Spectrum Analyzer Saravana Selvi

SPECTRUM ANALYZER
Introduction
• A spectrum analyzer measures the amplitude of an input signal
versus frequency within the full frequency range of the instrument
• The spectrum analyzer is to the frequency domain where as the
oscilloscope is to the time domain
• In the frequency domain, complex

signals are separated into their
frequency components, and the level
at each frequency is displayed
• Spectrum analyzer greatly reduces

the amount of noise present in the
measurement and also ensure there’s
no interference from neighbouring
frequencies.
SPECTRUM ANALYZERS
• The problems associated with non-real-time analysis in
the frequency domain can be eliminated by using a
spectrum analyzer. A spectrum analyzer is a real-time
analyzer, which means that it simultaneously displays
the amplitude of all the signals in the frequency range
of the analyzer.
• Spectrum analyzers, like wave analyzers, provide
information about the voltage or energy of a signal as a
function of frequency. Unlike wave analyzers. spectrum
analyzers provide a graphical display on a CRT. A block
diagram of an audio spectrum analyzer.
SPECTRUM ANALYZERS
• The real-time, or multichannel. analyzer is
basically a set of stagger-tuned bandpass filters
connected through an electronic scan switch to a
CRT. The composite amplitude of the signal
within each filters bandwidth is displayed as a
function of the overall frequency range of the
filter.
• Therefore, the frequency range of the instrument
is limited by the number of filters and their
bandwidth. The electronic switch sequentially
connects the filter outputs to the CRT.
SPECTRUM ANALYZERS
• Horizontal deflection is obtained from the

scan generator, which has a saw tooth output
that is synchronized with the electronic
switch.
Fig. 7 Block diagram of an audio spectrum analyzer.

SPECTRUM ANALYZERS
• Such analyzers are usually restricted to audio-
frequency applications and may employ as many
as 32 filters. The bandwidth of each filter is
generally made very narrow for good resolution.
• The relationship between a time-domain
presentation on the CRT of an oscilloscope and a
frequency-domain presentation on the CRT of a
spectrum analyzer is shown in the three-
dimensional drawing in Fig8.
SPECTRUM ANALYZERS
Spectrum analyzers are used to obtain a wide
variety of information from various kinds of
signals, including the following.
• Spectral purity of continuous-wave (CW) signals.
• Percentage of modulation of amplitude-
modulated (AM) signals.
• Deviation of frequency-modulated (FM) signals.
• Noise such as impulse and random noise.
• Filter frequency response.
DISTORTION OF AN AMPLIFIER
Fig. 11 Test setup to measure the total harmonic distortion of an amplifies.

DISTORTION OF AN AMPLIFIER
 waveform is applied to the amplifier. The output of the amplifier is

applied directly to the distortion analyzer which measures the total
harmonic distortion.
 In the field of microwave communications, in which pulsed

oscillators are widely used. spectrum analyzers are an important
tool. They also find wide application in analyzing the performance of
AM and FM transmitters.
 Spectrum analyzers and Fourier analyzers are widely used in

applications requiring very low frequencies in the fields of
biomedical electronics, geological surveying. and oceanography.
They are also used in analyzing air and water pollution.
SPECTRUM ANALYZER TO MEASURE INTERMODULATION
DISTORTION
• The spectrum analyzer can be used to

measure the intermodulation distortion, as
shown in the circuit in Fig14. The frequency of
the audio oscillator is generally set to
6 kHz.
Fig.14 Using the spectrum analyzer to measure intermodulation distortion.

SPECTRUM ANALYZER TO MEASURE INTERMODULATION
DISTORTION
 If the nonlinearity of the circuit is significant. the

modulation of the higher-frequency signal by the lower-
frequency signal will produce the familiar amplitude
modulation waveform as shown in Fig13. The percentage of
intermodulation distortion is computed as
M m
IMD  x 100%
where M m
IMD = the intermodulation distortion expressed as a
percentage
M = the peak-to-peak modulated signal
m = the minimum value of the modulated waveform
WAVEFORM PRODUCED BY INTERMODULATION DISTORTION
Fig. 13 Amplitude-modulated waveform produced by intermodulation distortion.

Types
• The most common spectrum analyzer measurements are: modulation,
distortion, and noise
• Spectrum analyzer types are:

 Swept tuned spectrum analyzer : It sweeps across the frequency
range, displaying all the frequency components present. This
enables measurements to be made over a large dynamic range and
wide frequency range.
 FFT based spectrum analyzer : The FFT analyzer takes a time-
domain signal, digitizes it using digital sampling, and then applies
the mathematics required to convert it to the frequency domain.
The result is displayed as a spectrum.
Swept tuned spectrum analyzer
• The major components in a spectrum analyzer are the RF input

attenuator, mixer, IF (Intermediate Frequency) gain, IF filter,
detector, video filter, local oscillator, sweep generator, and LCD
display.
Input attenuator and mixer
• Its purpose is to adjust the level of the signal
entering the mixer to its optimum level. If the signal
level is too high, the readings fall outside the display,
but also the mixer performance may not be optimum.
• A mixer is a three-port device that converts a signal from one

frequency to another (sometimes called a frequency translation device)
Gain , filter and detector
• IF stages provide the required level of gain. It has to be
used in conjunction with the RF gain control. Too high
a level of IF gain will increase the front end noise level
which may result in low level signals being masked.
• The IF filter is a band pass filter which is used as the
"window" for detecting signals. It's bandwidth is also
called the resolution bandwidth (RBW) of the analyzer
and can be changed via the front panel of the analyzer.
• The analyzer must covert the IF signal to a baseband or
video signal so it can be digitized and then viewed on the
analyzer display. This is accomplished with an envelope
detector whose video output is then digitized with an
analog-to digital converter (ADC).
Video filter, LO, SG and ADC
• The video filter is a low-pass filter that is
located after the envelope detector and before the
ADC. This filter determines the bandwidth of the
video amplifier, and is used to average or smooth
the trace seen on the screen.
• The local oscillator (LO) must be capable of

being tuned over a very wide range of frequencies
to enable the analyzer to scan over the required
range. The sweep generator actually tunes the LO
so that its frequency changes in proportion to the
ramp voltage. The video signal by the ADC is also
synchronized with the sweep generator to create
the frequency domain on the x-axis.
Front Panel
• The three primary hard keys
on any spectrum analyzer are:
frequency, amplitude, and span
• Other important control
functions include setting the
resolution- bandwidth, sweep
time, input attenuator and video
bandwidth
• Most analyzers allow you to
enter values by either punching
in the value on the number pad,
or by "dialing" up or down to the
desired value using the front
panel knob
Advantages and disadvantages
• Advantages :
Able to operate over wide frequency range

Wide bandwidth
Not as expensive as other spectrum analyzer technologies
• Disadvantages:
Cannot measure phase

Cannot measure transient events
Summary
• Spectrum analyzer measures the signal amplitude v/s frequency.
• The most common spectrum analyzer measurements are:
modulation, distortion, and noise
• Two types of Spectrum analyzer are
Swept tuned spectrum analyzer and
FFT based spectrum analyzer
• The major components in a spectrum analyzer are the RF input
attenuator, mixer, IF (Intermediate Frequency) gain, IF filter,
detector, video filter, local oscillator, sweep generator, and LCD
display.
• Can operate over wide frequency range and it is not expensive as
other spectrum analyzers
• Cannot measure phase and transient events

Spectrum Analyzer Saravana Selvi

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SPECTRUM ANALYZER

• In the frequency domain, complex

• Spectrum analyzer greatly reduces

• Horizontal deflection is obtained from the

Fig. 7 Block diagram of an audio spectrum analyzer.

Fig. 11 Test setup to measure the total harmonic distortion of an amplifies.

 waveform is applied to the amplifier. The output of the amplifier is

 In the field of microwave communications, in which pulsed

 Spectrum analyzers and Fourier analyzers are widely used in

• The spectrum analyzer can be used to

Fig.14 Using the spectrum analyzer to measure intermodulation distortion.

 If the nonlinearity of the circuit is significant. the

Fig. 13 Amplitude-modulated waveform produced by intermodulation distortion.

• Spectrum analyzer types are:

• The major components in a spectrum analyzer are the RF input

• A mixer is a three-port device that converts a signal from one

• The local oscillator (LO) must be capable of

Able to operate over wide frequency range

Cannot measure phase

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