MPT Reference Manual

Version 2.0
December 2010

Focus Microwaves Inc.

1603 St. Regis

Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec
Canada H9B 3H7
www.focus-microwaves.com
[email protected]
Tel: (514) 684-4554 Fax: (514) 684-8581

Table of Contents
1

MPT MODES OF OPERATION........................................................................................................... 3

1.1
OVERVIEW........................................................................................................................................ 3
1.2
DESCRIPTION..................................................................................................................................... 4
1.2.1
Single Slug MPT (SSMPT) ...................................................................................................... 5
1.2.2
Prematching MPT (PMPT) .................................................................................................... 5
1.2.3
Stable MPT (SMPT) ............................................................................................................... 5
1.2.4
Harmonic MPT (HMPT)......................................................................................................... 5
1.2.5
Harmonic MPT: Lite (HMPTLite) ........................................................................................... 5
1.2.6
Harmonic MPT: HiDef (HMPT_HiDef) ................................................................................... 5
1.2.7
Harmonic MPT (HMPT_LoMem) .......................................................................................... 6
1.2.8
Harmonic MPT: 4 frequency (HMPT_Quattro) ..................................................................... 6
1.2.9
HighVSWR ............................................................................................................................ 6

MPT CAPABILITIES .......................................................................................................................... 7

1 MPT Modes of Operation

1.1 Overview
The Multi-Purpose Tuner (MPT) uses three independent RF probes to synthesize several million
impedances at up to three (fundamental, 1st and 2nd harmonic) frequencies. This allows the
tuner to be used in several modes of operation 1 (see section 2.2 as well):

SSMPT: Single Slug (probe) MPT traditional tuning

PMPT: Prematching MPT (two probes used for high VSWR)
SMPT: Stable MPT (low vibration operation using three probes moving only vertically)
HMPT: 3 frequency harmonic MPT (three probes used in combination for independent
harmonic tuning). Uses generated data stored on the users hard drive. (Removed as of
version 1.61).
HMPTLite: 2 frequency harmonic MPT (uses two probes in combination for harmonic
tuning). Uses generated data stored in memory.
HMPT_HiDef: 3 frequency harmonic MPT (uses three probes in combination for
harmonic tuning). Uses generated data stored in memory. Note: This mode is faster and
more accurate than the HMPT mode. Also this tuning mode does not require hard drive
space. The tradeoff is that this mode requires significantly more memory and processor
power.
HMPT_LoMem: 3 frequency harmonic MPT (uses three probes in combination for
harmonic tuning). Uses generated data stored in memory. Note: This mode is faster and
more accurate than the HMPT mode but less accurate than HMPT_HiDef. Also this
tuning mode does not require hard drive space.
HMPT_Quattro: 4 frequency harmonic MPT (uses four probes in combination for
harmonic tuning). Uses generated data stored in memory. Also this tuning mode does
not require hard drive space. The this mode requires the most amount of memory and
processor power than other MPT tuning modes.
HighVSWR: Two probes are used to automatically tune high VSWR. This mode can be
used as an automated alternative to the PMPT mode

1 Each MPT type can only be used in certain tuning modes. Please consult section 2 for details.

Multi-Purpose Tuner, MPT-1808

Users can use the Load Pull Explorer software as an ActiveX server in order to develop load pull
applications using MPT tuning functionality. The appropriate MPT functions are contained in
the ActiveX interface exported by FMWCalibration.exe. These functions can be readily
integrated into any ActiveX capable programming language, such as, LabView, HP-Vee, C++, C#,
and Visual Basic.

1.2 Description
The MPT ActiveX control permits the user to perform the following:
Control motor movement of the tuner, including limit checking to prevent physical tuner
damage.
Load existing Focus tuner configuration and calibration data.
Calculate the S-parameters of the tuner in any calibrated position, and for any calibrated
frequency.
Calculate the S-parameters of the tuner in any physical position at any calibrated
frequency, using Focus interpolation algorithms.
Tune the tuner to any desired gamma, within the physical tuner resolution and tuning
range. Additionally, at the users discretion, this calculation can incorporate the Sparameters of the section between the test port of the tuner and the device under test
(DUT), as well as the termination seen from the other port of the tuner into the source
or load. This allows for correct tuning at DUT reference plane.
The MPT has several tuning modes that can be summarized as follows:

1.2.1 Single Slug MPT (SSMPT)

This mode uses a single RF probe to synthesize any impedance at the fundamental frequency.
For this mode the probe closest to the DUT will be used. (Emulates a Focus standard single slug
CCMT tuner).

1.2.2 Prematching MPT (PMPT)

This mode uses two RF probes for high VSWR tuning at a single fundamental frequency. The
closest and second closest probes to the DUT are used. Operation in this mode allows for higher
VSWR to be reached than in the SSMPT mode of operation. The tuning in this mode will adjust
only the second (tuning probe) automatically, while the first probe (prematch probe) will
remain fixed.

1.2.3 Stable MPT (SMPT)

This mode enables zero vibration fundamental tuning to any Smith Chart impedance. This mode
uses vertical only movement of all three RF probes. This creates ideal on-wafer tuning without
any undesired tuner vibration or tuner tilting. Smith chart coverage is determined by the (user
selectable but then fixed) horizontal distance between probes.
Additionally, the LFT uses this tuning mode exclusively, however, the user may not change the
horizontal spacing.

1.2.4 Harmonic MPT (HMPT)

Enables independent fundamental (fo) and harmonic (2fo, 3fo) tuning using all three RF probes
by using appropriate search algorithms among approximately 1022 possible tuner states (stored
on hard drive) at each harmonic frequency. Tuning accuracy at each harmonic frequency can be
traded off using user adjustable Weight Factors (1-5 for fo, 0-5 2fo & 3fo typically). Additionally,
tuning radius values may be set for each frequency. These radius values are used to
permit/restrict a certain variation of gamma at each frequency (default: 0, typical values 0
0.05). As of release version 1.61 this tuning mode has been replaced by the HMPT_LoMem
tuning mode.

1.2.5 Harmonic MPT: Lite (HMPTLite)

Enables independent fundamental (fo) and harmonic (2fo) tuning using all two RF probes by
using appropriate search algorithms among approximately 1012 possible tuner states at each
harmonic frequency. Tuning accuracy at each harmonic frequency can be traded off using user
adjustable Weight Factors (1-5 for fo, 0-5 2fo). Additionally, tuning radius values may be set for
each frequency. These radius values are used to permit/restrict a certain variation of gamma at
each frequency (default: 0, typical values 0 0.05).

1.2.6 Harmonic MPT: HiDef (HMPT_HiDef)

Enables independent fundamental (fo) and harmonic (2fo, 3fo) tuning using all three RF probes
by using appropriate search algorithms among approximately 1022 possible tuner states (stored
in memory) at each harmonic frequency. Tuning accuracy at each harmonic frequency can be
5

traded off using user adjustable Weight Factors (1-5 for fo, 0-5 2fo & 3fo typically).
Additionally, tuning radius values may be set for each frequency. These radius values are used
to permit/restrict a certain variation of gamma at each frequency (default: 0, typical values 0
0.05). This mode is faster and more accurate than the HMPT mode. However, data storage in
RAM and additional computations causes this mode to use a large amount of system memory
and processor power.

1.2.7 Harmonic MPT (HMPT_LoMem)

Enables independent fundamental (fo) and harmonic (2fo, 3fo) tuning using all three RF probes
by using appropriate search algorithms among approximately 1022 possible tuner states (stored
in memory) at each harmonic frequency. Tuning accuracy at each harmonic frequency can be
traded off using user adjustable Weight Factors (1-5 for fo, 0-5 2fo & 3fo typically).
Additionally, tuning radius values may be set for each frequency. These radius values are used
to permit/restrict a certain variation of gamma at each frequency (default: 0, typical values 0
0.05). This mode is faster and more accurate than the HMPT mode, but less accurate than the
HMPT_HiDef mode. Data storage in RAM and computations are optimized (at the expense of
accuracy) and can therefore be run with less system memory and processor power than
HMPT_HiDef mode.

1.2.8 Harmonic MPT: 4 frequency (HMPT_Quattro)

Enables independent (fo) and harmonic (2fo, 3fo, 4fo) tuning using all four RF probes by using
appropriate search algorithms among approximately 1027 possible tuner states (stored in
memory) at each harmonic frequency. Tuning accuracy at each harmonic frequency can be
traded off using user adjustable weight factors (1-5 for fo, 0-5 for harmonics typically).
Additionally, tuning radius values may be set for each frequency. These radius values are used
to permit/restrict a certain variation of gamma at each frequency (default: 0, typical values 0
0.05). This mode allows the maximum harmonic tuning capability (up to 4fo) and requires the
most (compared to other MPT tuning modes) amount of RAM and processing power.

1.2.9 HighVSWR
This mode uses two RF probes for high VSWR tuning at a single fundamental frequency. The
closest and second closest probes to the DUT are used. Operation in this mode allows for higher
VSWR to be reached than in the SSMPT mode of operation. The tuning in this mode will
automatically adjust both probes used to attain the target gamma.

2 MPT Capabilities
Each MPT tuner type has certain capabilities and can only be used in certain tuning modes, as
outlined in the following table:
Tuning Mode\Model

MPT/MPTW

MPTShort

MPTLite

MPT-Quattro

SSMPT
PMPT
SMPT
HMPT
HMPT_LoMem
HMPTLite
HMPT_HiDef
HMPT_Quattro
HighVSWR

X
X
X
--X
X
X

--X
X
X

X
X
X
X