Compact range testing device and antenna testing system

Abstract

The utility model provides a compact range testing device and an antenna testing system, and relates to the technical field of antenna testing. The compact range testing device comprises a scanning mechanism and a rotary table. In the scanning mechanism, a driving main body is used for driving a rotating main body to enable a plane wave generator to move along a preset circumferential path; the side, close to the plane wave generator, of at least one of the rotating body and the bearing piece is provided with a wave absorbing piece. The rotary table is used for bearing a tested piece and driving the tested piece to rotate in the horizontal direction; the rotary table is arranged at the circle center of the preset circumferential path. The plane wave generator is used for sending a plane wave signal to the tested piece. The antenna test system provided by the utility model adopts the compact range test device. The compact range testing device and the antenna testing system provided by the utility model can improve the problems of large size and low testing precision.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of antenna testing, in particular to a compact range testing device and an antenna testing system. Background Art

[0002] The antenna performance test of wireless devices is usually conducted in the far field. The test distance of the far field is related to the size of the device under test and the test frequency. When the device under test is large or the frequency is high, the distance that meets the far field conditions will be very large, and the size of the anechoic chamber that provides the test environment will also increase accordingly, resulting in a significant increase in costs. In addition, as the far field distance increases, the path loss increases, which leads to a decrease in test accuracy, especially for high frequencies.

[0003] The compact field system uses the principle of near-field focusing to convert the spherical wave emitted by the feed source into a plane wave in a space much smaller than the far-field distance through a reflective surface or a dielectric convex lens, so that the electromagnetic wave signal radiated by the feed source is a quasi-plane wave signal when it reaches the test area, realizing the far-field test of the antenna in a limited physical space; or, using an antenna array composed of multiple antenna units, through the amplitude and phase adjustment of each unit, a quasi-plane wave signal at a preset distance is realized. Compared with far-field testing, compact field testing greatly reduces the test distance, thereby greatly reducing the site construction cost and measurement path loss.

[0004] However, in the prior art, since it is necessary to install the reflective surface antenna on a mobile track in some cases, multi-directional testing can be achieved through the movement of the reflective surface antenna. The track-type scanning mechanism commonly used for the reflective surface antenna may occupy a large space, thereby increasing the size of the radio wave darkroom. In addition, there is relative movement between the track-type scanning mechanism and the reflective surface antenna, which makes it difficult to lay electromagnetic absorbing materials, and the reflection area changes with the movement position, making it difficult to suppress the reflection of electromagnetic waves, which will interfere with the test quiet zone and cause a decrease in test accuracy. Utility Model Content

[0005] The technical problem solved by the utility model is how to improve the problem in the prior art that the anechoic chamber is large due to the large space occupied and the problem that it is difficult to lay electromagnetic absorbing materials, resulting in reduced test accuracy.

[0006] The embodiments of the present invention can be implemented as follows:

[0007] The utility model provides a compact field test device, comprising:

[0008] The scanning mechanism comprises a driving body, a rotating body and a plane wave generator; the plane wave generator is arranged at one end of the rotating body, the other end of the rotating body is arranged at the driving body, the driving body is used to drive the rotating body to rotate, so as to drive the plane wave generator to move along a preset circular path; at least one of the rotating body and the bearing member is provided with a wave absorbing member on a side close to the plane wave generator;

[0009] A turntable, used to carry the object under test and to drive the object under test to rotate in a horizontal direction; the turntable is arranged at the center of the preset circular path;

[0010] Wherein, the plane wave generator is used to send a plane wave signal to the device under test.

[0011] The advantages of the compact range test device provided by the utility model compared with the prior art include:

[0012] In the compact field test device, the plane wave generator relies on the driving body to drive the rotating body to make a swinging motion to move in a preset circular path. Since the driving body and the rotating body are small in size, the problem that the existing track-type scanning bracket causes the entire test device to be large in size and thus causes the anechoic chamber to be large can be avoided. Furthermore, in the process of the driving body driving the rotating body to drive the plane wave generator to rotate, the plane wave generator and the rotating body are in a relatively static state. Therefore, it is convenient to set an absorbing member on the rotating body and the bearing member to absorb the electromagnetic wave signal through the absorbing member, reduce the electromagnetic reflection of the test signal, avoid interference with the test, and thus improve the test accuracy. Based on this, the compact field test device can improve the problem of occupying a large space in the prior art, resulting in a large volume of the anechoic chamber, and the problem of difficulty in laying electromagnetic absorbing materials, resulting in a decrease in test accuracy.

[0013] Optionally, the plane wave generator includes a reflection mechanism, a feed source and a carrier; the carrier is fixedly connected to the rotating body, and the feed source is connected to the carrier; the reflection mechanism is connected to the rotating body, and the reflection mechanism has a reflection surface, the reflection surface is used to receive the signal emitted by the feed source and reflect it to the device under test, and / or the reflection surface is used to receive the signal emitted by the device under test and reflect it to the feed source.

[0014] Optionally, the rotating body includes a rotating part and a mounting part, one end of the rotating part is rotatably connected to the driving body, the mounting part is connected to the other end of the rotating part, and the rotating part and the mounting part are arranged at an angle; the plane wave generator is connected to the mounting part; when the plane wave generator follows the rotating part to rotate above the turntable, the rotating part is vertically arranged.

[0015] Optionally, the rotating portion has a rotation center relative to the driving body, and a width of the rotating portion at one end close to the mounting portion is smaller than a width of the rotating portion corresponding to the rotation center.

[0016] Optionally, the width of the rotating portion gradually decreases from a position corresponding to the rotation center to an end close to the mounting portion.

[0017] Optionally, the rotating body further includes a counterweight portion, and the counterweight portion is disposed at an end of the rotating portion away from the mounting portion.

[0018] Optionally, a wave absorbing member is provided on a side of the counterweight portion facing the plane wave generator.

[0019] Optionally, the rotation centerline of the rotating body is perpendicular to and coplanar with the rotation centerline of the turntable.

[0020] Optionally, the compact field test device further comprises a temperature control device, which is disposed on the turntable and is used to accommodate the device under test so as to control the temperature of the environment in which the device under test is located.

[0021] An antenna testing system comprises an anechoic chamber and the above-mentioned compact range testing device, wherein the compact range testing device is arranged inside the anechoic chamber.

[0022] The antenna test system provided by the utility model adopts the above-mentioned compact range test device. The beneficial effects of the antenna test system relative to the prior art are the same as the beneficial effects of the above-mentioned compact range test device relative to the prior art, which will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the utility model, the drawings required for use in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show certain embodiments of the utility model and therefore should not be regarded as limiting the scope. For ordinary technicians in this field, other relevant drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of a compact range test device provided in the first embodiment of the present application;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic structural diagram of a portion of the compact range testing device provided in the first embodiment of the present application.

[0026] Icons: 10-compact field test device; 100-scanning mechanism; 110-driving body; 120-rotating body; 121-rotating part; 122-installing part; 123-counterweight part; 124-absorbing part; 130-carrying part; 140-feed source; 150-reflecting mechanism; 151-reflecting surface; 200-turntable; 300-temperature control device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] In order to make the purpose, technical scheme and advantages of the embodiments of the utility model clearer, the technical scheme in the embodiments of the utility model will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the utility model, not all of the embodiments. Generally, the components of the embodiments of the utility model described and shown in the drawings here can be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0028] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to be protected, but merely represents selected embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0029] It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters denote similar items in the following drawings, and therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, further definition and explanation thereof is not required in subsequent drawings.

[0030] In the description of the present utility model, it should be noted that if the terms "upper", "lower", "inside", "outside", etc. appear, the orientation or position relationship indicated is based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or is the orientation or position relationship in which the utility model product is usually placed when used. It is only for the convenience of describing the utility model and simplifying the description, and does not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, it cannot be understood as a limitation on the present utility model.

[0031] In addition, the terms “first”, “second”, etc., if used, are merely used to distinguish between the descriptions and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0032] It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the features in the embodiments of the present invention may be combined with each other.

[0033] First embodiment

[0034] See also Figure 1In this embodiment, a compact range test device 10 is provided, which can be used for antenna performance testing of a device under test, such as pattern testing and amplitude and phase calibration of an active phased array antenna. The compact range test device 10 provided in this embodiment can improve the problem of large space occupied resulting in large volume of the anechoic chamber and the problem of difficulty in laying electromagnetic absorbing materials resulting in reduced test accuracy in the prior art.

[0035] The compact field test device 10 includes a scanning mechanism 100 and a turntable 200. The scanning mechanism 100 includes a driving body 110, a rotating body 120 and a plane wave generator; the plane wave generator is arranged at one end of the rotating body 120, and the other end of the rotating body 120 is arranged at the driving body 110, and the driving body 110 is used to drive the rotating body 120 to rotate, so as to drive the plane wave generator to move along a preset circular path; at least one of the rotating body 120 and the bearing member 130 is provided with an absorbing member 124 on one side close to the plane wave generator. The turntable 200 is used to carry the test piece and can drive the test piece to rotate in the horizontal direction; the turntable 200 is arranged at the center of the preset circular path.

[0036] In this embodiment, the plane wave generator is a reflector antenna, including a carrier 130, a feed source 140 and a reflection mechanism 150. The carrier 130 is fixedly connected to the rotating body 120, and the feed source 140 is connected to the carrier 130. The reflection mechanism 150 is connected to the rotating body 120, and a reflection surface 151 is provided on the reflection mechanism 150; the reflection surface 151 is used to receive the signal emitted by the feed source 140 and reflect it to the device under test, and / or the reflection surface 151 is used to receive the signal emitted by the device under test and reflect it to the feed source 140. When the rotating body 120 is driven by the driving body 110, the carrier 130, the feed source 140 and the reflection mechanism 150 all move along the preset circular path following the rotating body 120, and the carrier 130, the feed source 140 and the reflection mechanism 150 remain stationary relative to each other.

[0037] It should be noted that the absorbing member 124 represents a structure that can be used to absorb electromagnetic waves, and the absorbing member 124 provided on the rotating body 120 is used as an example for description. The absorbing member 124 can be made of absorbing material. In this embodiment, the absorbing member 124 has a plurality of periodic absorbing units, and the plurality of absorbing units are provided on the rotating body 120, and each absorbing unit is in a wedge shape.

[0038] It should be noted that, “and / or” means that the reflecting surface 151 can be used only to receive the signal emitted by the feed source 140 and reflect the signal emitted by the feed source 140 to the device under test; it can also be used only to receive the signal emitted by the device under test and reflect the signal emitted by the device under test to the feed source 140; it can also be used to both receive the signal emitted by the feed source 140 and reflect it to the device under test, and also receive the signal emitted by the device under test and reflect it to the feed source 140.

[0039] In addition, it should be noted that in other embodiments, the plane wave generator may also adopt other mechanisms, for example, the plane wave generator is an array antenna or a lens antenna.

[0040] As described above, in the compact field test device 10, the plane wave generator relies on the driving body 110 to drive the rotating body 120 to perform a swinging motion to move in a preset circular path. Since the driving body 110 and the rotating body 120 are relatively small in size, the problem that the existing track-type scanning bracket causes the entire test device to be large in size and thus causes the anechoic chamber to be large can be avoided. Furthermore, in the process of the driving body 110 driving the rotating body 120 to drive the plane wave generator to rotate, the plane wave generator and the rotating body 120 are in a relatively static state. Therefore, it is convenient to set an absorbing member 124 on the rotating body 120 and the bearing member 130 to absorb electromagnetic wave signals through the absorbing member 124, reduce electromagnetic reflections of test signals, avoid interference with the test, and thereby improve the test accuracy. Based on this, the compact field test device 10 can improve the problem of occupying a large space in the prior art, resulting in a large volume of the anechoic chamber, and the problem of difficulty in laying electromagnetic absorbing materials, resulting in a decrease in test accuracy.

[0041] It is worth noting that in this embodiment, since a single-axis motion is formed between the rotating body 120 and the driving body 110, the cost is greatly reduced compared to the implementation of multi-axis linkage of the robot arm, and the movement of the plane wave generator can be controlled more stably and reliably due to the simple action, so that the cumulative error is smaller. In addition, compared with the arc track structure, the overall structure of the rotating body 120 and the driving body 110 is more compact, so that the overall size of the compact field test device 10 can be controlled, avoiding the volume of the anechoic chamber being too large.

[0042] In addition, in this embodiment, the rotation centerline of the rotating body 120 is coplanar with the rotation centerline of the turntable 200, so that after the turntable 200 drives the tested object to rotate, the position of the tested object relative to the reflective surface 151 can be ensured to remain substantially unchanged, which is conducive to improving the test accuracy.

[0043] In this embodiment, the reflection surface 151 on the plane wave generator is a parabola, and the reflection surface 151 is used to receive the signal emitted by the feed source 140 and reflect the signal as a plane wave signal to the device under test, and / or, the reflection surface 151 is used to receive the signal emitted by the device under test and focus the signal and reflect it to the feed source 140. In other words, the emission surface can be used to reflect the spherical wave signal to form a plane wave signal, and can also focus the plane wave signal through reflection. Based on this, it is conducive to realizing the far-field test of the antenna in a limited physical space.

[0044] In this embodiment, the rotating body 120 includes a rotating portion 121 and a mounting portion 122. One end of the rotating portion 121 is rotatably connected to the driving body 110, and the mounting portion 122 is connected to the other end of the rotating portion 121, and the rotating portion 121 and the mounting portion 122 are arranged at an angle. The bearing 130 and the plane wave generator are both connected to the mounting portion 122. When the plane wave generator rotates above the turntable 200 following the rotating portion 121, the bearing 130 and the rotating portion 121 are both arranged vertically. When the driving portion drives the rotating portion 121 to rotate, the rotating portion 121 drives the mounting portion 122 to move, so that the bearing 130 and the plane wave generator arranged on the mounting portion 122 follow the movement. That is, the plane wave generator can be driven to move along a preset circular path; and in the process of the plane wave generator moving along the preset circular path, it can rotate around the turntable 200.

[0045] When the plane wave generator rotates to the position directly above the turntable 200, the bearing member 130 and the rotating portion 121 are both arranged vertically. Based on this, the area passed by the rotating portion 121 and the bearing member 130 during the rotation process can be made smaller, which is beneficial to reducing the overall occupied space of the compact field test device 10, and is beneficial to reducing the volume of the anechoic chamber.

[0046] In addition, in the present embodiment, the rotating part 121 has a rotation center relative to the driving body 110, and the width of the rotating part 121 at one end close to the mounting part 122 is smaller than the width of the rotating part 121 at the corresponding rotation center. It is worth noting that in the present embodiment, the rotating part 121 is set as a flat structure as a whole. Therefore, when the width of the rotating part 121 at one end close to the mounting part 122 is smaller, the volume and weight of the end far from the rotation center can be made smaller, which is conducive to reducing the overall weight of the rotating part 121 and facilitating the driving body 110 to drive the rotating part 121 smoothly; at the same time, setting the width close to the rotation center larger is conducive to ensuring that the rotating part 121 has sufficient strength, thereby ensuring the stability of the entire scanning mechanism 100. Among them, the direction from the end of the rotating part 121 connected to the driving body 110 to the end of the rotating part 121 connected to the mounting part 122 is the extension direction of the rotating part 121, and the width of the rotating part 121 refers to the dimension perpendicular to the extension direction of the rotating part 121.

[0047] Furthermore, in order to achieve both the improvement of strength and the reduction of weight of the rotating portion 121, the width of the rotating portion 121 gradually decreases from the corresponding rotation center to the end close to the mounting portion 122. Optionally, in some embodiments, the outer contours of both sides of the rotating portion 121 can form an outwardly convex arc; of course, in other embodiments, the outer contours of both sides of the rotating portion 121 can also form a straight line, an inwardly concave arc, or a stepped shape.

[0048] In this embodiment, the rotating body 120 further includes a counterweight 123, which is disposed at one end of the rotating part 121 away from the mounting part 122. Based on this, when the rotating body 120 is driven by the driving body 110, the counterweight 123 can be used to balance the weight of the rotating part 121 at one end close to the mounting part 122 and the weight of the mounting part 122, the bearing 130, the feed source 140 and the plane wave generator, which is beneficial to the overall balance of the scanning mechanism 100, ensuring that the torque output by the driving body 110 during the process of driving the rotating body 120 to rotate remains roughly stable, which is beneficial to the uniform force of the driving body 110, improving the operation stability, and also improving the service life of the driving body 110. In addition, the stable operation of the rotating body 120 can also ensure the relative position stability of the plane wave generator and the tested object during the test, thereby ensuring the test accuracy.

[0049] Furthermore, a wave absorbing member 124 is provided on the side of the counterweight portion 123 facing the plane wave generator. The wave absorbing member 124 is also provided on the side of the counterweight portion 123 facing the plane wave generator to reduce the electromagnetic reflection generated on the counterweight portion 123 and avoid interference with the test. Of course, in other embodiments, if the counterweight portion 123 is provided at the end of the rotating portion 121 away from the mounting portion 122 and is located on the side of the rotating portion 121 opposite to the plane wave generator, it is not necessary to provide the wave absorbing member 124 on the counterweight portion 123.

[0050] In this example, see Figure 2 , where, for the convenience of observation, Figure 2The view in is a view of the compact field test device 10 without the absorbing member 124. The compact field test device 10 also includes a temperature control device 300. The temperature control device 300 is disposed on the turntable 200 and can rotate with the turntable 200. The temperature control device 300 is used to accommodate the test piece to control the temperature of the environment in which the test piece is located. In other words, a accommodating space (not shown) is provided inside the temperature control device 300 to accommodate the test piece. At the same time, the temperature control device 300 has a temperature control mechanism, which can be used to adjust the temperature in the accommodating space to ensure that the test piece is in a specified stable temperature environment to test the wireless performance of the test piece at a specified temperature. Specifically, the temperature control mechanism can be, for example, an air circulation device. It is worth noting that the shell of the temperature control device 300 used to form the accommodating space can be made of a heat-insulating and wave-transmitting material. In summary, in the compact field test device 10 provided in this embodiment, the plane wave generator relies on the driving body 110 to drive the rotating body 120 to perform a swinging motion to move in a preset circular path. Since the driving body 110 and the rotating body 120 are relatively small in size, the problem that the existing track-type scanning bracket causes the entire test device to be large in size and thus causes the anechoic chamber to be large can be avoided. Furthermore, in the process in which the driving body 110 drives the rotating body 120 to drive the plane wave generator to rotate, the plane wave generator and the rotating body 120 are in a relatively static state. Therefore, it is convenient to set an absorbing member 124 on the rotating body 120 and the bearing member 130 to absorb electromagnetic wave signals through the absorbing member 124, reduce electromagnetic reflections of test signals, avoid interference with the test, and thereby improve the test accuracy. Based on this, the compact field test device 10 can improve the problem of occupying a large space in the prior art resulting in a large volume of the anechoic chamber and the problem of difficulty in laying electromagnetic absorbing materials resulting in reduced test accuracy. Furthermore, since the rotating part 121 is arranged in a manner of gradually changing width, the weight reduction and strength improvement of the rotating part 121 can be taken into account at the same time, which is beneficial to improving the rotation stability of the rotating part 121. In addition, by setting the counterweight part 123, the weight of the rotating part 121 at one end close to the mounting part 122 and the weight of the mounting part 122, the bearing 130, the feed source 140 and the plane wave generator can be balanced by the counterweight part 123, which is beneficial to the overall balance of the scanning mechanism 100, ensuring that the torque output by the driving body 110 during the process of driving the rotating body 120 to rotate remains roughly stable, which is beneficial to the uniform force of the driving body 110, improving the operation stability, and also improving the service life of the driving body 110. Further, in the case of setting the temperature control device 300, it can be ensured that the device under test is in a specified stable temperature environment to accurately test the wireless performance of the device under test at a specified temperature.

[0051] Second embodiment

[0052] The present embodiment provides an antenna testing system (not shown), which can improve the problem in the prior art that the anechoic chamber is large in size due to the large space occupied and the problem that it is difficult to lay electromagnetic absorbing materials, resulting in reduced testing accuracy.

[0053] The antenna test system includes an anechoic chamber (not shown) and the compact range test device 10 provided in the first embodiment, and the compact range test device 10 is arranged inside the anechoic chamber.

[0054] The above is only a specific implementation of the utility model, but the protection scope of the utility model is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily thought of by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed by the utility model should be included in the protection scope of the utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of the utility model should be based on the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A compact field test device, characterized in that: include: A scanning mechanism, comprising a driving body, a rotating body and a plane wave generator; the plane wave generator is arranged at one end of the rotating body, the other end of the rotating body is arranged at the driving body, the driving body is used to drive the rotating body to rotate, so as to drive the plane wave generator to move along a preset circular path; the plane wave generator has a feed source and a bearing connected to the feed source; at least one of the rotating body and the bearing is provided with an absorber on a side close to the plane wave generator; A turntable, used to carry the object under test and to drive the object under test to rotate in a horizontal direction; the turntable is arranged at the center of the preset circular path; Wherein, the plane wave generator is used to send a plane wave signal to the device under test.

2. The compact range test device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plane wave generator includes a reflection mechanism, a feed source and a carrier; the carrier is fixedly connected to the rotating body, and the feed source is connected to the carrier; the reflection mechanism is connected to the rotating body, and the reflection mechanism has a reflection surface, the reflection surface is used to receive the signal emitted by the feed source and reflect it to the device under test, and / or the reflection surface is used to receive the signal emitted by the device under test and reflect it to the feed source.

3. The compact range test device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rotating body includes a rotating part and a mounting part, one end of the rotating part is rotatably connected to the driving body, the mounting part is connected to the other end of the rotating part, and the rotating part and the mounting part are arranged at an angle; the plane wave generator is connected to the mounting part; when the plane wave generator follows the rotating part to rotate above the turntable, the rotating part is vertically arranged.

4. The compact range test device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The rotating part has a rotation center relative to the driving body, and the width of the rotating part at one end close to the mounting part is smaller than the width of the rotating part corresponding to the rotation center.

5. The compact range test device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The width of the rotating portion gradually decreases from a position corresponding to the rotating center to an end close to the mounting portion.

6. The compact range test device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The rotating body further comprises a counterweight portion, and the counterweight portion is arranged at one end of the rotating portion away from the mounting portion.

7. The compact range test device according to claim 6, characterized in that: A wave absorbing member is provided on a side of the counterweight portion facing the plane wave generator.

8. The compact range test device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The rotation center line of the rotating body is perpendicular to and coplanar with the rotation center line of the turntable.

9. The compact range test device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The compact field test device further comprises a temperature control device, which is disposed on the turntable and is used to accommodate the tested object so as to control the temperature of the environment in which the tested object is located.

10. An antenna testing system, characterized in that: It comprises an anechoic chamber and a compact range test device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the compact range test device is arranged inside the anechoic chamber.

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