Microwave power meter

Thermal sensors depend on the process of absorbing the RF and microwave signal energy, and sense the resulting heat rise.

Therefore, they respond to true average power of the signal, whether it is pulsed, CW, AM/FM or any complex modulation.

The diode would generally be used in its square-law region and hence give an output voltage proportional to the incident RF power.

In order to extend their dynamic range beyond the square-law region, linearity correction circuits or multiple diode stacks are used.

Manufacturers of microwave power meters include: Aeroflex, Keysight, Anritsu, Bird Technologies, Boonton Electronics, Giga-tronics, Rohde and Schwarz, Tektronix and TEGAM Inc..