摘要 |
A non-invasive Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) transmission line system (1) and method for measuring one or more parameters of an electromagnetic Radio Frequency (RF) pulse transmitted, and reflected, along a transmission line. The parameters including at least one of; amplitude, propagation velocity and/or propagation time between defined predetermined instances. The system (1) includes a transmission line (6) including three or more elongated transmission elements (2, 3, 4, 5), respectively having two distal ends (2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b). Each element (2, 3, 4, 5) is capable of being selectively activated to transmit the RF pulse. A mounting assembly (7) is provided for mounting the transmission elements (2, 3, 4, 5) at the first end (2a, 3a, 4a, 5a) to form a spatially-separated transmission element array (6) with the other 'second' distal end (2b, 3b, 4b, 5b) of each transmission element (2,3, 4, 5) being spaced from the mounting assembly (7). An RF source is configured to transmit the RF pulse along the transmission line (6) to activate a selected pair of the transmission elements (2, 3, 4, 5) to generate an electric field between the transmission elements (2, 3, 4, 5) of the pair. The transmission elements (2, 3, 4, 5) are capable of selective activation in at least two distinct pairs having distinct geometric configurations relative to each other to generate at least two distinct electric field potentials without physical displacement of the transmission line (6). |