Create Probe CalKit

This dialog simplifies the setup of the Probe and ISS (Impedance Standard Substrate) specifications to be used when performing a calibration with a Cascade or GGB probe station.

To Launch the Create Probe Cal Kit

From the PNA Cal Wizard – Define Cal Settings dialog, click Create Probe Cal Kit

Create Probe Cal Kit dialog

This dialog appears when you click Set Probe Config on the Define Calibration Settings dialog.

To edit this Cal Kit after it is created, use the Advanced Modify Cal Kit feature in the PNA.

1. Select Probe Manufacturer:  Select from Cascade and GGB.

2. Select Calibration Type  Choose from:

  • SOLT -  Short, Open, Load, Thru

  • TRL - Thru, Reflect, Lines

  • LRM - Line, Reflect, Match (Load)

TRL Settings - Reflect Type: Available when Cal Type is TRL and LRM.

Use Load  - Check when using a Load standard as a very long Line standard to cover the lower frequencies. The TRL line length is often calculated from 0.25 * wavelength at center frequency of the entire span.

Select either Open or Short for the type of reflection standard. Only one can be selected.

3. Select Probe Model

Note: If your probe model and other selections are not available in the following settings, this means that PLTS does not have the appropriate ISS files.  These must be obtained from the manufacturer of the probe (Cascade).

Base Probe  Select from the list provided to populate other settings. Select <Generic> if your probe model does not appear on the list.

Option   Select from the list provided.. Select <blank> if not applicable or if your probe option does not appear on the list.

Signal Config  Select from the list the appropriate 'ground/signal' footprint for your probe.

Pitch  Select from the list provided.

How to Configure Dual Probes

When choosing a Dual Probe (Signal Config with more than two signal 'S' lines), the following instruction message appears:

"For SOLT calibration with dual probes and dual ISS structures, please select straight thru for the thru standard definitions.  Before performing the calibration, you need to use the "Modify Thru" functionality to assign the thru cal method, please specify "Defined Thru" for straight thrus and "Unknown Thru" for imperfect thrus (loopback thrus or cross thrus). This can yield a better calibration accuracy."

In addition, when the Download button is pressed, the following instruction message appears:

"For SOLT calibration with dual probes, two connector types will be created:  <connector type>1 and <connector type>2. Each standard (open, short, load, and thru) will be defined with the two connector types. You need to assign the connector type to  <connector type>1 for the upper probes of the dual probes and <connector type>2 for the lower probes of the dual probes.

To fully understand this process, please refer to PNA application note: On-Wafer SOLT calibration Using 4-port PNA-L (requires internet connection). This App note is also installed with PLTS at C:/Program Files/Keysight/PLTS_5.0/Help.

How to do this in PLTS

In the above (Create Probe Cal Kit) dialog, for Step 5  Standard Name: Thru, select the ISS structure for the Straight Thru (BB1 in this case) - NOT the Loopback Thru.

In the Define Calibration Settings dialog (below image):

  1. Click the Select DUT Connector Type arrow, and notice that there are TWO connectors listed for the connector type that was created in the Create Probe Cal Kit dialog. In the above dialog image, step 7, connector type shows Probe.  In the following image, step 2 lists Probe 1 and Probe 2.

  2. For Step 2, select the '1' version of your connector, then select the Probe Cal Kit that you created, then assign that configuration to ports 1 and 2 by clicking the buttons next to ports 1 and 2.

  3. Then repeat Step 2 and select the '2' version of your connector, then select the Probe Cal Kit that you created, then assign that configuration to ports 3 and 4 by clicking the buttons next to ports 3 and 4.

  1. Then click Modify Thru and confirm that Defined Thru and Unknown Thru are specified as follows:

4. Select Calibration Substrate Select the ISS that you will be using to perform the calibration.

5. Specify the Calibration Substrate Structure #:  Select the Structure Type ID that you will be using as each standard during the calibration.

Show Line Ranges  For TRL calibrations, PLTS calculates the default frequency ranges from the delay of the lines. Click to launch and edit the Line Frequency Settings dialog.

6. Specify Cal Kit Name: Type a name for your new probe Cal Kit as it will appear in the PNA.

7. Specify Connector Type  Enter a connector type for the Cal Kit. If a new connector type is used, it will appear in the Connector List. It must be selected on the connector list for it to appear for subsequent calibrations.

8. Create and Download to PNA  Click to save the Probe Cal Kit definition to the PNA.  After saving, the connector type and cal kit appear in the current instance of the Define Calibration Settings dialog.

To edit this Cal Kit after it is created, use the Advanced Modify Cal Kit feature in the PNA.

 

Line Frequency Settings dialog

To see this dialog, click Show Line Ranges on the Create Probe Cal Kit dialog.

Each Line standard is designed to cover a specific frequency range.  Review the lines and frequency ranges to be sue that they will cover the measurement of your DUT.