Active antenna system and methods of determining intermodulation distortion performance

Abstract

An active antenna test system comprising an active antenna unit comprising: a test signal generator arranged to generate at least a first test signal and at least one second test signal; a plurality of transmitter modules operably coupled to the test signal generator wherein the plurality of transmitter modules are arranged to simultaneously process the first test signal and at least one second test signal to produce at least one radio frequency test signal therefrom; and at least one receiver module arranged to process one or more signals falling in at least one spectral band determined to be susceptible to intermodulation distortion products caused by the at least one radio frequency test signal being generated from the first test signal and at least one second test signal; and an intermodulation determination module operably coupled to the at least one receiver module and arranged to determine a first received intermodulation performance. A first transmitter module of the plurality of transmitter modules is operably uncoupled from the test signal generator and at least a first test signal and at least one second test signal re-applied to the remaining transmitter modules, such that the intermodulation determination module determines a second received intermodulation performance in order to determine an intermodulation distortion contribution of the first transmitter module therefrom.

Description

technical field [0001] The field of the invention relates to antenna arrangements and testing methods, and in particular to antenna arrangements and methods of determining intermodulation distortion performance of one or more components and their compensation. Background technique [0002] In a conventional radio network comprising a base station and a passive antenna system, for example, at least one connectorized UL50Ω port is typically located on the passive antenna system, and at least one connectorized UL50Ω port is typically located on the base station. The connectorized 50Ω ports enable signals to pass between them via at least one 50Ω connectorized cable. The connectors on the base station are typically 7 / 16 DIN radio frequency (RF) connectors or Type N RF connectors. [0003] Wireless communication systems are prone to intermodulation distortion (IMD), affecting the performance of desired communications, which is often an artifact of the non-linear behavior of sign...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, traditional IMD testing techniques cannot be used because AAS does not provide at least one connectorized 50Ω port

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