Automated acceptance test procedures for wideband microwave synthesized signal generator testing

Standardized acceptance test procedures have been developed to enable the Navy to check precisely the performance characteristics of its new synthesized microwave signal generators which operate over a frequency range of 0.1 to 26.5 GHz (gigahertz). Extensive use of IEEE-488 bus-controlled instrumentation and a central processor/computer allows most of the measurements to be done automatically. Details of the individual tests performed and the hardware and software used to implement the tests are given. Test time has been reduced by at least a factor of five (conservative estimate), and test accuracy and repeatability have been enhanced significantly.