RFI Power Inlet Filter

Bode 100 - Application Note
RFI Power Inlet Filter Measurement

Page 1 of 12

with Bode 100
by Florian Hmmerle
2010 Omicron Lab V1.0
Visit www.omicron-lab.com for more information.
Contact support@omicron-lab.com for technical
support.
Smart Measurement Solutions

Page 2 of 12
Table of Contents
1 Executive Summary ....................................................................................................3
2 Measurement Task ......................................................................................................4
3 Measurement Setup & Results ...................................................................................5
3.1 Measurement Equipment ........................................................................................5
3.2 Test Object Specifications .......................................................................................5
3.3 Measurement Setup and Calibration .......................................................................6
3.3.1 Grabber DUT Connection ..................................................................................6
3.3.2 DUT Connection with Probe...............................................................................8
3.3.3 Soldered BNC Connection ...............................................................................10
3.4 Measurement Results ...........................................................................................12
4 Conclusion .................................................................................................................12
Note: Basic procedures like setting-up, adjusting and calibrating Bode 100 are
described in the user manual of Bode 100.
Note: All measurements in this application note have been performed with the Bode
Analyzer Suite V2.30SR1. Use this Version or a higher Version to perform
measurements according to this application note.
Download the latest version at http://www.omicron-lab.com/downloads.html

Page 3 of 12
1 Executive Summary
This application note describes how to measure the common mode insertion loss of a
RFI1 power inlet filter with the Bode 100.
It explains the measurement principle how the common mode insertion loss is
measured. This measurement principle is applied to a RFI filter using the Bode 100.
Different methods how to contact the DUT2 are compared. The final measurement
results are compared with information from the datasheet.
The application note shows the importance of correct DUT connection and how
connection methods can influence the measurement.
1
2
RFI...Radio Frequency Interference

DUT...Device Under Test

Page 4 of 12
2 Measurement Task
RFI power inlet filters are used to prevent electronic devices from emitting RFI and to
ensure proper function of the device when RFI is present. A RFI power inlet filter helps
to achieve sufficient RFI quality by blocking conducted RFI over the power line. This is
done by filtering (blocking) the radio frequency spectrum.
The manufacturer of the DUT specifies the filter by measuring the insertion loss. The
following picture shows how the common mode insertion loss is measured:
The reference setup is shown in the following picture. The RFI filter is replaced by a thru
connection, the 50 termination stays active.

Page 5 of 12
3 Measurement Setup & Results

3.1 Measurement Equipment
Bode 100 Vector Network Analyzer

Test object (standard RFI power inlet filter)
Measurement accessories (probe, BNC cable with grabbers, wired 50 resistor)
3.2 Test Object Specifications

The datasheet of the filter provides information about the insertion loss of the RFI filter.
The following table shows the guaranteed minimum insertion loss.
Minimum common mode insertion loss of the filter measured in a closed 50 System:
Frequency in MHz 0,15
0,5
1
5
10
30
Insertion loss in dB 14
23
30
41
45
50
The following figure from the datasheet shows the typical common mode insertion loss
(black line) of the filter:
Using the Bode 100 we will compare the typical common mode insertion loss data with
the measurement data.

Page 6 of 12
3.3 Measurement Setup and Calibration

The used DUT has a standard rubber connector line inlet at the input and wire leads at
the output side. As we want to determine the attenuation of the filter both sides (input
and output) have to be connected.
The first attempt to connect the DUT was to connect it via BNC cable and terminal plugs
on the line side and a BNC-Grabber adapter on the output side.
3.3.1 Grabber DUT Connection

The following figure shows the connection with the BNC-Grabber adapter cable.
The internal 50 resistor of channel 2 was switched on to achieve a terminated system.

Page 7 of 12
Thru calibration was performed as shown in the picture below.
After calibrating the measurement setup the DUT is connected as follows.
Using this configuration the following measurement results were achieved.

0
-10
-20
TR1/dB
-30
-40
Peak?
-50
-60
-70
-80
-90
-100
105
106
107
f/Hz
TR1: Mag(Gain)
At 30MHz a strange peak appears.

Extending the measurement range to 40MHz shows a resonance at approximately
32MHz.

Page 8 of 12
0
-10
-20
TR1/dB
-30
-40
-50
-60
-70
-80
-90
-100
20M
22M
24M
26M
28M
30M
32M
34M
36M
38M
40M
f/Hz
TR1: Mag(Gain)
To check if this resonance is caused by the connection setup or by the DUT itself a
measurement using an external probe was performed.
3.3.2 DUT Connection with Probe

To measure the filter with a probe the settings of the Bode 100 have to be changed. The
input channel 2 has to be set to high impedance.

Page 9 of 12
To remove the probe influence on the measurement a thru calibration has to be

performed as shown in the following picture. As the probe has high input impedance the
50 termination is done by adding a resistor to the circuit.
During the measurement the DUT is connected as follows. The termination resistor is
connected at the output of the filter.

Page 10 of 12
The so measured insertion loss does not show the resonance any more.
Some other effect seems to influence the measurement between 20 and 30MHz. The
area with the unexpected measurement is marked with the circle in the picture below.
0
-10
-20
TR1/dB
-30
-40
-50
-60
-70
-80
-90
-100
105
106
107
f/Hz
TR1: Mag(Gain)
This disturbance may be caused by crosstalk from the input to the output of the filter.
This effect can be decreased by shortening the connections and use shielded cable as
close to the DUT as possible.
3.3.3 Soldered BNC Connection

BNC connectors were soldered to the filter trying to keep the connections as short as
possible.

Page 11 of 12
Again the input impedance of channel 2 was set to 50 as explained with the first
connection method. Thru calibration is performed by connecting the BNC cables with a
thru connection.
For the measurement the DUT is connected instead of the thru connection as shown in
the picture below.
This measurement leads to the following result:

0
-10
-20
TR1/dB
-30
-40
-50
-60
-70
-80
-90
-100
105
106
107
f/Hz
TR1: Mag(Gain)
The distortion between 20 and 30MHz was not entirely removed but reduced
significantly.

Page 12 of 12
3.4 Measurement Results

We will now compare the measured common mode insertion loss with the chart from the
datasheet.
Datasheet:
Measurement:
The dark solid line represents the typical

common mode insertion loss.
The gray line displays the differential mode
insertion loss which is not part of this
application note.
The line represents the magnitude of the

measured common mode insertion loss.
The red dotted line inidcates the linear
interpolated minimal common mode
insertion loss as specified in the datasheet.
4 Conclusion
The measurements show that very often the proper connection of the DUT is more
challenging than the measurement itself.
To recognize errors caused by the connection one has to crosscheck the measured
data with the expected results.
The measured data and the information from the datasheet match well and the DUT
common mode insertion loss is significantly higher than the specified minimum insertion
loss.

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Bode 100 - Application Note