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Innovative Passive Intermodulation
(PIM) and S-parameter Measurement
Solution with the ENA
Application Note
Introduction
Passive intermodulation (PIM) is a form of intermodulation distortion that occurs in passive compo-
nents such as antennas, cables, connectors, or duplexers with two or more high-power input signals.
PIM becomes a big issue for modern communication industry. PIM from these passive components
in the transmitter path falls in to the receiver path; thus the unwanted signals can increase the noise
level of the receiver path that degrades quality of the wireless communication system. In order to
comply with the regulations, PIM of passive components test becomes more important nowadays.
This application note introduces the test system that combines PIM and S-parameter measurements
of passive components by using the vector network analyzer (VNA). The innovative solution with Key-
sight E5072A ENA Series Network Analyzer1 is introduced in the document that provides Fast, Flexible
and Accurate measurement capabilities. It is a higher-performance and cost-effective solution that
can replace the conventional PIM test solutions.
1
See the E5072A technical overview, product number 5990-8004EN for more detail about the
E5072A.
Passive Intermodulation (PIM)
Table of Contents
PIM is an unwanted signal created by the mixing of two
or more RF signals, caused by nonlinearity of the passive Introduction.........................................................................2
components in the RF path such as antennas, cables or Passive Intermodulation (PIM)........................................3
connectors. PIM product is the result of high power tones
Measuring PIM...................................................................4
mixing induced by ferromagnetic materials, junctions of
dissimilar metals, metal-oxide junctions, contaminated Challenges with current solutions ..................................5
junctions and loose RF connectors. Solution with the VNA ......................................................6
Benefits and key features ................................................6
If the fundamental frequencies are f 1 and f 2, the frequency
of PIM products (F_PIM) can be described by the equation: - Flexible configurations ................................................7
- Fast measurements .....................................................8
F_PIM = m * f 1