Microwave Bridges

Devices

Device	Tested	Connection
Micran X-band MW Bridge	06/2021	TCP/IP Socket
Micran X-band MW Bridge v2	12/2022	TCP/IP Socket
Micran Q-band MW Bridge	12/2023	TCP/IP Socket

Functions

mw_bridge_name()

mw_bridge_name()    # -> str; device name

This function returns device name.

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mw_bridge_open()

mw_bridge_open()    # -> 'DEVICE OPENED' | 'DEVICE NOT FOUND'

This function is only available for Micran Q-band MW Bridge. It opens the driver of the microwave bridge and should be called before any other functions.

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mw_bridge_close()

mw_bridge_close()    # -> 'DEVICE CLOSED'

This function is only available for Micran Q-band MW Bridge. It closes the driver of the microwave bridge and should be called after the last operation function in the script is executed.

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mw_bridge_synthesizer(*freq)

mw_bridge_synthesizer()        # -> 'Frequency: {int} MHz' (query)
mw_bridge_synthesizer(9750)    # set synthesizer frequency to 9750 MHz

This function queries or sets the frequency of the synthesizer in MHz. If an argument is specified, the function sets a new frequency value. If there is no argument, the function returns the current frequency in the form of 'Frequency: 9750 MHz'. The range can be modified in the configuration file.

Range: 9000 MHz – 10000 MHz (1 MHz step)

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mw_bridge_att1_prd(*atten)

mw_bridge_att1_prd()       # -> 'Attenuator PRD1: {float} dB' (query)
mw_bridge_att1_prd(1.5)    # set PRD1 attenuation to 1.5 dB

This function queries or sets the attenuation (in dB) of the first attenuator in the PRD part of the bridge. If an argument is specified, the function sets a new attenuation value. If there is no argument, the function returns the current attenuation. The output is in the form of 'Attenuator PRD1: 15.5 dB'.

Range: 0 dB – 31.5 dB (0.5 dB step)

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mw_bridge_att2_prd(*atten)

mw_bridge_att2_prd()       # -> 'Attenuator PRD2: {float} dB' (query)
mw_bridge_att2_prd(2.0)    # set PRD2 attenuation

This function queries or sets the attenuation (in dB) of the second attenuator in the PRD part of the bridge. If an argument is specified, the function sets a new attenuation value. If there is no argument, the function returns the current attenuation. The output is in the form: 'Attenuator PRD2: 15.5 dB'.

Range: 0 dB – 31.5 dB (0.5 dB step)

Note

This function is not available for Micran Q-band MW bridge.

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mw_bridge_fv_ctrl(*phase)

mw_bridge_fv_ctrl()       # -> 'Phase CTRL: {float} deg' (query)
mw_bridge_fv_ctrl(100)    # set CTRL phase to 100 deg

This function queries or sets the phase (in deg) of the phase shifter in the CTRL part of the bridge. If an argument is specified, the function sets a new phase value. If there is no argument, the function returns the current phase. The output is in the form: 'Phase CTRL: 5.625 deg'. If there is no phase setting fitting the argument the nearest available value is used and warning is printed.

Range: 0° – 354.375° (5.625° step)

Note

This function is not available for Micran Q-band MW bridge.

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mw_bridge_fv_prm(*phase)

mw_bridge_fv_prm()      # -> 'Phase PRM: {float} deg' (query)
mw_bridge_fv_prm(50)    # set PRM phase

This function queries or sets the phase (in deg) of the phase shifter in the PRM part of the bridge. If an argument is specified, the function sets a new phase value. If there is no argument the function returns the current phase. The output is in the form: 'Phase PRM: 5.625 deg'. If there is no phase setting fitting the argument the nearest available value is used and warning is printed.

Range: 0° – 354.375° (5.625° step)

Note

This function is not available for Micran Q-band MW bridge.

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mw_bridge_att_prm(*atten)

mw_bridge_att_prm()     # -> 'Video Attenuation: {int} dB' (query)
mw_bridge_att_prm(2)    # set PRM video attenuation to 2 dB

This function queries or sets the attenuation (in dB) of the attenuator in the PRM part of the bridge. If an argument is specified, the function sets a new attenuation value. If there is no argument the function returns the current attenuation. The output is in the form: 'Video Attenuation: 14 dB'.

Range: 0 dB – 22 dB (2 dB step)

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mw_bridge_att2_prm(*atten)

mw_bridge_att2_prm()     # -> 'Video Attenuation 2: {int} dB' (query)
mw_bridge_att2_prm(2)    # set PRM video attenuation 2 to 2 dB

This function queries or sets the attenuation (in dB) of the attenuator 2 in the PRM part of the bridge. If an argument is specified, the function sets a new attenuation value. If there is no argument, the function returns the current attenuation. The output is in the form: 'Video Attenuation 2: 14 dB'.

Range: 0 dB – 31.5 dB (0.5 dB step)

Note

This function is only available for the Micran X-band MW Bridge v2 and Micran Q-band MW Bridge. The function mw_bridge_k_prm() should be used for Micran X-band MW Bridge.

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mw_bridge_k_prm(*amplif)

mw_bridge_k_prm()     # -> 'Amplification PRM: {int} dB' (query)
mw_bridge_k_prm(0)    # set amplification to 0 dB

This function queries or sets the amplification coefficient (in dB) in the PRM part of the bridge. If an argument is specified, the function sets a new amplification value. If there is no argument, the function returns the current amplification. The output is in the form: 'Amplification PRM: 22 dB'.

Allowed: 0 dB, 22 dB

Note

This function is only available for the Micran X-band MW Bridge. The function mw_bridge_att2_prm() should be used for Micran X-band MW Bridge v2 and Micran Q-band MW Bridge.

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mw_bridge_att_pin(*atten)

mw_bridge_att_pin()      # -> 'PIN Attenuator: {int} dB' (query)
mw_bridge_att_pin(10)    # set PIN attenuation to 10 dB

This function queries or sets the attenuation (in dB) of the pin attenuator of the bridge. If an argument is specified, the function sets a new attenuation. If there is no argument, the function returns the current attenuation. The output is in the form: 'PIN Attenuator: 10 dB'.

Range: 0 dB – 36 dB

Note

This function is only available for the Micran Q-band MW Bridge.

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mw_bridge_cut_off(*cutoff)

mw_bridge_cut_off()       # -> 'Cut-off Frequency: {int} MHz' (query)
mw_bridge_cut_off(300)    # set cut-off frequency to 300 MHz

This function queries or sets the cut-off frequency (in MHz) of the bridge. If an argument is specified the function sets a new cut-off frequency. If there is no argument, the function returns the current cut-off frequency. The output is in the form: 'Cut-off Frequency: 105 MHz'.

Allowed: 30 MHz, 105 MHz, 300 MHz

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mw_bridge_rotary_vane(*atten, mode)

mw_bridge_rotary_vane()    # -> 'Rotary Vane Attenuation: {int} dB'
mw_bridge_rotary_vane('10 dB', mode='Arbitrary') # set rotary vane to 10 dB

This function queries or sets the attenuation (in dB) of the rotary vane attenuator of the bridge. If an argument is specified, the function sets a new attenuation value. If there is no argument, the function returns the current attenuation. The output is in the form: 'Rotary Vane Attenuation: 10 dB'.

There are also two possible mode of the attenuator, that can be selected using the 'mode' key argument. In 'Limit' mode only two limit values of the attenuation can be used: 0 dB and 60 dB. This mode is usually used for initialization. In 'Arbitrary' mode any attenuation value from the range can be used.

For consistency, it is always best to end the experimental script at 60 dB attenuation:

mw_bridge_rotary_vane(60, mode='Limit')

Allowed mode: 'Limit', 'Arbitrary'

Range (Arbitrary): 0 dB – 60 dB (0.1 dB step)

Note

This function is not available on the Micran X-band MW Bridge.

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mw_bridge_telemetry()

mw_bridge_telemetry()    # -> str; telemetry

This function returns the telemetry. The format for Micran X-band MW Bridge and Micran X-band MW Bridge v2 is DATE; TEMPERATURE; STATE (INIT/WORK).

The format for Micran Q-band MW Bridge is DATE; ANSWER RECEIVED; PARAMS UPDATED; TI TOO SHORT; HPA TOO LONG; HPA ON INCORRECT; HPA OFF INCORRECT; EXT CLOCK CORRECT; SHAPER TOO LONG; DUTY CYCLE TOO LOW. All parameters except DATE has 0 (Off) and 1 (On) format.

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mw_bridge_initialize()

mw_bridge_initialize()        # reset bridge to initialization state
mw_bridge_initialize('On')    # Q-band: turn on init + several options

This function returns the bridge to initialization state. The initialization state corresponds to ATT1_PRD = 0 dB; ATT2_PRD = 0 dB; FV_CTRL = 0°; FV_PRM = 0°; ATT_PRM = 0 dB; K_PRM = 22 dB for Micran X-band MW Bridge or ATT2_PRM = 0 dB for Micran X-band MW Bridge v2; CUT-OFF frequency = 300 MHz; Synthesizer frequency = 1000 MHz; Synthesizer power = OFF.

For Micran Q-band MW Bridge a modified version is used that accepts a state argument; it initializes the bridge and turns on several options, namely "Internal Start ON", "External Clock ON", "Receiver LO Amp ON", "AWG LO Amp ON".

Allowed state (Q-band): 'On', 'Off'

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mw_bridge_reset()

mw_bridge_reset()    # reset error flags

This function is only available for Micran Q-band MW Bridge. It resets all the errors occured during the device operation. The status of these error flags can be checked using the mw_bridge_telemetry() function.