Keven Chang 2019. 10.

22
Keysight Technology

• Phase Noise Basics

• What is Phase Noise?
• Review: AM, PM & Phase Noise
• Theory & Mathematics of Phase Noise
• Noise Sources that Contribute to Phase Noise
• Phase Noise Applications
• Radar
• Digital Communications
• Phase Noise Measurements
• Phase Detector Techniques
• Reference Source/PLL Measurement Method
• Frequency Discriminator Measurement Method
• Cross-correlation
• Keysight Phase Noise Measurement Solutions
• Conclusion
2

克達科技_2019 國防科技電子戰領域研討會 1
 • Phase Noise Basics
• What is Phase Noise?
• Review: AM, PM & Phase Noise
• Theory & Mathematics of Phase Noise
• Noise Sources that Contribute to Phase Noise
• Phase Noise Applications
• Radar
• Digital Communications
• Phase Noise Measurements
• Phase Detector Techniques
• Reference Source/PLL Measurement Method
• Frequency Discriminator Measurement Method
• Cross-correlation
• Keysight Phase Noise Measurement Solutions
• Conclusion
3

F R E Q U E N C Y I N S TAB I L I T Y

Long-term frequency instability

f
• Slow change in average or
nominal center frequency

time Phase noise is generally considered

(days, months, years) the short-term phase/frequency
instability of an oscillator or other
RF/µW component
Short-term frequency instability
f
• Instantaneous frequency
fo variations around a nominal
center frequency

time
(seconds)

克達科技_2019 國防科技電子戰領域研討會 2
 I D E AL V E R S U S R E AL - W O R L D S I G N AL S

Ideal sinusoidal signal Real sinusoidal signal

V(t) = Aosin(2πƒot) V(t) = [Ao+E(t)]sin[2πƒot+ 𝝓(t)]

where where

Ao = nominal amplitude E(t) = random amplitude fluctuations

ƒo = nominal frequency 𝝓(t) = random phase fluctuations

V(t) V(t)

E(t)

t t
ƒo ƒ 𝝓(t) ƒo

Time Frequency Time Frequency

P O W E R S P E C T R AL D E N S I T Y O F N O I S E S I D E B AN D S

• Phase fluctuation of an oscillator produced by different

random noise sources is phase noise P0

• Just phase modulation with noise as the message signal

• Mostly concerned with frequency domain SSB
where phase noise is simply noise sidebands or
skirt around “ideal” delta function
from sinusoidal oscillator
• Because PM is symmetrical in magnitude
around center frequency,
can measure a single noise sideband (SSB)
f0
PSD

克達科技_2019 國防科技電子戰領域研討會 3
 H O W T O D E F I N E P H AS E N O I S E M E AS U R E M E N T S

3 elements:
• Upper sideband only, P0
offset frequency (fm) from carrier frequency (f0)
• Power spectral density, in 1 Hz BW SSB (𝓛(𝒇))
• PSD relative to carrier power in dBc

dBc/Hz @ offset frequency fm 1 Hz BW

from specified carrier frequency f 0

f0
fm (offset freq.)

AM P L I T U D E , F R E Q U E N C Y & P H AS E M O D U L AT I O N

Phase noise is a modulation noise,

so let’s quickly review modulation basics
• Amplitude modulation (AM) varies envelope
amplitude of carrier frequency in direct
proportion to message signal
• Phase modulation (PM) & its time-derivative,
frequency modulation (FM), vary phase &
frequency of carrier in direct proportion to
message signal
• Phasor diagrams show amplitude, phase &
single-sideband (SSB) modulation
• LSB is lower sideband and
USB is the upper sideband
• Gray vector indicates resultant of
carrier vectorially added to sideband
* United States National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST)
8

克達科技_2019 國防科技電子戰領域研討會 4
 BESSEL FUNCTIONS OF THE FIRST KIND

• Because phase noise is really phase modulation (PM)

noise, it is prescient to review PM/FM
• In frequency domain, wideband PM has infinite number
of sidebands so does not look like AM
• To determine amplitude of sidebands, use Bessel
functions, 𝑱𝒏 (bottom right)
• Horizontal axis shows peak phase deviation (𝝓𝒑𝒌 ) of
modulating signal;
• Vertical axis shows amplitude of sidebands
• Example: Let 𝝓𝒑𝒌 = 𝒎 = 𝜷 = 𝟑 & draw vertical line (in
blue), intersection of line with all Bessel functions at that
point gives amplitudes of sidebands relative to
unmodulated carrier
• Screen capture shows sideband amplitudes as viewed
on a spectrum analyzer

𝒇𝒑𝒌 9
*Note: FM and PM are related. For FM, 𝝓𝒑𝒌 = 𝒇𝒎

• If 𝒎 = 𝜷 = 𝝓𝒑𝒌 ≤ 𝟎. 𝟐 𝒓𝒂𝒅, this 𝝓𝒑𝒌 = 𝟎. 𝟐 𝒓𝒂𝒅

is narrowband PM
• Plotting Bessel functions on a
log-scale makes it easier to
see small peak phase
deviations (𝒎 = 𝜷 = 𝝓𝒑𝒌 )
• Drawing vertical at m = 0.2
(blue) shows that only the
carrier and first sideband will
have appreciable amplitude
• Other sidebands are more
than –50 dB down from
carrier

10

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克達科技_2019 國防科技電子戰領域研討會 5
 • Can use Bessel functions to go the other way:
measure sideband power relative to unmodulated carrier
power & obtain phase deviation of modulated signal
• At small 𝝓𝒑𝒌 (narrowband PM*), ratio of first-sideband 𝑽𝑺𝑺𝑩 𝟏
amplitude to carrier amplitude (Bessel function J1) varies
= 𝝓𝒑𝒌
𝑽𝒄 𝟐
almost linearly with peak phase deviation, slope 0.5
• Ratio of sideband amplitude (SSB voltage, 𝑽𝑺𝑺𝑩 )
to carrier amplitude (voltage, 𝑽𝒄 )
is half the peak phase deviation:
𝑽𝑺𝑺𝑩 𝑽 𝟏
( ) = 𝝓𝒑𝒌 (𝒓𝒂𝒅)
𝑽𝒄 𝑽 𝟐
• Converting peak phase deviation to a power ratio:
𝟐
𝑷𝑺𝑺𝑩 𝑾 𝑽𝑺𝑺𝑩 𝟏 𝟏
( )= = ( 𝝓𝒑𝒌 )𝟐 = 𝝓𝟐𝒑𝒌 (𝒓𝒂𝒅𝟐 )
𝑷𝒄 𝑾 𝑽𝒄 𝟐 𝟒
𝝓𝒑𝒌 =

11
* Remember: for narrowband PM, all other Bessel function sidebands have near zero amplitude

11

M E AN - S Q U AR E AN D R M S P H AS E D E V I AT I O N

• Phase of overall signal will vary proportionally with amplitude ratio of sideband (message) signal
to modulated carrier for narrowband PM (𝒎 = 𝝓𝒑𝒌 ≤ 𝟎. 𝟐 𝒓𝒂𝒅)
• This plus use of sinusoid as SSB message signal connects peak phase to RMS phase with
a simple relationship:
𝝓𝒑𝒌 = 𝟐𝝓𝑹𝑴𝑺

• Yields mean-square phase deviation (𝝓𝟐𝑹𝑴𝑺 ) by

measuring ratio of sideband power to carrier power
and converting peak phase to rms phase:
𝑷𝑺𝑺𝑩 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= ( 𝝓𝒑𝒌 )𝟐 = ( 𝟐𝝓𝑹𝑴𝑺 )𝟐 = 𝝓𝟐𝑹𝑴𝑺 (𝒓𝒂𝒅𝟐 )
𝑷𝒄 𝟐 𝟒 𝟐

• Taking square root converts mean-square phase

deviation (a power ratio) to an RMS phase deviation:

𝑷𝑺𝑺𝑩
𝟐 = 𝝓𝑹𝑴𝑺 (𝒓𝒂𝒅)
𝑷𝒄
12

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克達科技_2019 國防科技電子戰領域研討會 6
 S S B N O I S E V E C T O R H AS B O T H AM & P M

• Treat noise as single spectral SSB Noise vector adding maximum Noise vector adding maximum
component 𝑽𝑵, rotating at 𝝎𝒎 AM noise (inline with carrier) PM noise (orthogonal to carrier)
• Noise vector simultaneously
adds PM & AM to carrier 𝑽𝒔 ,
𝝎𝒎
rotating at 𝝎𝒄 𝑽𝑵
noise signal
• When noise vector is inline phasor (green)
(in- phase) with carrier, ∆𝝓
𝑽𝒔
resultant carrier + noise phasor resultant noiseless
has maximum AM noise carrier unmodulated
modulated carrier-signal
• When noise vector is orthogonal to with noise phasor (blue)
carrier, resultant carrier + noise phasor (red) 𝝎𝒄
phasor has maximum PM noise ∆𝝓

𝑽𝑵 𝑽𝑵
𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙 ∆𝝓: 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( ) = ∆𝝓 =
𝑽𝒔 𝑽𝒔 13

13

AM V S . N AR R O W B A N D P M O N S P E C T R U M AN A LY Z E R
• SSB noise contains both AM & PM components
• Compare double sideband (DSB) AM with narrowband PM signal where both have 𝝓 𝒕
as sinusoidal message/modulating signal:
DSB AM: Narrowband PM:
𝟏 + 𝝓 𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒔(𝝎𝒄 𝒕) = 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝝎𝒄 𝒕 + 𝝓 𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒔(𝝎𝒄 𝒕) 𝒄𝒐𝒔(𝝎𝒄 𝒕 + 𝝓 𝒕 ) = 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝝎𝒄 𝒕 − 𝝓 𝒕 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝝎𝒄 𝒕

Difference is just a
phase shift

*DSB AM signal with 0.8% modulation index, AM Rate=10 kHz *Narrowband PM signal with ∆𝝓𝒑𝒌 = 𝟎. 𝟐 𝒓𝒂𝒅 index, PM Rate=10 kHz
• Because legacy spectrum analyzer shows magnitude spectrum, AM & narrowband PM look identical.
Thus, need to remove AM component to accurately measure only the phase noise component of total noise
15

15

克達科技_2019 國防科技電子戰領域研討會 7
 M E AN - S Q U AR E P H AS E D E V I AT I O N & P H AS E N O I S E ( P S D )

• Previously, message signal was sinusoidal tone (two sidebands)

• If we PM the carrier with noise signal instead of sinusoid,
result is continuous spectrum of noise sidebands (phase noise) 𝑺𝝓 𝒇
Spectral Density
about the carrier with spectral density in dBm/Hz of Phase Fluctuations
𝓛 𝒇
(power per unit of bandwidth) phase noise
• Can convert mean-square phase deviation measurement
(i.e., 𝝓𝟐𝑹𝑴𝑺 coming from upper & lower sidebands measured
over given BW at given offset from carrier) into a spectral density
by dividing by the noise bandwidth (NBW) to normalize to 1 Hz BW:
𝟏 𝒓𝒂𝒅𝟐
Spectral Density of Phase Fluctuations: 𝑺𝝓 (𝒇) = 𝝓𝟐𝑹𝑴𝑺 ( )( )
𝑩𝑾 𝑯𝒛
• PM is symmetric so we need to measure only the upper or lower sideband.
The upper noise sideband is called phase noise or 𝓛(𝒇):

𝑺𝝓 𝒇 𝝓𝟐𝑹𝑴𝑺 𝟏 𝒓𝒂𝒅𝟐
𝓛(𝒇) = = ( )( )
𝟐 𝟐 𝑩𝑾 𝑯𝒛

16

16

I N T E G R AT E D P H AS E N O I S E

• SSB integrated phase noise:

Integrate SSB phase noise 𝓛 𝒇 over measurement bandwidth from 𝒇𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕 to 𝒇𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑 :
𝝓𝟐𝑹𝑴𝑺 𝒇𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑
=න 𝓛 𝒇 𝒅𝒇 (𝒓𝒂𝒅𝟐 )
𝟐 𝒇𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕

• DSB integrated phase noise/mean-square phase deviation (𝝓𝟐𝑹𝑴𝑺 ) :

Multiply this result by two (or integrate upper & lower phase noise sidebands):

𝒇𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑
𝝓𝟐𝑹𝑴𝑺 = 𝟐 න 𝓛 𝒇 𝒅𝒇 (𝒓𝒂𝒅𝟐 )
𝒇𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕
𝒇𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒇𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑

• Can now use integrated SSB phase noise to calculate RMS phase deviation (over the measurement
bandwidth 𝒇𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕 to 𝒇𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑):

𝒇𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑
𝝓𝑹𝑴𝑺 𝒓𝒂𝒅 = 𝟐න 𝓛 𝒇 𝒅𝒇
𝒇𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕
17

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克達科技_2019 國防科技電子戰領域研討會 8
 P H AS E N O I S E & J I T T E R

• Time-domain RMS phase deviation is called jitter

• Those concerned about jitter frequently deal ∆𝒕 = 𝒋𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓
with clock signals, which entails measurements of
square wave-type signals rather than sinusoids

• The following relates RMS phase deviation to jitter:

𝑻𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒅
𝝓𝑹𝑴𝑺 𝝓𝑹𝑴𝑺
𝒋𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓(𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒔) = [𝑻𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒅 (𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒔)] =
𝟐𝝅 𝟐𝝅𝒇𝒄

Percentage of total angular period Clock signal period

affected by RMS phase deviation (time); same as 𝟏/𝒇𝒄

* 𝒇𝒄 is the clock frequency and when viewed in the frequency domain, is 18

equal to the spacing between the spectral lines

18

P H AS E N O I S E O N A S P E C T R U M AN A LY Z E R

• SSB phase noise 𝓛 𝒇 is measure of relative power

• Measure noise-sideband power density
relative to carrier power:
𝓛 𝒇
𝑷𝑺𝑺𝑩 (𝑾/𝑯𝒛) 𝟏 𝒓𝒂𝒅𝟐 𝒓𝒂𝒅𝟐
= 𝝓𝟐𝒓𝒎𝒔 =𝓛 𝒇
𝑷𝒄 (𝑾) 𝟐 𝑯𝒛 𝑯𝒛
Pcarrier (dBm)
• Relative power measurements (i.e., ratios) are well suited
to spectrum analyzers, which use a log power scale Pnoise (dBm/Hz)
• Context matters: 𝓛 𝒇 is used for both linear units and log- Ps (dBm)
transformed phase noise (in dBc/Hz)
• Log scale (dB) allows us to replace division of carrier with Pn (dBm/Hz)
subtraction, giving units of dBc/Hz

Example:
1 kHz measurement bandwidth using
noise density marker (generally
𝓛 𝒇 = Pnoise (dBm/Hz) - Pcarrier (dBm) = -121.28 dBc/Hz normalized to 1 Hz)
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克達科技_2019 國防科技電子戰領域研討會 9
 T H E R M AL N O I S E ( J O H N S O N - N Y Q U I S T N O I S E )

–174 dBm/Hz

Thermal noise is “white” (i.e., same magnitude power spectral Displayed average noise level (DANL) of signal analyzer is
density at all frequencies, or –174 dBm/Hz) thermal noise plus analyzer’s own internal noise

k = Boltzmann's constant T = temperature (K) B = bandwidth (Hz) Np = Noise Power Density = kT

𝑑𝐵(𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑠) 𝑑𝐵𝑚
For T = 290 K ➔ 𝑁𝑝 = −204
𝐻𝑧
= −174
𝐻𝑧
20

20

AM & P M C O N T R I B U T E E Q U AL LY T O T O TAL T H E R M AL N O I S E P O W E R

• Can look at only one spectral component of noise & treat it

as noise vector/phasor Phase component
(one degree of freedom)
• Phase & magnitude/amplitude components of noise vector
constitute two orthogonal degrees of freedom
Magnitude
• For thermal noise, equipartition of energy says that each component
degree of freedom has equal amount of energy (one degree of
(and power), on average freedom)

• At room temperature, total thermal noise power density is

Phase
the familiar –174 dBm/Hz
0 deg
• Magnitude/phase components tend to apply AM & PM to Thermal noise vector
carrier by equal amounts (from a power perspective) (two total degrees of freedom)

• Because noise is incoherent, we add AM & PM components

of thermal noise in a power sense so each is 3 dB
(not 6 dB) less than the total: –177 dBm/Hz

21

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克達科技_2019 國防科技電子戰領域研討會 10
 S I G N AL L E V E L & K T D I C TAT E T H E O R E T I C AL LY AC H I E VAB L E P H AS E N O I S E

𝓛 𝒇 = Pnoise (dBm/Hz) – Pcarrier (dBm)

Theoretical kT limits to phase noise
• From above, phase noise measurement is a noise-to- measurements for various input
carrier ratio and is a relative signal level (in dBc/Hz) (carrier) signal levels
• Theoretically, kT (thermal noise power density) is actually Pcarrier (dBm) 𝓛 𝒇 dBc/Hz
a physical “floor” limiting our achievable phase noise
+30 –207
performance and is defined by an absolute signal level
(–177 dBm/Hz at room temperature) +20 –197

• The signal level (carrier signal) is measured relative to +10 –187

this kT noise and will directly dictate the best achievable
0 –177
phase noise performance any device can achieve within
the bounds of physics –10 –167
(maximum possible dynamic range) –20 –157
• Example: with 30 dBm carrier signal, can actually achieve
–207 dBc/Hz phase noise (and can measure this with the Total thermal noise power density (kT) = Pnoise (kT) = –174 dBm/Hz
Phase noise (PM) & AM noise equally contribute
proper phase noise analyzer) Thermal phase noise power density (kT) = –177 dBm/Hz
22

22

1 / F “ M O D U L AT I O N ” N O I S E & T H E R M AL N O I S E

• Beyond thermal noise floor

(approx. constant spectral density),
another contributor to total phase noise is
inversely proportional to frequency (∝1/f) –10 dB/decade
• Exhibited by virtually all electronic devices

• In devices operating at RF or µW frequencies,

1/f noise is modulation on carrier
emerging from or passing through device
• Wouldn’t exist in absence of device electronics
(unlike thermal noise)

• On Bode plot, has easy-to-use property of

decreasing by 10 dB/decade
• 1/f noise meets thermal noise floor (i.e., broadband noise)
at 1/f crossing frequency
• Beyond that point, thermal noise dominates & obscures 1/f still present
Broadband noise
* Note: Broadband/thermal noise floor is not “modulation noise” by itself, until it is decomposed into equivalent AM & PM on a carrier
23

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克達科技_2019 國防科技電子戰領域研討會 11
 AL L P O W E R - L AW N O I S E P R O C E S S E S I N AN O S C I L L AT O R

Theoretical noise processes Real noise processes in VCO

𝓛 𝒇
(𝐝𝐁)

Frequency Offset from Carrier (Hz)

* Dr. Sam Palermo, Texas A&M 24

24

• Phase Noise Basics

• What is Phase Noise?
• Review: AM, PM & Phase Noise
• Theory & Mathematics of Phase Noise
• Noise Sources that Contribute to Phase Noise
• Phase Noise Applications
• Radar
• Digital Communications
• Phase Noise Measurements
• Phase Detector Techniques
• Reference Source/PLL Measurement Method
• Frequency Discriminator Measurement Method
• Cross-correlation
• Keysight Phase Noise Measurement Solutions
• Conclusion
25

25

克達科技_2019 國防科技電子戰領域研討會 12
 Better PN → lower skirt

Better chance to find

Doppler reflection signals

Highest performance radar transceiver

designs demand best phase noise to
find moving targets, fast or slow
Slower V target Faster 26

26

Q P S K E X AM P L E

I I

RF LO Q Q
90o
Q

Ideal QPSK constellation Degraded signal with phase

noise QPSK constellation

27

27

克達科技_2019 國防科技電子戰領域研討會 13
 6 4 Q AM E X AM P L E

Symbols far from I

origin on I/Q
constellation are
spread more for
Q given amount of
phase noise on LO

28

28

S I G N AL S O U R C E AS L O C AL O S C I L L AT O R

• Phase noise performance of three

Keysight signal generators
• Comparison at center frequency of 10
GHz
E8257D PSG N5173B EXG
• Using these sources as LOs for larger
system has definite effect on EVM
performance

N5183B MXG

* PSG & MXG available with ultra-low phase noise (Option UNY)
** Scale is 15 dB/div 29

29

克達科技_2019 國防科技電子戰領域研討會 14
 S I G N AL S O U R C E AS L O F O R W I D E B AN D S I N G L E C AR R I E R Q P S K

PSG is LO MXG is LO EXG is LO

EVM = ~1.8% EVM = ~2.1% EVM = ~2.1%

Test configuration
Baseband IF Upconverter Oscilloscope
M8190A E8267D PSG Infiniium

Test signal 5 GHz 60 GHz WA RN I NG : E xi t 8 96 00 VS A S of t wa re

be fo r e ch a ng in g i ns t ru m en t s et up

QPSK

LO
PSG/MXG/EXG
10 GHz
x6
30

30

O F D M E X AM P L E

Power Power
• LTE uses OFDM with many
subcarriers, each spaced at 15 kHz
• Lower (i.e., better) phase noise of
receiver or transmitter LO improves
each subcarrier’s resolution & OFDM subcarriers
Frequency Frequency
Downconverted OFDM
thus EVM performance subcarriers with LO phase
Power noise added
• Unlike case with wideband single-
carrier modulation, OFDM requires
extremely good close-in phase Phase noise

noise performance
Frequency
LO with
phase noise

31

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克達科技_2019 國防科技電子戰領域研討會 15
 S U M M AR Y

• For multicarrier modulation systems

(OFDM), close-in phase noise
matters most
• Close-in & far-out phase noise
performance is a key performance
E8257D PSG N5173B EXG
metric that differentiates high-end E8257D - PSG N5173B - EXG
signal generators from low-end units
• Far-out phase noise of device is also
known as broadband noise
• For extremely wideband single-
carrier modulation, far-out phase N5183B MXG
N5183B - MXG
noise performance can affect EVM of
signal generator (e.g., satellite
applications with 1 GHz BW) Important area for wideband single carrier

* PSG & MXG available with ultra-low phase noise (Option UNY)
** Scale is 15 dB/div 32

32

• Phase Noise Basics

• What is Phase Noise?
• Review: AM, PM and Phase Noise
• The Theory and Mathematics of Phase Noise
• Noise Sources that contribute to Phase Noise
• Phase Noise Applications
• Radar
• Digital Communications
• Phase Noise Measurements
• Phase Detector Techniques
• Reference Source/PLL Measurement Method
• Frequency Discriminator Measurement Method
• Cross-correlation
• Keysight Phase Noise Measurement Solutions
• Conclusion
33

33

克達科技_2019 國防科技電子戰領域研討會 16
 ➢ Direct-spectrum method
• By sampling the carrier, direct-spectrum method
immediately yields amplitude & phase information
• Employed in signal analyzers & some phase noise systems
• Far less sensitive than carrier-removal method
because carrier limits ceiling of system components • Both frequency discriminator and PLL/reference
• ADC full scale, receiver preamp compression level, etc.
➢ Carrier-removal method (phase detector in quadrature)
• Increased sensitivity obtained by nulling carrier & then
amplifying & measuring phase noise of resulting
baseband signal with high-gain, low noise figure
amplifiers
source methods discussed next use carrier removal
via phase detectors in quadrature

0 Hz

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• Frequency-discriminator & reference source/PLL methods

both use phase detector as heart of system
for absolute measurements
• Phase detector also enables residual phase noise
• Phase detector takes two input signals & compares phase
• Output of phase detector is DC voltage
proportional to delta phase of input signals (∆𝝓)
• Constant of proportionality, K,
has units of volts per radian (V/rad) & must be measured
• Phase detectors also tend to suppress AM noise

∆𝝓 𝒕𝒐 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆
𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒓 (𝒑𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓)

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克達科技_2019 國防科技電子戰領域研討會 17
 T H E M AT H E M AT I C S
Product-to-sum identity: LPF
• Double-balanced mixers produce 𝑥 𝑡 = 𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛[𝜔0 𝑡 + 𝝓𝑥 𝑡 ]
1 1
sinusoids at sum & difference × 2
𝐴𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑠[𝝓𝑥 𝑡 − 𝝓𝑦 𝑡 ] − 𝐴𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑠[2𝜔0 + 𝝓𝑥 𝑡 + 𝝓𝑦 𝑡 ]
2
frequencies of two input signals, 𝑥 𝑡 𝑦 𝑡 = 𝐵𝑠𝑖𝑛[𝜔0 𝑡 + 𝝓𝑦 𝑡 ]
&y 𝑡
• If both signals are at same frequency
𝜔0 & 90° offset, yields 0 Hz (DC) &
high-frequency (2𝜔0 ) sum term that
is removed using low-pass filtering
(LPF) 1
𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 ∝ 𝐴𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑠[𝝓𝑥 𝑡 − 𝝓𝑦 𝑡 ]
2
• After LPF, resulting DC term varies in
amplitude as cosine function of ∆𝝓 of
the two signals ∆𝝓
• This is a delta-phase to voltage converter
or phase detector

∆𝝓 𝒕𝒐 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆
𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒓 ("𝑷𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓")
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I M P O R TAN C E O F Q U AD R AT U R E

• Phase detector’s cosine output voltage, cos ∆𝝓 , is nonlinear Phase detector output voltage vs. delta phase
• Want to linearize to create linearly proportional relationship
between ∆𝝓 & output voltage
Slope is K
• If DUT & reference signal inputs to phase detector
are offset ±90°, output is zero volts &
derivative of cosine function is maximized
(i.e., maximum sensitivity)
• As ∆𝝓 increases or decreases about 90°, output voltage 180° 𝟗𝟎°
changes approximately linearly with ∆𝝓 and having slope or
derivative K (also known as proportionality constant in V/rad)
• Quadrature also allows high AM suppression ( up to 30 dB)
so are measuring only PM
• After characterizing K, get output voltage that varies linearly
with delta phase: 𝑽 = 𝑲∆𝝓
• This is a phase detector!
𝑷𝒊𝒆𝒄𝒆-𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝑳𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝑹𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕
𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 (∆𝝓 = 𝟗𝟎°)
where 𝑽 = 𝑲∆𝝓
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克達科技_2019 國防科技電子戰領域研討會 18
 • Absolute phase noise measurement is
direct characterization of DUT (e.g., an
oscillator) performance, inclusive of
reference source
• A one-port measurement
• Reference-source/PLL method is phase-
detector technique that uses a phase-
locked loop (PLL) system to set & keep
DUT & reference sources in quadrature
• Keeps phase detector in linear region
• Limited by noise floor of system itself if
have an ideal reference source with zero
phase noise

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• An absolute (one-port) measurement that

also uses a phase detector
• Signal from DUT is split into two paths
• Signal in one path is delayed relative to the other

• Delay line converts frequency fluctuations

into phase fluctuations
• Delay line (or phase shifter) is adjusted so that inputs
to mixer are in quadrature

• Phase detector converts phase fluctuations

into voltage fluctuations that are analyzed
using the baseband analyzer
• Less sensitive than PLL/reference-source
method for close-to-carrier measurements

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克達科技_2019 國防科技電子戰領域研討會 19
 • Uses two phase detectors & two
references to further improve
phase noise floor (i.e., sensitivity)
• Two channels are uncorrelated so
remove noise from references &
system components through
computational process (time vs.
performance tradeoff)
• DUT signal is common to both
channels so is perfectly correlated
in both channels & kept as
measurement result
• Available in Keysight E5052B SSA
and N5511A Phase Noise Test
System (PNTS)

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T I M E V E R S U S P E R F O R M AN C E I M P R O V E M E N T

internal system noise N1 measured noise Nmeas

Signal source channel 1

under test (SUT)
DSP
splitter cross-correlation
source noise (correlation# = M)
NS.U.T. channel 2
internal system noise N2

N meas = N S .U .T . + ( N1 + N 2 ) / M assuming N1 and N2 are uncorrelated

M (number of correlations) 10 100 1,000 10,000

Noise reduction on (N1+N2) –5 dB –10 dB –15 dB –20 dB

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克達科技_2019 國防科技電子戰領域研討會 20
 R E S I D U AL M E AS U R E M E N T S U S I N G A P H AS E D E T E C T O R

• Can think of as completely different class

of measurement vs. absolute phase noise
measurements
• Is “additive” or residual noise added to
electronic signal
• Often performed on two-port device
(e.g., amplifier, mixer, multiplier, divider)

• Phase noise of stimulus doesn’t affect

performance of residual measurement
• Stimulus perfectly correlated at both ports of phase
detector & will cancel in quadrature
(∆𝝓 = 𝟗𝟎° so 𝑽 = 𝑲∆𝝓 = 0V)
• Leaves only additional phase noise
added to signal by DUT

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• Phase Noise Basics

• What is Phase Noise?
• Review: AM, PM & Phase Noise
• Theory & Mathematics of Phase Noise
• Noise Sources that Contribute to Phase Noise
• Phase Noise Applications
• Radar
• Digital Communications
• Phase Noise Measurements
• Phase Detector Techniques
• Reference Source/PLL Measurement Method
• Frequency Discriminator Measurement Method
• Cross-correlation
• Keysight Phase Noise Measurement Solutions
• Conclusion
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克達科技_2019 國防科技電子戰領域研討會 21
 P H AS E N O I S E AP P O N X - S E R I E S AN ALY Z E R S

Pros:
• Easy to configure & use
• Quick phase noise check
• Log plot
• Spot frequency (PN change vs. time)
DUT
• RMS PN, RMS jitter, residual FM
• X-Series phase noise application automates PN
measurements

Cons:
• Uses less-sensitive direct-spectrum method
• Limited by internal PN floor of SA
• Caution: With older spectrum analyzers,
AM noise cannot be separated from PM noise
• In today’s modern signal analyzers, AM component is removed

N9068C X-Series Phase Noise Application

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C R O S S - C O R R E L AT I O N S Y S T E M W / B U I LT- I N R E F E R E N C E S

• Keysight E5052B incorporates

2-channel cross-correlation measurement system
to reduce measurement noise
• Can configure as:
• Two-channel phase noise (phase detector) reference/PLL system
• Two-channel heterodyne digital-discriminator system
• Provides excellent phase noise measurement
performance for many classes of sources & oscillators
• Well suited to free-running oscillators

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克達科技_2019 國防科技電子戰領域研討會 22
 G O L D S TAN D A R D P H AS E D E T E C T O R - B AS E D S Y S T E M

• Can configure E5500 system as:

• Reference-source/PLL system
• Frequency-discriminator system
• Solution for absolute & residual phase noise measurements
• Solution for pulsed phase noise measurements
• System is complex, but offers most measurement
flexibility & best overall system performance
• Can use any frequency-tunable reference sources
for best possible absolute phase noise measurements

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I N D U S T R Y L E AD I N G R E P L AC E M E N T F O R E 5 5 0 0 P H AS E N O I S E T E S T S Y S T E M

“See Farther Down in Phase Noise”

• Best-in-Class Absolute and Residual Measurements
• Measure down to kT thermal phase noise floor: -177dBm/Hz
• Extremely fast and flexible for the most demanding
measurements
• Phase detector method for best dynamic range
(by canceling the carrier)
• Multi-Segment cross-correlation in FPGA Hardware
• Ability to add external splitters, attenuators, amplifiers, and
PNTS
other test setup independently to each channel accessories f Det
RF In RF
and suppress any additive noise from these devices via the LO
FFT

cross-correlation process DUT

REF
LO In CH 1
∫ Cross

• Completely code compatible with the E5500A Vtune Out

Correlate

f Det
• “Future Proof” with PXIe RF In RF FFT
LO
REF
LO In
CH 2
∫ Coming…
Vtune Out
…JuneKeysight
2019
Confidential
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克達科技_2019 國防科技電子戰領域研討會 23
 48

48

• Becker, Randy, and Antonio Castro. “Generating and Analyzing MmWave Signals for Imaging Radar and Wideband Communications.” Keysight AD Symposium 2015. Worldwide
, Worldwide .
• Gheen, Kay. “Phase Noise Measurement Methods and Techniques.” Agilent/Keysight AD Symposium 2012. Worldwide & Webcast, Worldwide & Webcast.
• Hati, Archita, et al. “Calibration Uncertainty for the NIST PM/AM Noise Standards.” U.S. National Institute of Standards & Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce , 23 Mar.
2018, www.nist.gov/publications/calibration-uncertainty-nist-pmam-noise-standards.
• Hewlett Packard/Keysight. Application Note 150-1: Spectrum Analysis Amplitude & Frequency Modulation. Application Note 150-1: Spectrum Analysis Amplitude & Frequency
Modulation, Hewlett Packard, 1989.
• Hewlett Packard/Keysight Technologies. Phase Noise Characterization of Microwave Oscillators: Frequency Discriminator Method. Phase Noise Characterization of Microwave
Oscillators: Frequency Discriminator Method, Hewlett Packard, 1985.
• Hewlett Packard/Keysight Technologies. Phase Noise Characterization of Microwave Oscillators: Phase Detector Method. Phase Noise Characterization of Microwave
Oscillators: Phase Detector Method, Hewlett Packard, 1984.
• “IEEE 1139-1999: IEEE Standard Definitions of Physical Quantities for Fundamental Frequency and Time Metrology— Random Instabilities.” IEEE Xplore, Institute of Electrical
and Electronics Engineers, 26 Mar. 1999, ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=807679A.
• Kanemitsu, Rich. “Phase Noise Measurement Basics -An Overview .” Keysight Customer Training. 2018, USA, USA.
• Keysight Technologies . Phase Noise Measurement Solutions. Phase Noise Measurement Solutions, Keysight, 2018, literature.cdn.keysight.com/litweb/pdf/5990-
5729EN.pdf?id=1896487.
• Leeson, David B. “Oscillator Phase Noise: A 50-Year Review.” IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control, vol. 63, no. 8, 2016, pp. 1208–1225.,
doi:10.1109/tuffc.2016.2562663.
• Nelson, Bob. “Demystify Integrated-Phase-Deviation Results In Phase-Noise Measurements.” Microwaves & RF, 2 Oct. 2012, www.mwrf.com/test-amp-measurement-
analyzers/demystify-integrated-phase-deviation-results-phase-noise-measurements.
• Palermo, Sam. “ECEN 620: Network Theory: Broadband Circuit Design.” Sam Palermo - ECEN 620, Texas A&M University , ece.tamu.edu/~spalermo/ecen620.html.
• Prodanov, Vladamir. “Lecture 25: Introduction to Phase Noise.” EE412: Advanced Analog Circuits. 2013, San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic S tate University .
• Trump, Bruce. “1/f Noise-the Flickering Candle.” EDN, Electrical Design News (EDN) Network, www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/the-signal/4408242/1-f-Noise-the-flickering-
candle-.
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 Thank you!

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