Antenna Test Interpolation Reduces TIS Duration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current antenna test methods for mobile terminals are inefficient and costly due to lengthy Total Isotropic Sensitivity (TIS) test durations, requiring extensive adjustments of theta and phi angles, which significantly increase test time and resource utilization.

Innovation Solution

An antenna test method involving a turntable in an anechoic chamber with a base station emulator that transmits signals to a mobile terminal, allowing for interpolation of data from 45-degree to 30-degree angles to reduce test duration, using a two-dimensional interpolation algorithm to calculate Total Isotropic Sensitivity (TIS) efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If standard OTA test methodology is used to measure TIS for multiple frequency bands, then measurement completeness is improved, but test duration increases to 54 hours

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement completenessVSAvoidtest duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary measurements at 45-degree intervals to obtain coarse angular data, then uses this preliminary information to guide subsequent finer measurements. This preliminary action reduces the total number of measurement points needed while maintaining accuracy, directly addressing the contradiction between complete measurement and excessive test duration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the measurement process into two distinct phases: a first stage measuring at 45-degree intervals to map the overall antenna radiation pattern, and a second stage measuring at 30-degree intervals only in regions identified as needing higher precision. This segmentation allows the system to achieve comprehensive measurement coverage without requiring exhaustive measurements at all possible angles, thereby reducing test duration while maintaining measurement completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If theta angle is adjusted from 0 to 180° at 30° intervals and phi angle from 0 to 360° at 30° intervals, then measurement precision is improved, but test duration increases to 60 minutes per channel

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveangular measurement precisionVSAvoidtest duration per channel
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary measurements at 45-degree intervals to obtain coarse angular data, then uses this preliminary information to guide subsequent finer measurements. This preliminary action reduces the total number of measurement points needed while maintaining accuracy, directly addressing the contradiction between complete measurement and excessive test duration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the measurement process into two distinct phases: a first stage measuring at 45-degree intervals to map the overall antenna radiation pattern, and a second stage measuring at 30-degree intervals only in regions identified as needing higher precision. This segmentation allows the system to achieve comprehensive measurement coverage without requiring exhaustive measurements at all possible angles, thereby reducing test duration while maintaining measurement completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple frequency bands and modes are tested according to CTIA criteria, then antenna performance coverage is improved, but test cost and resource pressure increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantenna performance coverageVSAvoidtest resource pressure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the measurement process into two distinct phases: a first stage measuring at 45-degree intervals to map the overall antenna radiation pattern, and a second stage measuring at 30-degree intervals only in regions identified as needing higher precision. This segmentation allows the system to achieve comprehensive measurement coverage without requiring exhaustive measurements at all possible angles, thereby reducing test duration while maintaining measurement completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial measurement action by performing detailed 30-degree interval measurements only in angular regions where the antenna radiation pattern shows significant features or variations, rather than uniformly measuring all angles. This selective approach maintains measurement accuracy where needed while reducing overall test duration and resource consumption for comprehensive multi-band antenna testing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3293898B1Method and device for testing antenna of mobile terminal
Publication Date: 2023.01.18 HUIZHOU TCL MOBILE COMM CO LTD
  • EP3293898B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3293898B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3293898B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An antenna test method and apparatus are disclosed. The antenna test method includes: A, placing a mobile terminal on a turntable in an anechoic chamber, and connecting the mobile terminal to a base station emulator via an anechoic chamber communication antenna; B, moving by the turntable sequentially to multiple theta and phi angles, transmitting by the base station emulator signals to the mobile terminal via an anechoic chamber measurement antenna, and receiving and decoding by the mobile terminal the signals and transmitting them back to the base station emulator, to obtain the horizontal and vertical polarization data of the anechoic chamber measurement antenna at steps of a first angle; C, performing interpolations to calculate the corresponding data at steps of a second angle as the step converts from the first angle to the second angle, and using the derived data to calculate the Total Isotropic Sensitivity (TIS). Thus, according to the disclosure the actual test results at intervals of the second angle can be obtained through interpolations. Hence the solution provided by the disclosure can greatly reduce the test duration and allow small errors of the test results, so the antenna test efficiency can be significantly improved and meanwhile the test cost can be effectively reduced.