Abstract: One of the key performance parameters for noise figure is the level of measurement uncertainty. A significant contributor to this is the uncertainty surrounding the noise source used when measuring noise figure on the device. Accurate noise source calibration is critical to minimizing noise figure uncertainty, and thus a critical factor for obtaining quality noise figure measurement. In this paper, two methods of Y-Factor and Gain are introduced to measure the microwave and millimeter-wave noise source, and the measurement uncertainties are also studied.

Key words: Noise source, Excess noise ratio, Calibration method, Measurement uncertainty