NCSL Sponsored Measurement Comparison Program RF POWER (Calibration Factor) Summer 1993 Report

摘要

The RF Power Measurement Comparison Program (MCP) was begun in early 1991 to provide an economical method to determine the accuracy and correlation of laboratory measurements of the calibration factor (CF) of RF sensors. (REF: NCSL 1992 Conference Proceedings Pages 151-161) The original impetus for the MCP for RF power grew out of concern over inability to meet MIL STD 45662A requirements for a Test Uncertainty Ratio (TUR) of 4:1. This concern was especially evident at secondary level calibration labs attempting to verify the calibration factor (CF) of commercial RF sensors and thermistor mounts to published uncertainty specifications and do so in compliance with the MIL-STD. NIST calibrations of RF power transfer standards are expensive and time consuming. Even when NIST traceable standards are used, concern over the accuracy of the CF transfer from primary to lower level standards remains. MCPs provide inexpensive and informative data to assist in uncertainty analysis, and function also as a tool for Statistical Process Control (SPC).