IEC 62037-4:2012

Passive RF and microwave devices, intermodulation level measurement - Part 4: Measurement of passive intermodulation in coaxial cables

IEC 62037-4:2012 is part of the IEC 62037 series, and defines test fixtures and procedures recommended for measuring levels of passive intermodulation generated by coaxial cables. Two dynamic test methods and a static test method are defined.

Dispositifs RF et à micro-ondes passifs, mesure du niveau d'intermodulation - Partie 4: Mesure de l'intermodulation passive dans les câbles coaxiaux

La CEI 62037-4:2012 définit les dispositifs et les procédures d'essai recommandés pour mesurer les niveaux d'intermodulation passive générés par les câbles coaxiaux. Deux méthodes d'essais dynamiques et une méthode d'essai statique sont définies. Tous les câbles coaxiaux sont soumis à l'essai statique et à l'essai dynamique d'une boucle de câble fixée. Les câbles classés comme souples ou semi-souples sont en plus soumis à l'essai dynamique avec outil de flexion.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 23-Jul-2012
• ICS: 01 - GENERALITIES. TERMINOLOGY. STANDARDIZATION. DOCUMENTATION
• ICS: 33.040.20 - Transmission systems
• Technical Committee: TC 46 - Cables, wires, waveguides, RF connectors, RF and microwave passive components and accessories
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 24-Jul-2012
• Completion Date: 24-Jul-2012

Standards Content (sample)

IEC 62037-4
Edition 1.0 2012-07
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Passive RF and microwave devices, intermodulation level measurement –
Part 4: Measurement of passive intermodulation in coaxial cables
Dispositifs RF et à micro-ondes passifs, mesure du niveau d’intermodulation –
Partie 4: Mesure de l’intermodulation passive dans les câbles coaxiaux
IEC 62037-4:2012-07(EN-FR)
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IEC 62037-4
Edition 1.0 2012-07
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Passive RF and microwave devices, intermodulation level measurement –
Part 4: Measurement of passive intermodulation in coaxial cables
Dispositifs RF et à micro-ondes passifs, mesure du niveau d’intermodulation –
Partie 4: Mesure de l’intermodulation passive dans les câbles coaxiaux
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
CODE PRIX K
ICS 33.040.20 ISBN 978-2-8322-1347-6

Warning! Make sure that you obtained this publication from an authorized distributor.

Attention! Veuillez vous assurer que vous avez obtenu cette publication via un distributeur agréé.

® Registered trademark of the International Electrotechnical Commission
Marque déposée de la Commission Electrotechnique Internationale
---------------------- Page: 3 ----------------------
– 2 – 62037-4 © IEC:2012
CONTENTS

FOREWORD ........................................................................................................................... 3

1 Scope ............................................................................................................................... 5

2 Normative references ....................................................................................................... 5

3 Abbreviations ................................................................................................................... 5

4 Test fixtures ..................................................................................................................... 5

5 Procedure......................................................................................................................... 7

5.1 General ................................................................................................................... 7

5.2 Dynamic test procedure – Clamped cable loop ........................................................ 8

5.3 Dynamic test – Flexing tool ..................................................................................... 8

5.4 Static test ................................................................................................................ 9

Annex A (informative) General test considerations ................................................................ 10

Figure 1 – Dynamic test using clamped "U" bend in cable ....................................................... 6

Figure 2 – Dynamic test using flexing tool ............................................................................... 6

Table 1 – Dimensions of the flexing tool .................................................................................. 7

Table 2 – Groove diameter ..................................................................................................... 7

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62037-4 © IEC:2012 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
PASSIVE RF AND MICROWAVE DEVICES,
INTERMODULATION LEVEL MEASUREMENT –
Part 4: Measurement of passive intermodulation in coaxial cables
FOREWORD

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8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is

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9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of

patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

International Standard IEC 62037-4 has been prepared by technical committee 46: Cables,

wires, waveguides, R.F. connectors, R.F. and microwave passive components and
accessories.

This bilingual version (2014-01) corresponds to the monolingual English version, published in

2012-07.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
46/418/FDIS 46/434/RVD

Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on

voting indicated in the above table.
The French version of this standard has not been voted upon.
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– 4 – 62037-4 © IEC:2012

This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

A list of all the parts in the IEC 62037 series, published under the general title Passive r.f. and

microwave devices, intermodulation level measurement can be found on the IEC website.

The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until

the stability date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data

related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
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62037-4 © IEC:2012 – 5 –
PASSIVE RF AND MICROWAVE DEVICES,
INTERMODULATION LEVEL MEASUREMENT –
Part 4: Measurement of passive intermodulation in coaxial cables
1 Scope

This part of IEC 62037 defines test fixtures and procedures recommended for measuring

levels of passive intermodulation generated by coaxial cables. Two dynamic test methods and

a static test method are defined.

All coaxial cables are subjected to the static and clamped cable loop dynamic test.

Cables classified as flexible or semi-flexible are additionally subjected to the flexing tool

dynamic test.
2 Normative references

The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and

are indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For

undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any
amendments) applies.

IEC 62037-1, Passive r.f. and microwave devices, intermodulation level measurement –

Part 1: General requirements and measuring methods

IEC 62037-3, Passive r.f. and microwave devices, intermodulation level measurement –

Part 3: Measurement or passive intermodulation in coaxial connectors
3 Abbreviations
DUT Device under test
IM Intermodulation
4 Test fixtures

For the dynamic tests, appropriate test fixtures are required. For the clamped cable loop test

(see 5.2), a method shall be provided for laterally moving the cable and for clamping the cable

each side of the region of movement, as shown schematically in Figure 1. Design of the

clamps shall be such as to firmly support the cable at the required points without causing

damage to the cable by crushing or kinking.

In the moving test using the flexing tool (see 5.3), the cable is flexed by a fixture through

which the cable is threaded as shown in Figure 2. General design for the fixture is shown in

Figure 2, and the detailed dimensions for different cable sizes (and different specified bend

radii) are listed in Table 1 and Table 2.
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– 6 – 62037-4 © IEC:2012
d3
d1 d1
Clamp Clamp
To test set To load
IEC 1535/12
Figure 1 – Dynamic test using clamped "U" bend in cable
X + D
Test port
DUT
Clamps
IEC 1536/12
R = ½ D
Figure 2 – Dynamic test using flexing tool
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62037-4 © IEC:2012 – 7 –
D is equal to or greater than the nominal diameter of the cable under test.

Values X, Y and Z depend on minimum bend radius of the cable for repeated bending.

Table 1 – Dimensions of the flexing tool
≥ diameter of the cable
R_min Minimum bend radius of the cable for repeated bending
X See Table 2
2 × R_min
X + 2,5 × cable diameter
Table 2 – Groove diameter
Minimum bending radius of cable under test Groove diameter X
R_min ≤ 33 mm 66
33 mm < R_min ≤ 47 mm
136
47 mm < R_min ≤ 68 mm
68 mm < R_min ≤ 100 mm 200

Other values may be used if agreed upon by the customer and supplier or specified by the

manufacturer.
5 Procedure
5.1 General
The test method of IEC 62037-1 shall be used.

Intermodulation in long cables is measured using the reverse set-up because of the significant

attenuation of these cables. If the cable to be measured is long enough, i.e. with a one-way

insertion loss of 10 dB or greater, it is required only to connectorize the end to be tested.

Use connectors with known low IM performance relative to the DUT. Soldered joints are

preferred. Similarly, if a termination is required, this shall also be of known low IM

performance relative to the DUT. See IEC 62037-3 for additional information.

Perform the required tests for the appropriate cable type as described in 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4.

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– 8 – 62037-4 © IEC:2012
5.2 Dynamic test procedure – Clamped cable loop
The procedure is as follows:

a) Connect the cable to be tested to the IM test set, and to the low IM termination if used (for

short cables) as shown in Figure 1. Bend the cable into a "U" shape and position clamps

on the limbs of the "U" as shown.

b) Adjust the radius of the "U" bend and the positions of the clamps so that dimensions "R"

are at the minimum bend radius for the cable under test. Then firmly clamp the cable on

both sides of the movement region, so that mechanical stresses resulting from cable

movement are not transmitted to the test set or load connections, possibly creating high

IM conditions.

c) The test described in item b) shall also be conducted on another sample, except done at

the multiple bend radius. Prior to conducting the test, the cable shall be subjected to

multiple bends.

d) Record the level of passive intermodulation generated in the static condition.

e) Apply movement to the cable in each of three directions, d1, d2, d3, as shown in Figure 1.

The movement may be applied by hand, or by suitable mechanical means. If mechanical

means is used, this shall cause no damage to the cable (e.g. by kinking or crushing) at the

point of application or elsewhere.

• The amplitude of movement in each direction for the cable size under test shall be a

minimum of 20 mm.
• The amplitude may be of a higher value if specified.
A minimum of 3 cycles (movement in both directions) per axis shall be performed;
each cycle shall be between 1 s and 5 s duration.

f) Record the maximum level of passive intermodulation generated during movement.

NOTE If using a spectrum analyser, it is helpful to use the “max-hold” function.

g) Finally, record the level of passive intermodulation generated in the static condition after

movement has ceased.
5.3 Dynamic test – Flexing tool
The procedure is as follows:

a) Thread the cable to be tested through the flexing tool, and connect the ends to the IM test

set, and to the low IM termination if used (for short cables) as shown in Figure 2. Fasten

clamps at the ends of the cable length, so that mechanical stresses resulting from cable

movement are not transmitted to the test set or load connections, possibly creating high

IM conditions.
b) Record the level of passive inter
...