RF Debugging System

Abstract

The present invention discloses a radio frequency debugging system, which includes a control module and a standard wireless communication module; the standard wireless communication module is electrically connected to the antenna switch of the control module and the wireless communication module to be debugged respectively; multiple switching instructions corresponding to multiple radio frequency paths are pre-configured in the control module; the control module controls the standard wireless communication module to convert the target switching instruction into a corresponding control signal and send it to the antenna switch of the wireless communication module to be debugged; the control signal is used to control the antenna switch to turn on the target radio frequency path. By sending the target switching instruction to the standard wireless communication module through the control module, and the standard wireless communication module sending the control signal to the antenna switch and controlling the antenna switch to switch to the target radio frequency path, the present invention not only facilitates the control of the antenna switch, but also supports the passive debugging of the matching network, improves the debugging efficiency and accuracy of the matching network, reduces the production cost of the radio frequency circuit, and saves the PCB board space.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of radio frequency debugging, and particularly relates to a radio frequency debugging system. Background Art

[0002] With the development of wireless communication technology, there are a relatively large number of various communication systems. For example, there are GSM (Global System for Mobile) communication systems, CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) systems, WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) communication systems, LTE (Long Term Evolution) systems, NB-IoT (Narrow Band Internet of Things) systems, etc. More and more communication systems and communication frequency bands are integrated into the same communication module. Since the radio frequency parameters of different communication systems and different communication frequency bands are not the same, in the radio frequency circuit of the communication module, corresponding radio frequency paths need to be established according to the communication systems and communication frequency bands supported by the communication module. However, since a communication module can only operate in one communication system and its corresponding communication frequency band at the same time, only one set of antenna circuits is required.

[0003] A wireless communication module can generally be divided into two parts from the perspective of its working principle: baseband and radio frequency. The main function of the baseband is to complete digital signal processing, such as the above-mentioned various communication systems, that is, modulation and demodulation are completed in the baseband part; the function of the radio frequency is to convert the signal modulated by the baseband into a high-frequency analog signal, which is first amplified by a power amplifier and then sent out through an antenna, or to receive the signal in space through the antenna and enter the radio frequency part, and then demodulate it into a digital signal by the baseband.

[0004] The radio frequency part generally consists of a transmitter and a receiver. Specifically, the transmitter circuit inputs the modulated signal of the baseband into a power amplifier, and the amplified signal output is then sent to a filter for filtering, and finally reaches the antenna through an antenna switch and is transmitted. The receiver circuit receives the signal in space at the antenna end, passes through the antenna switch, enters a low-noise amplifier, and the output signal is then frequency-converted and demodulated.

[0005] Particularly, when a signal is transmitted from one device to another for processing, a matching network is reserved between its paths. The matching network is a circuit composed of resistors, capacitors, and inductors, and its function is impedance matching. Only when the network matching is completed can reflection be reduced, so that the loss and distortion of signal transmission are minimized, and the entire transmission path is optimized.

[0006] However, if the radio frequency part is not debugged for the matching network, it will deteriorate the communication quality of the wireless communication module, increase the power consumption, generate harmonic spurs and other interferences, thus affecting the normal use and communication quality of the wireless communication module. Therefore, during the research and development stage of the wireless communication module, it is necessary to debug and optimize the network matching of the radio frequency part to ensure that the radio frequency part works in a normal state.

[0007] The so-called normal operation of the radio frequency part means that both the transmitter circuit and the receiver circuit are in an impedance matching state. Among them, for the transmitter circuit, the power amplifier is the source, and impedance matching needs to be completed for each section of the path from the power amplifier to the antenna end; for the receiver circuit, the modem is the source, and impedance matching also needs to be completed for each section of the path from the modem to the antenna end to ensure high-quality signal transmission. Usually, the impedances of the power amplifier and the modem are provided in their specification sheets. When debugging the matching network, by adjusting the values of resistors, capacitors, and inductors in each matching network circuit, the impedance of the circuit behind the power amplifier and the impedance of the circuit in front of the modem are matched with the target impedance of the source. This kind of debugging belongs to a blind debugging method.

[0008] Currently, when performing passive debugging on the matching network, for the transmitting part of the wireless communication module, in the mode of removing the power amplifier, a special software version needs to be written to control the antenna switch to switch to the correct path for debugging. Otherwise, when the power amplifier is removed from the radio frequency circuit, the power amplifier cannot be detected during the startup process, so the device cannot be started normally, and the antenna switch cannot be switched to the corresponding path.

[0009] For the receiving part of the wireless communication module, since the control parts of the modem and the antenna switch are both integrated in the transceiver chip, if the modem is removed, the antenna switch cannot be controlled to switch to the correct path, so the modem cannot be directly removed from the radio frequency circuit for passive debugging. Therefore, only the blind debugging method introduced above can be used, or a compatible network can be added to the radio frequency circuit, and a zero-ohm resistor is connected in series between the modem and the circuit in front of the modem. The compatible network can be disconnected, and the antenna switch can be opened through the antenna switch controller to test the impedance of the circuit in front of the modem and perform passive debugging on the matching network.

[0010] In the prior art, when controlling the antenna switch of the wireless communication module to switch to different paths, it increases the debugging difficulty and workload of the matching network, affects the debugging efficiency, and is not convenient for debugging.

[0011] For the receiving part of the wireless communication module, when implementing the control to switch the antenna switch to different paths, it will reduce the debugging efficiency of the matching network, increase the production cost of the RF circuit, and occupy the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) space. Summary of the Invention

[0012] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the defects in the prior art that by writing multiple special software versions or transceivers or antenna switch controllers to control the antenna switch to switch to different RF paths, it is not only inconvenient to control the antenna switch, but also reduces the accuracy and debugging efficiency of the matching network debugging, increases the production cost of the RF circuit, and occupies the PCB space, and provides a RF debugging system.

[0013] The present invention solves the above technical problems through the following technical solutions:

[0014] The present invention provides a RF debugging system for debugging the antenna switch in a wireless communication module. The wireless communication module further includes a RF circuit. The RF circuit includes multiple RF paths. The antenna switch is used to switch the on-off between the multiple RF paths and the antenna. The RF debugging system includes a control module and a standard wireless communication module; the control module is electrically connected to the standard wireless communication module, and the standard wireless communication module is electrically connected to the antenna switch of the wireless communication module to be debugged; the standard wireless communication module and the wireless communication module to be debugged have the same communication system and communication frequency band;

[0015] A plurality of switching instructions corresponding to the multiple RF paths are pre-configured in the control module;

[0016] The control module sends a target switching instruction to the standard wireless communication module; the target switching instruction is one of the multiple switching instructions;

[0017] The standard wireless communication module converts the target switching instruction into a control signal corresponding to the target RF path and sends the control signal to the antenna switch of the wireless communication module to be debugged;

[0018] The control signal is used to control the antenna switch to turn on the target RF path;

[0019] The target RF path is the RF path corresponding to the target switching instruction among the multiple RF paths of the wireless communication module to be debugged.

[0020] Preferably, the RF circuit includes a transmitting circuit and a receiving circuit;

[0021] The transmitting circuit includes multiple transmitting paths, and the receiving circuit includes multiple receiving paths corresponding to the transmitting paths;

[0022] The control signal controls the antenna switch to switch to the target receiving path and the target transmitting path respectively; the target receiving path is the receiving path corresponding to the target switching instruction among the multiple receiving paths of the wireless communication module to be debugged, and the target transmitting path is the transmitting path corresponding to the target switching instruction among the multiple transmitting paths of the wireless communication module to be debugged; the target receiving path and the target transmitting path are paths of the same communication frequency band.

[0023] Preferably, the standard wireless communication module is a wireless communication module including a power amplifier and a modem; the wireless communication module to be debugged is a wireless communication module without a power amplifier and a modem.

[0024] Preferably, the input and output pins of the standard wireless communication module are electrically connected to the input pins of the antenna switch of the wireless communication module to be debugged;

[0025] The standard wireless communication module converts the target switching instruction into the control signal corresponding to the target radio frequency path and sends it to the input pin of the antenna switch of the wireless communication module to be debugged through the input and output pins.

[0026] Preferably, the radio frequency debugging system further includes a level conversion module;

[0027] The level conversion module is electrically connected to the standard wireless communication module and the antenna switch of the wireless communication module to be debugged respectively;

[0028] The level conversion module is used to convert the level signal output by the standard wireless communication module into a level signal matching the input pin of the antenna switch.

[0029] Preferably, the control module includes a host computer or a single-chip microcomputer.

[0030] Preferably, the switching instruction is an AT (attention) instruction.

[0031] Preferably, the standard wireless communication module is electrically connected to the antenna switches of multiple wireless communication modules to be debugged.

[0032] Preferably, the transmitting circuit of the standard wireless communication module includes a power amplifier, a first matching network, a filter, a second matching network, an antenna switch, a third matching network, and an antenna;

[0033] The power amplifier is electrically connected to the first matching network, the first matching network is electrically connected to the filter, the filter is electrically connected to the second matching network, the second matching network is electrically connected to the antenna switch, the antenna switch is electrically connected to the third matching network, and the third matching network is electrically connected to the antenna.

[0034] Preferably, the receiving circuit of the standard wireless communication module includes a modem, a fourth matching network, a low-noise amplifier, a fifth matching network, the antenna switch, the third matching network, and the antenna;

[0035] The modem is electrically connected to the fourth matching network, the fourth matching network is electrically connected to the low-noise amplifier, the low-noise amplifier is electrically connected to the fifth matching network, the fifth matching network is electrically connected to the antenna switch, the antenna switch is electrically connected to the third matching network, and the third matching network is electrically connected to the antenna.

[0036] The positive and progressive effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0037] A radio frequency debugging system disclosed by the present invention sends a target switching instruction to the standard wireless communication module through a control module, and the standard wireless communication module sends a corresponding control signal to the antenna switch of the wireless communication module to be debugged and controls the antenna switch to switch to the target radio frequency path. This not only facilitates the control of the antenna switch, but also supports the passive debugging of the matching network, avoids writing special software versions, improves the debugging efficiency and accuracy of the matching network, reduces the production cost of the radio frequency circuit, and saves PCB board space. Description of the Drawings

[0038] Figure 1 It is a connection schematic diagram of the radio frequency debugging system and the wireless communication module to be debugged according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the transmitting circuit of the standard wireless communication module according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the receiving circuit of the standard wireless communication module according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Figure 4 It is a connection schematic diagram of the further improved radio frequency debugging system and the wireless communication module to be debugged according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Embodiments

[0042] The present invention will be further described below by way of examples, but the present invention is not limited to the scope of the described examples.

[0043] As shown Figure 1 in the figure, a radio frequency debugging system provided in this embodiment includes a control module 1 and a standard wireless communication module 2. The control module 1 includes a host computer or a single-chip microcomputer. This radio frequency debugging system is used to debug the antenna switch in the wireless communication module, and the wireless communication module further includes a radio frequency circuit, and the radio frequency circuit includes a plurality of radio frequency paths.

[0044] The control module 1 is electrically connected to the standard wireless communication module 2, and the standard wireless communication module 2 is electrically connected to the antenna switch of the wireless communication module 3 to be debugged; specifically, the input and output pins of the standard wireless communication module 2 are electrically connected to the input pins of the antenna switch of the wireless communication module 3 to be debugged.

[0045] In this embodiment, the standard wireless communication module 2 and the wireless communication module 3 to be debugged have the same communication system and communication frequency band. The standard wireless communication module 2 is a wireless communication module including a power amplifier and a modem (that is, the standard wireless communication module 2 is a wireless communication module with complete components and normal operation); the wireless communication module 3 to be debugged is a wireless communication module without a power amplifier and a modem (that is, after removing the power amplifier and the modem from the wireless communication module 3 to be debugged, other components inside it are the same as those of the standard wireless communication module 2).

[0046] In this embodiment, when the radio frequency debugging system debugs the antenna switch of the wireless communication module 3 to be debugged, a plurality of switching instructions corresponding to a plurality of radio frequency paths are pre-configured in the control module 1. The switching instructions are AT instructions.

[0047] The control module 1 sends a target switching instruction to the standard wireless communication module 2; the target switching instruction is one of the plurality of switching instructions.

[0048] The standard wireless communication module 2 converts the target switching instruction into a control signal corresponding to the target radio frequency path and sends the control signal to the antenna switch of the wireless communication module 3 to be debugged; specifically, the corresponding control signal is transmitted to the input pin of the antenna switch of the wireless communication module 3 to be debugged through the input and output pins of the standard wireless communication module 2.

[0049] The control signal is a signal that can be read and executed by the antenna switch obtained by converting the switching instruction. The target radio frequency path is the radio frequency path corresponding to the target switching instruction among the plurality of radio frequency paths of the wireless communication module 3 to be debugged.

[0050] In this embodiment, the radio frequency circuit includes a transmitting circuit and a receiving circuit; the transmitting circuit includes a plurality of transmitting paths, and the receiving circuit includes a plurality of receiving paths corresponding to the transmitting paths.

[0051] The control signal controls the antenna switch to switch to the target receiving path and the target transmitting path respectively; the target receiving path is the receiving path corresponding to the target switching instruction among the multiple receiving paths of the wireless communication module 3 to be debugged, and the target transmitting path is the transmitting path corresponding to the target switching instruction among the multiple transmitting paths of the wireless communication module 3 to be debugged; the target receiving path and the target transmitting path are paths of the same communication frequency band. For example, the first radio frequency path is the target radio frequency path, the first receiving path is the target receiving path, and the first transmitting path is the target transmitting path. When the antenna switch of the wireless communication module 3 to be debugged receives the control signal corresponding to the first radio frequency path, the antenna switch switches to the first receiving path and the first transmitting path respectively. At this time, both the first receiving path and the first transmitting path are turned on, which is convenient for subsequent passive debugging of the matching network of the first receiving path and the matching network in the first transmitting path.

[0052] In this embodiment, as Figure 2 shown, the transmitting circuit of the standard wireless communication module 2 includes a power amplifier 4, a first matching network 5, a filter 6, a second matching network 7, an antenna switch 8, a third matching network 9, and an antenna 10. The multiple transmitting paths include multiple first matching networks 5, multiple filters 6, multiple second matching networks 7, one power amplifier 4, one antenna switch 8, one third matching network 9, and one antenna 10.

[0053] The power amplifier 4 is electrically connected to the first matching network 5, the first matching network 5 is electrically connected to the filter 6, the filter 6 is electrically connected to the second matching network 7, the second matching network 7 is electrically connected to the antenna switch 8, the antenna switch 8 is electrically connected to the third matching network 9, and the third matching network 9 is electrically connected to the antenna 10.

[0054] When the transmitting circuit performs signal transmission, the transmitting circuit converts the modulated signal of the baseband into a low-power analog signal, and inputs the low-power analog signal into the power amplifier 4 for amplification. The power amplifier 4 inputs the high-power analog signal into the filter 6 through the first matching network 5 for filtering, and outputs the filtered high-power analog signal to the antenna switch 8 through the second matching network 7. The antenna switch 8 transmits the high-power analog signal to the antenna 10 through the third matching network 9, and the antenna 10 transmits the high-power analog signal.

[0055] As Figure 3As shown in the figure, the receiving circuit of the standard wireless communication module 2 includes a modem 11, a fourth matching network 12, a low-noise amplifier 13, a fifth matching network 14, an antenna switch 8, a third matching network 9, and an antenna 10; the receiving circuit shares the same antenna switch 8, the same third matching network 9, and the same antenna 10 with the transmitting circuit. The multiple receiving paths include multiple modems 11, multiple fourth matching networks 12, multiple low-noise amplifiers 13, multiple fifth matching networks 14, one antenna switch 8, one third matching network 9, and one antenna 10.

[0056] The modem 11 is electrically connected to the fourth matching network 12, the fourth matching network 12 is electrically connected to the low-noise amplifier 13, the low-noise amplifier 13 is electrically connected to the fifth matching network 14, the fifth matching network 14 is electrically connected to the antenna switch 8, the antenna switch 8 is electrically connected to the third matching network 9, and the third matching network 9 is electrically connected to the antenna 10.

[0057] When the receiving circuit performs signal transmission, the receiving circuit receives the analog signal in space to the antenna 10. The antenna 10 transmits the analog signal to the antenna switch 8 through the third matching network 9. The antenna switch 8 sends the analog signal to the low-noise amplifier 13 through the fifth matching network 14 for processing. The low-noise amplifier 13 sends the processed analog signal to the modem 11 through the fourth matching network 12 for frequency conversion and demodulation.

[0058] In this embodiment, the antenna switch is controlled by the radio frequency debugging system to switch to different radio frequency paths, which not only facilitates the passive debugging of the matching network, but also reduces the signal reflection during the signal transmission of the transmitting path and the receiving path, reduces the signal transmission loss and distortion, and optimizes the entire transmission path.

[0059] As Figure 4 shown in the figure, when the level signal of the input pin of the antenna switch of the wireless communication module 3 to be debugged does not match the level signal of the input / output pin of the standard wireless communication module 2, a level conversion module 15 is added in the radio frequency debugging system, that is, a level conversion module 15 is added between the standard wireless communication module 2 and the wireless communication module 3 to be debugged. Specifically, the level conversion module 15 is electrically connected to the antenna switches of the standard wireless communication module 2 and the wireless communication module 3 to be debugged respectively.

[0060] The level conversion module 15 is used to convert the level signal output by the standard wireless communication module 2 into a level signal that matches the input pin of the antenna switch. However, the situation where the level signal of the input pin of the antenna switch of the wireless communication module 3 to be debugged does not match the level signal of the input / output pin of the standard wireless communication module 2 is not common.

[0061] In this embodiment, the RF debugging system can debug the antenna switches of multiple wireless communication modules 3 to be debugged. That is, one standard wireless communication module 2 in the RF debugging system can cooperate with the RF debugging system to debug the antenna switches of multiple wireless communication modules 3 to be debugged, improving the efficiency of debugging the antenna switches. Among them, the multiple wireless communication modules 3 to be debugged and the standard wireless communication module 2 have the same communication system and communication frequency band.

[0062] In this embodiment, the antenna switch is used to switch the on / off between multiple RF paths and the antenna. Specifically, according to the working requirements of the wireless communication module, when the antenna switch receives the corresponding control signal, it conducts a certain RF path (i.e., a certain transmission path and the same receiving path corresponding to the transmission path), and disconnects the remaining RF paths (i.e., the transmission path and the receiving path). In addition, as part of the power amplifier rear-end circuit and the modem front-end circuit, the performance of the antenna switch will also affect the performance of the entire path. Therefore, during the passive debugging process, the antenna switch cannot be removed.

[0063] This embodiment uses a simple and easy-to-operate debugging method to control the antenna switch to conduct different RF paths, simplifies the steps of debugging the antenna switch, ensures the accuracy of the debugging results of the matching network, shortens the preliminary preparation work for debugging the matching network, facilitates the debugging work of the matching network, and makes it more convenient to optimize the RF circuit.

[0064] In this embodiment, the control module sends the target switching instruction to the standard wireless communication module, and the standard wireless communication module sends the corresponding control signal to the antenna switch of the wireless communication module to be debugged and controls the antenna switch to switch to the target RF path. This not only facilitates the control of the antenna switch, but also supports the passive debugging of the matching network, avoids writing special software versions, improves the debugging efficiency and accuracy of the matching network, reduces the production cost of the RF circuit, and saves PCB board space.

[0065] Although the specific implementation manners of the present invention have been described above, those skilled in the art should understand that this is only an example, and the protection scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. Without departing from the principles and essence of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make various changes or modifications to these implementation manners, but these changes and modifications all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A radio frequency debugging system for debugging an antenna switch in a wireless communication module, the wireless communication module further including a radio frequency circuit, the radio frequency circuit including a plurality of radio frequency paths, the antenna switch being used for switching the on / off states between the plurality of radio frequency paths and an antenna, characterized in that, The radio frequency debugging system includes a control module and a standard wireless communication module; the control module is electrically connected to the standard wireless communication module, and the standard wireless communication module is electrically connected to the antenna switch of the wireless communication module to be debugged; the standard wireless communication module and the wireless communication module to be debugged have the same communication system and communication frequency band; A plurality of switching instructions corresponding to a plurality of the radio frequency paths are pre-configured in the control module; The control module sends a target switching instruction to the standard wireless communication module; the target switching instruction is one of the plurality of switching instructions; The standard wireless communication module converts the target switching instruction into a control signal corresponding to a target radio frequency path and sends the control signal to the antenna switch of the wireless communication module to be debugged; The control signal is used to control the antenna switch to conduct the target radio frequency path; The target radio frequency path is the radio frequency path corresponding to the target switching instruction among the plurality of radio frequency paths of the wireless communication module to be debugged; Each radio frequency path includes a transmitting path and a receiving path, and adjacent devices in the transmitting path and adjacent devices in the receiving path are connected through a matching network; The standard wireless communication module is a wireless communication module including a power amplifier and a modem; the wireless communication module to be debugged is a wireless communication module without a power amplifier and a modem; the power amplifier is arranged in the transmitting circuit of the standard wireless communication module, and the modem is arranged in the receiving circuit of the standard wireless communication module.

2. The RF debugging system according to claim 1, wherein The radio frequency circuit includes a transmitting circuit and a receiving circuit; The transmitting circuit includes a plurality of transmitting paths, and the receiving circuit includes a plurality of receiving paths corresponding to the transmitting paths; The control signal controls the antenna switch to switch to a target receiving path and a target transmitting path respectively; the target receiving path is the receiving path corresponding to the target switching instruction among the plurality of receiving paths of the wireless communication module to be debugged, and the target transmitting path is the transmitting path corresponding to the target switching instruction among the plurality of transmitting paths of the wireless communication module to be debugged; the target receiving path and the target transmitting path are paths in the same communication frequency band.

3. The RF debugging system according to claim 1, wherein The input and output pins of the standard wireless communication module are electrically connected to the input pins of the antenna switch of the wireless communication module to be debugged; The standard wireless communication module converts the target switching instruction into the control signal corresponding to the target radio frequency path and sends it to the input pin of the antenna switch of the wireless communication module to be debugged through the input and output pins.

4. The RF debugging system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The radio frequency debugging system further includes a level conversion module; The level conversion module is electrically connected to the standard wireless communication module and the antenna switch of the wireless communication module to be debugged respectively; The level conversion module is used to convert the level signal output by the standard wireless communication module into a level signal matching the input pin of the antenna switch.

5. The RF debugging system according to claim 1, wherein The control module includes a host computer or a single-chip microcomputer.

6. The radio frequency debugging system according to claim 1, wherein The switching instruction is an AT instruction.

7. The RF debugging system according to claim 1, wherein The standard wireless communication module is electrically connected to the antenna switches of the multiple wireless communication modules to be debugged.

8. The radio frequency debugging system according to claim 2, wherein The transmitting circuit of the standard wireless communication module includes a power amplifier, a first matching network, a filter, a second matching network, an antenna switch, a third matching network, and an antenna; The power amplifier is electrically connected to the first matching network, the first matching network is electrically connected to the filter, the filter is electrically connected to the second matching network, the second matching network is electrically connected to the antenna switch, the antenna switch is electrically connected to the third matching network, and the third matching network is electrically connected to the antenna.

9. The RF debugging system according to claim 8, characterized in that, The receiving circuit of the standard wireless communication module includes a modem, a fourth matching network, a low-noise amplifier, a fifth matching network, the antenna switch, the third matching network, and the antenna; The modem is electrically connected to the fourth matching network, the fourth matching network is electrically connected to the low-noise amplifier, the low-noise amplifier is electrically connected to the fifth matching network, the fifth matching network is electrically connected to the antenna switch, the antenna switch is electrically connected to the third matching network, and the third matching network is electrically connected to the antenna.

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