Services

 

Focus Microwaves has been known and appreciated for its excellent technical support backing up our systems worldwide.

We are strictly committed to providing indepth load pull and noise characterization training, on-line troubleshooting services, cost effective and fast turnaround repair service, customized software options and instrument drivers and much more.
Accurate load pull and noise measurements are indefectibly the result of a strong collaboration between Focus engineers and the engineers using our systems.

For this Focus offers personalized software and hardware maintenance and support contracts.

These customized programs allow you to benefit from the accumulated experience of a team of 15 dedicated Focus engineers who will be available around the clock and can visit you on-site and assist in

  • getting the most from your equipment
  • train new users
  • develop new drivers
TUNER_MAINTENANCE-2

Tuner Maintenance

NOW AVAILABLE FROM FOCUS

DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF TUNERS IN 24/7 OPERATION

FOCUS NOW OFFERS ON SITE TUNER MAINTENANCE AND CALIBRATION SERVICE

FOR OUR CUSTOMERS, AT COMPETITIVE PRICES.

  • TUNERS ARE PRECISION MECHANICAL INSTRUMENTS THAT PERFORM BEST
  • WHEN MAINTAINED REGULARLY BY CERTIFIED PERSONNEL.

THE ON SITE SERVICE ENSURES

  1. BETTER CONFIDENCE IN MEASUREMENT
  2. MINIMUM COST, DOWN-TIME AND NO SHIPPING/CUSTOMS PROCEDURES
  3. LONGEVITY OF THE TUNERS

CALL US AT 514-684-4554 or SEND US AN EMAIL

 

Recent Testimonials:

Test Engineer / Germany: “We were very satisfied with the service.”

Test Engineer / Billerica, MA USA: “Very fast response time for a qualified and detailed answer. Very fast reaction time on software error correction. Very fast response time to add a new feature in software.”

Test Engineer / China: “The service is on time, when we want support.”

Test Engineer / China: “The response from the site engineers are always on time and detailed. Customer Service is very good, – improve the quality of the product.”

Design Engineer, Staff / NY, USA: “Very Satisfied with customer service support.The technical team was outstanding and provided clear and detailed instructions over the phone. The system is fully functional and providing great results. I greatly appreciate the effort put forth by the whole team.”

Test Engineer / Ireland: “We were very satisfied with the visit as well as the online help we received. It was explained clearly how the system operated, took us through how to perform a TRL calibration using a Focus test fixture, and answered almost all our questions.”

Test Engineer / France: “Product / Service – We received a high quality support, I strongly appreciated to have a very skilled person for maintaining our tuners. My confidence is very good on how the tuners operate after the maintenance work. I am the person that meets people for maintaining our equipment and I can say that I fully trust your technician to maintain our tuners again in the future.”

Engineer Manager / Texas, USA: “Very helpful, a pleasure working with. Technician comes prepared and is able to solve the problems.”

Test Engineer / CA, USA: “Excellent job in supporting our team in the loadpull tuner maintenance. Attention to detail, high communication skills. Persistent work ethic – we hope to continue.”

Training

FOCUS offers the possibility of Load Pull and Amplifier Design courses.

These courses must be ordered and arranged separately from the purchasing and installation of the load pull system.

The courses provide

an integrated front-to-back environment for optimizing power and noise performance of products used in wireless, radio & TV, military, satcom, and ATE segments. As the first course in Focus load-pull, and part of the introductory sequence at Focus’ Technology. The course introduces you to the benefits and applications of Focus loadpull, including:

  • LP 101             Basic Loadpull                              2 Days

This course is recommended for first-time Focus users, engineering management,

and those needing a refresher on load-pull principles.Introduction to Focus LPEx Load-Pull Software Environment.

Content

– How do Focus Tuners Work?
– Focus Load-Pull System Configuration
– Vector Network Analyzer Theory and Review
– System Calibration and Verification
– Introduction to Test-Fixture De-Embedding
– Your First Load-Pull Session
– Interpretation and Application of Load-Pull Data
– Managing and Using Load-Pull Data for Design

  •  LP 102             Intermediate Loadpull I: RF Power Applications                              1-2 Days

Prerequisites:      LP 101 recommended

A second course on load-pull, including advanced topics such as harmonic load-pull with Focus MPT, introductory test-fixture design and de-embedding, on-wafer applications, theory of IM, ACPR, and EVM loadpull, and system accuracy and repeatability. Strong focus on constructing load-pull sessions for effective product design for wireless applications such as GaAs RF PA modules for portable applications and multi-stage LDMOS & GaN line-up design for base-station applications. Can be tailored to on-wafer mm-wave applications. Part of the FU core sequence for standard system installation.

  •  LP 103             Intermediate Loadpull II: Noise Applications                                  1-2 Days

Prerequisites:      LP 101 recommended

A second course on load-pull, including advanced topics such as fundamental noise theory, noise system architecture, noise parameter characterization, noise source-pull, on-wafer calibration and de-embedding, on-wafer applications, and system accuracy and repeatability. Strong focus on constructing measurement sessions for parametric noise characterization and modeling for CMOS, SOI, SiGe and III-V & II-VI technologies. Can be tailored on-wafer mm-wave applications. Part of the FU core sequence for standard noise system installation.

  • LP 104             Advanced Loadpull I                                                                          1-2 Days

Prerequisites:      LP 102 recommended

A third course on load-pull, including specialized topics such as wideband modulation (multi-carrier base-station, WiMAX, LTE, and WiFi), characterizing and minimizing memory effects (electrical and thermal), use of advanced modulation sources, and characterization of pulse power for RADAR applications. Special emphasis on data interpretation, including ACPR, ACLR, EVM, and CDP contours to maximize transistor efficiency and linearity simultaneously using nested source-pull and load-pull methods. Introductory treatment of PCB matching network synthesis methods to realize source and load impedances identified as optimum by loadpull.

LP 120             Introduction to the Vector Network Analyzer                                   1 Day

Prerequisites:      LP 102 recommended

An introduction to the VNA, including s-parameter theory, operational overview, architecture, and calibration methods. Special emphasis on the VNA for load-pull system characterization and tuner characterization to enhance accuracy. Rigorous introduction to VNA calibration methods, including SOLT, LRM, and TRL in various media such as 7 mm coaxial and microstrip.

  • LP 121             Introduction to Loadpull Accuracy Analysis                                   0.5 Day

Prerequisites:      LP 102 or LP 103 and LP 120

An introduction to load-pull accuracy analysis, addressing such questions as system verification, system accuracy, and system process tracking. Introduction to the DeltaGT method of system verification, gain-circle verification, and absolute power verification. Also covers dynamic range optimization for ACPR/ACLR measurement.

  • LP 130             Introductory Test-Fixture Design for Wireless PA’s                          1 Day

Prerequisites:      LP 102,  LP 120, and LP 121

A first course on test-fixture design for wireless PA applications, including topics such as physical design and layout, connectors, substrate, and metallization. Covers ideal de-embedding, adapter removal, single-tier, and two-tier de-embedding methods. Introduction to pre-matching theory, bias network design, cooling, and power limitations.

  • LP 132             On-Wafer Calibration and De-Embedding                                          1 Day

Prerequisites:      LP 102 or LP 103,  LP 120, and LP 121

An advanced course covering on-wafer measurements for sub 1 Ohm RF power load-pull and highly mismatched CMOS noise characterization. Includes use of MPT technology and pre-matching probes for high-power on-wafer load-pull and CMOS/SOI/SiGe noise characterization and modeling. SOLT, LRM, LRRM, and TRL calibration methods are covered, as is probe de-embedding. Introduction to oscillation mitigation and control.

Installation

A Basic “on the Bench” System Installation includes:

  • Verifying the functionality and performance of all components delivered
  • Explaining the basic operation of the tuners
  • Calibrating of the VNA using TRL and verifying the Cal
  • Calibrating the tuners and verifying their performance on the VNA
  • Calibrating the setup and verifying
  • The overall accuracy using Back-To-Back (B2B) method (Load Pull)
  • The linearity using Pin/Pout (Load Pull)
  • The Receiver Calibration (Noise)
  • Performing basic measurements on DUT’s
  • Graphical Data Processing
  • Instructing the Customer to execute the above points by himself.
  • Reviewing the results and establishing an Installation protocol to be signed by Focus and Customer.

Advanced “on Wafer” System Installation includes:

All items of basic installation “on the Bench” System, and

  • Mechanical installation and verification of system integrity on wafer station.
  • Repeated measurements on a THRU Line to verify system mechanical stability

Noise

  • Verification using passive standards
  • Noise model extraction and comparison with measured DUT parameters
  • Additional noise parameter extractions and discussion

Load Pull

  • B2B (Back-To-Back) verification on wafer
  • Advanced DUT measurements per Customer request
  • Development of User-defined instrument drivers
  • X-parameter training (if purchased)