, single and two-tone distortion using continuous waves, pulsed and modulated signals. Application engineers try to satisfy their customers’ requests and run different measurement benches to compile all the data. Datasheet generation and formatting represent “60-70 percent of the total work done to take a new IC from prototype test to product launch,” according to the management of a major IC manufacturer.