Adjustment method

Abstract

To measure response time with high accuracy.SOLUTION: A measurement system comprises: a directional coupling unit whose first terminal is electrically connected with a signal output unit via a first cable and whose second terminal is electrically connected with a first antenna, and that outputs a first signal inputted to the first terminal from the second terminal and outputs a third signal that is a part of the first signal from a third terminal; and a measurement unit electrically connected with a second antenna via a second cable and electrically connected with the third terminal of the directional coupling unit via a third cable, and that acquires response time from transmission of a first electric wave to reception of a second electric wave on the basis of a second signal inputted via the second cable and the third signal inputted via the third cable.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a measurement system and an adjustment method. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a system for testing a data packet signal transceiver.

[0003] In the technology described in Patent Document 1, wireless communication is performed between two antennas. A cable signal path is connected to one of the antennas. Two directional couplers are inserted between the antenna and the cable signal path. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2016-516344 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the technology described in Patent Document 1, one directional coupler extracts a partial signal of a reference data packet. The extracted partial signal of the reference data packet is delayed by the delay amount (amount of delay in signal transmission) of one directional coupler. The other directional coupler extracts a partial signal of a responsive data packet received by the antenna. The extracted partial signal of the responsive data packet is delayed by the delay amount of the other directional coupler. The combiner combines the signals extracted by the two directional couplers and outputs the combined signal to an analysis circuit.

[0006] When two directional couplers are inserted between the antenna and the cable signal path in this way, product variations (individual differences) between the two directional couplers cause variations in the delay between the extracted signal portion of the reference data packet and the extracted signal portion of the responsive data packet. This causes variations in the start times of the extracted signal portion of the reference data packet and the extracted signal portion of the responsive data packet. Therefore, the technology described in Patent Document 1 cannot measure response time with high accuracy.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and has as its object to measure response time with high accuracy. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A measurement system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a first antenna that transmits a first radio wave to a wireless communication device based on a first signal; a second antenna that receives the first radio wave from the first antenna, receives a second radio wave from the wireless communication device that is a response to the first radio wave, and outputs a second signal based on the first radio wave and the second radio wave; a signal output device that outputs the first signal; a directional coupler that has a first terminal electrically connected to the signal output device via a first cable and a second terminal electrically connected to the first antenna, and outputs the first signal input to the first terminal from the second terminal and outputs a third signal that is a part of the first signal from the third terminal; and a measuring device that is electrically connected to the second antenna via the second cable and electrically connected to the third terminal of the directional coupler via a third cable, and acquires a response time from transmitting the first radio wave to receiving the second radio wave based on the second signal input via the second cable and the third signal input via the third cable.

[0009] An adjustment method according to one aspect of the present invention includes a first antenna that transmits a first radio wave to a wireless communication device based on a first signal; a second antenna that receives the first radio wave from the first antenna, receives a second radio wave that is a response to the first radio wave from the wireless communication device, and outputs a second signal based on the first radio wave and the second radio wave; a signal output device that outputs the first signal; a directional coupler that has a first terminal electrically connected to the signal output device via a first cable and a second terminal electrically connected to the first antenna, and outputs the first signal input to the first terminal from the second terminal and outputs a third signal that is a part of the first signal from the third terminal; and a directional coupler that is electrically connected to the second antenna via a second cable and outputs the first signal from the second terminal. A method for adjusting a measurement system including a measuring instrument electrically connected to a third terminal of the directional coupler via a third cable, and which obtains a response time from transmitting a first radio wave to receiving a second radio wave based on a second signal input via the second cable and a third signal input via the third cable, wherein the first terminal of the directional coupler is electrically connected to a first antenna, a third radio wave is transmitted from the third antenna, and the delay time of the first path is adjusted so that the timing at which a fourth signal output from the second antenna reaches the measuring instrument coincides with the timing at which a fifth signal, which is part of the signal input to the first terminal and is output from the third terminal, reaches the measuring instrument. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to measure the response time with high accuracy. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a measurement system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing signal waveforms of the measurement system according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing signal waveforms of the measurement system according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a method for adjusting the measurement system according to the embodiment. [Figure 5]FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method for adjusting the measurement system according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the measurement system and adjustment method of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Each embodiment is an example, and it goes without saying that partial substitution or combination of the configurations shown in different embodiments is possible.

[0013] <Configuration> FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a measurement system according to an embodiment.

[0014] The fifth-generation mobile communication system (5G) is characterized by high-capacity, high-speed communication and low latency. In other words, 5G requires near-real-time response. The measurement system 1 can measure the response time of wireless communication with high accuracy.

[0015] The measurement system 1 performs wireless communication with the wireless communication device 2. The measurement system 1 transmits radio waves 41 to the wireless communication device 2. In response to the radio waves 41, the wireless communication device 2 transmits radio waves 42 to the measurement system 1. The measurement system 1 measures the time (response time) from when it transmits the radio waves 41 to when it receives the radio waves 42.

[0016] The radio wave 41 corresponds to an example of a "first radio wave" in the present disclosure. The radio wave 42 corresponds to an example of a "second radio wave" in the present disclosure.

[0017] The measurement system 1 includes a signal transmitter / receiver 11 , a directional coupler 12 , a first antenna 13 , a second antenna 14 , and a measurement device 15 .

[0018] The signal transceiver 11 is exemplified by a communication tester, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The signal transceiver 11 performs FDD (Frequency Division Duplex), but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In FDD, one band is divided into a transmission frequency band and a reception frequency band.

[0019] The signal transmitter / receiver 11 corresponds to an example of a "signal output device" of the present disclosure.

[0020] The directional coupler 12 is illustrated as having a coupling degree of 10 dB (decibels) and an insertion loss of 1 dB, but the present disclosure is not limited to this.

[0021] The first antenna 13 and the second antenna 14 are the same type of antenna. The first antenna 13 and the second antenna 14 are, for example, wideband isotropic antennas, but the present disclosure is not limited to this.

[0022] It is preferable that the first antenna 13 and the second antenna 14 are disposed in close proximity to each other.

[0023] The measuring instrument 15 is exemplified by an oscilloscope, a network analyzer, etc. that are capable of time domain analysis, but the present disclosure is not limited to this.

[0024] The signal transmitter / receiver 11 is electrically connected to a first terminal 12 a of the directional coupler 12 via a cable 21 .

[0025] The cable 21 corresponds to an example of the "first cable" of the present disclosure.

[0026] The second terminal 12b of the directional coupler 12 is electrically connected to the first antenna 13. The third terminal 12c of the directional coupler 12 is electrically connected to the measuring instrument 15 via the cable 23.

[0027] The cable 23 corresponds to an example of the "third cable" of the present disclosure.

[0028] The second antenna 14 is electrically connected to the measuring instrument 15 via a cable 22 .

[0029] The cable 22 corresponds to an example of the "second cable" of the present disclosure.

[0030] The delay time of the first path 71 from cable 22 to measuring instrument 15 is preferably adjusted to be the same as the delay time of the second path 72 from directional coupler 12 to cable 23 to measuring instrument 15. Furthermore, the path loss of the first path 71 is preferably adjusted to be the same as the path loss of the second path 72.

[0031] A method for adjusting the path loss and delay time of the first path 71 will be described later.

[0032] <Operation> The signal transceiver 11 outputs a signal 31 (reference data packet, transmission signal) to the first terminal 12a of the directional coupler 12 via the cable 21.

[0033] The signal 31 corresponds to an example of the "first signal" of the present disclosure.

[0034] The directional coupler 12 receives a signal 31 at its first terminal 12a and outputs it from its second terminal 12b to the first antenna 13. The first antenna 13 transmits radio waves 41 based on the signal 31. The radio waves 41 are received by the wireless communication device 2 and also by the second antenna 14.

[0035] Directional coupler 12 outputs signal 32, which is a part of signal 31, from third terminal 12c to measuring instrument 15 via cable 23.

[0036] Signal 32 corresponds to an example of the "third signal" of the present disclosure.

[0037] Signal 32 is attenuated by the degree of coupling of directional coupler 12. Therefore, measuring instrument 15 preferably corrects signal 32 by the amount of attenuation caused by directional coupler 12. For example, measuring instrument 15 amplifies signal 32 by the amount of attenuation caused by directional coupler 12, but the present disclosure is not limited to this.

[0038] The second antenna 14 outputs a signal 33 based on the radio wave 41 to the measuring instrument 15 via the cable 22 .

[0039] In response to the radio wave 41, the wireless communication device 2 transmits a radio wave to the measurement system 1. The radio wave is received by the first antenna 13 and also by the second antenna .

[0040] The first antenna 13 outputs a signal 51 (responsive data packet, received signal) based on the radio wave 42 to the second terminal 12b of the directional coupler 12.

[0041] The directional coupler 12 outputs a signal 51 input to the second terminal 12b from the first terminal 12a to the signal transmitter / receiver 11 via the cable 21. The signal transmitter / receiver 11 receives the signal 51.

[0042] The second antenna 14 outputs a signal 52 based on the radio wave 42 to the measuring instrument 15 via the cable 22 .

[0043] Therefore, signal 61, which is a combination of signal 33 and signal 52, is output from second antenna 14 to measuring instrument 15.

[0044] The signal 61 corresponds to an example of the "second signal" of the present disclosure.

[0045] Signal 61 is a signal in which signal 33 and signal 52 are superimposed. In other words, the responsive data packet is buried in the reference data packet.

[0046] As explained above, the path loss and delay time of the first path are adjusted to be the same as the path loss and delay time of the second path, so that the start timing of signal 33 is the same as the start timing of signal 32.

[0047] As explained above, the measuring instrument 15 corrects the signal 32 by the amount of attenuation caused by the directional coupler 12 .

[0048] Therefore, measuring instrument 15 performs waveform analysis on signal 32 and signal 61. Specifically, measuring instrument 15 analyzes the waveform amplitude and phase of each of signal 32 and signal 61. Measuring instrument 15 compares the two analyzed signals and removes analyzed signal 32 from analyzed signal 61 by calculation. For example, measuring instrument 15 subtracts the component of analyzed signal 32 from the component of analyzed signal 61. The signal obtained by this calculation is signal 52 (responsive data packet). This allows measuring instrument 15 to separate signal 33 (reference data packet) from signal 52 (responsive data packet).

[0049] 2 and 3 are diagrams showing signal waveforms of the measurement system according to the embodiment.

[0050] 2 is a diagram showing the waveform of signal 61 input to measuring instrument 15. Signal 61 is composed of signal 33 (reference data packet) and signal 52 (responsive data packet) superimposed on it, so measuring instrument 15 cannot distinguish between signal 33 and signal 52.

[0051] FIG. 3( a ) is a diagram showing the waveform of signal 32 (reference data packet) input to measuring instrument 15 .

[0052] 3(b) is a diagram showing the waveform of the signal after calculation by measuring instrument 15. For example, measuring instrument 15 removes the component of signal 32 (i.e., signal 33) from the component of signal 61. Therefore, FIG. 3(b) shows the waveform of signal 52 (responsive data packet).

[0053] Measuring instrument 15 can acquire the time interval between start timing t0 of signal 32 and start timing t1 of signal 52, that is, response time T. Measuring instrument 15 can output response time T to the outside.

[0054] <Effects> The measuring device 15 can obtain the signal 52 by removing the component of the signal 32 from the component of the signal 61 .

[0055] Moreover, unlike Patent Document 1, the first path 71 does not include a device that delays a signal, such as a directional coupler.

[0056] Therefore, measuring instrument 15 can measure with high accuracy the time (response time) from transmitting radio wave 41 to receiving radio wave 42, that is, the time from outputting signal 32 to receiving signal 52.

[0057] For example, if the response time meets the 5G specifications, it can be confirmed that both the measurement system 1 and the wireless communication device 2 meet the 5G specifications.

[0058] For example, if it is known in advance that the measurement system 1 meets the 5G specifications, and the response time does not meet the 5G specifications, it can be confirmed that the wireless communication device 2 does not meet the 5G specifications.

[0059] For example, if it is known in advance that the wireless communication device 2 meets the 5G specifications, and the response time does not meet the 5G specifications, it can be confirmed that the measurement system 1 does not meet the 5G specifications.

[0060] <Adjustment method> A method for adjusting the path loss and delay time of the first path 71 will be described.

[0061] 4 is a diagram illustrating a method for adjusting a measurement system according to an embodiment. The method for adjusting measurement system 1 uses a signal generator 81 and a third antenna 82. The signal generator 81 outputs a known test signal to the third antenna 82. The third antenna 82 transmits radio waves 91 based on the test signal to the measurement system 1.

[0062] The radio wave 91 corresponds to an example of the "third radio wave" of the present disclosure.

[0063] The third antenna 82 is exemplified as an antenna of the same type as the first antenna 13 and the second antenna 14, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0064] An example of the location where the third antenna 82 is placed is a location where the distance between the third antenna 82 and the first antenna 13 is the same as the distance between the third antenna 82 and the second antenna 14, but the present disclosure is not limited to this.

[0065] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method for adjusting the measurement system according to the embodiment.

[0066] The first terminal 12a of the directional coupler 12 is electrically connected to the first antenna 13 (step S100). At this time, the second terminal 12b does not need to be connected to anything.

[0067] The signal generator 81 outputs a test signal to the third antenna 82 (step S102).

[0068] The third antenna 82 transmits radio waves 91 based on the test signal to the measurement system 1 (step S104).

[0069] First antenna 13 outputs signal 101 based on radio wave 91 to first terminal 12a of directional coupler 12, and second antenna 14 outputs signal 102 based on radio wave 91 to measuring instrument 15 (step S106).

[0070] Directional coupler 12 outputs signal 103, which is a part of signal 101, from third terminal 12c to measuring instrument 15 via cable 23 (step S108).

[0071] The signal 102 corresponds to an example of a "fourth signal" in the present disclosure. The signal 103 corresponds to an example of a "fifth signal" in the present disclosure.

[0072] The measuring instrument 15 performs waveform analysis of the signals 102 and 103 in the time domain (step S110).

[0073] The delay time of cable 22 is adjusted so that the timing at which signal 102 reaches measuring instrument 15 and the timing at which signal 103 reaches measuring instrument 15 coincide with each other (step S112).

[0074] The delay time of the cable 22 can be increased or decreased by, for example, increasing or decreasing the length of the cable 22. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, a delay element or a variable delay element may be inserted into the cable 22.

[0075] Furthermore, it is preferable to adjust the path loss of cable 22 so that the signal level of signal 102 arriving at measuring instrument 15 and the signal level of signal 103 arriving at measuring instrument 15 match.

[0076] The path loss of the cable 22 can be reduced by, for example, increasing or decreasing the length of the cable 22, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, an attenuator or a variable attenuator may be inserted into the cable 22.

[0077] By the above adjustment method, the delay time of the first path 71 can be adjusted to be the same as the delay time of the second path 72. In addition, the path loss of the first path 71 can be adjusted to be the same as the path loss of the second path 72.

[0078] The above-described embodiments are intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention may be modified or improved without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and equivalents thereof are also included in the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 1. Measurement System 2. Wireless communication devices 11 Signal Transmitter / Receiver 12 Directional coupler 13 First Antenna 14 Second Antenna 15 Measuring instruments 81 Signal Generator 82 Third Antenna

Claims

1. a first antenna that transmits a first radio wave to a wireless communication device based on a first signal when a response time is acquired; a second antenna that receives the first radio wave from the first antenna when a response time is acquired, receives a second radio wave that is a response to the first radio wave from the wireless communication device, and outputs a second signal based on the first radio wave and the second radio wave; a signal output device that outputs the first signal when a response time is acquired; and a signal output device that has a first terminal electrically connected to the signal output device via a first cable and a second terminal electrically connected to the first antenna when a response time is acquired, and outputs the first signal input to the first terminal to the second antenna. a measuring instrument that, when acquiring a response time, is electrically connected to the second antenna via a second cable, is electrically connected to the third terminal of the directional coupler via a third cable, and is configured to acquire a response time from transmitting the first radio wave to receiving the second radio wave based on the second signal input via the second cable and the third signal input via the third cable, During adjustment, the first terminal of the directional coupler is electrically disconnected from the signal output device, and the first terminal of the directional coupler is electrically connected to the first antenna; During the adjustment, a third radio wave based on a known test signal is transmitted from a third antenna electrically connected to a signal generator external to the response time confirmation system; During adjustment, the first antenna and the second antenna receive the third radio wave, and a delay time of the first path from the second cable to the measuring device is adjusted so that the timing at which the fourth signal output from the second antenna reaches the measuring device coincides with the timing at which the fifth signal, which is part of the signal input from the first antenna to the first terminal and is output from the third terminal, reaches the measuring device. Adjustment method.

2. The adjustment method according to claim 1, During the adjustment, the path loss of the first path is adjusted so that the signal level of the fourth signal arriving at the measuring device and the signal level of the fifth signal arriving at the measuring device match. Adjustment method.

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