Systems and methods for impedance tuner initialization

Abstract

An exemplary embodiment of a multiple carriage tuner employs a carriage initialization technique, in which at least two of the carriages are initialized at fixed positions. This has the advantage of faster initialization, since multiple carriages can be moving simultaneously, if desired. In another embodiment, a method is described for initializing a mechanical impedance tuner with at least two probe carriages and a center conductor, each of the at least two probe carriages moveable independently along an axis parallel to the center conductor by commanding respective carriage drive motors to move in opposite directions along the axis, recording as a first carriage zero or home position of the first motor a first fixed initialization location indicated by a first sensor signal generated by proximity of the first carriage to the first fixed initialization location so that future positioning of the first carriage is determined from this first zero or home position, and recording as a second carriage zero or home position of the second motor a second fixed initialization location indicated by a second sensor signal generated by proximity of the second carriage to the second fixed initialization location so that future positioning of the second carriage is determined from this second zero or home position.