Power measurements once required tracking down the right sensor for connection to a benchtop power meter. LadyBug Technologies LLC has simplified matters not only by integrating the sensor with the meter, but by adding a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface that allows a laptop or a personal computer (PC) to serve as the control center. The firm’s growing line of power meter/sensor instruments currently provides pulsed and CW power measurements across a dynamic range of -60 to +20 dBm and a frequency range of 10 MHz to 26.5 GHz.
Founded by former engineers from Agilent Technologies (itself formerly part of Hewlett-Packard Co.), Richard Hawkins and Jon Sigler, Lady- Bug Technologies LLC is built upon a practical approach to high-frequency measurements. The firm’s first series of instruments—all combination power meter/sensor models—leverage the intelligence readily available in a PC or laptop computer via the USB interface. The computer runs the control software and stores measurement results, while the power meter/sensor contains the measurement hardware required to capture power levels at RF and microwave frequencies. These PowerSensor+ integrated power meter/sensors perform temperature-corrected measurements for high accuracy over time, operating without need of “zeroing” or regular calibration before use (a one-year cal cycle is recommended by LadyBug).
The power meter/sensors cover a variety of frequency ranges, starting at 10 MHz and reaching 8, 12.5, 18, and 26.5 GHz. They provide measurement dynamic ranges as wide as 80 dB (-60 to +20 dBm). At just 1.6 x 2.25 in. (40 x 57 mm) not including the length of the connector, they are a fraction the size of competing power-measurement solutions. Although small in size, they do not skimp on performance, with fast measurement speed of 2000 settled measurements/s and recorder outputs that permit data capture. The instruments are available with a choice of connector: Type N, SMA, or TNC (except on the SMA-only 26.5-GHz unit).
Many of the PowerSensor+ integrated power meter/sensors measure the power levels of both pulsed and continuous-wave (CW) signals, allowing for pulse profiling and duty-cycle measurements along with capturing peak power levels. For example, models LB478A and LB479A operate over a frequency range of 10 MHz to 8 GHz with the capability for pulsed and CW power measurements. Model LB478A features a power measurement range of -35 to +20 dBm while model LB479A covers the widest measurement dynamic range currently offered by LadyBug Technologies: -60 to +20 dBm. Both models restrict total measurement errors to 1.95 percent or less and both offer outstanding impedance match with a device under test (DUT), with typical return loss of 27 dB (VSWR of 1.09:1).
