This enables new applications in high-frequency power measurements, including future automotive radar bands. Furthermore, the new broadband power sensor streamlines the validation and calibration of RF instruments.
With the new R&S NRP150T thermal power sensor, Rohde & Schwarz extends the frequency range of its R&S NRPxT series to 150 GHz. The R&S NRP150T is the first RF power sensor to cover all automotive radar frequency bands, including a new upper frequency band. In this context, the ADAS/AD industry, in collaboration with standardization organizations, is defining new frequency bands up to 148.5 GHz for advanced radar sensors. Beyond automotive applications, the sensor is also ideal for power measurements in various fields, such as satellite communications, satellite links, and radio astronomy, and supports research into higher frequency ranges.
The R&S NRP150T thermal power sensor delivers up to 500 measurements per second, which, combined with its wide frequency range, enables single-sweep measurements across the entire spectrum. This accelerates the validation and calibration of vector network analyzers and other RF instruments. The sensor is compatible with any application using the latest generation 0.80 mm RF connectors for frequencies up to 150 GHz, making it suitable for both device development and component manufacturing.
The R&S NRP150T thermal power sensor offers a wide dynamic range of -35 to +20 dBm and long-lasting stability. It compensates for ambient temperature fluctuations within its 0°C to +50°C temperature range, exhibits excellent drift behavior, and is insensitive to external temperature changes and out-of-band signals. With a standing wave ratio (SWR) of 1.7, the sensor ensures excellent matching and efficient power transmission. It is easy to use thanks to USB connectivity and is compatible with standard PCs and Android mobile devices via a free remote control app or through the Rohde & Schwarz R&S NRX base unit.
Like all power sensors in the R&S NRPxT series, the new R&S NRP150T sensor also offers traceability to National Metrology Institutes (NMIs), a prerequisite for the commercial and industrial use of a frequency band. The German National Metrology Institute (Physikalisch-Technische-Bundesanstalt, PTB) and other European NMIs that have collaborated with Rohde & Schwarz were the first to establish traceability to the NMI for the 110–170 GHz D-band, using Rohde & Schwarz technology. This includes frequencies up to 150 GHz used by the R&S NRP150T power sensors.
