Dynamic Power Leveling for Systems Under Test
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power leveling techniques for systems under test, such as power amplifiers, are inefficient and time-consuming, often requiring lengthy measurement intervals and stability concerns, especially when using PID control loops, which can lead to suboptimal test times and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A method involving iterative adjustments of the input signal's power level to a system under test, with increasing measurement intervals to enhance accuracy, dynamically adjusting the signal's power based on measured output, and using programmable hardware to implement these iterations efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a traditional power leveling control loop is used with fixed measurement intervals, then measurement accuracy is maintained, but the servoing time becomes excessively long (about 150 milliseconds)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the measurement interval variable rather than fixed. The measurement interval dynamically adapts based on the current power level error and convergence status of the servoing loop. When the system is far from the target power level, shorter measurement intervals are used for faster iterations. As the system approaches the target level, the measurement interval automatically increases to maintain measurement accuracy, thus resolving the contradiction between speed and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of measurement interval duration based on the servoing progression. By adjusting this parameter dynamically according to the power level convergence state, the system achieves both fast initial convergence and accurate final measurement, eliminating the need to choose between long fixed intervals for accuracy or short fixed intervals for speed.
2Speed
If PID control algorithm is used to speed up the servoing loop, then convergence speed improves, but stability concerns arise and additional verification measurements are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the measurement results directly influence the next control action. By continuously monitoring the power level error and using it to adjust the measurement interval and control steps, the system achieves stable convergence without requiring PID algorithms. The feedback loop naturally adapts the measurement strategy based on convergence progress, maintaining stability while achieving fast convergence.
Solution Approach 2:
The servoing system serves itself by automatically adjusting its own measurement interval based on its convergence state. The system monitors its own performance and adapts the measurement strategy without external intervention or complex PID tuning, achieving both speed and stability through self-regulation.
3Measurement precision
If longer measurement intervals are used to ensure accuracy within tolerance, then measurement precision improves, but the control loop must be slowed down considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the measurement interval dynamic rather than static. During early servoing iterations when the system is far from the target power level, shorter measurement intervals are used to maintain fast convergence. As the system approaches the target level and convergence is achieved, the measurement interval automatically increases to ensure final measurement accuracy within tolerance. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by applying different interval durations at different stages of the servoing process.
Data Source
AI summary
Power leveling a system under test (SUT). An input signal is provided at an initial power level to the SUT. Multiple iterations are performed, each including measuring, over a specified measuring interval, power of a signal produced by the SUT in response to the input signal, and dynamically adjusting the power of the input signal in response. The measuring interval is increased over the iterations, thereby increasing accuracy of the measuring over the iterations while converging the signal to a specified power level. An initial power leveling operation may be performed for the SUT to establish a specified power level, after which the SUT is tested, during which multiple power leveling operations are performed, each including measuring power of a signal from the SUT over a specified measuring interval, and adjusting the input signal in response, thereby maintaining the specified power level during the testing while correcting for thermal droop.