User-based Software Tool for S-Parameter Conversion and Manipulation

摘要

S-parameters fully characterize the linear behavior of an arbitrary number of ports. We aim to characterize various field-effect transistors (FETs), each having a certain gate width and geometry, from their S-parameters. We extract the data from the vector network analyzer in real-time and perform a series of calculations and conversions on the initial S-parameters. Using a software tool written in C++ that interfaces with the vector network analyzer (VNA), the corresponding computer monitor, and two direct current (DC) power supplies, the user can collect relevant real-time data about a device under test (DUT). The software contains a number of user-input interfaces paired with appropriate graph canvases. Its main functionalities include: conversion of S- parameters to H-parameters, selection of H21 in an effort to calculate the frequency (ft) at which the transistor exhibits unity current gain, a family of current-voltage (I-V) curves of the DUT, and calculations and plots of transconductance (gm). Future work will include measuring a variety of devices and allowing the software tool to collect statistics on them.