Characterizing calibration standards using one airline as a transfer standard

Abstract

This paper introduces methods to characterize coaxial calibration standards using one airline as transfer standard. The methods discussed lend themselves to computer optimization techniques to arrive at optimal polynomial coefficients and S-parameter model representations of calibration standards. The calibration standards characterized and data presented were from a random sample of K (2.92 mm), V (1.85 mm) and W (1.00 mm) Vector Network Analyzer calibration kits manufactured over the past decade. The focus of this paper is Open, Short and Load (OSL) characterization but can be expanded to other 1-port calibration standards or kits such as multiple offset shorts (or opens) as examples. Electrical performance comparison of characterized fixed terminations to sliding terminations is also presented.