RFIC Test Board Using Combiners to Isolate Signal Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G communication systems, it is challenging to determine whether performance issues in RFICs are due to the RFICs or antennas, as conventional testing methods require both components and cannot isolate the source of problems effectively.
Innovation Solution
A test board and method that couple an RFIC with a combiner to measure performance without connecting an antenna, using a socket for the RFIC, a connector for a spectrum analysis device, and multiple combiners to combine RF signals, allowing for the determination of a quality indicator for the RFIC based on integrated signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional testing methods using both RFIC and antenna are employed, then performance measurement can be conducted, but it becomes impossible to determine whether performance issues originate from the RFIC or the antenna
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the antenna from the testing system and replaces it with a combiner device. The combiner combines RF signals from multiple RF chains without requiring actual antenna radiation, thereby eliminating the antenna as a variable in the test setup. This allows precise measurement of RFIC performance while eliminating the uncertainty of whether performance issues originate from the RFIC or antenna.
Solution Approach 2:
The combiner acts as an intermediary device between the RFIC and the measurement equipment. Instead of directly connecting the RFIC to antennas and then to measurement equipment, the combiner serves as a mediator that combines RF signals from multiple RF chains and transfers them to the measurement device, enabling isolated RFIC testing.
2Reliability
If antennas are connected to each RF chain for testing, then RF signal transmission can be achieved, but the test environment becomes complex requiring far-field conditions and antenna design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes antennas from the test setup entirely and replaces them with a combiner device. The combiner maintains RF signal transmission capability through wired connections, eliminating the need for far-field conditions, antenna design, and associated environmental requirements, thereby significantly simplifying the test environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical antenna system with an electrical signal combining system. Instead of using physical antennas to radiate RF signals into far-field environments, the combiner electrically combines RF signals from multiple RF chains and transfers them through cables to measurement equipment, substituting a complex mechanical radiation system with a simpler electrical connection system.
3Measurement precision
If multiple antennas and RF chains are tested together, then comprehensive performance evaluation is possible, but test time increases and yield rates decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple RF chain outputs into a single combined signal through the combiner device. This allows comprehensive performance evaluation of multiple RF chains to be achieved by measuring a single combined signal, rather than requiring separate measurements for each RF chain and antenna combination, thereby significantly reducing test time and increasing productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a pre-5th-Generation (5G) or 5G communication system to be provided for supporting higher data rates Beyond 4th-Generation (4G) communication system such as Long Term Evolution (LTE). An electronic device and an operation method thereof are provided for testing performance of a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) in a wireless communication system. The method includes checking a connection state of elements operable as combiners and a plurality of RF chains of the RFIC; performing control to output RF signals from the plurality of RF chains; acquiring an integrated signal by combining the RF signals via the combiners; and determining a quality indicator for the RFIC based the integrated signal.