Wireless Test Station for Wireless Device Calibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional test stations for wireless devices require physical connections, limiting their versatility and efficiency, as they need to be specifically designed for each device type, leading to high setup and maintenance costs and wear and tear, especially when dealing with MIMO devices and the creation of 'just good enough' or 'just bad enough' gold units for calibration.

Innovation Solution

A test station system that uses a signal generator, calibrator antenna, and signal analyzer to wirelessly transmit and receive calibration signals, reducing the need for physical connections and allowing for the emulation of various device standards, enabling efficient calibration and verification without the need for dedicated gold units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional test stations use physical connections and fixtures to hold DUT, then testing can be performed, but the test station must be specifically designed for each device type, increasing device complexity and setup time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting accuracyVSAvoidtest station configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The test station uses a wireless communication interface that can test multiple device types without requiring physical reconfiguration. The system employs a universal test algorithm that adapts to different wireless devices through software configuration rather than hardware changes, allowing the same test station to handle various DUT types including MIMO devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical physical connections with wireless communication. Instead of using probes and fixtures to physically connect to the DUT, the system uses wireless signal transmission and reception to perform tests, eliminating the need for mechanical interfaces and their associated alignment and positioning requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If physical connections are used between test station and DUT, then testing can be performed, but wear and tear occurs on both the test station and DUT

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting capabilityVSAvoidequipment lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If conventional test stations require precise positioning of DUT using mechanical guides, then accurate testing can be performed, but setup time and effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting accuracyVSAvoidsetup time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical positioning guides with wireless signal-based positioning. The system determines device position and orientation through wireless signal characteristics, eliminating the need for mechanical alignment and reducing setup time while maintaining measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Measurement precision

If multiple GUs of varying standards are created for calibration verification, then calibration accuracy improves, but the difficulty of creating and maintaining GUs increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecalibration verification accuracyVSAvoidGU creation and maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses wireless signal emulation to create virtual representations of different device standards without requiring physical gold units. The test station can simulate various device characteristics and performance levels through software, eliminating the need to manufacture and maintain multiple physical GUs with different performance standards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach reduces setup time and costs, minimizes wear on equipment, and allows for precise calibration of wireless devices across different standards, enhancing the efficiency and flexibility of the testing process.

Implementation Method 1

a wireless path from the calibrator antenna to the receiving antenna

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a conducted path from the scanner antenna to the signal analyzer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic energy detection: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS9316714B2Test station for wireless devices and methods for calibration thereof

Publication Date: 2016.04.19 ETHER CAPITAL CORP

AI summary

A test station for wireless devices and methods for calibration thereof. The test station includes a signal generator, a calibrator, a scanner having receiving and transmitting antennas, a signal analyzer, and a computer. Under the direction of the computer, the signal generator generates a calibration signal in accordance with a programmable calibration signal script. The calibrator may be used to emulate either a wireless device in transmit mode by transmitting the calibration signal to the scanner for analysis by the signal analyzer, or a wireless device in receive mode by receiving the calibration signal from the scanner for analysis by the signal analyzer. The behavior of the test station is calibrated by correlating signal parameters of the calibration signal as specified by the calibration signal script and as measured at the signal analyzer.