Antenna Array Subgroup Weighting for Test System Complexity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing test systems for wireless communication devices, such as phased array antennas, are complex and costly due to the need for numerous control means to adjust phase shifts, leading to high complexity and expense.
Innovation Solution
A test system with an antenna array divided into subgroups, where antenna elements apply amplitude and/or phase shifts using a weight generator that combines analog and digital weighting, reducing the complexity of control elements and allowing for directional signal transmission/reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional phased array antennas use control means such as phase shifters or power amplifiers for each antenna element, then the desired signal characteristics can be achieved, but the complexity and cost of the antenna array increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna array is divided into multiple subarrays, where each subarray shares common control resources. This segmentation allows the system to achieve the same beamforming functionality with reduced per-element control complexity, as adjacent elements within a subarray can share phase shifters and power amplifiers.
Solution Approach 2:
Control means such as phase shifters and power amplifiers are designed to serve multiple antenna elements simultaneously within each subarray. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of control components required, thereby lowering system complexity and cost while maintaining signal characteristic control.
2Manufacturing precision
If a large number of control means are used to adjust phase shift of each antenna element, then desired signal characteristics can be generated, but the cost of the antenna array increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the antenna array into subarrays, the system reduces the total number of independent control channels needed. Each subarray uses shared control means, which decreases the overall quantity of phase shifters and power amplifiers required while maintaining adequate signal control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Adjacent antenna elements within each subarray are merged to share common phase shifters and power amplifiers. This combining approach reduces the total component count and cost, as multiple antenna elements utilize the same control hardware rather than each having dedicated control means.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a test system (10) for testing a device-under-test, DUT (11), comprising: a transmitting and/or receiving device (13); and an antenna array (12) which is connected to the transmitting and/or receiving device (13); said antenna array (12) comprising a plurality of antenna elements (14) being grouped in at least two subgroups; wherein the antenna elements (14) in at least one subgroup of the antenna array (12) are configured to apply an amplitude and/or phase shift to a signal which is transmitted to the DUT or received from the DUT; wherein said amplitude and/or phase shift is provided by a weight generator (15) of the test system (10); and wherein said weight generator (15) is configured to provide the amplitude and/or phase shift to the antenna elements (14) of the at least one subgroup by means of an aggregated analog and digital weighting.