6.1.10                    Time-Domain Reflectometry

Note that although QuickWave is a time-domain software, most of the post-processing functions are concerned with the parameters extracted in the frequency domain (like S‑matrices) or at some chosen frequencies (like radiation patterns). However, with fast advances of digital electronics in microwave frequency band there is a growing interest in the possibility to watch signals directly in the time domain like it is done in a measurement technique called Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR). QuickWave comes across those needs and allows for obtaining TDR results in QW-3D. The TDR-like signals can be extracted directly from the QW-3D simulations. The TDR functionality is available via TDR function in 1D Fields window. This option allows for virtual measurements of reflection coefficient at any point in time. The reflection coefficient is presented as R value in both, linear and dB scales. The TDR option gives also the possibility of measuring the location of the discontinuity, namely the distance between the field testing point and the discontinuity. Thus the TDR functionality allows for locating the discontinuity and determining its character.  

The TDR functionality is used in practise in User Guide 3D: A basic time domain reflectometry (TDR) example.