Agilent Technologies 53151A, 53152A Using Power Correction, Power Correction Theory of Operation

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Chapter 1 Getting Started

Operating the Counter

Using Power Correction

The Power Correction function in the main Menu allows you to set the Counter to automatically compensate for power loss (or gain) that occurs in the test configuration, such as attenuation resulting from cable impedance. You can choose from nine power-correction profiles that are stored in nonvolatile memory, and you can modify the contents of these profiles.

Each profile is defined by two to ten data points (a data point consists of a loss value and a frequency value). When Power Correction is enabled, the Counter automatically adds a correction to the power reading (determined from the data points in the profile) that compensates for the loss (or gain) at the frequency being measured. When a measured frequency does not match any of the frequency values defined in the currently selected profile, the Counter interpolates for the measured frequency to determine the appropriate value to add to the power measurement. The correction profiles require a minimum of two data points per profile.

Power Correction Theory of Operation

When the Counter interpolates between data points to determine the amount of correction to apply to the current measurement, it computes the correction based on a straight line plotted between the frequency values in the two closest data points. Therefore, a graph of a power- correction profile would show a “curve” that consists of two to nine straight-line segments, rather than a true curve, as shown below.

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1-26 Operating Guide