Desktop associated test system and method suitable for planar near-field anechoic chamber first phase test

Abstract

The application provides a desktop joint test system and method suitable for plane near-field darkroom initial phase test, through simulating the in-place signal of an antenna darkroom test system, a calibration signal is filled into a collection receiving channel through power division, calibration signal sampling is completed in a multi-channel digital collection device, initial phase values of each antenna channel are obtained, channel compensation is carried out, and whether the compensation result meets the requirements is checked. The whole process can be completed in a laboratory, the in-place signal timing of the darkroom test system can be completely simulated, antenna darkroom resources are not occupied, and the subsequent antenna darkroom test efficiency is improved. Compared with the traditional method, the antenna darkroom test efficiency is greatly improved, the test cost is saved, and the method is a general method and is suitable for general plane near-field darkroom test.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of radar detection and designs a desktop testing method suitable for initial phase testing in a planar near-field anechoic chamber. The method simulates the output pulse of the anechoic chamber test system in the laboratory and conducts desktop testing. Before the equipment enters the antenna anechoic chamber, the integration and adaptation of the anechoic chamber test system with the digital system are completed, thereby improving the efficiency of anechoic chamber testing and saving testing costs. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, with the development of radar technology, phased array radars, especially large phased arrays with a large number of array elements and channels, have been widely used. However, the engineering development of large antennas for multi-channel phased array radar systems is quite difficult, particularly the integration and testing of the antenna analog section with multi-channel digital acquisition, and the generally low efficiency of anechoic chamber testing. For large array antennas, planar near-field testing is common. The traditional debugging and testing process involves performing AD sampling and DBF program debugging on a standalone machine in the laboratory for multi-channel acquisition. After debugging, the antenna is integrated with the antenna testing system in the anechoic chamber for testing. After the integration test, initial phase testing and calibration of the antenna channels and DBF pattern testing are performed. Following this traditional process, the integration testing time for each phased array antenna in the anechoic chamber is lengthy, sometimes lasting several months, and the cost of anechoic chamber testing is high. Therefore, it is essential to complete the phase consistency test of the multi-channel digital acquisition section and its adaptation with the anechoic chamber testing system in the laboratory before entering the anechoic chamber. This can improve the efficiency of anechoic chamber testing and save testing costs. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a desktop testing system and method suitable for initial phase testing in a planar near-field anechoic chamber. Addressing the problems of low efficiency and high cost in testing multi-channel phased array antennas in a planar near-field anechoic chamber, this invention proposes a desktop testing system and method suitable for initial phase testing in a planar near-field anechoic chamber. This method utilizes a signal source, power divider, host computer, and other equipment combined with multi-channel digital acquisition equipment to construct a desktop testing system for anechoic chamber testing. By simulating the arrival signal of the antenna anechoic chamber testing system, calibration signals are fed into the acquisition and receiving channels through the power divider. Calibration signal sampling is completed in the multi-channel digital acquisition equipment to obtain the initial phase value of each antenna channel. Channel compensation is then performed, and the compensation results are checked to see if they meet the requirements. The entire process can be completed in a laboratory, completely simulating the arrival signal timing of the anechoic chamber testing system without occupying antenna anechoic chamber resources, thus improving the efficiency of subsequent antenna anechoic chamber testing.

[0004] The technical solution adopted by this invention to solve its technical problem is:

[0005] A desktop testing system suitable for initial phase testing in a planar near-field anechoic chamber includes a signal simulation and data transmission reading section for the anechoic chamber testing system, a signal control and transmission section for antenna calibration, and a multi-channel signal control and acquisition calculation section. The signal simulation and data transmission reading section for the anechoic chamber testing system includes a signal source and a host computer.

[0006] The system uses a signal source to simulate the arrival signal of the anechoic chamber testing system. During anechoic chamber testing, the signal is emitted by the anechoic chamber testing system. When the antenna test probe moves to the position in front of the corresponding antenna element to be tested, it sends the arrival signal to the digital acquisition device. At this time, the digital acquisition device samples the calibration signal emitted by the probe and calculates the phase value. After the digital acquisition device completes the signal sampling and result calculation and uploading, the probe moves to the position in front of the next corresponding antenna element to be tested, and the testing system sends an arrival signal to continue sampling the channel of the next element. The time between two arrival signals is calculated comprehensively based on the mechanical movement time of the probe and the entire digital sampling and processing process.

[0007] The antenna calibration signal control and transmission section includes a calibration module and a signal power divider. After receiving the bit signal, the wave control board of the digital acquisition equipment sends control commands to the calibration module according to the test requirements. At this time, the calibration module parses the commands and outputs a calibration signal that meets the requirements. The calibration signal is then sent directly to the acquisition board in the digital acquisition equipment through multiple power dividers for multi-channel signal acquisition. The specific number of power dividers is defined according to the actual number of antenna channels being tested.

[0008] The multi-channel signal control and acquisition calculation section includes an acquisition board, a synthesis board, and a beam control board. The acquisition board performs multi-channel sampling of the calibration signal and calculates the amplitude and phase values ​​of each channel's sampling result. It then calculates the phase and amplitude values ​​that each digital channel needs to compensate before beamforming and sends them to the synthesis board. The beam control board performs clock allocation and sends control commands.

[0009] Furthermore, a host computer is used in the laboratory to read the signals returned by the digital acquisition equipment. The signal is read according to the communication protocol between the host computer and the digital acquisition equipment of the antenna anechoic chamber test system to ensure normal data return communication during anechoic chamber testing.

[0010] Furthermore, the acquisition board, wave control board, calibration module, and position signal transmission module are all from the same source. Therefore, in the laboratory, the clock signal and position signal are transmitted by the signal source, and the clock is distributed by the wave control board.

[0011] Furthermore, before entering the anechoic chamber, the system is adapted to the anechoic chamber testing system in advance in the laboratory. The entire desktop testing process is completed in the laboratory. When the system is formally tested in the anechoic chamber, antenna channel calibration, equal phase surface compensation retest, and DBF test are performed directly. This saves a lot of cumbersome testing steps, conserves anechoic chamber resources, and improves the efficiency of anechoic chamber testing.

[0012] This invention also provides a method for testing a desktop testing system suitable for initial phase testing in a planar near-field anechoic chamber. The specific steps are as follows:

[0013] Step 1: Connect the digital acquisition equipment, signal source, signal power divider, and host computer according to... Figure 1 Connect the components to form a desktop testing system;

[0014] Step 2: The output signal of the calibration module in the digital acquisition device is split into N signals by a signal power divider and sent to the acquisition board.

[0015] Step 3: The signal source outputs a clock signal, which is sent to the wave control board via a coaxial cable. At the same time, the signal source sends position signals to the wave control board according to the time interval requirements.

[0016] Step 4: After receiving the position signal, the wave control board generates a system-wide position signal and sends it to the acquisition board and calibration module.

[0017] Step 5: After receiving the command from the wave control board and the arrival signal from the same source, the calibration module sends the calibration signal to the acquisition board for multi-channel synchronous acquisition according to the communication protocol requirements.

[0018] Step 6: The acquisition board calculates the acquisition results of each channel to obtain the amplitude and phase values ​​of each channel, calculates the compensation values ​​for amplitude and phase, and performs compensation on the acquisition board.

[0019] Step 7: After completing the initial phase compensation in step 6, repeat steps 2 to 6 to check if the compensation results meet the requirements. If they do, the entire channel test is complete, and you can enter the darkroom for formal testing.

[0020] The beneficial effects of this invention are that it utilizes signal sources, power dividers, host computers, and other equipment in conjunction with multi-channel digital acquisition equipment to construct a desktop testing system for anechoic chambers. This allows for the pre-compatibility of the multi-channel digital acquisition equipment with the anechoic chamber testing system and the phase consistency compensation of the digital multi-channels within the laboratory. The testing is completed in the laboratory before the antenna anechoic chamber DBF test. Compared to traditional methods, this invention significantly improves the efficiency of antenna anechoic chamber testing, saves testing costs, and is a highly versatile method applicable to common planar near-field anechoic chamber testing scenarios. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the components of a desktop testing method for darkroom testing.

[0022] Figure 2 This is the result of a channel where the initial phase was not added during the desktop testing.

[0023] Figure 3 This is the channel result after compensating for the initial phase during desktop testing. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0025] The purpose of this invention is to construct a desktop testing system suitable for initial phase testing in a planar near-field anechoic chamber in the laboratory, including a signal simulation and data transmission reading part of the anechoic chamber testing system, an antenna calibration signal control and transmission part, and a multi-channel signal control and acquisition calculation part.

[0026] The signal simulation and data transmission reading section of the anechoic chamber testing system includes a signal source and a host computer.

[0027] The system simulates the arrival signal of the anechoic chamber testing system using a signal source. During anechoic chamber testing, the signal is emitted by the system. When the antenna test probe moves to the position in front of the corresponding antenna element, the system sends the arrival signal to the digital acquisition device. The digital acquisition device then samples the calibration signal emitted by the probe and calculates the phase value. Therefore, the arrival signal and the clock of the digital acquisition device must be from the same source. After the digital acquisition device completes signal sampling, result calculation, and uploading, the probe moves to the position in front of the next antenna element to be tested. The system then sends an arrival signal and continues sampling the next element's channel. The time between two arrival signals is calculated comprehensively based on the probe's mechanical movement time and the entire digital sampling process. Additionally, a host computer in the laboratory reads the signal returned by the digital acquisition device, following the communication protocol between the host computer and the digital acquisition device to ensure normal data transmission communication during anechoic chamber testing.

[0028] The antenna calibration signal control and transmission section includes a calibration module and a signal power divider;

[0029] After receiving the bit signal, the wave control board of the digital acquisition device sends control commands to the calibration module according to the test requirements. At this time, the calibration module parses the commands and outputs a calibration signal that meets the requirements. The calibration signal is then sent directly to the acquisition board in the digital acquisition device through a multi-channel power divider for multi-channel signal acquisition. The specific number of power dividers can be defined according to the actual number of test antenna channels.

[0030] The multi-channel signal control and acquisition calculation section includes an acquisition board, a synthesis board, and a beam control board. The acquisition board performs multi-channel sampling of the calibration signal and calculates the amplitude and phase values ​​of each channel's sampling result. It then calculates the phase and amplitude values ​​that each digital channel needs to compensate before beamforming and sends them to the synthesis board. The beam control board performs clock allocation and sends control commands.

[0031] The system needs to pay attention to the clock source issue. It requires that the acquisition board, wave control board, calibration module and position signal transmission module all be of the same source. Therefore, in the laboratory, the clock signal and position signal are transmitted by the signal source, and the wave control board distributes the clock.

[0032] The desktop testing system for planar near-field anechoic chamber testing, designed by this invention, allows for pre-adaptation with the anechoic chamber testing system in the laboratory before entering the anechoic chamber. The entire desktop testing process is completed in the laboratory. Subsequently, when entering the anechoic chamber for formal testing, antenna channel calibration, equal phase surface compensation retesting, and DBF testing can be performed directly. This saves a lot of cumbersome testing steps, conserves anechoic chamber resources, and improves the efficiency of anechoic chamber testing.

[0033] Figure 1 This diagram illustrates the components of a desktop anechoic chamber testing method. The digital acquisition device is the device under test (DUT); the time reference is the overall system clock source, providing a reference clock for the entire system. All clocks used within the system are divisions and multiplications of this clock, provided by a signal source. Simultaneously, the signal source also simulates the test system in the anechoic chamber, providing the positioning signal; the calibration module's calibration output signal is split by a signal power divider, and the split signal, matching the number of acquisition channels, is input to the acquisition board for digital sampling, simulating the probe signal output during antenna testing.

[0034] Through digital multi-channel phase compensation in the laboratory and adaptation testing with the anechoic chamber testing system, initial phase testing and DBF testing can be directly performed when entering the anechoic chamber for formal testing.

[0035] Taking an antenna test as an example, a tabletop test is conducted in the laboratory before entering the anechoic chamber. The steps are as follows:

[0036] Step 1: Connect the digital acquisition equipment, signal source, signal power divider, and host computer according to... Figure 1 Connect the components to form a desktop testing system;

[0037] Step 2: The output signal of the calibration module in the digital acquisition device is split into N signals by a signal power divider and sent to the acquisition board.

[0038] Step 3: The signal source outputs a clock signal, which is sent to the wave control board via a coaxial cable. At the same time, the signal source sends position signals to the wave control board according to the time interval requirements.

[0039] Step 4: After receiving the position signal, the wave control board generates a system-wide position signal and sends it to the acquisition board and calibration module.

[0040] Step 5: After receiving the command from the wave control board and the arrival signal from the same source, the calibration module sends the calibration signal to the acquisition board for multi-channel synchronous acquisition according to the communication protocol requirements.

[0041] Step 6: The acquisition board calculates the acquisition results of each channel to obtain the amplitude and phase values ​​of each channel, calculates the compensation values ​​for amplitude and phase, and performs compensation on the acquisition board.

[0042] Step 7: After completing the initial phase compensation in step 6, repeat steps 2 to 6 to check if the compensation results meet the requirements. If they do, the entire channel test is complete, and you can enter the darkroom for formal testing.

[0043] Through the above seven-step design, the adaptation of the multi-channel digital acquisition equipment and the anechoic chamber testing system, as well as the desktop connection test of the initial phase test, are completed in advance in the laboratory. The above implementation method is only a specific example of the present invention and does not constitute any limitation on the present invention. Obviously, according to the idea of ​​the present invention, different implementation methods can be improved, but these are all within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A desktop testing system suitable for initial phase testing in a planar near-field anechoic chamber, comprising a signal simulation and data transmission readout section for the anechoic chamber testing system, an antenna calibration signal control and transmission section, and a multi-channel signal control and acquisition / calculation section, characterized in that: The desktop testing system applicable to initial phase testing in a planar near-field anechoic chamber includes a signal source and a host computer for the anechoic chamber testing system signal simulation and data transmission reading part. The signal source is used to simulate the position signal of the anechoic chamber testing system. The signal is emitted by the anechoic chamber testing system during anechoic chamber testing. When the antenna test probe moves to the position in front of the corresponding antenna element to be tested, it sends the position signal to the digital acquisition device. At this time, the digital acquisition device samples the calibration signal emitted by the probe and calculates the phase value. After the digital acquisition device completes the signal sampling and result calculation and uploading, the probe moves to the position in front of the next corresponding antenna element to be tested, and the testing system sends the position signal to continue sampling the channel of the next element. The time between two position signals is calculated comprehensively based on the mechanical movement time of the probe and the entire digital sampling process. The antenna calibration signal control and transmission section includes a calibration module and a signal power divider. After receiving the bit signal, the wave control board of the digital acquisition equipment sends control commands to the calibration module according to the test requirements. At this time, the calibration module parses the commands and outputs a calibration signal that meets the requirements. The calibration signal is then sent directly to the acquisition board in the digital acquisition equipment through multiple power dividers for multi-channel signal acquisition. The specific number of power dividers is defined according to the actual number of antenna channels being tested. The multi-channel signal control and acquisition calculation section includes an acquisition board, a synthesis board, and a beam control board. The acquisition board completes multi-channel sampling of the calibration signal and calculates the amplitude and phase values ​​of each channel's sampling result. Then, it calculates the phase and amplitude values ​​that each digital channel needs to compensate before beamforming and sends them to the synthesis board. The wave control board performs clock allocation and sends control commands.

2. The desktop testing system for initial phase testing in a planar near-field anechoic chamber according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the laboratory, a host computer is used to read the signals returned by the digital acquisition equipment. The signal is read according to the communication protocol between the host computer and the digital acquisition equipment of the antenna anechoic chamber test system to ensure normal data return communication during anechoic chamber testing.

3. The desktop testing system for initial phase testing in a planar near-field anechoic chamber according to claim 1, characterized in that: The acquisition board, wave control board, calibration module, and position signal transmission module are all from the same source. Therefore, in the laboratory, the clock signal and position signal are transmitted by the signal source, and the clock is distributed by the wave control board.

4. The desktop testing system for initial phase testing in a planar near-field anechoic chamber according to claim 1, characterized in that: Before entering the anechoic chamber, the system is adapted to the anechoic chamber testing system in the laboratory. The entire desktop testing process is completed in the laboratory. When the system is officially tested in the anechoic chamber, antenna channel calibration, equal phase surface compensation retest, and DBF test are performed directly. This saves a lot of cumbersome testing steps, saves anechoic chamber resources, and improves the efficiency of anechoic chamber testing.

5. A testing method using the desktop testing system for initial phase testing in a planar near-field anechoic chamber as described in claim 1, characterized in that... Includes the following steps: Step 1: Connect the digital acquisition device, signal source, signal power divider, and host computer. The digital acquisition device outputs a signal to the signal power divider, and the signal power divider inputs the calibration signal to the digital acquisition device. The digital acquisition device is connected to the host computer and the signal source respectively to form a desktop testing system. Step 2: The output signal of the calibration module in the digital acquisition device is split into N signals by a signal power divider and sent to the acquisition board. Step 3: The signal source outputs a clock signal, which is sent to the wave control board via a coaxial cable. At the same time, the signal source sends position signals to the wave control board according to the time interval requirements. Step 4: After receiving the position signal, the wave control board generates a system-wide position signal and sends it to the acquisition board and calibration module. Step 5: After receiving the command from the wave control board and the arrival signal from the same source, the calibration module sends the calibration signal to the acquisition board for multi-channel synchronous acquisition according to the communication protocol requirements. Step 6: The acquisition board calculates the acquisition results of each channel to obtain the amplitude and phase values ​​of each channel, calculates the compensation values ​​for amplitude and phase, and performs compensation on the acquisition board. Step 7: After completing the initial phase compensation in step 6, repeat steps 2 to 6 to check if the compensation results meet the requirements. If they do, the entire channel test is complete, and you can enter the darkroom for formal testing.

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