Fast Fourier Transform Analyzers
Robert A. Witte · Institution of Engineering and Technology eBooks · 2001
The fast Fourier transform (FFT) can be used to implement a spectrum or network analyzer by digitizing the input waveform and performing an FFT on the time domain signal to get the frequency domain representation. What seems to be a simple measurement technique often turns out to be much more complicated in practice. Given reasonable computational power (usually in the form of a microprocessor or custom integrated circuit), the FFT-based analyzer can provide significant speed improvement over the more traditional swept analyzer. FFT analyzers usually have limited bandwidth (less than a few hundred kilohertz), due to the lack of fast, high-resolution analog-to-digital converters. The FFT analyzer is also referred to as the dynamic signal analyzer.