Optimal bandpass sampling strategies for enhancing the performance of a phase noise meter

Measurement of phase noise affecting oscillators or clocks is a fundamental practice whenever the need of a reliable time base is of primary concern. In spite of the number of methods or techniques either available in the literature or implemented as personalities in general-purpose equipment, very accurate measurement results can be gained only through expensive, dedicated instruments. To offer a cost-effective alternative, the authors have already realized a DSP-based phase noise meter, capable of assuring good performance and real-time operation. The meter, however, suffers from a reduced frequency range (about 250 kHz), and needs an external time base for input signal digitization. To overcome these drawbacks, the authors propose the use of bandpass sampling strategies to enlarge the frequency range, and of an internal time base to make standalone operation much more feasible. After some remarks on the previous version of the meter, key features of the adopted time base and proposed sampling strategies are described in detail. Results of experimental tests, carried out on sinusoidal signals provided both by function and arbitrary waveform generators, are presented and discussed; evidence of the meter’s reliability and efficacy is finally given.