biff44
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Lets say I am winding an inductor, probably a small toroid on powdered iron, in the 200 to 50 nH range. How can I precisely measure the inductor Q in the 100 to 300 MHz range?
I have a complex filter design, and the simulator says I need an inductor Q of at least 200 for me to meet the spec. If the inductor Q is not at least 200, then the filter loss will be 0.1 dB over the specification. I do not want to make up the entire filter just to make the Q measurement! So how can I measure the inductor accurately all by itself.
I looked at various ways on the simulator:
1)Measuring reflection coefficient of a one port series connected L-C network, but the difference between a Q of 150 and a Q of 200 is barely noticeable on a smith chart. I am not sure the Network Analyzer cal will be accurate enought to truly see the difference.
2)Set up a two port, with an series connected L-C placed in shunt. The depth of the transmission null is related to Q, but once again the null depth difference for a Q of 150 vs 200 goes from -36 to -37 dB, so if the test fixture has any through leakage it swamp out the effect.
3) make up a simple 1 pole bandpass structure, with a parallel L-C. But the difference in insertion loss resonance is, once again, very small when the Q is varied from 150 to 200. I do not think I can calibrate out the fixture losses accurately enough.
Any ideas on how to measure?
Conversely, anyone know where I can get a Q=250 inductor? Digikey is fresh out. Has to be pretty small, like a T30-6 core size.
I have a complex filter design, and the simulator says I need an inductor Q of at least 200 for me to meet the spec. If the inductor Q is not at least 200, then the filter loss will be 0.1 dB over the specification. I do not want to make up the entire filter just to make the Q measurement! So how can I measure the inductor accurately all by itself.
I looked at various ways on the simulator:
1)Measuring reflection coefficient of a one port series connected L-C network, but the difference between a Q of 150 and a Q of 200 is barely noticeable on a smith chart. I am not sure the Network Analyzer cal will be accurate enought to truly see the difference.
2)Set up a two port, with an series connected L-C placed in shunt. The depth of the transmission null is related to Q, but once again the null depth difference for a Q of 150 vs 200 goes from -36 to -37 dB, so if the test fixture has any through leakage it swamp out the effect.
3) make up a simple 1 pole bandpass structure, with a parallel L-C. But the difference in insertion loss resonance is, once again, very small when the Q is varied from 150 to 200. I do not think I can calibrate out the fixture losses accurately enough.
Any ideas on how to measure?
Conversely, anyone know where I can get a Q=250 inductor? Digikey is fresh out. Has to be pretty small, like a T30-6 core size.