Integrated RF Switch Routing for Simultaneous Wireless and User Experience Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Complex systems under test, such as vehicles with multiple electronic components and radio communication devices, require extensive testing for user experience, functionality, and risk assessment, which is costly and inefficient due to the need for large anechoic chambers and the interference of electronic components during testing.
Innovation Solution
A performance test system comprising a communication tester, user experience tester, signal generator, RF switch unit, spectrum analyzer, and control unit, along with high power transmit and low noise receive amplifiers, allows for simultaneous testing of wireless communication standards, user experience, and spurious emissions monitoring, while preventing signal interference using a predefined routing scheme and integrated components in a compact housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple tests are performed sequentially using large anechoic chambers, then each test can be conducted with adequate signal quality, but the testing time and costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple test functions (communication testing, user experience testing, spurious emissions monitoring) into a single integrated test system that can operate simultaneously. The test system integrates a communication tester, user experience tester, and spectrum analyzer that share common infrastructure including RF switch units, transmit amplifiers, receive amplifiers, and antenna systems, enabling parallel execution of multiple tests without requiring separate anechoic chambers for each test type.
Solution Approach 2:
The test system is designed with universal components that can serve multiple test functions. The RF switch units can route signals to different test components, the antenna system can support various wireless communication standards and test types, and the spectrum analyzer can monitor both spurious emissions and communication signals. This multi-functionality allows a single test setup to perform diverse tests simultaneously, eliminating the need for multiple specialized chambers.
2Productivity
If multiple tests are conducted simultaneously in the same test system, then testing efficiency increases, but signal interference between test components may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces RF switch units as intermediary components between the test components and the antenna system. These switch units actively manage signal routing, directing wanted signals from communication testers and user experience testers to appropriate transmit amplifiers while routing unwanted signals (such as spurious emissions from signal generators) to different amplifiers or isolating them. This intermediary control prevents signal interference and allows simultaneous operation of multiple test functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The test system segments the signal path into separate channels using multiple transmit amplifiers and RF switch units. By dividing the signal routing into distinct paths controlled by the RF switch units, the system can process wanted signals and unwanted signals separately, preventing interference between simultaneous tests. Each test component operates in its own segmented signal path while sharing the common antenna system.
3Reliability
If separate test systems are used for each test type, then signal interference is avoided, but the complexity and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate test systems into a single integrated test platform. Instead of having independent communication testers, user experience testers, and spectrum analyzers each with their own amplifiers and antenna systems, the invention combines them into one system that shares transmit amplifiers, receive amplifiers, antenna systems, and control units. This reduction in redundancy maintains test accuracy while significantly reducing overall system complexity and resource requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The RF switch units serve as intelligent intermediaries that manage the shared resources among multiple test components. Rather than requiring separate dedicated amplifiers and antenna systems for each test type, the RF switch units dynamically allocate and route signals to the appropriate shared components. This intermediary control mechanism enables reliable simultaneous operation of multiple tests while using a reduced number of physical components compared to fully separate test systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
A performance test system for testing a complex system under test (12) has a communication tester (48) for testing wireless communication standards at the system under test (12), a user experience tester (50) for testing audio functionality, video functionality and/or user experience of the system under test (12), a signal generator (52) for generating an interference signal and/or a navigation signal, a radio frequency switch unit (54) for routing signals generated by the communication tester (48) and the user experience tester (50) and/or the signal generator (52), a spectrum analyzer (56) for spurious emissions monitoring and/or spectrum monitoring, and a control unit (26) connected to the communication tester (48), the user experience tester (50), the signal generator (52), the radio frequency switch unit (54) and the spectrum analyzer (56).