Virtual Cable RF Testing for Wireless Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current conduction methods for testing radio frequency performance of wireless devices are inaccurate and limited, especially in 5G devices without RF connectors, leading to interference and inability to reflect actual performance due to the need for intrusive cables.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses power level reporting information to form a virtual cable between the instrument and receiver ports of a wireless device under test, allowing for accurate radio frequency performance testing without physical connections, by obtaining and inverting a propagation matrix based on reported power levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conduction cable is connected to test the radio frequency performance of a wireless device, then the test can be performed, but the cable causes interference and cannot reflect the actual performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical conduction cable system with an electromagnetic field-based wireless testing system. The virtual cable is formed through electromagnetic signal transmission and propagation matrix calculation, eliminating the need for physical cable connections and thus removing the interference caused by conduction cables while maintaining test functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual cable as an intermediary between the instrument and the device under test. This virtual cable is formed through electromagnetic signal transmission and propagation matrix calculation, serving as a non-physical connection that eliminates the interference of actual conduction cables while enabling test signal transmission.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a conduction cable is used for testing, then connection is established, but devices without RF connectors cannot be tested
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical connection requirement with an electromagnetic field-based wireless testing approach. By using propagation matrix calculation and virtual cable formation, the system can test devices without RF connectors, as no physical cable connection is needed, thus improving adaptability while simplifying operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual cable that copies the functionality of a physical conduction cable without requiring the actual physical connection. The virtual cable replicates the signal transmission and reception functions through electromagnetic fields and mathematical calculations, enabling testing of devices that lack physical RF connectors.
3Measurement precision
If a conduction cable is connected to the receiver, then performance testing is possible, but the results are inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the intrusive mechanical cable connection with a non-intrusive electromagnetic field-based measurement system. The virtual cable approach eliminates the need for physical connections that could affect device performance, thereby improving measurement precision while reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential testing function from the physical cable connection. By separating the signal transmission function from the physical medium and implementing it through electromagnetic fields and propagation matrix calculations, the system removes the intrusive cable while retaining the core testing capability, thus improving accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for testing radio frequency performance of a wireless device is provided. Power level reporting information of a device under test is obtained. A propagation matrix is obtained based on the power level reporting information. An inverse matrix is obtained based on the propagation matrix to form a virtual cable between an output port of an instrument and a receiver port of the device under test. A throughput test signal is transmitted through the virtual cable to perform a performance test on the device under test and to obtain a test result of the radio frequency performance.