Over-the-Air IoT Device Testing via Packet Error Rate
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in efficiently testing small IoT devices without physical connection to their densely populated PCBs, particularly due to space constraints and the need for flexible testing across various manufacturers and devices, which is complicated by the requirement for multiple firmware flashings between non-signaling and signaling modes, increasing production and testing time.
Innovation Solution
An over-the-air (OTA) test system that treats IoT devices as peripheral or router devices, establishing connections based on BLE and ZigBee standards, allowing for RF performance evaluation without physical test points, using UUID or status requests at varying power levels to determine Packet Error Rate (PER), enabling testing in signaling mode without custom firmware or settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physical test points and custom jigs are used to test IoT devices, then measurement precision can be achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase due to densely populated PCBs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical mechanical connections (test points, custom jigs, wire bonds) with wireless RF communication for device testing. The test system communicates with the IoT device through air interface using standardized protocols, eliminating the need for physical test infrastructure on the densely populated PCB.
2Measurement precision
If non-signaling test mode firmware is flashed for device testing, then measurement capability is improved, but production time increases due to multiple firmware flashings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the testing functionality from a separate test mode firmware and integrates it into the normal operational firmware. By removing the need for dedicated test mode firmware and using the device's regular signaling mode for both operation and testing, the multiple firmware flashing steps are eliminated.
3Measurement precision
If custom test mode firmware is required for different manufacturers and devices, then testing accuracy is improved, but adaptability decreases due to need for customized firmware
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal test system that can test devices from different manufacturers using standardized wireless communication protocols. The system adapts to different device types through configuration parameters rather than requiring custom firmware for each manufacturer, achieving both accuracy and broad compatibility.
4Ease of operation
If test points are populated on final PCB, then testing capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases due to space constraints on small devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical test point infrastructure with wireless RF communication. This substitution eliminates the need for physical test points on the PCB, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining full testing capability through over-the-air communication.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for performing over-the-air (OTA) testing of a device under test (DUT). The method includes establishing an OTA connection with the DUT, while the DUT is in signaling mode, the OTA connection including advertising channels and data channels; sending universally unique identifier (UUID) requests at different transmit powers to the DUT over the data channels of the OTA connection; receiving UUID responses from the DUT over the data channels of the OTA connection in response to at least some of the UIDD requests; and determining a packet error rate (PER) for the received UUID responses from the DUT based on a ratio of a number of received responses and a number of sent connect requests. The determined PER indicates sensitivity of a receiver in the DUT.