Exploring Phase Skew in Load-pull Configurations

Impedance tuners and single-tone test signals are widely used for large signal device characterization. Conversely, employing wideband modulated signals for characterization offers a more precise analysis of final product performance, including EVM and ACPR. This study investigates the phase skew in load-pull setups equipped with electromechanical tuners up to 65 GHz carrier frequency and 500 MHz signal bandwidth. Four distinct tuners, distinguished by their power handling capabilities and frequency ranges, were assessed within an actual load-pull setup configuration. The findings underscore that the physical dimensions of the tuner and the distance between the device and the tuner due to additional components used in the setup influence the amount of phase skew, aligning with expectations.