Understanding Spectrum Analysis

Swept, FFT, and RTSA principles

E & T Team

September 2017
Operation principles of SPA architectures
Agenda Part I

Chasing dynamic and transient signals

Probability of intercept – which signal can I see
Swept SPA principle
FFT SPA principle
NLTL Sampler Principle
Stepped FFT Principle
VSA SPA Principle
RTSA SPA Principle

SPA Roadshow - Part IV - Swept versus FFT versus Real Time approach
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Chasing dynamic and transient signals
Analysis of elusive signals?

Signal parameters
When did it occurs?
How long does it last?
Where did it occur?
What is the center frequeny?
What is the bandwidth?
What kind of modulation format?

You may search in either frequency domain and / or time domain

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Chasing dynamic and transient signals
Analysis of elusive signals?

Frequency Domain is best for identifying Time Domain is best for identifying when
what is happening in the spectrum something occurs
Static and / or dynamic behaviour At a specific time
Continuous, bursty Repetition rate
Modulated In a relative sense versus
other events

SPA must have SPA must have

High frequency a bandwidth wider than the signal of
Adequate Dynamic Range interest
Vector Signal Analysis (VSA) tigger capabilities
capability signal capture memory

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Probability of Intercept
What signal can I see?

Probability of Intercept is the key SPAN∙k

TSweep =
specification in order to detect a bursty RBW2
or transient signal
RBW = Resolution Bandwidth
Is the minimum duration of a signal that
TSweep = Sweep Time
can be observed with a 100% probability k = Filter Skirt Factor (2-3 for Gaussian filters)
and without amplitude errors
R+T
Factors that determine the POI POI =
R + R′
Sampling Rate
Time-Record-Length (or FFT size) T = Duration of the signal of interest
R = Listening time at frequency
Windowing function R‘ = Time not listening
R+R‘ = revisit time
Window size
Overlap processing
RBW + SBW ∙ TSweep
Noise Floor ~R =
SPAN
SBW = spectral width of the signal
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Swept Spectrum Analyzer principle

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Swept Spectrum Analyzer principle
Heterodyne Spectrum Analyzer

Heterodyne principle is the basis for most spectrum analyzers

Input signal converted to an intermediate frequency mixer and a local oscillator (LO)
Signal is swept past a fixed-tuned filter to determine resolution bandwidth
Signal is then logarithmically amplified and passed to the display

This pure historical architecture is more or less out of the market

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Swept Spectrum Analyzer principle
Superheterodyne Spectrum Analyzer

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Swept Spectrum Analyzer principle
Basic operation of an analog Spectrum Analyzer - RBW influence

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Swept Spectrum Analyzer principle
POI for Swept Spectrum Analysis

Swept sweep of Swept SPA

If the green line is crossing a signal you can see it on the display
SPA is missing any signal during it‘s sweep re-visit time (blind time)

SPA Roadshow - Part IV - Swept versus FFT versus Real Time approach
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Swept Spectrum Analyzer principle
POI for Swept Spectrum Analysis

Increasing the sweep speed is resulting in a higher number of „signal crossings“

Nevertheless, there is always a re-visit time and therefore a SPA blind time

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Swept Spectrum Analyzer principle
Catching up signals without gaps
[ window size + time record length − 1 − P]
LO is at a fixed frequency Tmin =
fs
Instantaneous Bandwidth (Analysis Window Size = FFT window length in #points
Bandwidth) allows capture and analysis of a Time Record Length = FFT bin size in #points
P = Overall FFT processing points
technically limited portion of the spectrum fs = sample rate
MS28xxA ↦ up to 1 GHz
MS2720T ↦ 15 MHz IQ Capture or 20 MHz
demodulation bandwidth
MS2710xA ↦ 20 MHz IQ data bock or 2,6
MHz streaming mode
Gap free capture for wide bandwidths
Best at measuring short duration signals
that are infrequent or occur periodically
MS2710xA has pre-trigger capability

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Swept Spectrum Analyzer principle
Swept SPA Summary

A swept LO with an assigned RBW

Covers much wider span as RTSA
Good for events that are stable in the
frequency domain.
Magnitude ONLY, no phase information
(scalar info).
Captures only events that occur at right
time and right frequency point.
Data (info) loss when LO is “not there”.

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FFT SPA principle

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FFT Spectrum Analyzer principle
FFT Spectrum Analyzer - Analog frontend with digital IF and processing

Converts time domain signals into frequency

domain signals using a Fourier transform
Digitizes a sampled signal and applies the FFT
Very fast and much more stable and accurate
than analog design
Digital RBW filter faster than analog filters
FFT much faster
Higher filter skirt factor
Easy to have lots of RBW & VBW filters
“Just” DSP coefficients
Easy to do 1 Hz RBW
Easy to do Linear or Log processing
Log much better than analog
o ~ 0.1 dB/100 dB for digital
o ~ 1 dB/10 dB, max 1.5 dB for analog
o Digital ~ 15x better (1.5 dB vs. 0.1 dB)

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FFT Spectrum Analyzer principle
FFT Spectrum Analyzer - Analog frontend with digital IF and processing

Digital decimating filters and resampling algorithms provide the solution to the limited
frequency resolution problem RBW = 𝛥f = fs/N
Digital decimating filters and resampling perform the operations necessary to allow
variable spans and resolution bandwidths

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FFT Spectrum Analyzer principle
Basic FFT Relationships

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FFT Based Spectrum Analysis
RBW of FFT based SPAs

The RBW determines the FFT bin size, or the smallest

frequency that can be resolved
The smaller RBW allows to „see“ more signal details RBW = 100 kHz

Taking more samples in the time domain, or making the acquisition

time longer while keeping the sampling rate constant is decreasing
the RBW
Finer resolution requires a longer acquisition time, the result are
more bins in the same span and thus improved frequency resolution
In case of high display update rates and wide modulation RBW = 10 kHz
bandwidth a larger RBW can be used
RBW and acquisition time are inversely proportional to the
number of acquired time samples

RBW = 100 Hz

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FFT Based Spectrum Analysis
Spectral Leakage & Windowing

Implied periodicity of the Fourier Transform assumes x(t) is periodic in T

Sampled Sampled
Time Record Time Record

Implied
Periodicity

One spectral Spectrum

line no leakage with leakage

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FFT Spectrum Analyzer principle
Advantages of FFT spectrum analyzer technology

Fast capture of waveform:

In view of the fact that the waveform is analyzed digitally, the waveform can be captured in a
relatively short time, and then the subsequently analyzed. This short capture time can have
many advantages - it can allow for the capture of transients or short lived waveforms.
Able to capture non-repetitive events:
The short capture time means that the FFT analyzer can capture non-repetitive waveforms,
giving them a capability not possible with other spectrum analyzers.
Able to analyze signal phase:
As part of the signal capture process, data is gained which can be processed to reveal the
phase of signals.
Waveforms can be stored
Using FFT technology, it is possible to capture the waveform and analyze it later should this be
required.

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FFT Spectrum Analyzer principle
Disadvantages of FFT spectrum analyzer technology

Frequency limitations:
The main limit of the frequency and bandwidth of FFT spectrum analyzers is the analogue to
digital converter (ADC), that is used to convert the analogue signal into a digital format. While
technology is improving this component still places a major limitation on the upper frequency
limits or the bandwidth if a down-conversion stage is used. (There are forthcoming 12-bit
ADCs with 6.5 Gbps sampling rate. Looking at IF bandwidth in an instrument such as a VSA, 1
GHz is probably the best that can be done today, and 2 GHz in the next 18 months or so)
Cost:
The high level of performance required by the ADC means that this item is a very high cost
item. In addition to all the other processing and display circuitry required, this results in the
costs rising for these items.

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FFT Based Spectrum Analysis
Difference between FFT SPA and FFT on an Oscilloscope

Oscilloscope also sample signals in

Time Domain and do FFT processing
afterwards. What are the differences
compared to SPA?
The ADC selection follows different Original and Quantized Signal
target applications
SPA requires a large ADC dynamic range
Osc requires an ADC with a very high sampling rate in order to catch and display steep
signal slopes
The ADC quantization depth depends on max. sampling rate
Higher sampling rate is resulting in lower quantization depth
Quantization depth is the number of bits used to sampel a value
Quantization depth drives also quatization noise and thus the resulting dynamic range
For SPAs with a high dynamic range it is requested to use ADCs with a high quantization depth
and a lower sampling rate

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FFT Based Spectrum Analysis
Difference between FFT SPA and FFT on an Oscilloscope

SPA / VSA MSO Oscilloscope

14 – 16 bit ADC 8 bit (high bandwidth up to 100 GHz)
> 100 dB Dynamic Range 10 -12 bit (low bandwidth)
Heterodyne design 50 – 60 dB Dynamic Range
Low noise floor Samples RF directly (>>fS)
Time Domain resolution typ. 20 ns Higher noise floor
(rendering of rise or fall time) Time Domain resolution 3 - 5 ps (100 GHz)
SFDR typ. ~60 dBc SFDR typ. ~45 dBc
Allows to zoom into the signal SPA always from 0 Hz to fMax; no zoom-in;
(Start, Stop, RB, VW) just change of sampling frequency;
manual calculation of e.g. RBW
Very high waveform update rates
Multi channels with synchronous triggering

[Link]

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FFT Based Spectrum Analysis
Difference between FFT SPA and FFT on an Oscilloscope

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FFT Based Spectrum Analysis
Performance differences between Signal Analyzer and Spectrum Analyzer mode

Example: Pulse signal PRF 1ms and PD 500 ns

Spectrum Analyzer mode

Wrong signal representation

PD PRF

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FFT Based Spectrum Analysis
Performance differences between Signal Analyzer and Spectrum Analyzer mode

Example: Pulse signal PRF 1ms and PD 500 ns

Spectrum Analyzer mode Signal Analyzer mode

Wrong signal representation Correct signal representation

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FFT Based Spectrum Analysis
Overview Benchtop Product Portfolio

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FFT Based Spectrum Analysis
Overview Product Portfolio
MS2830/40/50A
Full featured signal
analysis in the lab
up to 43 GHz (1 GHz)
Up to 300 GHz with
external mixers

MS2710xA MS2760A
Monitoring, Multilateration, mmWave spectrum analysis
MS2720T Demodulation 32, 44, 50, 70, 90, 110 GHz
Full featured spectrum Ext. SW Packages solutions for the lab, field or
analysis in the field Up to 6 GHz manufacturing line
Up to 43 GHz

MS2760A Spectrum Master EMEA webinar 12-2016

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Stepped FFT SPA principle

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Stepped FFT principle
Operation principle

Multiple FFTs are concatenated to create a

span significant higher as
the IF bandwidth
High speed LO and digitizer list mode
enables fast stepping across span
Software stitches together FFTs and
displays single trace result up to several
tens of GHz

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MS2760A Spectrum Analyzer principle

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MS2760A – NLTL based stepped FFT analyzer
NLTL sampler replacing mixer in a mm-wave spectrum analyzer

Sampler

FFT

VBW

DET

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MS2760A – NLTL based stepped FFT analyzer
MS2760A basic function principle

Direct ADC sampling for 9 kHz to 24.5 MHz

Conventional mixer used for 24.5 MHz to 6.15 GHz without preselection filtering
NLTL sampler-based conversion for 6.15 - 125 GHz in a customized MMIC
unique software algorithms to minimize image responses which may appear under certain
use cases when wideband modulated and multi-tone signals are being analyzed.

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MS2760A – NLTL based stepped FFT analyzer
Stepped FFT frequency representation

Stitching together FFTs to cover span

User Span

20 MHz 20 MHz 20 MHz 20 MHz

FFT
FFT FFT averaging 20 MHz Capture
for VBW Low Side sweep

FFT
Capture Time Take Min Hold Level of Display
both

20 MHz Capture
High Side sweep
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MS2760A – NLTL based stepped FFT analyzer
Stepped FFT frequency representation

To improve capturing transient events, user can select either automatic (min.),
or set minimum capture time for each 20 MHz wide capture
FFT For HIGH SIDE
and / or
FFT Max LOW SIDE
Value user stettable
FFT min. capture time
FFT
FFT

FFT
FFT

FFT
User stettable min. capture time
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MS2760A – NLTL based stepped FFT analyzer
High side / low side spur rejection

Low-side LO conversion: fLO < fRF

High-side LO conversion: fLO > fRF
Take a HIGH SIDE and a LOW SIDE measurement compare and take the min value at each point
sample and display the results

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MS2760A – NLTL based stepped FFT analyzer
Impact on frequency hopping signals

Every trace is a comparison of a HIGH SIDE and a LOW SIDE sample to remove unwanted
images and spurs

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MS2760A – NLTL based stepped FFT analyzer
Example of spectrogram operation

Visual representation of Spectrum Traces

over time
Ability to move through the previous 260
traces to see anomalies in the signal
Marker functionality in the
time domain
Trace capture and replay

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MS2760A – NLTL based stepped FFT analyzer
Example of Zero SPAN operation

Visual representation of signal power over

time
Identification of PRF and PD
Video Trigger capabilities
Influence POI by increasing min.
Operation Image Reject mode
Normal, High or Low Side

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Vector Signal Analyzer principle

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VSA SPA principle
Basic architecture Vector Signal Analyzer (VSA)

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VSA SPA principle
The digital side of a VSA

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VSA SPA principle
VSA Summary

A parked LO with a given IF BW

Collects IQ data over an interval of time.
Performs FFT for time- frequency domain
conversion
Captures both magnitude and phase
information (vector info)
Data is collected in bursts with data loss
between acquisitions.

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RTSA principle

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RTSA SPA principle
Outcome and conclusion

RF tu
Trig

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Real Time Spectrum Analysis
Catching up signals without gaps

The phrase „real-time analysis“ mean different things to different people

In a spectrum or signal analyzer with a digital IF, real-time operation is a state in which
all signal samples are processed
continuously and
gap-free
for some sort of measurement result or
Spectrum (amplitude versus frequency)
Time Domain (power versus time)
triggering operation
In most cases the measurement results are scalar power or magnitude

Non real-time operation:

CALC includes computation of an FFT or a power spectrum as well as averaging, display updates, and so on.

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Real Time Spectrum Analysis
Catching up signals without gaps

The phrase „real-time analysis“ mean different things to different people

In a spectrum or signal analyzer with a digital IF, real-time operation is a state in which
all signal samples are processed
continuously and
gap-free
for some sort of measurement result or
triggering operation
In most cases the measurement results are scalar power or magnitude

Real-time operation:

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Real Time Spectrum Analysis
Catching up signals without gaps

T refers to the analyzer’s time record for

FFT processing (“n FFT points)
The analyzer collects a block of contiguous samples
from the ADC that is digitizing the IF signal and then
performs an FFT to obtain a power or vector spectrum.
It is important to understand that the time length of the block T will be shorter when
bandwidths are higher and sampling is faster
A loss of data refers to the frequent case where the samples in a time record are
"windowed" this means attenuated at the beginning and end of the record, to avoid
spectral leakage or to form the equivalent of different resolution bandwidth filters.
This attenuation of data at the edges of the time record is often so significant that some
samples are effectively lost.
The solution to this problem is called Overlap Processing.

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Real Time Spectrum Analysis
Catching up signals without gaps

Overlap processing provides significant benefits for signal analysis when processing is
faster than sampling by performing additional FFTs with partially-new time records as
samples come in.

Overlap processing provides significant benefits for signal analysis when processing is
faster than sampling by performing additional FFTs with
partially-new time records as samples come in.

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Real Time Spectrum Analysis
Catching up signals without gaps

The diagram is showing a 50% overlap where each new FFT is performed on 50% new
samples and 50% from the most recent samples of the previously processed data.
With significant overlap it is possible to configure analysis so that all samples are
processed for some FFT result with no or minimal attenuation or de-emphasis due to
windowing.
Thus overlap is
improving (POI) and
accuracy.

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Real Time Spectrum Analysis
RTSA simplified block diagram

ADC Real-time correction and decimation

Time Domain Overlap

Processor Memory

FFT
Processor

Power vs Time Spectrum Density Frequency

trace memory trace memory trace memory Mask trigger

Display Processor

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Real Time Spectrum Analysis
RTSA Summary

A fixed LO w/ a given IF BW
Collects IQ data over an interval of time.
Data is corrected and FFT’d in parallel
Vector information is lost
Advanced displays for large mounts of
FFT’s

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FFT Based Spectrum Analysis
Pros and Cons of Swept Spectrum Analyzer and FFT based Signal Analyzer

Swept Spectrum Analyzer Signal Analyzer

Advantages: • Wide RF-range • Able to analyse signal phase
• High Dynamic Range • Analysis of pulsed signals
• Max. SPAN is RF-range • Fast capture of waveforms
• Digital sampling and replay
• Digital IF and filtering
• Digital storage capability
of traces and IQ-Data
• Signal demodulation
Disadvantages: • Can't measure phase • RF-range limitations
• Can't measure transients • Less Dynamic Range
• SWT versus RBW dilemma • More expensive as pure SSA
• No Time Domain Analysis

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 SPA Roadshow - Part IV - Swept versus FFT versus Real Time approach
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BackUp Slides

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FFT SPA principle

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 SPA Roadshow - Part IV - Swept versus FFT versus Real Time approach
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FFT Spectrum Analyzer principle
Time & Frequency Domain Relationships

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Non Linear Transmission Line (NLTL)
What is this?

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NLTL Technology
Principle of Nonlinear Transmission-Line (NLTL)
Zl, 

A uniform Non-Linear-Transmission-Line (NLTL) is

a high-impedance line loaded periodically by
reverse biased Schotty diodes serving as voltage-
variable capacitors.
L  Zl   RD

 CD(U)
Under reverse bias, a diode behaves as Cl 
Zl
a non-linear capacitance
1
fc 
Strong input signals will generate harmonics and d    cpw  Zl Cl  Cj 

mixing products of the applied input signal

The NLTL cell consists of a diode connected

between the center conductor and ground at the
junction between two sections of CPW.
[2]

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NLTL Technology
Principle of Nonlinear Transmission-Line (NLTL)

NLTL form a propagation medium whose phase velocity and thus,

time delay, is a function of the instantaneous voltage.

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NLTL Technology
Principle of Nonlinear Transmission-Line (NLTL)

For a step-like waveform, the trough of the wave travels at a faster

phase velocity than the peak
This results in compression of the fall time and as a result, the formation
of a steep wave front that approaches that of a shock wave.

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NLTL Technology
Principle of Nonlinear Transmission-Line (NLTL)

At high negativ voltages, the capacitance of the diodes is small and the velocity is
fast. If the input voltage waveform has a negativ going function, the first part of the wave
propagate slower as the following parts.
So the fall time is becoming shorter and shorter as the wave propagates along the line.

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NLTL Technology
Principle Nonlinear Transmission-Line (NLTL) based Sub-Harmonic Sampler

Shocklines are “Non-Linear Transmission Lines” (NLTL)

Shocklines efficiently generate narrow impulses at microwave and millimeter wave frequencies.
Anritsu VNA/SPAs incorporate patented NLTL technology made at an in-house chip fab.
Used in sampling receivers to measure amplitude and phase of the VNA stimulus.
Generates power for VNA source and RX LO signals.

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NLTL Technology
Principle Nonlinear Transmission-Line (NLTL) based Sub-Harmonic Sampler

Differentiation of Shockline waveform is

resulting in a train of very narrow pulses
in the time domain
Short pulses in the time domain are
resulting in a highly harmonic rich
spectrum up to the mm-wave ranges
N‘th harmonic is used to „downconvert“
signal under measurement

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 NLTL Technology
A success story of unique advantages

Parameter NLTL based advantage Customer benefit

Monolitic designs reduce number of Lower maintenance cost, reduced down time and
Simplified product architecture
dicrete parts and connectors operating cost
Integrated chip design greatly
Longer intervals between calibrations, better
Stability reduces the temperature variations
measurement accuracy and repeatability.
across constitents
Bandwidth Extremely wide RF sampler Lower cost for making high-performance
bandwidth allows one sampler to measurements over broader frequency ranges
cover broad frequency range
Over 100 dB across all frequency
Dynamic Range Better characterization of RF devices
bands
High performance in a very small Direct connection to DUT, smaller footprint, light
Size
form factor weight
Improved capability-to-cost ratio Dramatic cost reduction for high frequency testing in
Cost
enables new applications engineering, manufacturing and field.

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