Digitally Modulated Signals Challenge RF Power Meters

摘要

Power is proportional to the square of voltage or current, so it really shouldn't be too difficult to measure. Indeed, thermo-couple- and thermistor-based power meters measure the true average power of RF signals regardless of their distortion, modulation, or duty cycle. However, the increasing use of complex digital modulation requires a better understanding of the statistical distribution of power levels within the overall signal. An average power measurement may be very accurate, but it doesn't provide sufficient information about the signal detail that is important to the correct operation of modern communications systems.