Overview
The RF Cascade Calculator is a web-based tool for performing RF signal chain (lineup) cascade analysis. It computes cascaded performance parameters across a multi-stage RF signal chain using standard cascade equations (Friis formula for noise figure, reciprocal power sums for IP3/IP2/P1dB, etc.).
The tool is hosted on the TI Developer Gallery and runs entirely in the user's browser — no software download or installation is required.
Features (v1.0.0)
RF Cascade Analysis
- Support for up to 10 cascaded stages
- Per-stage input parameters: Name, Gain, OIP3, OIP2, NF, OP1dB
- Configurable source power, source frequency, and analysis bandwidth
- Dynamic stage count (add/remove stages on the fly)
Cascade Calculations (Friis and Standard Cascade Equations)
- Cascade Gain (cumulative sum)
- Cascade Noise Figure
- Cascade OIP3
- Cascade OIP2
- Cascade OP1dB
- Output Power (Pout) per stage
Derived System-Level Results
- Total Cascade Gain (dB)
- Output Power / Pout (dBm)
- Cascade OIP3 / IIP3 (dBm)
- Cascade OIP2 / IIP2 (dBm)
- Cascade NF (dB)
- Cascade OP1dB / IP1dB (dBm)
- Output Noise Spectral Density / NSD (dBm/Hz)
- Output Noise Floor (dBm)
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio / SNR (dB)
- IMD3 (dBc)
- IMD2 (dBc)
- P1dB Saturation Detection with stage identification
Interactive Plot
- Dual-axis Plotly.js chart showing cascade parameters per stage
- Selectable left Y-axis parameter (Gain, OIP3, OIP2, NF, OP1dB)
- Selectable right Y-axis parameter (independent selection)
- Data-point annotations and hover tooltips
- Responsive layout
Input Validation
- Per-field validation with visual feedback (red = error, amber = warning)
- Range checking for all RF parameters
- Cross-field validation (e.g., OIP3 vs OP1dB consistency, passive NF check)
- Non-numeric and out-of-range detection
Tooltip Equations
- Hovering over any result field shows the formula and calculation breakdown
Export
- One-click CSV export of all inputs, cascade results, and derived results
- Organized into sections: Source Config, Per-Stage Inputs, Per-Stage Cascade Results, Overall Results, Derived Results, Saturation Status