Dynamic Signal Interference Detection in Wireless Transceiver Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless device test systems face significant costs and inaccuracies due to signal interference among multiple devices under test, leading to false negative packet error rate measurements and unnecessary retesting.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for dynamic signal interference compensation, which monitors transmit data packets from other devices during receive signal testing and adds additional receive data packets to extend the test, allowing for accurate packet error rate measurement without repeating the full test.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple DUTs are tested concurrently to reduce testing time and costs, then productivity improves, but signal interference causes measurement precision to deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by monitoring transmit data packets from other DUTs during receive signal testing and using this information to dynamically adjust the test sequence. When interference is detected, the system adds additional receive data packets to compensate, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy while preserving the benefits of concurrent testing
Solution Approach 2:
The test sequence is made dynamic rather than static. The system continuously monitors for interfering signals and adaptively modifies the receive data packet sequence in real-time by adding packets when interference is detected, allowing the testing system to maintain precision despite the variable interference conditions inherent in concurrent multi-DUT testing
2Measurement precision
If signal shielding mechanisms are used to prevent interference, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary monitoring function that detects interfering transmit packets and mediates the test sequence accordingly. Rather than using physical shielding, the intermediary software/firmware layer dynamically adjusts the test by adding compensatory receive packets, thereby maintaining accuracy without the hardware complexity of extensive shielding mechanisms
3Measurement precision
If tests are repeated when packet error rate exceeds threshold, then measurement precision improves, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system takes preliminary action by proactively monitoring for interfering signals during the test and dynamically adding compensatory receive data packets before the packet error rate threshold is exceeded. This prevents the need for retesting by addressing interference issues in real-time, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy while avoiding the time loss associated with repeating tests
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for testing multiple wireless data packet signal transceiver devices under test (DUTs) with dynamic signal interference compensation. Transmit data packets originating from other DUTs are monitored during receive signal testing of a selected DUT for concurrent occurrences of transmit and receive data packets. From this, it can be determined whether a failure to receive a responsive data packet, such as an acknowledgement, from the selected DUT is likely due to interference from a transmit data packet from another DUT being at least substantially concurrent with the receive data packet to which the selected DUT was expected to respond. If so, one or more receive data packets can be added to the receive signal sequence to extend the test and determine an accurate packet error rate (PER) without requiring a repeat of the full test.