Data Packet Signal Transceiver Testing via Transmit Power Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless device test systems are inefficient in testing reception performance due to the need for querying the device under test (DUT) for its receiver operation status and performance, especially for restrictive standards like IEEE 802.11ax, which requires accurate TX power and RSSI calibration, and are complicated by varying calibration methods across different chipsets.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves sending a tester data packet signal with a trigger frame and desired received signal strength to the DUT, allowing the DUT to calculate its transmit power and compare it to the intended power, minimizing signal interactions and enabling efficient extraction of RSSI measurements through successive repetitions of data packet signals and power comparisons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If querying the DUT for RSSI measurement is used to test reception performance, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to additional test time for query and reply packet exchanges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using the DUT's transmit power information as a proxy indicator for reception performance. Instead of directly querying the DUT for RSSI measurements, the system infers reception quality from the DUT's transmit power characteristics, eliminating the need for time-consuming query-reply exchanges while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The DUT is leveraged to provide its own transmit power information that can be used to assess reception performance. By having the DUT self-report its transmit power characteristics, the system obtains reception performance data without requiring external querying, thus reducing test time while maintaining measurement precision
2Device complexity
If calibration methods are standardized across different chipsets to simplify development software, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability decreases due to varying calibration requirements among chipset manufacturers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal testing approach that works across different chipset manufacturers and calibration methods. By focusing on measuring transmit power characteristics that are common to all DUTs rather than implementing chipset-specific calibration procedures, the system achieves broad compatibility while maintaining testing effectiveness across diverse hardware platforms
Solution Approach 2:
The system adapts to different calibration methods by measuring and comparing transmit power parameters across multiple test conditions. Rather than requiring standardized calibration procedures, the patent adjusts its measurement parameters and analysis methods to accommodate varying calibration approaches, thereby maintaining both simplicity and adaptability
3Measurement precision
If multiple signal interactions between tester and DUT are used to extract RSSI measurements, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity decreases due to increased test time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential information needed for RSSI measurement inference from a single DUT transmit signal. By extracting transmit power characteristics from the DUT's uplink signal without requiring multiple back-and-forth interactions, the system achieves the necessary measurement precision while significantly improving testing efficiency and productivity
Data Source
AI summary
System and method of testing performance of a data packet signal transceiver (DUT). Multiple DUT signals, with each having a respective DUT transmit power (RDTPn) received by the tester and corresponding to one (IDTPn) of multiple intended DUT transmit powers, for n=1, . . . , m, with a power equal to a minimum IDTP, maximum IDTP, or intermediate IDTP therebetween. Following association of each RDTPn with its IDTPn, a tester signal is sent having a trigger frame and tester transmit output power (TTOP). The trigger frame includes data corresponding to a reported tester transmit power (RTTP), and a desired signal strength (TRSS) of a DUT data packet signal to be received by the tester. A return DUT signal having a RDTPn is received, from which an IDTPn corresponding to the RDTPn is determined and compared to RTTP-TTOP+TRSS. Successive repetitions of such tester and DUT signals and IDTPn comparisons for multiple combinations of values of the TTOP, RTTP and DRSS enable testing reception performance of the DUT, including extracting RSSI measurements, with minimal signal interactions between tester and DUT.