Satellite communication emulator system and emulation method

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an emulator system and an emulation method for satellite communication.SOLUTION: An emulation method comprises: providing a first antenna array which comprises a plurality of antenna units arranged along a first direction; mounting a device under test on a virtual plane by a jig; enabling a first beam by the first antenna array; directing the first beam to the device under test at a default angle of incidence; transmitting a first signal to the device under test via the first beam and receiving a second signal corresponding to the first signal from the device under test; calculating a phase difference value based on the second signal; determining whether the device under test passes the test based on the phase difference value and a threshold to generate a test result; and outputting the test result.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of wireless communication, and more particularly, to an emulator system and an emulation method for satellite communication.

Background Art

[0002] Currently, low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite systems are being launched. Thanks to the LEO system, devices on the earth can communicate with each other regardless of distance. However, it is important to ensure that devices in the market operate properly, that is, can communicate with LEO satellites.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to an emulator system and an emulation method for satellite communication, and is suitable for a device under test (DUT).

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] The present invention relates to an emulator system for satellite communication. This emulator system is suitable for a device under test. The emulator system includes a first antenna array, a jig, and a controller. The first antenna array includes a plurality of antenna units arranged along a first direction. The jig is used to attach the device under test onto a virtual plane. The controller is communicably connected to the first antenna array. The controller is configured to enable a first beam by the first antenna array, direct the first beam towards the device under test at a default incident angle, transmit a first signal to the device under test via the first beam, receive a second signal corresponding to the first signal from the device under test, calculate a value of a phase difference based on the second signal, determine whether the device under test passes the test based on the value of the phase difference and a threshold value, generate a test result, and output the test result.

[0005] In one embodiment of the present invention, the projection of the first antenna array on the virtual plane overlaps with the jig.

[0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, the projection of the first antenna array on the virtual plane does not overlap with the jig.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, the controller enables a second beam different from the first beam by the first antenna array, communicates with the device under test via the second beam, and generates a test result.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the emulator system further includes a second antenna array. The second antenna array includes a plurality of antenna units arranged along a second direction. The second antenna array is communicably connected to the controller. The controller enables the first beam by the first antenna array and the second antenna array.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the emulator system further includes a second antenna array. The second antenna array includes a plurality of antenna units arranged along a second direction, and the second antenna array is communicatively connected to a controller. The controller enables a second beam by the second antenna array, communicates with a device under test via the second beam, and generates a test result.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the first antenna array further includes a phase shifter electrically connected to a first antenna unit of the plurality of antenna units. The controller performs a phase shift on a second signal by the phase shifter, obtains the shifted signal, and calculates a value of the phase difference based on the shifted signal.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the controller further receives a calibration signal from the device under test, compensates the shifted signal based on the calibration signal, and calculates a value of the phase difference.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the controller adjusts a simulated altitude of an emulated satellite in satellite communication by adjusting a signal strength of the first beam.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the controller adjusts a simulated incident angle by adjusting a default incident angle based on the simulated altitude.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the jig is a movable object and is electrically connected to the controller. The controller sets the jig such that the virtual plane has six degrees of freedom.

[0015] The present invention relates to a method for emulating satellite communication. This emulation method is suitable for a device under test. The emulation method includes providing a first antenna array including a plurality of antenna units arranged along a first direction, attaching the device under test onto a virtual plane by a jig, enabling a first beam by the first antenna array, directing the first beam towards the device under test at a default incident angle, transmitting a first signal to the device under test via the first beam and receiving a second signal corresponding to the first signal from the device under test, calculating a value of a phase difference based on the second signal, determining whether the device under test passes the test based on the value of the phase difference and a threshold value, generating a test result, and outputting the test result.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, the projection of the first antenna array on the virtual plane overlaps with the jig.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, the projection of the first antenna array on the virtual plane does not overlap with the jig.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, the emulation method further includes enabling a second beam different from the first beam by the first antenna array, communicating with the device under test via the second beam, and generating a test result.

[0019] In one embodiment of the present invention, the emulation method further includes providing a second antenna array, where the second antenna array includes a plurality of antenna units arranged along a second direction, and the step of enabling the first beam by the first antenna array includes enabling the first beam by the first antenna array and the second antenna array.

[0020] In one embodiment of the present invention, the emulation method further includes providing a second antenna array, where the second antenna array includes a plurality of antenna units arranged along a second direction, and the step of generating a test result includes enabling a second beam by the second antenna array, and communicating with a device under test via the second beam to generate a test result.

[0021] In one embodiment of the present invention, the step of calculating the value of the phase difference based on the second signal includes performing a phase shift on the second signal to obtain a shifted signal, and calculating the value of the phase difference based on the shifted signal.

[0022] In one embodiment of the present invention, the step of calculating the value of the phase difference based on the shifted signal includes receiving a calibration signal from a device under test, compensating the shifted signal based on the calibration signal, and calculating the value of the phase difference.

[0023] In one embodiment of the present invention, the emulation method further includes adjusting the simulated altitude of an emulated satellite in satellite communication by adjusting the signal strength of the first beam.

Advantages of the Invention

[0024] Based on the above description, the present invention provides a convenient method for testing the communication capabilities of satellite communication devices.

[0025] To make the above-described content easier to understand, several embodiments in conjunction with the drawings will be described in detail below.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026] The accompanying drawings are included to further understand the principles of the present invention, are incorporated herein, and form a part thereof. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

[0027]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an emulated environment for satellite communication. The conventional emulated environment has an arc-shaped rail 10 used to mount a device 11 that functions as an emulated satellite, and the device 11 can be moved along the arc-shaped rail 10. The device under test 20 can be tested on a mounting platform. However, the metal frame of the arc-shaped rail 10 may affect the test results, and the mechanical control means have drawbacks such as low accuracy, complex mechanical structure, and time-consuming installation and calibration.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a satellite communication emulator system 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a side view of an emulation environment for satellite communication according to one embodiment of the present invention. The emulator system 100 is suitable for testing the communication capabilities of the device under test 200. The emulator system 100 can include a controller 110, a jig 120, and one or more antenna arrays 130. The number of antenna arrays 130 of the emulator system 100 may be any positive integer, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the antenna array 130 can include an antenna array 131, an antenna array 132, and an antenna array 13n.

[0030] The controller 110 can be, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), or other programmable general-purpose or special-purpose micro control unit (MCU), microprocessor, digital signal processor (DSP), programmable controller, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), graphics processing unit (GPU), arithmetic logic unit (ALU), complex programmable logic device (CPLD), field programmable gate array (FPGA), or other similar devices or combinations thereof. The controller 110 can be communicatively or electrically connected to the jig 120 or one or more antenna arrays 130.

[0031] The jig 120 can be used to attach the device under test 200 on a virtual plane, which may be a plane parallel to, for example, a desktop or a platform. For example, the jig 120 can be placed on the desktop and fix the device under test 200 on the desktop. In one embodiment, the jig 120 may be a movable object (e.g., a lifting platform) and can be electrically or communicably connected to the controller 110. As shown in FIG. 3, the controller 110 can set the jig 120 such that the virtual plane has six degrees of freedom. The device under test 200 can move together with the jig 120 to simulate a situation where the communication device of the satellite communication system is moving.

[0032] The antenna array 130 (e.g., the antenna array 131) may be a uniform linear array (ULA) and can include N antenna units 30 arranged along a specific direction. Here, N may be any positive integer. Two adjacent antenna units 30 (e.g., antenna units #1 and #2) can be separated by a length d. In one embodiment, the length d may be equal to λ / 2. Here, λ may be the wavelength of the test signal radiated by the antenna array 130 or the device under test 200.

[0033] A single antenna array 130 can enable one or more beams and communicate with the device under test 200 via one or more beams by directing one or more beams towards the device under test 200. Here, the controller 110 can emulate the movement of the emulated satellite by adjusting the angles of one or more beams. The controller 110 can communicate with the device under test 200 via one or more beams and test the device under test 200. The controller 110 can control the beam direction by adjusting the phase of each of the activated antenna units 30. By adjusting the gain of each of the activated antenna units 30, the total gain and / or the beam shape can be adjusted. Further, the angular velocity of the center of the activated antenna unit 30 (with respect to the device under test 200) may be equal to the angular velocity of the emulated satellite.

[0034] In one embodiment, the controller 110 can enable a plurality of beams to emulate a plurality of emulated satellites respectively. Each beam can be enabled by the (kn + m)-th antenna unit 30 of the antenna array 130. Here, k and n are positive integers, and m is a non-negative integer smaller than k. Taking the antenna array 131 as an example, three antenna units 30 of the antenna array 131 (i.e., antenna units #1, #2, and #3) can enable beam 41 and beam 42 simultaneously or at different times, and the three antenna units 30 can direct beam 41 or beam 42 towards the device under test 200. On the other hand, two antenna units 30 of the antenna array 131 (i.e., antenna units #(N - 1) and #N) can enable beam 43 and direct beam 43 towards the device under test 200.

[0035] One or more antenna arrays 130 can be installed on, for example, the ceiling, and by arranging a plurality of antenna units 30 of different antenna arrays 130 in the same or different directions, satellites having the same or different orbits can be emulated. FIG. 4 shows a top view of an emulation environment for satellite communication according to one embodiment of the present invention. Taking the antenna array 131 as an example, the projection 1301 on a virtual plane (for example, a desktop) where the device under test 200 of the antenna array 131 is attached can completely / partially overlap with the jig 120 or the device under test 200. Taking the antenna array 132 as an example, the projection 1302 on the virtual plane where the device under test 200 of the antenna array 132 is attached may not overlap with the jig 120 or the device under test 200. Therefore, the antenna array 131 and the antenna array 132 can be used to emulate satellites having different incident angles respectively.

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a side view of an emulation environment for satellite communication according to one embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, different antenna arrays 130 can each enable a different beam and communicate with the device under test 200. For example, the antenna array 131 can enable the beam 51, and the antenna array 132 can enable the beam 52. The controller 110 can communicate with the device under test 200 via the beam 51 and / or the beam 52, test the device under test 200, and generate a test result of the device under test 200. In one embodiment, the beam can be enabled by a plurality of antenna arrays 130. For example, the beam 53 can be enabled by the antenna array 131 and the antenna array 132. The controller 110 can communicate with the device under test 200 via the beam 53, test the device under test 200, and generate a test result of the device under test 200.

[0037] FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of the communication between the antenna array 131 and the device under test 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention. To test the device under test 200, the device under test 200 can first transmit a calibration signal 61 at a steering angle of 0 degrees. That is, the calibration signal 61 can be transmitted by the device under test 200 along a vertical line passing through the device under test 200. The antenna array 131 can receive the calibration signal 61, and the controller 110 can record the information of the calibration signal 61.

[0038] Thereafter, the controller 110 can enable the beam 62 by the antenna array 131 and direct the beam 62 toward the device under test 200 at the default incident angle φ. The controller 110 can transmit a signal to the device under test 200 via the beam 62, and the device under test 200 can receive the signal from the beam 62 and obtain the angle of arrival (AoA) of the signal. The device under test 200 can radiate a response signal 63 whose steering angle θ (i.e., the angle between the direction of the response signal 63 and the vertical line passing through the device under test 200) is the same as the AoA. If the device under test 200 can correctly calculate the AoA, the AoA or the steering angle θ must be equal to the default incident angle φ. Therefore, if the AoA or the steering angle θ is not equal to the default incident angle φ, it means that there is some error in the phase shift mechanism of the device under test 200. However, due to the nature of the wireless signal having a beam width, one or more antenna units 30 of the antenna array 131 can still receive the response signal 63 radiated by the device under test 200. It is important to determine whether the device under test 200 can correctly calculate the AoA and further correctly transmit the response signal 63 toward the signal source of the received signal (e.g., the antenna array 131).

[0039] The antenna array 131 is a uniform linear array, and two adjacent antenna units 30 of the antenna array 131 are separated by a length d = λ / 2. Assume that the steering angle θ of the signal 63 is directed towards the first antenna unit 30 (i.e., antenna unit #1). The phase θ of the received response signal 63 of the nth (from left to right) antenna unit 30 n can be given as Equation (1).

[0040]

Equation

[0041] When the antenna unit 30 (e.g., antenna unit #1) that receives the response signal 63 is exactly located at the position corresponding to the steering angle θ, the antenna unit 30 can receive the signal 63 with a planar wave front. On the other hand, when the antenna unit 30 that receives the response signal 63 is at a position corresponding to a default incident angle φ that is not equal to the steering angle θ (e.g., when the device under test 200 cannot calculate the AoA completely correctly and the AoA is not equal to the default incident angle φ), the response signal 63 observed by the nth antenna unit 30 is, as shown in Equation (2), P n which may be the case. Here, L is the length of the path from the light-emitting array of the device under test 200 to the antenna array 131.

[0042]

Equation

[0043] In one embodiment, the antenna array 130 (e.g., antenna array 131) can further include a phase shifter for each antenna unit 30. The phase shifter can be electrically connected to the antenna unit 30. The controller 110 uses the phase shifter to signal P nThe phase shift can be executed to cancel the phase residual φ. Accordingly, the controller 110 can obtain the shifted signal P’ as shown in Equation (3). n

[0044]

Number

[0045]

Number

[0046] In one embodiment, the controller 110 can adjust the simulated altitude of the emulated satellite by adjusting the gain of the antenna unit 30 of the antenna array 130 or by adjusting the signal intensity of the beam radiated by the antenna array 130. The mapping relationship between the simulated altitude of the emulated satellite and the signal intensity of the radiation beam (or the gain of the antenna unit 30) is recorded in a look-up table, and the controller 110 can pre-store the look-up table.

[0047] In one embodiment, the controller 110 can adjust the simulated speed of the emulated satellite by adjusting the simulated altitude of the emulated satellite. Specifically, the controller 110 can obtain the distance R between the emulated satellite and the center of the earth based on the simulated altitude. The controller 110 can obtain the speed v of the emulated satellite based on Equations (4) to (6). Here, G is the universal gravitational constant, M is the mass of the earth, and R0 is the radius of the earth.

[0048]

Number

[0049] ​

Number

[0050]

Number

[0051]

Number

[0052]

Number

[0053] Equation (9) is an approximate equation, and the error between Equation (9) and the original equation is less than 4%, which is acceptable in engineering practice.

[0054]

Number

[0055]

Number

[0056]

Number

[0057]

Number

[0058] FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of a satellite communication emulation method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The emulation method can be implemented by an emulator system 100 as shown in FIG. 2. In step S901, a first antenna array including a plurality of antenna units arranged along a first direction is provided. In step S902, the device under test is attached to a virtual plane by a jig. In step S903, a first beam is enabled by the first antenna array. In step S904, the first beam is directed at the device under test at a default incident angle. In step S905, a first signal is transmitted to the device under test via the first beam, and a second signal corresponding to the first signal is received from the device under test. In step S906, a value of the phase difference is calculated based on the second signal. In step S907, it is determined whether the device under test passes the test based on the value of the phase difference and a threshold value, and a test result is generated. In step S908, the test result is output.

[0059] As described above, the present invention provides an emulator system for satellite communication. This emulator system can simulate a situation where a plurality of satellites exist in a satellite communication system, a situation where the satellite orbit is not directly above the ground terminal, or a situation where the ground terminal itself is moving.

[0060] Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that various modifications and changes can be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention. In view of this, the present invention is intended to cover modifications and changes within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

Industrial Applicability

[0061] The emulator system and emulation method according to the present invention can be applied to the wireless communication industry.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0062] 10 Arc-shaped rail 100 Emulator system 11 Device 110 Controller 120 Jig 130, 131, 132, 13n Antenna array 1301, 1302 Projection 20, 200 Device under test 30 Antenna unit 41, 42, 43, 51, 52, 53, 62 Beam 61 Calibration signal 63 Response signal 700, 800 Schematic diagram S901, S902, S903, S904, S905, S906, S907, S908 Step

Claims

1. An emulator system for satellite communication suitable for a device under test, comprising: a first antenna array including a plurality of antenna units arranged along a first direction; a jig used to place the device under test on a virtual plane; a controller communicably connected to the first antenna array; wherein the controller is configured to: activate a first beam by the first antenna array; direct the first beam towards the device under test at a default incident angle; transmit a first signal to the device under test via the first beam, and receive a second signal corresponding to the first signal from the device under test, wherein the device under test calculates a steering angle based on the first signal and transmits the second signal at the steering angle; calculate a value of a phase difference between the default incident angle and the steering angle based on the second signal; determine whether the device under test passes the test based on the value of the phase difference and a threshold value, and generate a test result; output the test result; An emulator system configured to perform the above.

2. The emulator system according to claim 1, wherein a projection of the first antenna array on the virtual plane overlaps with the jig.

3. The emulator system according to claim 1, wherein a projection of the first antenna array on the virtual plane does not overlap with the jig.

4. The emulator system according to claim 1, wherein the controller activates a second beam different from the first beam by the first antenna array, communicates with the device under test via the second beam, and generates the test result.

5. The emulator system according to claim 1, further comprising a second antenna array including a plurality of antenna units arranged along a second direction, wherein the second antenna array is communicably connected to the controller, and the controller activates the first beam by the first antenna array and the second antenna array.

6. The emulator system according to claim 1, further comprising a second antenna array including a plurality of antenna units arranged along a second direction, wherein the second antenna array is communicatively connected to the controller, and the controller enables a second beam by the second antenna array and communicates with the device under test via the second beam to generate the test result.

7. The first antenna array further includes a phase shifter electrically connected to a first antenna unit of the plurality of antenna units, The emulator system according to claim 1, wherein the controller performs a phase shift on the second signal by the phase shifter, obtains a phase-shifted signal, and calculates a value of the phase difference based on the phase-shifted signal.

8. The controller further receives a calibration signal from the device under test, compensates the phase-shifted signal based on the calibration signal, and calculates the value of the phase difference, The emulator system according to claim 7, configured to perform.

9. The emulator system according to claim 1, wherein the controller adjusts a simulated altitude of the emulated satellite of the satellite communication by adjusting a signal strength of the first beam.

10. The emulator system according to claim 9, wherein the controller adjusts a simulated incident angle by adjusting the default incident angle based on the simulated altitude.

11. The jig is a movable object and is electrically connected to the controller, and the controller sets the jig so that the virtual plane has six degrees of freedom. The emulation system according to claim 1.

12. An emulation method for satellite communication suitable for a device under test, comprising: providing a first antenna array including a plurality of antenna units arranged along a first direction; placing the device under test on a virtual plane by a jig; enabling a first beam by the first antenna array; directing the first beam toward the device under test at a default incident angle; Transmit a first signal to the device under test via the first beam, receive a second signal corresponding to the first signal from the device under test, the device under test calculates a steering angle based on the first signal, and transmits the second signal at the steering angle. Calculate the value of the phase difference between the default incident angle and the steering angle based on the second signal. Determine whether the device under test passes the test based on the value of the phase difference and a threshold value, and generate a test result. Output the test result. An emulation method including the above.

13. The emulation method according to claim 12, wherein the projection of the first antenna array on the virtual plane overlaps the jig.

14. The emulation method according to claim 12, wherein the projection of the first antenna array on the virtual plane does not overlap the jig.

15. Enable a second beam different from the first beam by the first antenna array. Communicate with the device under test via the second beam and generate the test result. The emulation method according to claim 12, further including the above.

16. Further include providing a second antenna array including a plurality of antenna units arranged along a second direction. Enabling the first beam by the first antenna array. The emulation method according to claim 12, wherein enabling the first beam includes enabling the first beam by the first antenna array and the second antenna array.

17. Further include providing a second antenna array including a plurality of antenna units arranged along a second direction. Generating the test result. Enable a second beam by the second antenna array. Communicate with the device under test via the second beam and generate the test result. The emulation method according to claim 12, including the above.

18. Calculating the value of the phase difference between the default incident angle and the steering angle based on the second signal. Perform a phase shift on the second signal to obtain a phase-shifted signal. Calculate the value of the phase difference based on the phase-shifted signal. The emulation method according to claim 12, including the above.

19. Calculating the value of the phase difference based on the phase-shifted signal. Receiving a calibration signal from the device under test; Compensating the phase-shifted signal based on the calibration signal and calculating a value of the phase difference; The emulation method according to claim 18, comprising:

20. The emulation method according to claim 12, further comprising adjusting an emulated altitude of the satellite for the satellite communication by adjusting a signal intensity of the first beam.

Images