IEC 62037-1:2025
(Main)Passive RF and microwave devices, intermodulation level measurement - Part 1: General requirements and measuring methods
Passive RF and microwave devices, intermodulation level measurement - Part 1: General requirements and measuring methods
IEC 62037-1:2025 deals with the general requirements and measuring methods for intermodulation (IM) level measurement of passive RF and microwave components, which can be caused by the presence of two or more transmitting signals. The test procedures given in this document give the general requirements and measurement methods required to characterize the level of unwanted IM signals using two transmitting signals. The IEC 62037 series addresses the measurement of PIM but does not cover the long-term reliability of a product with reference to its performance. This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2021. This edition constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) added clarification that PIM generation is typically frequency dependent and noted that testing with swept or multiple fixed frequencies often provides more accurate results;
b) identified multi-port PIM analyzers as a possible test set-up topography;
c) added specification that test power level does not exceed the power handling capability of the DUT;
d) updated test specification to include missing parameters needed to properly define a PIM test;
e) added clarification that PIM test reports include the maximum PIM value measured over the test duration;
f) corrected error in Figure 3 that was erroneously changed in IEC 62037-1:2021.
Dispositifs RF et à micro-ondes passifs, mesure du niveau d'intermodulation - Partie 1: Exigences générales et méthodes de mesure
L’IEC 62037-1:2025 donne les exigences générales et les méthodes de mesure du niveau d’intermodulation (IM) des composants RF et à micro-ondes passifs, qui peut être provoqué par la présence de deux ou plus de deux signaux d’émission. Les procédures d’essai présentées dans le présent document donnent les exigences générales et les méthodes de mesure exigées pour caractériser le niveau des signaux d’intermodulation indésirables à l’aide de deux signaux d’émission. La série IEC 62037 porte sur la mesure de l’intermodulation passive (PIM), mais ne couvre pas la fiabilité à long terme des produits par rapport à leurs performances. Cette troisième édition annule et remplace la deuxième édition parue en 2021. Cette édition constitue une révision technique.
Cette édition inclut les modifications techniques majeures suivantes par rapport à l’édition précédente:
a) clarification ajoutée indiquant que la génération d'une intermodulation passive (PIM) dépend généralement de la fréquence et note indiquant que les essais à balayage de fréquences ou à des fréquences fixes multiples donnent souvent des résultats plus précis;
b) analyseurs d’intermodulation passive à plusieurs ports identifiés comme topographies de montage d'essai possibles;
c) ajout d'une spécification indiquant que le niveau de puissance de l'essai ne dépasse pas la capacité de tenue en puissance du dispositif en essai;
d) spécification d'essai mise à jour pour inclure les paramètres manquants nécessaires à la définition correcte d'un essai de génération d'intermodulation passive (PIM);
e) clarification ajoutée indiquant que les rapports d'essai de génération d'intermodulation passive (PIM) incluent la valeur PIM maximale mesurée sur toute la durée d'essai;
f) erreur corrigée à la Figure 3 qui avait été modifiée à tort dans l'IEC 62037-1:2021.
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IEC 62037-1 ®
Edition 3.0 2025-02
REDLINE VERSION
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Passive RF and microwave devices, intermodulation level measurement –
Part 1: General requirements and measuring methods
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IEC 62037-1 ®
Edition 3.0 2025-02
REDLINE VERSION
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Passive RF and microwave devices, intermodulation level measurement –
Part 1: General requirements and measuring methods
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 33.040.20 ISBN 978-2-8327-0285-7
– 2 – IEC 62037-1:2025 RLV © IEC 2025
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms . 6
3.1 Terms and definitions . 6
3.2 Abbreviated terms . 6
4 Characteristics of intermodulation products . 7
5 Principle of test procedure . 7
6 Test set-up . 7
6.1 General . 7
6.2 Test equipment . 8
6.2.1 General . 8
6.2.2 Set-up 1 . 8
6.2.3 Set-up 2 . 10
7 Preparation of DUT and test equipment . 10
7.1 General . 10
7.2 Guidelines for minimizing generation of passive intermodulation . 11
8 Test procedure . 12
9 Test specification . 12
10 Reporting. 12
10.1 Results . 12
10.2 Example of results . 13
11 Measurement error . 13
Annex A (informative) Configuration of low-PIM termination . 15
A.1 General . 15
A.2 Configuration of low-PIM terminations . 15
A.2.1 Long cable termination . 15
A.2.2 Lumped termination with a linear attenuator . 15
Annex B (informative) Test procedure considerations . 17
B.1 PIM variation versus frequency . 17
B.2 Stepped frequency sweep method . 17
B.3 Fixed frequency method . 17
B.4 Dynamic PIM testing . 17
B.5 Heating effects . 17
Bibliography . 18
Figure 1 – Set-up 1: reverse IM-test set-up . 9
Figure 2 – Set-up 2: forward IM-test set-up . 10
Figure 3 – Passive intermodulation (PIM) measurement error caused by residual
system error . 14
Figure A.1 – Long cable termination . 15
Figure A.2 – Lumped termination with a linear attenuator . 16
Table 1 – Guide for the design, selection of materials and handling of components that
can cause PIM . 11
Table 2 – Test set-up conditions . 12
– 4 – IEC 62037-1:2025 RLV © IEC 2025
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
PASSIVE RF AND MICROWAVE DEVICES,
INTERMODULATION LEVEL MEASUREMENT –
Part 1: General requirements and measuring methods
FOREWORD
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This redline version of the official IEC Standard allows the user to identify the changes
made to the previous edition IEC 62037-1:2021. A vertical bar appears in the margin
wherever a change has been made. Additions are in green text, deletions are in
strikethrough red text.
IEC 62037-1 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 46: Cables, wires, waveguides, RF
connectors, RF and microwave passive components and accessories. It is an International
Standard.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2021. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
a) added clarification that PIM generation is typically frequency dependent and noted that
testing with swept or multiple fixed frequencies often provides more accurate results;
b) identified multi-port PIM analyzers as a possible test set-up topography;
c) added specification that test power level does not exceed the power handling capability of
the DUT;
d) updated test specification to include missing parameters needed to properly define a PIM
test;
e) added clarification that PIM test reports include the maximum PIM value measured over the
test duration;
f) corrected error in Figure 3 that was erroneously changed in IEC 62037-1:2021.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
46/1035/FDIS 46/1043/RVD
Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.
The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.
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A list of all the parts in the IEC 62037 series, published under the general title Passive RF and
microwave de
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