UWB and BLE Antenna Testing With Cable Loss Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional antenna performance testing systems require time-consuming environmental changes and fail to accurately account for cable losses, leading to inefficiencies and inaccuracies in testing UWB and BLE antennas.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a first and second antenna within a shield box, connected to a tester, which measures and corrects for cable losses by calculating the difference between signal strengths, allowing precise measurement of UWB and BLE performance without altering the test environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the test environment is changed depending on the antenna type (BLE or UWB), then the antenna performance can be tested, but the time taken to construct the test environment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal test environment where a single antenna socket can test both BLE and UWB antennas by simply changing the test signal frequency. The test device outputs test signals at different frequencies (2.4GHz for BLE, 60GHz for UWB) and measures responses accordingly, eliminating the need for separate test environments for different antenna types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the test signal frequency parameter to accommodate different antenna types. By outputting test signals at 2.4GHz for BLE antennas and 60GHz for UWB antennas, the system maintains a fixed physical test environment while adapting to different measurement requirements through parameter adjustment alone.
2Measurement precision
If an RF cable is used to connect the antenna in the shield box to the test apparatus, then the antenna performance can be measured, but the cable loss is not incorporated leading to inaccurate measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of cable loss into a beneficial measurement parameter. By deliberately measuring the cable loss through a calibration process (measuring response when antenna socket is shorted versus when antenna is connected), the system quantifies the cable attenuation and uses this information to correct subsequent antenna performance measurements, thereby eliminating the measurement error.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary calibration measurements to determine cable loss before conducting actual antenna performance tests. The system first measures the response when the antenna socket is shorted to establish a baseline that includes cable loss, then uses this baseline to correct subsequent measurements when actual antennas are tested, ensuring accurate results.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an antenna performance test system for testing the performance of UWB and BLE antennas by reflecting a loss of a cable without changing test conditions. The disclosed antenna performance test system comprises a tester, which: responds to a first test mode setting signal so as to output, to a first antenna, a first test signal (a UWB band signal), and then generate a UWB communication performance measurement value based on a first response signal received from the first antenna and a second antenna with respect to the first test signal; and responds to a second test mode setting signal so as to output, to the first antenna, a second test signal(a BLE band signal), and then generate a BLE communication performance measurement value based on a second response signal received from the first antenna with respect to the second test signal.