Abstract

A new Tuner type for "Harmonic Tuning" is presented. It generates high VSWR at 2fo and 3fo as required for harmonic load pull. The new tuners can be precalibrated and appropriate interpolation routines ensure high-resolution coverage of 360 ° of harmonic reflection phase. The harmonic tuners use a proprietary resonant cavity as a variable probe, which covers instantaneous bandwidth of = 10% in the frequency range from 400 MHz to over 60 GHz. The new tuners can be built as "stand-alone two-harmonic frequency " units or they can be "combined with fundamental tuners". A new concept for tuner calibration allows us to fully characterize the harmonic and the "combo " tuners in about 4 to 8 minutes per frequency point (including fo, 2fo, 3fo). The new tuners permit to search and optimize the harmonic load and source impedance independently on fundamental tuning and provide test data for substantial design improvements in terms of Gain, PAE and Intermod.