Device, test device, and method

Abstract

Provided is a device comprising: an extraction unit that is provided between a signal transmitter and a signal output terminal in a first transmission path and extracts a signal selected from among a signal directed from the signal transmitter toward the signal output terminal in the first transmission path and a signal directed from the signal output terminal toward the signal transmitter; and a superimposition unit that is provided between a signal input terminal and a signal receiver in a second transmission path and superimposes the signal extracted by the extraction unit onto the second transmission path in a direction selected from among the direction from the signal input terminal toward the signal receiver and the direction from the signal receiver toward the signal input terminal.

Description

Apparatus, test apparatus and method

[0001] The present invention relates to apparatus, testing apparatus and method.

[0002] Patent documents 1 and 2 state that "the input wave transmitted from the input wave transmitter 50 is reflected at the impedance change point in the wire harness 20 and detected by the reflected wave detector 60" (paragraph 0033 of Patent Document 1). [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-120857 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-68932 General disclosure

[0003] In a first embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is provided comprising: an extraction unit provided between a signal transmitter and a signal output terminal in a first transmission line for extracting a selected signal from among signals going from the signal transmitter to the signal output terminal or signals going from the signal output terminal to the signal transmitter in the first transmission line; and a superposition unit provided between a signal input terminal and a signal receiver in a second transmission line for superimposing the signal extracted by the extraction unit onto the second transmission line in a direction selected from among signals going from the signal input terminal to the signal receiver or signals going from the signal receiver to the signal input terminal.

[0004] The above-described apparatus further comprises a selection unit that selects the signal extracted by the extraction unit and the direction in which the signal is superimposed by the superposition unit, and the selection unit may switch between the following selection modes: a first selection mode in which a signal from the signal transmitter toward the signal output terminal is extracted in the first transmission line and superimposed on the second transmission line in the direction from the signal input terminal toward the signal receiver; a second selection mode in which a signal from the signal output terminal toward the signal transmitter is extracted in the first transmission line and superimposed on the second transmission line in the direction from the signal input terminal toward the signal receiver; and a third selection mode in which a signal from the signal transmitter toward the signal output terminal is extracted in the first transmission line and superimposed on the second transmission line in the direction from the signal receiver toward the signal input terminal.

[0005] The above-described device may further include a calculation unit that calculates, from the reception results by the signal receiver in each selected mode, the reflection coefficient for the signal in the direction from the signal transmitter to the signal output terminal at the end of the first transmission line opposite to the signal transmitter, and the reflection coefficient for the signal in the direction from the signal receiver to the signal input terminal at the end of the second transmission line opposite to the signal receiver.

[0006] In the above-described apparatus, the calculation unit may calculate the reflection coefficient for each case where the ends of the first transmission line or the second transmission line have three different reflection characteristics.

[0007] In any of the above-described devices, the first transmission line and the second transmission line are connected to the device under test via an interface when the device is used to perform testing of the device under test, and the signal output terminal and the signal input terminal, or the connection terminal of the interface to the device under test, may be set to known reflection characteristics in order when the signal transmitter and the signal receiver are calibrated.

[0008] The above-described apparatus may further include a calculation unit that calculates the insertion loss of the interface from the reception results by the signal receiver when the first transmission path and the second transmission path have known reflection characteristics at the signal output terminal and the signal input terminal, and when the connection terminal of the interface has known reflection characteristics.

[0009] The above-described device may further include an adjustment unit that adjusts the strength of the signal output by the signal generator according to the insertion loss of the interface in the first transmission line.

[0010] Any of the above devices equipped with the calculation unit may further include an adjustment unit that adjusts the intensity of the signal received by the signal receiver in accordance with the insertion loss of the interface in the second transmission line.

[0011] In any of the above-described devices, the extraction unit may include a first coupler unit having a first coupling terminal that outputs a portion of the signal from the signal transmitter toward the signal output terminal in the first transmission line, and a second coupling terminal that outputs a portion of the signal from the signal output terminal toward the signal transmitter in the first transmission line, and a first switch that selectively connects the first coupling terminal and the second coupling terminal to the superposition unit.

[0012] In any of the above-described devices, the superposition unit may include a second coupler unit having a third coupling terminal that superimposes the input signal in the second transmission path in the direction from the signal input terminal toward the signal receiver, and a fourth coupling terminal that superimposes the signal in the direction from the signal receiver toward the signal input terminal, and a second switch that selectively connects the third coupling terminal and the fourth coupling terminal to the extraction unit.

[0013] In a second embodiment of the present invention, a test apparatus is provided comprising any apparatus of the first embodiment, the signal transmitter and the signal receiver.

[0014] The above-described test apparatus may further include a deactivation unit that disables at least one of the extraction unit and the superimposing unit when testing the device under test using the apparatus.

[0015] A third embodiment of the present invention provides a method comprising: an extraction step of extracting a selected signal from a signal going from the signal transmitter to the signal output terminal or a signal going from the signal output terminal to the signal transmitter in a first transmission path between a signal transmitter and a signal output terminal; and a superposition step of superimposing the signal extracted in the extraction step onto a second transmission path between a signal input terminal and a signal receiver in a direction selected from the direction going from the signal input terminal to the signal receiver or from the direction going from the signal receiver to the signal input terminal.

[0016] It should be noted that the above summary of the invention does not list all the necessary features of the present invention. Furthermore, subcombinations of these features may also constitute an invention.

[0017] The configuration of the test apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment is shown together with the DUT2. The test apparatus 1A according to the second embodiment is shown. The first selection mode is shown. The second selection mode is shown. The third selection mode is shown. The signal flow when the calibration kit 5m is connected to the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 is shown. The signal flow when the calibration kit 5d is connected to the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 is shown. Another signal flow when the calibration kit 5d is connected to the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 is shown. The operation flow of the test apparatus 1A is shown. Another operation flow of the test apparatus 1A is shown. The test apparatus 1B according to modification (1) of the second embodiment is shown. The test apparatus 1B according to modification (2) of the second embodiment is shown. The test apparatus 1C according to modification (3) of the second embodiment is shown. The test apparatus 1D according to modification (4) of the second embodiment is shown. The test apparatus 1E according to modification (5) of the second embodiment is shown. An example of a computer 1200 in which multiple embodiments of the present invention may be embodied in whole or in part is shown.

[0018] The present invention will be described below through embodiments, but these embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. Furthermore, not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0019] (Test apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment) Figure 1 shows the configuration of the test apparatus 1 according to this embodiment together with the device under test (also referred to as DUT (Device Under Test)) 2. The test apparatus 1 includes an RF module 3, a load board 4, and a tester 6.

[0020] ((DUT2)) DUT2 may be a device on which the circuit to be tested by the test apparatus 1 is formed, and may have a signal receiving unit 22 that receives an input signal from a signal input terminal 21 and a signal transmitting unit 24 that outputs a signal from a signal output terminal 23. For example, DUT2 may be an IC that constitutes at least a part of a millimeter-wave radar system. However, the test apparatus 1 may be capable of performing tests on multiple types of DUT2, and the functions and configurations of DUT2 may differ for each type. The signal input terminal 21 and the signal output terminal 23 may each be one or more IC pins, and may have different shapes for each type of DUT2.

[0021] ((RF Module 3)) RF Module 3 performs testing of DUT2 by inputting and outputting high-frequency signals (also called RF signals). RF Module 3 has a signal transmitter 301 and a signal receiver 302.

[0022] (((Signal Transmitter 301))) The signal transmitter 301 transmits a signal. The signal transmitter 301 may output a signal to the first transmission line 101. The output signal may be output to the outside of the RF module 3 from the signal output terminal 304 and input to the DUT 2 via the load board 4. The signal output terminal 304 may be a coaxial connector as an example, and the RF module 3 and the load board 4 may be connected by connecting the coaxial tube, which is the first transmission line 101 inside the RF module 3, to the coaxial tube, which is the first transmission line 101 inside the RF module 3, to the coaxial tube, which is the first transmission line 101 inside the RF module 3, to the waveguide, which is the first transmission line 101 outside the RF module 3.

[0023] The signal generator 301 may have a DA converter (not shown) and may convert a digital signal to an analog signal for output. The signal generator 301 may also have a frequency converter (not shown) and may upconvert the signal to any frequency. The output signal from the signal generator 301 may be a high-frequency signal such as 60 GHz to 80 GHz, for example.

[0024] (((Signal receiver 302))) The signal receiver 302 receives a signal. The signal receiver 302 may receive a signal propagating through the second transmission line 102. The received signal may be output from the DUT 2 and input into the RF module 3 via the load board 4 through the signal input terminal 305. The signal input terminal 305 may be a coaxial connector as an example, and the RF module 3 and the load board 4 may be connected by connecting the coaxial tube, which is the second transmission line 102 inside the RF module 3, to the coaxial tube, which is the second transmission line 102 inside the RF module 3, to the coaxial tube, which is the first transmission line 101 outside the RF module 3. However, the signal input terminal 305 may also be a waveguide connector, and the RF module 3 and the load board 4 may be connected by connecting the waveguide, which is the second transmission line 102 outside the RF module 3, to the coaxial tube or printed circuit board, which is the second transmission line 102 inside the RF module 3.

[0025] The signal receiver 302 may have an AD converter (not shown) and may convert the received analog signal into a digital signal. The signal receiver 302 may have a frequency converter (not shown) and may downconvert a high-frequency signal. The signal receiver 302 may supply a signal to the tester 6 according to the reception result.

[0026] ((Load Board 4)) Load board 4 is an example of an interface and connects the RF module 3 and the DUT 2. Load board 4 may supply the signal output from the signal transmitter 301 to the DUT 2 and the signal output from the DUT 2 to the signal receiver 302. Load board 4 may have a first connection terminal 41 connected to the signal output terminal 304 of the RF module 3, a second connection terminal 42 connected to the signal input terminal 21 of the DUT 2, a third connection terminal 43 connected to the signal output terminal 23 of the DUT 2, and a fourth connection terminal 44 connected to the signal input terminal 305 of the RF module 3. Of these, the first connection terminal 41 and the fourth connection terminal 44 may be coaxial connectors or waveguide connectors, and coaxial tubes or waveguides from the signal output terminal 304 and the signal input terminal 305 may be connected to conductive pads on printed wiring (for example, microsplit lines) included in the transmission path inside load board 4. The second connection terminal 42 and the third connection terminal 43 may be IC sockets, and the IC pins of the signal input terminal 21 and signal output terminal 23 of the DUT2 may be connected to conductive pads on printed wiring included in the transmission path inside the load board 4.

[0027] The load board 4 may be provided with second connection terminals 42 and third connection terminals 43 in different shapes for each type of DUT2, and may be detachably connected to the corresponding DUT2. The load board 4 may also be detachably provided to the RF module 3, and may be replaced with other load boards 4 to match the type of DUT2 under test.

[0028] ((Tester 6)) Tester 6 controls various parts of the test apparatus 1 to perform testing of DUT2. Tester 6 may be connected to DUT2 in addition to being connected to DUT2 via RF module 3 and load board 4. For example, tester 6 may be connected to DUT2 via a digital module (not shown) that performs input and output of digital signals. If tester 6 is implemented by a computer such as a mainframe, it may control the testing of DUT2 by executing a test control program. Tester 6 may operate RF module 3 to test DUT2 and collect and record the test results of DUT2 from RF module 3. Tester 6 may determine whether DUT2 is good or bad based on the test results.

[0029] According to the test apparatus 1 described above, the quality of DUT2 is determined based on the test results of DUT2 performed by the tester 6.

[0030] (Test apparatus 1A according to the second embodiment) Figure 2 shows the test apparatus 1A according to this embodiment. The test apparatus 1A comprises a calibration kit (also called a CAL kit) 5 and an RF module 3A. In the test apparatus 1A according to this embodiment, components that are substantially the same as those in the test apparatus 1 shown in Figure 1 are given the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted.

[0031] ((Calibration Kit 5)) When calibrating the signal transmitter 301 and signal receiver 302 in the RF module 3A, the calibration kit 5 is connected to the ends of the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 opposite to the signal transmitter 301 and signal receiver 302. Here, the calibration of the signal transmitter 301 and signal receiver 302 may compensate for the insertion loss of the load board 4. The test apparatus 1A according to this embodiment may be equipped with calibration kit 5d and calibration kit 5m (see Figure 6) as calibration kit 5. Figure 2 shows the state in which the calibration kit 5d is connected to the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102.

[0032] The calibration kit 5d is connected to the end of the test apparatus 1A that is closest to the DUT2. The calibration kit 5d may be connected to the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 at the second connection terminal 42 and the third connection terminal 43 of the load board 4. In this embodiment, as an example, the calibration kit 5d may be connected to the IC socket portion of the second connection terminal 42 and the third connection terminal 43.

[0033] The calibration kit 5m is connected to the end of the RF module 3A when the load board 4 is not connected to the RF module 3A. The calibration kit 5m may be connected to the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 at the signal output terminal 304 and the signal input terminal 305 of the RF module 3A. In this embodiment, as an example, the calibration kit 5m may be connected to the coaxial connector portion or the waveguide connector portion of the signal output terminal 304 and the signal input terminal 305.

[0034] Each calibration kit 5 has at least four coupling parts 51. Of these, three coupling parts 51 (also referred to as measurement-side coupling parts 51p to 51r) are connected to the ends of the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 on the side where the reflection coefficient is measured during calibration. The measurement-side coupling parts 51p to 51r may be used interchangeably in order. The remaining coupling part 51 (also referred to as non-measurement-side coupling part 51s) is connected to the ends of the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 on the side where the reflection coefficient is not measured during calibration.

[0035] The three measurement-side couplings 51p to 51r may have known reflection characteristics (for example, a reflection coefficient), and the reflection characteristics of each measurement-side coupling 51p to 51r may be different from each other. In this embodiment, for example, the measurement-side couplings 51p to 51r may be an open plug, a short plug, and a load. However, if the signal output terminal 304 and signal input terminal 305 of the RF module 3A are waveguide connectors, the measurement-side couplings 51p to 51r of the calibration kit 5m connected to the RF module 3A may each be offset shorts. The reflection characteristics between the measurement-side couplings 51p to 51r of the calibration kit 5d and the measurement-side couplings 51p to 51r of the calibration kit 5m may be the same or different.

[0036] The non-measurement side coupling portion 51s may be a short plug, a load, or an open plug.

[0037] ((RF Module 3A)) RF Module 3A may be an example of the device and includes an extraction unit 320A, an overlay unit 330A, a connection switching unit 313A, a calculation unit 303A, and an adjustment unit 314A. In this embodiment, RF Module 3A can perform high-frequency signal input and output to test DUT2, and when testing DUT2, the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 are connected to DUT2 via the load board 4, similar to RF Module 3 in the first embodiment described above. In addition, RF Module 3A can calibrate the signal transmitter 301 and the signal receiver 302, and when performing calibration, the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 are set to known reflection characteristics in order at the signal output terminal 304 and the signal input terminal 305, or at the second connection terminal 42 and the third connection terminal 43 of the load board 4 to DUT2. In this embodiment, as an example, the ends of the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 may be connected to the calibration kit 5.

[0038] (((Extraction Unit 320A))) The extraction unit 320A is provided in the first transmission line 101 between the signal transmitter 301 and the signal output terminal 304, and extracts a selected signal from the signals going from the signal transmitter 301 to the signal output terminal 304, or from the signals going from the signal output terminal 304 to the signal transmitter 301, in the first transmission line 101. The extraction unit 320A has a first coupler unit 321 and a first switch 328.

[0039] ((((First coupler section 321)))) The first coupler section 321 has a first connection terminal 322 connected to the signal transmitter 301, a second connection terminal 323 connected to the signal output terminal 304, a first coupling terminal 324 and a second coupling terminal 325. The first coupling terminal 324 outputs a portion of the signal going from the signal transmitter 301 to the signal output terminal 304 in the first transmission line 101. The second coupling terminal 325 outputs a portion of the signal going from the signal output terminal 304 to the signal transmitter 301 in the first transmission line 101. The first coupling terminal 324 and the second coupling terminal 325 may each be electromagnetically coupled to the first transmission line 101. In this embodiment, as an example, the first coupler section 321 may be a dual coupler.

[0040] ((((First switch 328)))) The first switch 328 selectively connects the first coupling terminal 324 and the second coupling terminal 325 to the superposition section 330A. The switching of the connection by the first switch 328 may be controlled by the connection switching section 313A described later.

[0041] (((Superimposition section 330A))) The superimposition section 330A is provided in the second transmission line 102 between the signal input terminal 305 and the signal receiver 302, and superimposes the signal extracted by the extraction section 320A onto the second transmission line 102 in a direction selected from either the direction from the signal input terminal 305 toward the signal receiver 302, or the direction from the signal receiver 302 toward the signal input terminal 305. Note that superimposing a signal onto the transmission line may mean superimposing the signal onto a signal propagating through the transmission line. The superimposition section 330A includes a second coupler section 331 and a second switch 338.

[0042] ((((Second Coupler Section 331)))) The second coupler section 331 has a third connection terminal 332 connected to the signal receiver 302, a fourth connection terminal 333 connected to the signal input terminal 305, a third coupling terminal 334 and a fourth coupling terminal 335. The third coupling terminal 334 superimposes the signal input to the third coupling terminal 334 in the second transmission line 102 in the direction from the signal input terminal 305 toward the signal receiver 302. The fourth coupling terminal 335 superimposes the signal input to the fourth coupling terminal 335 in the second transmission line 102 in the direction from the signal receiver 302 toward the signal input terminal 305. The third coupling terminal 334 and the fourth coupling terminal 335 may each be electromagnetically coupled to the second transmission line 102. In this embodiment, as an example, the second coupler section 331 may be a dual coupler.

[0043] ((((Second switch 338)))) The second switch 338 selectively connects the third coupling terminal 334 and the fourth coupling terminal 335 to the extraction unit 320A. The switching of connections by the first switch 328 may be controlled by the connection switching unit 313A described later.

[0044] (((Connection switching unit 313A))) The connection switching unit 313A switches the connection of the first switch 328 and the second switch 338. The connection switching unit 313A may be an example of a selection unit, and by switching the connection, it may select the signal extracted by the extraction unit 320A and the direction in which the signal is superimposed by the superposition unit 330A. In this embodiment, the connection switching unit 313A may switch the selection mode of these signals and directions between the first to third selection modes during the calibration of the signal transmitter 301 and the signal receiver 302.

[0045] The first selection mode may be one in which the signal from the signal transmitter 301 toward the signal output terminal 304 in the first transmission line 101 is selected, and the signal from the signal input terminal 305 toward the signal receiver 302 in the second transmission line 102 is selected (see Figure 3 described later). In other words, the first selection mode may be one in which the signal from the signal transmitter 301 toward the signal output terminal 304 in the first transmission line 101 is extracted and superimposed on the second transmission line 102 in the direction from the signal input terminal 305 toward the signal receiver 302. In the first selection mode, the first coupling terminal 324 and the third coupling terminal 334 may be connected via the first switch 328 and the second switch 338.

[0046] The second selection mode may involve selecting the signal from the signal output terminal 304 toward the signal transmitter 301 in the first transmission line 101 and the direction of the second transmission line 102 toward the signal input terminal 305 toward the signal receiver 302 (see Figure 4 described later). In other words, the second selection mode may involve extracting the signal from the signal output terminal 304 toward the signal transmitter 301 in the first transmission line 101 and superimposing it on the second transmission line 102 toward the signal input terminal 305 toward the signal receiver 302. In the second selection mode, the second coupling terminal 325 and the third coupling terminal 334 may be connected via the first switch 328 and the second switch 338.

[0047] A third selection mode may be one in which the signal from the signal transmitter 301 toward the signal output terminal 304 in the first transmission line 101 is selected, and the direction of the second transmission line 102 toward the signal receiver 302 toward the signal input terminal 305 is selected (see Figure 5 described later). In other words, in the third selection mode, the signal from the signal transmitter 301 toward the signal output terminal 304 in the first transmission line 101 is extracted and superimposed on the second transmission line 102 toward the signal receiver 302 toward the signal input terminal 305. In the third selection mode, the first coupling terminal 324 and the fourth coupling terminal 335 may be connected via the first switch 328 and the second switch 338.

[0048] Here, the connection switching unit 313A according to this embodiment may be an example of a deactivation unit, and when testing the DUT2 using the RF module 3A, at least one of the extraction unit 320A and the superimposing unit 330A may be disabled. For example, the connection switching unit 313A may have at least one of the first switch 328 and the second switch 338 in an open state.

[0049] (((Calculation Unit 303A))) When performing calibration of the signal transmitter 301 and the signal receiver 302, the calculation unit 303A may calculate the reflection coefficient Γ at the ends of the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102, and consequently, the insertion loss of the load board 4.

[0050] (Calculation of reflection coefficient Γ) The calculation unit 303A calculates the reflection coefficient (reflection coefficient Γ) for the signal in the direction from the signal transmitter 301 toward the signal output terminal 304 at the end of the first transmission line 101 from the reception results by the signal receiver 302 in each of the first to third selected modes. １ (Also known as) and the reflection coefficient (reflection coefficient Γ) for the signal in the direction from the signal receiver 302 to the signal input terminal 305 at the end of the second transmission line 102. ２ (Also referred to as) may be calculated. Note that the end of the first transmission line 101 may be the end on the opposite side of the signal transmitter 301 in the first transmission line 101 (i.e., the lower side in the figure), and the end of the second transmission line 102 may be the end on the opposite side of the signal receiver 302 in the second transmission line 102 (i.e., the lower side in the figure).

[0051] The calculation unit 303A calculates the signal voltage Vref of the signal received by the signal receiver 302 in the first selected mode (see Figure 3 described later) and the signal voltage V of the signal received by the signal receiver 302 in the second selected mode (see Figure 4 described later). １ From mes, the reflection coefficient Γ at the end of the first transmission line 101 is given by the following equation (1). １ You may calculate the following. Note that the signal voltages Vref and V １ mes and reflection coefficient Γ １ These can both be complex numbers representing amplitude and phase. The signal voltage V will be described later. ２ mes and reflection coefficient Γ ２ The same applies to this matter.

[0052] Γ １ =V １ mes / Vref (1)

[0053] The calculation unit 303A calculates the reflection coefficient Γ at the end of the second transmission line 102 from the signal voltage Vref of the signal received by the signal receiver 302 in the first selection mode (see FIG. 3 described later) and the signal voltage V ２ mes of the signal received by the signal receiver 302 in the third selection mode (see FIG. 5 described later) according to the following formula (2). ２ It may be calculated.

[0054] Γ ２ =V ２ mes / Vref (2)

[0055] The calculation unit 303A may calculate the reflection coefficient Γ at the end of the first transmission line 101 connected to the connection part 51 of the calibration kit 5 and the reflection coefficient Γ at the end of the second transmission line 102. １ And the reflection coefficient Γ at the end of the second transmission line 102 ２ In this embodiment, as an example, the calculation unit 303A calculates the reflection coefficient Γ when the first transmission line 101 is connected to the connection part 51 at the second connection terminal 42 of the load board 4 １ (also referred to as the reflection coefficient Γ ｄ１ ), and the reflection coefficient Γ when connected to the connection part 51 at the signal output terminal 304 of the RF module 3A １ (also referred to as the reflection coefficient Γ ｍ１ ). In addition, the calculation unit 303A calculates the reflection coefficient Γ when the second transmission line 102 is connected to the connection part 51 at the third connection terminal 43 of the load board 4 ２ (also referred to as the reflection coefficient Γ ｄ２ ), and the reflection coefficient Γ when connected to the connection part 51 at the signal input terminal 305 of the RF module 3A ２ (also referred to as the reflection coefficient Γ ｍ２ ).

[0056] Note that the reflection coefficients "Γ ｄ１ ", "Γ ｍ２In notations such as "1", the subscript "1" indicates the first transmission line 101, and "2" indicates the second transmission line 102. Also, "d" indicates the value when the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 are connected to the coupling section 51 on the DUT2 side of the test device 1A, or in other words, the value when both the RF module 3A and the load board 4 are placed on the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102. Also, "m" indicates the value when the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 are connected to the coupling section 51 at the end of the RF module 3A, or in other words, the value when the RF module 3A is placed on the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102.

[0057] The calculation unit 303A calculates the reflection coefficient Γ for each case where the ends of the first transmission line 101 or the second transmission line 102 are given three different reflection characteristics. １ (Γ １＿ｐ , Γ １＿ｑ , Γ １＿ｒ Also known as, Γ ２ (Γ ２＿ｐ , Γ ２＿ｑ , Γ ２＿ｒ The reflection coefficient Γ (also known as) may be calculated as an example in this embodiment. ｄ１＿ｐ , Γ ｄ１＿ｑ , Γ ｄ１＿ｒ The calculation unit 303A calculates the reflection coefficient Γ in each case where the first transmission line 101 is connected to the measurement-side coupling section 51p to 51r at the signal output terminal 304 of the RF module 3A, and the second transmission line 102 is connected to the non-measurement-side coupling section 51s at the signal input terminal 305 of the RF module 3A. ｍ１＿ｐ , Γ ｍ１＿ｑ , Γ ｍ１＿ｒThe calculation unit 303A calculates the reflection coefficient Γ in each case where the first transmission line 101 is connected to the non-measurement side coupling part 51s at the second connection terminal 42 of the load board 4, and the second transmission line 102 is connected to the measurement side coupling parts 51p to 51r at the third connection terminal 43 of the load board 4. ｄ２＿ｐ , Γ ｄ２＿ｑ , Γ ｄ２＿ｒ The calculation unit 303A calculates the reflection coefficient Γ in each case where the first transmission line 101 is connected to the non-measurement side coupling part 51s at the signal output terminal 304 of the RF module 3A, and the second transmission line 102 is connected to the measurement side coupling parts 51p to 51r at the signal input terminal 305 of the RF module 3A. ｍ２＿ｐ , Γ ｍ２＿ｑ , Γ ｍ２＿ｒ You may calculate this.

[0058] (Calculation of Insertion Loss) The calculation unit 303A may calculate the insertion loss of the load board 4 from the reception results by the signal receiver 302 when the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 are assumed to have known reflection characteristics at the signal output terminal 304 and signal input terminal 305 of the RF module 3A, and when the second connection terminal 42 and third connection terminal 43 of the load board 4 are assumed to have known reflection characteristics.

[0059] The calculation unit 303A may calculate three S-parameters, S11, S22, and S12 / S21, from the three simultaneous equations obtained by substituting the three reflection coefficients Γ calculated using the measurement-side coupling units 51p to 51r into the following equation (3). ＬS11 is the reflection coefficient of the measurement-side coupling section 51p to 51r, and S11 is the reflection coefficient for the traveling wave at the end of the first transmission line 101 on the side of the signal transmitter 301, or at the end of the second transmission line 102 on the side of the signal receiver 302. S22 is the reflection coefficient for the traveling wave at the terminals where the measurement-side coupling sections 51p to 51r are provided, i.e., the signal output terminal 304, the signal input terminal 305, the second connection terminal 42, or the third connection terminal 43. S21 and S12 are the transmission coefficients (also called insertion loss) of the traveling wave and reflected wave. In a passive circuit, it can usually be considered that S12 = S21 = √(S12・S21), so the calculation unit 314A replaces S12・S21 with S from equation (3). ｄ２ 12, S ｄ２ You may calculate 21. For convenience in explaining the S-parameters, the signal traveling from the signal transmitter 301 or signal receiver 302 towards the measurement side coupling section 51p to 51r will be referred to as the forward wave, and the signal traveling in the opposite direction will be referred to as the reflected wave.

[0060] Γ=S11+(S12・S21・Γ Ｌ ) / (1-S22Γ Ｌ ) (3)

[0061] For example, the calculation unit 303A calculates the reflection coefficient Γ ｍ１＿ｐ , Γ ｍ１＿ｑ , Γ ｍ１＿ｒ Substitute these values ​​into equation (3) to obtain the S-parameters when the first transmission line 101 is connected to the coupling section 51 at the signal output terminal 304 of the RF module 3A (S ｍ１ S (also called a parameter) ｍ１ 11, S ｍ１ 22. S ｍ１ 12, S ｍ１ You may calculate 21. S ｍ１ The parameters may represent the characteristics of the RF module 3A in the first transmission line 101. The calculation unit 303A calculates the reflection coefficient Γ ｄ１＿ｐ , Γ ｄ１＿ｑ , Γ ｄ１＿ｒ Substitute these values ​​into equation (3) to obtain the S-parameters when the first transmission line 101 is connected to the coupling part 51 at the second connection terminal 42 of the load board 4 (S ｄ１ S (also called a parameter) ｄ１ 11, S ｄ１ 22. S ｄ１12, S ｄ１ 21 may be calculated. S ｄ１ The parameter may indicate the overall characteristics of the RF module 3A and the load board 4 on the first transmission line 101. The calculation unit 303A has the reflection coefficient Γ ｍ２＿ｐ , Γ ｍ２＿ｑ , Γ ｍ２＿ｒ Substitute each into Equation (3) respectively. When the second transmission line 102 is connected to the coupling part 51 at the signal input terminal 305 of the RF module 3A, the S parameters (also referred to as S ｍ２ parameters) of S ｍ２ 11, S ｍ２ 22, S ｍ２ 12, S ｍ２ 21 may be calculated. S ｍ２ The parameter may indicate the characteristics of the RF module 3A on the second transmission line 102. The calculation unit 303A has the reflection coefficient Γ ｄ２＿ｐ , Γ ｄ２＿ｑ , Γ ｄ２＿ｒ Substitute each into Equation (3) respectively. When the second transmission line 102 is connected to the coupling part 51 at the third connection terminal 43 of the load board 4, the S parameters (also referred to as S ｄ２ parameters) of S ｄ２ 11, S ｄ２ 22, S ｄ２ 12, S ｄ２ 21 may be calculated. S ｄ２ The parameter may indicate the overall characteristics of the RF module 3A and the load board 4 on the second transmission line 102.

[0062] The calculation unit 303A may substitute the calculated values of S11, S22, S12, and S21 into the following Equation (4) to convert the S parameters to T parameters.

[0063] (4)

[0064] For example, the calculation unit 303A substitutes S ｍ１ parameters of S ｍ１ 11, S ｍ１ 22, S ｍ１ 12, S ｍ１ 21 into Equation (4) respectively. When the RF module 3A exists on the first transmission line 101, the T parameters (also referred to as T ｍ１ parameters) of Tｍ１ 11, T ｍ１ 12, T ｍ１ 21, T ｍ１ 22 may be calculated respectively. T ｍ１ The parameter may indicate the characteristics of the RF module 3A on the first transmission line 101. The calculation unit 303A is S ｄ１ S of the parameter ｄ１ 11, S ｄ１ 22, S ｄ１ 12, S ｄ１ 21 are respectively substituted into Equation (4), and the T parameters (also referred to as T parameters) of T ｄ１ when the RF module 3A and the load board 4 exist on the first transmission line 101 ｄ１ 11, T ｄ１ 12, T ｄ１ 21, T ｄ１ 22 may be calculated respectively. T ｄ１ The parameter may indicate the overall characteristics of the RF module 3A and the load board 4 on the first transmission line 101. The calculation unit 303A is S ｍ２ S of the parameter ｍ２ 11, S ｍ２ 22, S ｍ２ 12, S[[ID=​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​You may calculate 22 each. ｄ２ The parameters may represent the overall characteristics of the RF module 3A and load board 4 in the second transmission line 102.

[0065] The calculation unit 303A calculates the T when an RF module 3A is present in the first transmission line 101 or the second transmission line 102. ｍ Parameters and T when RF module 3A and load board 4 are present ｄ Substitute the parameters into the following equation (5) to obtain the T parameter (T) of the load board 4 in the first transmission line 101 or the second transmission line 102. Ｌ You may calculate the parameter (also called the T). Ｌ In notations such as "parameter," the subscript "L" indicates that it is a parameter for loadboard 4.

[0066] T Ｌ = T ｍ －１ ・T ｄ (5)

[0067] For example, the arithmetic unit 303A is T ｍ１ Parameter and T ｄ１ Substitute the parameters into equation (5) and obtain the T in the first transmission line 101. Ｌ１ The parameters are calculated. The calculation unit 303A is T ｍ２ Parameter and T ｄ２ Substitute the parameters into equation (5) and obtain the T in the second transmission line 102. Ｌ２ It is described in the parameters.

[0068] The calculation unit 303A calculates T Ｌ From the parameters, the following equation (6) gives S for load board 4. Ｌ S in the parameter Ｌ You can calculate 21 and use it as the insertion loss of the load board 4.

[0069] (6)

[0070] For example, the arithmetic unit 303A is T Ｌ１ The insertion loss of the load board 4 in the first transmission line 101 may be calculated from the parameters. The calculation unit 303A calculates T Ｌ２The insertion loss of the load board 4 in the second transmission line 102 may be calculated from the parameters. The calculation unit 303A may supply the insertion losses of the load board 4 in the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 to the adjustment unit 314A.

[0071] (((Adjustment Unit 314A))) The adjustment unit 314A calibrates the signal transmitter 301 and the signal receiver 302 according to the insertion loss of the load board 4.

[0072] The adjustment unit 314A may adjust the strength of the signal output by the signal generator 301 according to the insertion loss of the load board 4 in the first transmission line 101. For example, the adjustment unit 314A may increase the output strength of the signal from the signal generator 301 to compensate in advance for the loss due to the load board 4 of the signal output from the signal generator 301 that propagates through the first transmission line 101 to the DUT 2 side. The adjustment unit 314A may supply a signal strength instruction signal to the signal generator 301.

[0073] The adjustment unit 314A may adjust the strength of the signal received by the signal receiver 302 according to the insertion loss of the load board 4 in the second transmission line 102. For example, if the power of the received signal is 3 dBm and the power loss due to the insertion loss of the load board 4 is 5 dBm, the adjustment unit 314A may adjust the power of the received signal to 8 dBm. In this embodiment, as an example, the adjustment unit 314A may acquire a signal from the signal receiver 302 according to the reception result and adjust the strength of the signal received by the signal receiver 302. The adjustment unit 314A may acquire an analog signal from the signal receiver 302 according to the reception result and perform the adjustment, or it may acquire a digital signal from the signal receiver 302 according to the reception result and perform the adjustment. The adjustment unit 314A may supply the adjusted signal indicating the reception result from the signal receiver 302 to the tester 6.

[0074] According to the test apparatus 1A described above, an RF module 3A, a signal transmitter 301, and a signal receiver 302 are provided, so the DUT2 can be tested using the calibrated signal transmitter 301 and signal receiver 302.

[0075] Furthermore, in the first transmission line 101, a selected signal is extracted by the extraction unit 320A from either the signal going from the signal transmitter 301 to the signal output terminal 304, or the signal going from the signal output terminal 304 to the signal transmitter 301. In addition, the extracted signal is superimposed on the second transmission line 102 by the superposition unit 330A in a direction selected from either the direction from the signal input terminal 305 to the signal receiver 302, or the direction from the signal receiver 302 to the signal input terminal 305. Therefore, by extracting the signal from the signal transmitter 301 to the signal output terminal 304 in the first transmission line 101 and superimposing it on the second transmission line 102 in the direction from the signal input terminal 305 to the signal receiver 302, the forward wave from the signal transmitter 301 is received by the signal receiver 302, and the reflection coefficient Γ of the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 is determined. １ , Γ ２ The signal voltage Vref for calculating the reflection coefficient Γ of the first transmission line 101 can be measured. Furthermore, by extracting the signal from the signal output terminal 304 toward the signal transmitter 301 in the first transmission line 101 and superimposing it on the second transmission line 102 in the direction toward the signal input terminal 305 toward the signal receiver 302, the reflected wave when the traveling wave from the signal transmitter 301 is reflected at the end of the first transmission line 101 is received by the signal receiver 302, and the reflection coefficient Γ of the first transmission line 101 can be calculated. １ Signal voltage V for calculating １ The `mes` can be measured. Furthermore, by extracting the signal from the signal transmitter 301 toward the signal output terminal 304 in the first transmission line 101 and superimposing it on the second transmission line 102 in the direction from the signal receiver 302 toward the signal input terminal 305, the signal receiver 302 receives the reflected wave when the traveling wave from the signal transmitter 301 is reflected at the end of the second transmission line 102, and the reflection coefficient Γ of the second transmission line 102 can be measured. ２ Signal voltage V for calculating ２ This allows for the measurement of mes. This enables the determination of the reflection coefficient Γ in the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102. １ , Γ ２Since the reflection coefficient Γ can be calculated, the insertion loss of the load board 4 interposed between the signal output terminal 304 and signal input terminal 305 of the RF module 3A and the DUT 2 can be calculated. Therefore, the signal transmitter 301 and signal receiver 302 can be calibrated according to the magnitude of the insertion loss. In addition, the reflection coefficient Γ can be calculated by supplying the signal extracted by the extraction unit 320 to the superposition unit 330. ２ Signal voltages Vref, V to calculate ２ Since mes can be measured, the signal voltages Vref and V can be measured using other circuit configurations. ２ Compared to measuring mes, the reflection coefficient Γ ２ The configuration for obtaining the result can be simplified, and the test apparatus 1A can be miniaturized.

[0076] Furthermore, the selection mode is switched between a first selection mode in which the signal from the signal transmitter 301 toward the signal output terminal 304 is extracted in the first transmission line 101 and superimposed on the second transmission line 102 in the direction from the signal input terminal 305 toward the signal receiver 302; a second selection mode in which the signal from the signal output terminal 304 toward the signal transmitter 301 is extracted in the first transmission line 101 and superimposed on the second transmission line 102 in the direction from the signal input terminal 305 toward the signal receiver 302; and a third selection mode in which the signal from the signal transmitter 301 toward the signal output terminal 304 is extracted in the first transmission line 101 and superimposed on the second transmission line 102 in the direction from the signal receiver 302 toward the signal input terminal 305. Therefore, the signal voltages Vref and V are selected from these selection modes. １ mes, V ２ It is possible to reliably measure MES.

[0077] Furthermore, from the reception results by the signal receiver 302 in each selected mode, the reflection coefficient Γ at the end of the first transmission line 101 can be determined. １ And the reflection coefficient Γ at the end of the second transmission line 102 ２ The following is calculated: Therefore, the reflection coefficient Γ is calculated. １ , Γ ２ From this, the S-parameters of load board 4, and consequently the insertion loss, can be calculated.

[0078] Furthermore, if the ends of the first transmission line 101 or the second transmission line 102 are given three different reflection characteristics, the reflection coefficient Γ for each case is... １ , Γ ２ Since this is calculated, the values ​​of S11, S22, S12, and S21 in the S parameters of the load board 4 can be reliably calculated.

[0079] Furthermore, when calibrating the signal transmitter 301 and signal receiver 302, the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 are sequentially set to known reflection characteristics at the signal output terminal 304 and signal input terminal 305 of the RF module 3A, or at the second connection terminal 42 and third connection terminal 43 of the load board 4. Therefore, the insertion loss of the load board 4 can be calculated from the reception results by the signal receiver 302 when the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 are set to known reflection characteristics at the signal output terminal 304 and signal input terminal 305 of the RF module 3A, and from the reception results by the signal receiver 302 when the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 are set to known reflection characteristics at the second connection terminal 42 and third connection terminal 43 of the load board 4. This allows the signal transmitter 301 and signal receiver 302 to be calibrated according to the magnitude of the insertion loss.

[0080] Furthermore, since the insertion loss of the load board 4 is calculated by the calculation unit 303A, the time required to calculate the insertion loss is reduced compared to cases where the insertion loss is calculated by the user or external equipment, and the calibration of the signal transmitter 301 and signal receiver 302 can be performed quickly.

[0081] Furthermore, the signal strength output by the signal transmitter 301 is adjusted according to the insertion loss in the load board 4 in the first transmission line 101, so that the signal transmitter 301 can output a signal with appropriate strength.

[0082] Furthermore, since the signal strength received by the signal receiver 302 is adjusted according to the insertion loss in the load board 4 in the second transmission line 102, the signal strength received by the signal receiver 302 can be set to an appropriate strength.

[0083] Furthermore, the extraction unit 320A includes a first coupler unit 321 having a first coupling terminal 324 that outputs a portion of the signal going from the signal generator 301 to the signal output terminal 304 in the first transmission line 101, and a second coupling terminal 325 that outputs a portion of the signal going from the signal output terminal 304 to the signal generator 301 in the first transmission line 101, and a first switch 328 that selectively connects the first coupling terminal 324 and the second coupling terminal 325 to the superposition unit 330A.Therefore, a selected signal can be reliably extracted from the signal going from the signal generator 301 to the signal output terminal 304, or from the signal output terminal 304 to the signal generator 301, in the first transmission line 101.

[0084] Furthermore, the superposition section 330A includes a second coupler section 331 having a third coupling terminal 334 that superimposes the input signal in the second transmission line 102 in the direction from the signal input terminal 305 toward the signal receiver 302, and a fourth coupling terminal 335 that superimposes the signal in the direction from the signal receiver 302 toward the signal input terminal 305, and a second switch 338 that selectively connects the third coupling terminal 334 and the fourth coupling terminal 335 to the extraction section 320A.Therefore, the signal extracted by the extraction section 320A can be reliably superimposed on the second transmission line 102 in the direction selected from either the direction from the signal input terminal 305 toward the signal receiver 302, or the direction from the signal receiver 302 toward the signal input terminal 305.

[0085] Furthermore, when testing DUT2, at least one of the extraction unit 320A and the superposition unit 330A is disabled by the connection switching unit 313A. Therefore, the DUT2 test can be performed accurately while preventing the signal propagating through the first transmission line 101 from being extracted by the extraction unit 320A and superimposed onto the second transmission line 102 by the superposition unit 330A.

[0086] ((First to Third Selection Modes)) Figure 3 shows the first selection mode. The connection switching unit 313A may select the direction in which the signal extracted by the extraction unit 320A and the direction in which the signal is superimposed by the superposition unit 330A are such that the first selection mode is achieved by switching the connections of the first switch 328 and the second switch 338. In the first selection mode, the signal from the signal transmitter 301 toward the signal output terminal 304 in the first transmission line 101 may be superimposed on the second transmission line 102 in the direction toward the signal input terminal 305 toward the signal receiver 302.

[0087] Figure 4 shows a second selection mode. The connection switching unit 313A may select the direction in which the signal extracted by the extraction unit 320A and the direction in which the signal is superimposed by the superposition unit 330A are determined to be in the second selection mode by switching the connections of the first switch 328 and the second switch 338. In the second selection mode, the signal from the signal output terminal 304 toward the signal transmitter 301 in the first transmission line 101 may be superimposed on the second transmission line 102 in the direction toward the signal input terminal 305 toward the signal receiver 302.

[0088] Figure 5 shows a third selection mode. The connection switching unit 313A may select the direction in which the signal extracted by the extraction unit 320A and the direction in which the signal is superimposed by the superposition unit 330A are such that the connection of the first switch 328 and the second switch 338 is such that the connection of the first switch 328 and the second switch 338 is such that the connection of the first switch 320A and the direction in which the signal is superimposed by the superposition unit 330A are such that the connection of the first switch 328 and the second switch 338 are such that the connection of the first switch 320A and the superposition of the signal are such that the connection of the first switch 320A and the superposition of the signal are such that the connection of the first switch 320A and the superposition of the signal are such that the connection of the first switch 328 and the second switch 330A are such that the connection of the first switch 320A and the superposition of the signal are such that the connection of the first switch 320A and the superposition of the signal are such that the connection of the first switch 328 and the second switch 338 are such that the connection of the first switch 320A and the superposition of the signal

[0089] (Signal Flow) Figure 6 shows the signal flow when the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 are connected to the calibration kit 5m at the signal output terminal 304 and the signal input terminal 305. For convenience, in this figure and in Figures 7 and 8 described later, the signal transmitter 301 and the signal receiver 302 are shown separately from the RF module 3A.

[0090] In this signal flow, the S of RF module 3A ｍ１ Parameters and Sｍ２ Parameter (S ｍ The parameters (collectively referred to as S) are shown. ｍ S in the parameter ｍ 11 may be the reflection coefficient for the traveling wave at the end of the first transmission line 101 or the second transmission line 102 on the side of the signal transmitter 301 or the signal receiver 302, S ｍ 22 may be the reflection coefficient for the traveling wave at the signal output terminal 304 or the signal input terminal 305, S ｍ 21, S ｍ 12 may be the transmission coefficient for the traveling wave and the reflected wave.

[0091] Figure 7 shows the signal flow when the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 are connected to the calibration kit 5d at the second connection terminal 42 and the third connection terminal 43. Note that in this figure, the RF module 3A and the load board 4 are shown together.

[0092] In this signal flow, the S of the RF module 3A and load board 4 as a whole ｄ１ Parameters and S ｄ２ Parameter (S ｄ The parameters (collectively referred to as S) are shown. ｄ S in the parameter ｄ 11 may be the reflection coefficient for the traveling wave at the end of the first transmission line 101 or the second transmission line 102 on the side of the signal transmitter 301 or the signal receiver 302, S ｄ 22 may be the reflection coefficient for the traveling wave at the second connection terminal 42 or the third connection terminal 43, S ｄ 21, S ｄ 12 may be the transmission coefficient for the traveling wave and the reflected wave.

[0093] Figure 8 shows an alternative signal flow when the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 are connected to the calibration kit 5d at the second connection terminal 42 and the third connection terminal 43. Note that in this figure, the RF module 3A and the load board 4 are shown separately.

[0094] In this signal flow, the S of RF module 3A ｍ Parameters and Loadboard 4 SＬ The parameters are shown. S Ｌ S in the parameter Ｌ 11 may be the reflection coefficient for the traveling wave at the first connection terminal 41 or the fourth connection terminal 44, S Ｌ 22 may be the reflection coefficient for the traveling wave at the second connection terminal 42 or the third connection terminal 43, S Ｌ 21, S Ｌ 12 may be the transmission coefficient for the traveling wave and the reflected wave.

[0095] The calculation unit 303A in this embodiment processes S in the signal flow of Figure 6. ｍ Parameters and S in the signal flow of Figure 7 ｄ From the parameters, S in the signal flow of Figure 8 Ｌ You may calculate the parameters.

[0096] (Operation) Figure 9 shows the operation flow of the test apparatus 1A. The test apparatus 1A performs calibration and testing by performing the processes in steps S11 to S19.

[0097] In step S11, the calculation unit 303A calculates the reflection coefficient Γ at the ends of the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 with the calibration kit 5m connected to the signal output terminal 304 and signal input terminal 305 of the RF module 3A. ｍ１ , Γ ｍ２ The calculation unit 303A calculates the reflection coefficient Γ from the reception result by the signal receiver 302A corresponding to the signal output by the signal transmitter 301 with the calibration kit 5m connected to the signal output terminal 304 and the signal input terminal 305. ｍ１ , Γ ｍ２ You may calculate this.

[0098] The calculation unit 303A, with the first transmission line 101 connected to the measurement-side coupling unit 51p and the second transmission line 102 connected to the non-measurement-side coupling unit 51s, switches the selection mode between the first selection mode (see Figure 3) and the second selection mode (see Figure 4) by the connection switching unit 313A, and measures the signal voltages Vref,V measured by the signal receiver 302. １ From mes, the reflection coefficient Γ is obtained by the above equation (1). ｍ１＿ｐYou may calculate this.

[0099] Similarly, the calculation unit 303A calculates the signal voltages Vref, V measured when the first transmission line 101 is connected to the measurement side coupling unit 51q. １ From mes, the reflection coefficient Γ ｍ１＿ｑ The calculation unit 303A calculates the signal voltage Vref, V measured when the first transmission line 101 is connected to the measurement side coupling unit 51r. １ From mes, the reflection coefficient Γ ｍ１＿ｒ You may calculate this.

[0100] Furthermore, the calculation unit 303A, with the second transmission line 102 connected to the measurement-side coupling unit 51p and the first transmission line 101 connected to the non-measurement-side coupling unit 51s, switches the selection mode between the first selection mode (see Figure 3) and the third selection mode (see Figure 5) by the connection switching unit 313A, and measures the signal voltages Vref,V measured by the signal receiver 302. ２ From mes, the reflection coefficient Γ is obtained by the above equation (2). ｍ２＿ｐ You may calculate this.

[0101] Similarly, the calculation unit 303A calculates the signal voltage Vref,V measured when the second transmission line 102 is connected to the measurement side coupling unit 51q. ２ From mes, the reflection coefficient Γ ｍ２＿ｑ The calculation unit 303A calculates the signal voltage Vref, V measured when the second transmission line 102 is connected to the measurement side coupling unit 51r. ２ From mes, the reflection coefficient Γ ｍ２＿ｒ You may calculate this.

[0102] In step S13, the calculation unit 303A calculates the reflection coefficient Γ at the ends of the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 with the calibration kit 5d connected to the second connection terminal 42 and the third connection terminal 43 of the load board 4. ｄ１ , Γ ｄ２ The calculation unit 303A calculates the reflection coefficient Γ from the reception result by the signal receiver 302A corresponding to the signal output by the signal transmitter 301 with the calibration kit 5d connected to the second connection terminal 42 and the third connection terminal 43. ｄ１ , Γ ｄ２ You may calculate this.

[0103] Similar to step S11, the calculation unit 303A, with the first transmission line 101 connected to the measurement-side coupling unit 51p and the second transmission line 102 connected to the non-measurement-side coupling unit 51s, switches the selection mode between the first selection mode (see Figure 3) and the second selection mode (see Figure 4) by the connection switching unit 313A, and measures the signal voltages Vref,V measured by the signal receiver 302. １ From mes, the reflection coefficient Γ is obtained by the above equation (1). ｄ１＿ｐ The calculation unit 303A may calculate the signal voltage Vref, V measured when the first transmission line 101 is connected to the measurement side coupling unit 51q. １ From mes, the reflection coefficient Γ ｄ１＿ｑ The calculation unit 303A calculates the signal voltage Vref, V measured when the first transmission line 101 is connected to the measurement side coupling unit 51r. １ From mes, the reflection coefficient Γ ｄ１＿ｒ You may calculate this.

[0104] Furthermore, the calculation unit 303A, with the second transmission line 102 connected to the measurement-side coupling unit 51p and the first transmission line 101 connected to the non-measurement-side coupling unit 51s, switches the selection mode between the first selection mode (see Figure 3) and the third selection mode (see Figure 5) by the connection switching unit 313A, and measures the signal voltages Vref,V measured by the signal receiver 302. ２ From mes, the reflection coefficient Γ is obtained by the above equation (1). ｄ２＿ｐ The calculation unit 303A may calculate the signal voltage Vref, V measured when the second transmission line 102 is connected to the measurement side coupling unit 51q. ２ From mes, the reflection coefficient Γ ｄ２＿ｑ The calculation unit 303A calculates the signal voltage Vref, V measured when the second transmission line 102 is connected to the measurement side coupling unit 51r. ２ From mes, the reflection coefficient Γ ｄ２＿ｒ You may calculate this.

[0105] In step S15, the calculation unit 303A calculates the insertion loss of the load board 4. For example, the calculation unit 303A calculates the reflection coefficient Γ of the end of the first transmission line 101 when the first transmission line 101 is connected to the coupling unit 51 at the signal output terminal 304 of the RF module 3A. ｍ１＿ｐ, Γ ｍ１＿ｑ , Γ ｍ１＿ｒ Substitute these values ​​into the above equation (3) and obtain the S of RF module 3A. ｍ１ S in the parameter ｍ１ 11, S ｍ１ 22. S ｍ１ 12, S ｍ１ 21 may be calculated. Similarly, the calculation unit 303A calculates the reflection coefficient Γ of the end of the first transmission line 101 when the first transmission line 101 is connected to the coupling unit 51 at the second connection terminal 42 of the load board 4. ｄ１＿ｐ , Γ ｄ１＿ｑ , Γ ｄ１＿ｒ Therefore, the S of the RF module 3A and load board 4 as a whole in the first transmission line 101 ｄ１ S in the parameter ｄ１ 11, S ｄ１ 22. S ｄ１ 12, S ｄ１ 21 may be calculated. Similarly, the calculation unit 303A calculates the reflection coefficient Γ of the end of the second transmission line 102 when the second transmission line 102 is connected to the coupling unit 51 at the signal input terminal 305 of the RF module 3A. ｍ２＿ｐ , Γ ｍ２＿ｑ , Γ ｍ２＿ｒ From there, the S of RF module 3A in the second transmission line 102 ｍ２ S in the parameter ｍ２ 11, S ｍ２ 22. S ｍ２ 12, S ｍ２ 21 may be calculated. Similarly, the calculation unit 303A calculates the reflection coefficient Γ of the end of the second transmission line 102 when the second transmission line 102 is connected to the coupling unit 51 at the third connection terminal 43 of the load board 4. ｄ２＿ｐ , Γ ｄ２＿ｑ , Γ ｄ２＿ｒ Therefore, the S of the RF module 3A and load board 4 as a whole in the second transmission line 102 ｍ２ S in the parameter ｄ２ 11, S ｄ２ 22. S ｄ２ 12, S ｄ２ You may calculate 21.

[0106] Furthermore, the calculation unit 303A is the S of the RF module 3A ｍ１ Parameter S ｍ１ 11, S ｍ１22. S ｍ１ 12, S ｍ１ Substitute 21 into the above equation (4) and obtain the T of RF module 3A. ｍ１ The parameters may be calculated. Similarly, the calculation unit 303A calculates the S of the RF module 3A and load board 4 as a whole. ｄ１ Parameter S ｄ１ 11, S ｄ１ 22. S ｄ１ 12, S ｄ１ From 21, the T of the RF module 3A and load board 4 as a whole. ｄ１ The parameters may be calculated. Similarly, the calculation unit 303A calculates the S of the RF module 3A. ｍ２ Parameter S ｍ２ 11, S ｍ２ 22. S ｍ２ 12, S ｍ２ From 21, T of RF module 3A ｍ２ The parameters may be calculated. Similarly, the calculation unit 303A calculates the S of the RF module 3A and load board 4 as a whole. ｄ２ Parameter S ｄ２ 11, S ｄ２ 22. S ｄ２ 12, S ｄ２ From 21, the T of the RF module 3A and load board 4 as a whole. ｄ２ You may calculate the parameters.

[0107] Furthermore, the calculation unit 303A is T ｍ１ Parameter and T ｄ１ Substituting the parameters into equation (5) above, the T of the load board 4 in the first transmission line 101 is obtained. Ｌ１ The parameters may be calculated. Similarly, the calculation unit 303A will calculate T ｍ２ Parameter and T ｄ２ From the parameters, the T of the load board 4 in the second transmission line 102 Ｌ２ You may calculate the parameters.

[0108] Then, the calculation unit 303A calculates the T of the load board 4 in the first transmission line 101. Ｌ１ From the parameters, according to equation (6) above, the S of the load board 4 in the first transmission line 101 Ｌ１ Parameter S Ｌ１21 can be calculated and used as the insertion loss of the load board 4. Similarly, the calculation unit 303A calculates the T of the load board 4 in the second transmission line 102. Ｌ２ From the parameters, the S of the load board 4 in the second transmission line 102 Ｌ２ Parameter S Ｌ２ You can calculate 21 and use it as the insertion loss of the load board 4.

[0109] In step S17, the adjustment unit 314A may adjust the strength of the signal output by the signal transmitter 301 according to the insertion loss of the load board 4 in the first transmission line 101. The adjustment unit 314A may also adjust the signal reception sensitivity of the signal receiver 302 according to the insertion loss of the load board 4 in the second transmission line 102. Through steps S11 to S17 described above, the calibration of the signal transmitter 301 and the signal receiver 302 is completed.

[0110] In step S19, the RF module 3A is connected to the DUT2 via the load board 4, and at least one of the extraction unit 320A and the superposition unit 330A is disabled by the connection switching unit 313A. The tester 6 then tests the DUT2. The process in step S19 may be performed multiple times each time the DUT2 is replaced.

[0111] According to the above operation, the signal voltage Vref,V measured while the selection mode is switched between the first selection mode and the second selection mode is measured. １ From mes to reflection coefficient Γ １ The following is calculated, and the signal voltage Vref,V measured while the selection mode is switched between the first selection mode and the third selection mode is calculated. ２ From mes to reflection coefficient Γ ２ Therefore, the signal voltage Vref,V is calculated while keeping the signal transmitter 301 and signal receiver 302 in operation. １ mes, or signal voltage Vref, V ２ The mes can be measured. Therefore, unlike the case where the signal transmitter 301 and signal receiver 302 are activated each time the signal voltage is measured, the number of synchronization processes between the signal transmitter 301 and signal receiver 302 can be reduced.

[0112] Figure 10 shows another operation flow of the test apparatus 1A. By performing the processing in steps S31 to S33, the test apparatus 1A generates signal voltages Vref, V １ mes, V ２ Measure mes. The operation shown in this figure may be performed in steps S11 and S13 of the operation flow in Figure 9, or it may be performed prior to steps S11 and S13.

[0113] In step S31, the extraction unit 320A extracts a selected signal from either the signal going from the signal generator 301 to the signal output terminal 304, or the signal going from the signal output terminal 304 to the signal generator 301, in the first transmission line 101 between the signal generator 301 and the signal output terminal 304. If the connection switching unit 313A has selected the first selection mode, the extraction unit 320A may extract the signal going from the signal generator 301 to the signal output terminal 304 in the first transmission line 101. If the connection switching unit 313A has selected the second selection mode, the extraction unit 320A may extract the signal going from the signal output terminal 304 to the signal generator 301 in the first transmission line 101. If the connection switching unit 313A has selected the third selection mode, the extraction unit 320A may extract the signal going from the signal generator 301 to the signal output terminal 304 in the first transmission line 101.

[0114] In step S33, the superposition unit 330A superimposes the signal extracted in step S31 onto the second transmission path 102 between the signal input terminal 305 and the signal receiver 302 in the direction selected from either the direction from the signal input terminal 305 to the signal receiver 302, or the direction from the signal receiver 302 to the signal input terminal 305. If the connection switching unit 313A has selected the first selection mode, the superposition unit 330A may superimpose the extracted signal onto the second transmission path 102 in the direction from the signal input terminal 305 to the signal receiver 302. If the connection switching unit 313A has selected the second selection mode, the superposition unit 330A may superimpose the extracted signal onto the second transmission path 102 in the direction from the signal input terminal 305 to the signal receiver 302. If the connection switching unit 313A has selected the third selection mode, the superposition unit 330A may superimpose the extracted signal onto the second transmission line 102 in the direction from the signal receiver 302 toward the signal input terminal 305.

[0115] ((Modification of the Second Embodiment (1))) Figure 11 shows a test apparatus 1B according to modification (1) of the second embodiment. In this modification, components that are substantially the same as those in the test apparatuses 1 and 1A shown in Figures 1 and 2 are given the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0116] The test apparatus 1B includes an RF module 3B. The RF module 3B has selection switches 351 to 354 and a connection switching unit 313B.

[0117] Select switch 351 is connected to the signal transmitter 301 and select switches 352 to 354, and selectively connects the signal transmitter 301 to one of the select switches 352 to 354. Select switch 352 is connected to the extraction unit 320A and select switches 351 and 353, and selectively connects the extraction unit 320A to one of the select switches 351 and 353. Select switch 353 is connected to the signal receiver 302 and select switches 351, 352, and 354, and selectively connects the signal receiver 302 to one of the select switches 351, 352, and 354. Select switch 354 is connected to the superposition unit 330A and select switches 351 and 353, and selectively connects the superposition unit 330A to one of the select switches 351 and 353.

[0118] As a result, the selection switches 351 to 354 selectively connect either the extraction unit 320A, the superposition unit 330A, or the signal receiver 302 to the signal transmitter 301, and selectively connect either the extraction unit 320A, the superposition unit 330A, or the signal receiver 302 to the signal receiver 302. Consequently, the signal output terminal 304 in this embodiment can also function as a signal input terminal for inputting a signal to the RF module 3B, and the signal input terminal 305 can also function as a signal output terminal for outputting a signal from the RF module 3B. Therefore, the test apparatus 1B can perform tests on the transmission characteristics of the DUT2 in addition to the reflection characteristics of the DUT2.

[0119] The connection switching unit 313B switches the connections of the first switch 328 and the second switch 338 in the same manner as the connection switching unit 313A in the second embodiment. In addition, the connection switching unit 313B may also switch the connections of the selection switches 351 to 354.

[0120] With the test apparatus 1B described above, in addition to testing the reflection characteristics of DUT2, it is also possible to test the transmission characteristics of DUT2.

[0121] ((Modification of the second embodiment (2))) Figure 12 shows a test apparatus 1C according to modification (2) of the second embodiment. In this modification, the same reference numerals are used for components that are substantially the same as those in the test apparatuses 1, 1A, and 1B shown in Figures 1, 2, and 11, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0122] The test apparatus 1C includes an RF module 3C. The RF module 3C has selection switches 361 to 364 and a connection switching unit 313C.

[0123] Select switch 361 is connected to the extraction unit 320A and select switches 362 and 364, and selectively connects the extraction unit 320A to either select switch 362 or 364. Select switch 362 is connected to the signal output terminal 304 and select switches 361 and 363, and selectively connects the signal output terminal 304 to either select switch 361 or 363. Select switch 363 is connected to the superposition unit 330A and select switches 362 and 364, and selectively connects the superposition unit 330A to either select switch 362 or 364. Select switch 364 is connected to the signal input terminal 305 and select switches 361 and 363, and selectively connects the signal input terminal 305 to either select switch 361 or 363.

[0124] As a result, the selection switches 361 to 364 selectively connect either the signal output terminal 304, the signal input terminal 305, or the superposition section 330A to the extraction section 320A, and selectively connect either the signal output terminal 304, the signal input terminal 305, or the extraction section 320A to the superposition section 330A. Consequently, the signal output terminal 304 in this embodiment can also function as a signal input terminal for inputting signals to the RF module 3C, and the signal input terminal 305 can also function as a signal output terminal for outputting signals from the RF module 3C. Therefore, the test apparatus 1C can perform tests on the transmission characteristics of the DUT2 in addition to the reflection characteristics of the DUT2.

[0125] The connection switching unit 313C switches the connections of the first switch 328 and the second switch 338 in the same manner as the connection switching unit 313A in the second embodiment. In addition, the connection switching unit 313C may also switch the connections of the selection switches 361 to 364.

[0126] With the above-described test apparatus 1C, in addition to testing the reflection characteristics of DUT2, it is also possible to test the transmission characteristics of DUT2.

[0127] ((Modification of the second embodiment (3))) Figure 13 shows a test apparatus 1D according to modification (3) of the second embodiment. In this modification, components that are substantially the same as those in the test apparatus 1, 1A, 1B, and 1C shown in Figures 1, 2, 11, and 12 are given the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted.

[0128] The test apparatus 1D can be connected to multiple DUT2s (two in this modified example) at once, and can be tested sequentially on the connected DUT2s. The test apparatus 1D comprises an RF module 3D and a load board 4D. Furthermore, within the RF module 3D and load board 4D, the test apparatus 1D includes a group G with a similar configuration for each of the multiple DUT2s that can be connected at once, and in this modified example, it includes a first group G1 and a second group G2.

[0129] (((RF Module 3D))) The RF module 3D has a signal output terminal 304, a signal input terminal 305, an extraction unit 320A, and an overlay unit 330A for each group G. In this modified example, the RF module 3D as a whole has a signal output terminal 304, a signal input terminal 305, an extraction unit 320A, and an overlay unit 330A for the first group G1, and a signal output terminal 304, a signal input terminal 305, an extraction unit 320A, and an overlay unit 330A for the second group G2. The RF module 3D further includes selection switches 341 and 342, amplifiers 343 to 346, a crossover 347, a connection switching unit 313D, a calculation unit 303D, and an adjustment unit 314D.

[0130] The selection switches 341 and 342 select either the first group G1 or the second group G2 as the target for use. As a result, the transmission paths within the selected group G may be selected as the first transmission path 101 for propagating the signal output from the signal transmitter 301, and the second transmission path 102 for propagating the signal input to the signal receiver 302. In this figure, as an example, the second group G2 is selected as the target for use, and the transmission paths of the second group G2 are selected as the first transmission path 101 and the second transmission path 102.

[0131] The selection switch 341 selectively connects the first group G1 extraction unit 320A and the second group G2 extraction unit 320A to the signal transmitter 301. The selection switch 342 selectively connects the first group G1 superposition unit 330A and the second group G2 superposition unit 330A to the signal receiver 302.

[0132] Amplifiers 343 to 346 amplify the signals flowing through the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102. Amplifiers 343 and 345 are positioned between the selection switch 341 and the extraction units 320 of the first group G1 and the second group G2, and amplify the signals going from the selection switch 341 to the extraction unit 320. Amplifiers 344 and 346 are positioned between the selection switch 342 and the superposition units 330 of the first group G1 and the second group G2, and amplify the signals going from the superposition unit 330 to the selection switch 342. The amplification ratios of each of the amplifiers 343 to 346 may be set arbitrarily.

[0133] The crossover 347 separates the transmission paths at the intersection of the transmission path from the selection switch 341 to the extraction section 320 of the second group G2 and the transmission path from the superposition section 330 of the first group G1 to the selection switch 342, in order to prevent interference between these transmission paths.

[0134] The connection switching unit 313D switches the connections of the first switch 328 and the second switch 338 in the same manner as the connection switching unit 313A in the second embodiment. In addition, the connection switching unit 313D may also switch the connections of the selection switches 341 and 342.

[0135] The connection switching unit 313D may connect the group G to be used to the signal transmitter 301 and the signal receiver 302. For example, if the group G to be used is the second group G2, the connection switching unit 313D may connect the extraction unit 320 of the second group G2 to the signal transmitter 301 using the selection switch 341, and connect the superposition unit 330 of the second group G2 to the signal receiver 302 using the selection switch 342.

[0136] The calculation unit 303D calculates the insertion loss of the load board 4D for each group G in the same manner as the calculation unit 303A in the second embodiment. The calculation unit 303D may supply the insertion loss of the load board 4 in the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 for each group G to the adjustment unit 314D.

[0137] The adjustment unit 314D performs calibration of the signal transmitter 301 and the signal receiver 302 for each group G according to the insertion loss of the load board 4, in the same manner as the adjustment unit 314A in the second embodiment. The adjustment unit 314D may adjust the strength of the signal output by the signal transmitter 301 for each group G according to the insertion loss of the load board 4 in the first transmission line 101. The adjustment unit 314D may adjust the reception sensitivity of the signal by the signal receiver 302 for each group G according to the insertion loss of the load board 4 in the second transmission line 102.

[0138] (((Load board 4D))) Load board 4D has a set of first connection terminals 41 to fourth connection terminals 44 for each group G.

[0139] With the test apparatus 1D described above, even when multiple DUTs 2 are connected to the RF module 3D, the DUTs 2 can be tested using the calibrated signal transmitter 301 and signal receiver 302.

[0140] ((Modification of the second embodiment (4))) Figure 14 shows a test apparatus 1E according to modification (4) of the second embodiment. In this modification, components that are substantially the same as those in the test apparatus 1, 1A to 1D shown in Figures 1, 2, 11, 12, and 13 are given the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted.

[0141] The test apparatus 1E includes an RF module 3E. The RF module 3E has a module body 370, a load board 371, and a coupler section 372.

[0142] The module body 370 includes a signal transmitter 301, a signal receiver 302, a connection switching unit 313A, a calculation unit 303A, and an adjustment unit 314A, as well as terminals 3701, 3702, and 3703. Terminals 3701, 3702, and 3703 are connected to terminals 3711, 3712, and 3713 on the load board 371, which will be described later.

[0143] The load board 371 connects the module body 370 and the coupler section 372. The load board 371 may supply signals output from the signal transmitter 301 of the module body 370 to the DUT2 via the coupler section 372 and the load board 4, and may also supply signals output from the DUT2 via the load board 4 and the coupler section 372 to the signal receiver 302 of the module body 370. The load board 371 has terminals 3711, 3712, and 3713 connected to terminals 3701, 3702, and 3703 of the module body 370, and terminals 3714, 3715, and 3716 connected to terminals 3721, 3722, and 3723 of the coupler section 372 (described later). Wiring such as printed circuit boards may be interposed between terminals 3711, 3712, and 3713 and terminals 3714, 3715, and 3716.

[0144] The coupler section 372 has, in addition to the signal output terminal 304 and the signal input terminal 305, terminals 3721, 3722, and 3723 connected to terminals 3714, 3715, and 3716 on the load board 371, as well as an extraction section 3728 and an overlapping section 3729. The extraction section 3728 and the overlapping section 3729 may have the same configuration as the extraction section 320A and the overlapping section 330A described above, except that they are provided on the load board 371.

[0145] According to the test apparatus 1E described above, by providing a load board 371 with wiring between the module body 370 and the coupler section 372, the wiring within the load board 4 can be shortened or eliminated while maintaining the flexibility of the arrangement of the second connection terminal 42 and the fourth connection terminal 44. This shortens the distance between the extraction section 3728 and the superposition section 3729 and the ends of the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102, thereby reducing the insertion loss of the load board 4 and improving the measurement accuracy of the reflected wave. Therefore, the DUT 2 can be tested using a signal transmitter 301 and a signal receiver 302 that have been calibrated with high accuracy.

[0146] ((Modification of the Second Embodiment (5))) Figure 15 shows the test apparatus 1F according to modification (5) of the second embodiment. In the test apparatus 1F according to this modification, components that are substantially the same as those in the test apparatuses 1, 1A to 1E shown in Figures 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, and 14 are given the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted.

[0147] The test apparatus 1F includes an RF module 3F. The RF module 3F has a module body 370F. Unlike the module body 370 of the modified example (4) described above, the module body 370F further has an extraction section 320A and an overlay section 330A, and has a connection switching section 313F instead of a connection switching section 313A.

[0148] The connection switching unit 313F switches the connections of the first switch 328 and the second switch 338 in the extraction unit 320A and the superimposed unit 330A of the module body 370F, and also switches the connections of the first switch 328 and the second switch 338 in the extraction unit 3728 and the superimposed unit 3729 of the coupler unit 372. The connection switching unit 313F may select either the extraction unit 320A and the superimposed unit 330A of the module body 370F or the extraction unit 3728 and the superimposed unit 3729 of the coupler unit 372 as the target for switching and disable the other.

[0149] The connection switching unit 313F may, with respect to the extraction unit 320A and superimposing unit 330A (or extraction unit 3728 and superimposing unit 3729) used for switching, select the direction in which the signal extracted by the extraction unit 320A (or extraction unit 3728) and the direction in which the signal is superimposed by the superimposing unit 330A (or superimposing unit 3729) by switching the connection, in the same manner as described above for the connection switching unit 313A.

[0150] For the extraction unit 3728 and the superimposing unit 3729 (or the extraction unit 320A and the superimposing unit 330A) that are to be disabled and not used as the target of switching, the connection switching unit 313F may leave at least one of the first switch 328 and the second switch 338 open.

[0151] According to the test apparatus 1F described above, either the extraction section 320A and superimposed section 330A of the module body 370F, or the extraction section 3728 and superimposed section 3729 of the coupler section 372, is selected as the switching target, and the other is disabled. Therefore, the reflected wave can be measured using either the extraction section 320A and superimposed section 330A of the module body 370F, or the extraction section 3728 and superimposed section 3729 of the coupler section 372. Thus, the accuracy of the calibration can be changed by selecting the extraction section 3728 and superimposed section 3729 of the coupler section 372 as the switching target when performing high-precision calibration, or selecting the extraction section 320A and superimposed section 330A of the module body 370F as the switching target in other cases.

[0152] In this modified example, although the test apparatus 1F is described as having a coupler section 372, the coupler section 372 may be provided only when used as a target for switching by the connection switching section 313F.

[0153] ((Other Modifications of the Second Embodiment)) In the second embodiment and its modifications described above, the RF module 3A was described as having a signal transmitter 301, a signal receiver 302, a connection switching unit 313A, a calculation unit 303A, and an adjustment unit 314A, but it may not have any of these. If the RF module 3A does not have a signal transmitter 301 and a signal receiver 302, the RF module 3A may be provided between an external signal transmitter and signal receiver and the load board 4. If the RF module 3A does not have a calculation unit 303A, the signal receiver 302 may supply a signal corresponding to the reception result to an external calculation unit to calculate the insertion loss of the load board 4. If the RF module 3A does not have an adjustment unit 314A, the user may adjust the output strength of the signal transmitter 301 and the receiving sensitivity of the signal receiver 302 according to the calculated insertion loss. The same applies to the RF module 3D.

[0154] Furthermore, while the connection switching units 313A and 313D have been described as an example of a disabling unit, and it has been explained that when testing the DUT2 using the RF module 3A, at least one of the extraction unit 320A and the superimposing unit 330A is disabled by opening at least one of the first switch 328 and the second switch 338, disabling may be performed by other configurations or other methods. For example, an on / off switch may be provided between the extraction unit 320A and the superimposing unit 330A, and the connection switching units 313A and 313D may disable the superimposing unit 330A by opening the on / off switch.

[0155] Furthermore, although the first coupler section 321 has been described as a dual coupler, other types of couplers or isolators may be included in the configuration, as long as they are able to extract signals from the signal generator 301 toward the signal output terminal 304 and signals from the signal output terminal 304 toward the signal generator 301 in the first transmission line 101. Similarly, although the second coupler section 331 has been described as a dual coupler, other types of couplers may be included in the configuration, as long as they are able to superimpose signals extracted by the extraction section 320A onto the second transmission line 102 in the direction from the signal input terminal 305 toward the signal receiver 302 and signals from the signal receiver 302 toward the signal input terminal 305.

[0156] Various embodiments of the present invention may be described with reference to flowcharts and block diagrams, where a block may represent (1) a stage in a process in which an operation is performed, or (2) a section of a device having the role of performing the operation. Specific stages and sections may be implemented by dedicated circuits, programmable circuits supplied with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable medium, and / or processors supplied with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable medium. Dedicated circuits may include digital and / or analog hardware circuits, and may include integrated circuits (ICs) and / or discrete circuits. Programmable circuits may include reconfigurable hardware circuits, including logic AND, logic OR, logic XOR, logic NAND, logic NOR, and other logic operations, memory elements such as flip-flops, registers, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic arrays (PLAs), etc.

[0157] Computer-readable media may include any tangible device capable of storing instructions to be executed by a suitable device, and as a result, computer-readable media having instructions stored therein will comprise a product containing instructions that can be executed to create means for performing operations specified in a flowchart or block diagram. Examples of computer-readable media may include electronic storage media, magnetic storage media, optical storage media, electromagnetic storage media, semiconductor storage media, etc. More specific examples of computer-readable media may include floppy disks (registered trademark), diskettes, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), static random access memory (SRAM), compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital multipurpose disc (DVD), Blu-ray (registered trademark) disc, memory stick, integrated circuit card, etc.

[0158] Computer-readable instructions may include assembler instructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine-dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state setting data, or source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages ​​such as Smalltalk®, Java®, C++, and conventional procedural programming languages ​​such as the C programming language or similar programming languages.

[0159] Computer-readable instructions are provided locally or via a wide area network (WAN) such as a local area network (LAN) or the internet to the processor or programmable circuit of a programmable data processing device such as a computer, and may be executed to create means for performing operations specified in a flowchart or block diagram. Here, the computer may be a PC (personal computer), tablet computer, smartphone, workstation, server computer, general-purpose computer, or special-purpose computer, and may also be a computer system in which multiple computers are connected. Such a computer system in which multiple computers are connected is also called a distributed computing system and is a computer in a broad sense. In a distributed computing system, multiple computers execute a program by having each computer execute a part of the program and by passing data during program execution between computers as needed.

[0160] Examples of processors include computer processors, central processing units (CPUs), processing units, microprocessors, digital signal processors, controllers, and microcontrollers. A computer may have one or more processors. In a multiprocessor system with multiple processors, each processor executes a portion of the program, and the processors collectively execute the program by passing program execution data between them as needed. For example, in the execution of multitasks, each of the multiple processors may execute a portion of each task in small chunks by switching tasks at each time slice. In this case, which part of a program each processor executes changes dynamically. Which part of a program each of the multiple processors executes may also be statically determined by multiprocessor-aware programming.

[0161] Figure 16 shows an example of a computer 1200 in which multiple aspects of the present invention may be embodied in whole or in part. A program installed on the computer 1200 can cause the computer 1200 to function as an operation or one or more sections of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, or to execute such operation or one or more sections, and / or to cause the computer 1200 to execute a process or a stage of such process according to an embodiment of the present invention. Such a program may be executed by the CPU 1212 to cause the computer 1200 to perform a particular operation associated with some or all of the blocks in the flowcharts and block diagrams described herein.

[0162] The computer 1200 according to this embodiment includes a CPU 1212, RAM 1214, a graphics controller 1216, and a display device 1218, which are interconnected by a host controller 1210. The computer 1200 also includes input / output units such as a communication interface 1222, a storage device 1224 such as a hard disk drive, a DVD-ROM drive 1226, and an IC card drive, which are connected to the host controller 1210 via an input / output controller 1220. The computer also includes legacy input / output units such as a ROM 1230 and a keyboard 1242, which are connected to the input / output controller 1220 via an input / output chip 1240.

[0163] The CPU 1212 operates according to programs stored in the ROM 1230 and RAM 1214, thereby controlling each unit. The graphics controller 1216 acquires image data generated by the CPU 1212 from the frame buffer provided in RAM 1214 or from itself, and displays the image data on the display device 1218.

[0164] The communication interface 1222 communicates with other electronic devices via a network. The storage device 1224 stores programs and data used by the CPU 1212 in the computer 1200. The DVD-ROM drive 1226 reads programs or data from the DVD-ROM 1227 and provides them to the storage device 1224 via the RAM 1214. The IC card drive reads programs and data from the IC card and / or writes programs and data to the IC card.

[0165] The ROM 1230 stores boot programs and / or programs that depend on the computer 1200's hardware, which are executed by the computer 1200 when activated. The input / output chip 1240 may also connect various input / output units to the input / output controller 1220 via parallel ports, serial ports, keyboard ports, mouse ports, etc.

[0166] The program is provided on a computer-readable medium such as a DVD-ROM 1227 or an IC card. The program is read from the computer-readable medium and installed on a storage device 1224, RAM 1214, or ROM 1230, which are examples of computer-readable mediums, and executed by the CPU 1212. The information processing described within these programs is read by the computer 1200, resulting in coordination between the program and the various types of hardware resources described above. The apparatus or method may be configured to realize the manipulation or processing of information in accordance with the use of the computer 1200.

[0167] For example, when communication is performed between a computer 1200 and an external device, the CPU 1212 may execute a communication program loaded into the RAM 1214 and, based on the processing described in the communication program, instruct the communication interface 1222 to perform communication processing. Under the control of the CPU 1212, the communication interface 1222 reads transmission data stored in a transmission buffer processing area provided in a recording medium such as the RAM 1214, storage device 1224, DVD-ROM 1227, or IC card, transmits the read transmission data to the network, or writes received data received from the network to a receive buffer processing area provided on the recording medium.

[0168] Furthermore, the CPU 1212 may read all or necessary parts of a file or database stored on an external recording medium such as a storage device 1224, a DVD-ROM drive 1226 (DVD-ROM 1227), or an IC card into the RAM 1214, and perform various types of processing on the data in the RAM 1214. The CPU 1212 then writes the processed data back to the external recording medium.

[0169] Various types of information, such as various types of programs, data, tables, and databases, may be stored on the recording medium and subjected to information processing. The CPU 1212 may perform various types of processing on the data read from the RAM 1214, including various types of operations, information processing, conditional judgments, conditional branching, unconditional branching, information retrieval / replacement, etc., as described throughout this disclosure and specified by the program instruction sequence, and write the results back to the RAM 1214. The CPU 1212 may also retrieve information in files, databases, etc., within the recording medium. For example, if a plurality of entries having attribute values ​​of a first attribute, each associated with an attribute value of a second attribute, are stored in the recording medium, the CPU 1212 may search among the plurality of entries for an entry that matches the condition for which the attribute value of the first attribute is specified, read the attribute value of the second attribute stored in that entry, and thereby obtain the attribute value of the second attribute associated with the first attribute that satisfies a predetermined condition.

[0170] The program or software module described above may be stored on or near the computer 1200 on a computer-readable medium. Alternatively, a recording medium such as a hard disk or RAM provided within a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet can be used as a computer-readable medium, thereby providing the program to the computer 1200 via the network.

[0171] Although the present invention has been described above using embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It will be clear from the claims that such modified or improved forms may also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0172] It should be noted that the execution order of operations, procedures, steps, and stages in the devices, systems, programs, and methods shown in the claims, specifications, and drawings is not explicitly stated as "before," "prior to," etc., and that these can be performed in any order unless the output of a previous process is used in a later process. Even if the operation flow in the claims, specifications, and drawings is described using phrases such as "first," "next," etc. for convenience, this does not mean that it is mandatory to perform the operations in that order.

[0173] 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F Test equipment 2 DUT 3, 3A, 3B, 3E, 3F RF module 4, 4B Load board 5 Calibration kit 21 Signal input terminal 22 Signal receiving unit 23 Signal output terminal 24 Signal transmitting unit 41 First connection terminal 42 Second connection terminal 43 Third connection terminal 44 Fourth connection terminal 51 Coupling unit 101 First transmission line 102 Second transmission line 301 Signal transmitter 302 Signal receiver 303, 303A, 303B Calculation unit 304 Signal output terminal 305 Signal input terminal 313A, 313B, 313F Connection switching unit 314, 314A, 314B Adjustment unit 320A Extraction unit 321 First coupler unit 322 First connection terminal 323 Second connection terminal 324 First coupling terminal 325 Second coupling terminal 328 First switch 330A Overlay section 331 Second coupler section 332 Third connection terminal 333 Fourth connection terminal 334 Third coupling terminal 335 Fourth coupling terminal 338 Second switch 341 Select switch 342 Select switch 343 Amplifier 344 Amplifier 345 Amplifier 346 Amplifier 347 Crossover 351 Select switch 352 Select switch 353 Select switch 354 Select switch 361 Select switch 362 Select switch 363 Select switch 364 Select switch 370 Module body 371 Load board 372 Coupler section 1200 Computer 1210 Host controller 1212 CPU 1214 RAM 1216 Graphics controller 1218 Display device 1220 Input / output controller 1222 Communication interface 1224 Storage device 1226 DVD-ROM drive 1227 DVD-ROM 1230 ROM 1240 Input / output chip 1242 Keyboard 3701 Terminal 3702 Terminal 3703 Terminal 3711 Terminal 3712 Terminal 3713 Terminal 3714 Terminal 3715 Terminal 3716 Terminal 3728 Extraction unit 3729 Overlay unit

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: an extraction unit provided between a signal transmitter and a signal output terminal in a first transmission line, which extracts a selected signal from among signals going from the signal transmitter to the signal output terminal or signals going from the signal output terminal to the signal transmitter in the first transmission line; and a superposition unit provided between a signal input terminal and a signal receiver in a second transmission line, which superimposes the signal extracted by the extraction unit onto the second transmission line in a direction selected from among the direction going from the signal input terminal to the signal receiver or the direction going from the signal receiver to the signal input terminal.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit that selects the signal extracted by the extraction unit and the direction in which the signal is superimposed by the superimposition unit, wherein the selection unit switches between a first selection mode in which a signal from the signal transmitter toward the signal output terminal is extracted in the first transmission line and superimposed on the second transmission line in the direction from the signal input terminal toward the signal receiver; a second selection mode in which a signal from the signal output terminal toward the signal transmitter is extracted in the first transmission line and superimposed on the second transmission line in the direction from the signal input terminal toward the signal receiver; and a third selection mode in which a signal from the signal transmitter toward the signal output terminal is extracted in the first transmission line and superimposed on the second transmission line in the direction from the signal receiver toward the signal input terminal.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a calculation unit that calculates, from the reception results by the signal receiver in each selected mode, the reflection coefficient for the signal in the direction from the signal transmitter to the signal output terminal at the end of the first transmission line opposite to the signal transmitter, and the reflection coefficient for the signal in the direction from the signal receiver to the signal input terminal at the end of the second transmission line opposite to the signal receiver.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the calculation unit calculates the reflection coefficient for each case where the ends of the first transmission line or the second transmission line have three different reflection characteristics.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first transmission line and the second transmission line are connected to the device under test via an interface when the device under test is tested using the apparatus, and the signal output terminal and the signal input terminal, or the connection terminal of the interface to the device under test, are, in order, set to known reflection characteristics when the signal transmitter and the signal receiver are calibrated.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a calculation unit that calculates the insertion loss of the interface from the reception results by the signal receiver in the case where the first transmission path and the second transmission path have known reflection characteristics at the signal output terminal and the signal input terminal, and in the case where the connection terminal of the interface has known reflection characteristics.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising an adjustment unit that adjusts the intensity of the signal output by the signal generator in accordance with the insertion loss of the interface in the first transmission line.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising an adjustment unit that adjusts the intensity of the signal received by the signal receiver according to the insertion loss of the interface in the second transmission line.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the extraction unit comprises a first coupler unit having a first coupling terminal that outputs a portion of the signal from the signal transmitter toward the signal output terminal in the first transmission line, and a second coupling terminal that outputs a portion of the signal from the signal output terminal toward the signal transmitter in the first transmission line, and a first switch that selectively connects the first coupling terminal and the second coupling terminal to the superposition unit.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the superposition section comprises a second coupler section having a third coupling terminal for superimposing an input signal in the second transmission line in the direction from the signal input terminal toward the signal receiver, and a fourth coupling terminal for superimposing an input signal in the direction from the signal receiver toward the signal input terminal, and a second switch for selectively connecting the third coupling terminal and the fourth coupling terminal to the extraction section.

11. A test apparatus comprising the apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, the signal transmitter and the signal receiver.

12. The test apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a disabling unit for disabling at least one of the extraction unit and the superimposing unit when testing a device under test using the apparatus.

13. A method comprising: an extraction step of extracting a selected signal from a signal going from the signal transmitter to the signal output terminal or a signal going from the signal output terminal to the signal transmitter in a first transmission path between a signal transmitter and a signal output terminal; and a superposition step of superimposing the signal extracted in the extraction step onto a second transmission path between a signal input terminal and a signal receiver in a direction selected from the direction going from the signal input terminal to the signal receiver or from the direction going from the signal receiver to the signal input terminal.

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