Method for downlink power tests, test system as well as test setup

• US 10,461,869 B1
• Filed: 02/14/2019
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2019
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Cardalda-Garcia, Adrian, Karajani, Bledar
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Tuan A
• Application Number:
  US16/276,147
• Time in Patent Office: 257 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/0085 using test signal generators
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/143 Downlink power control

Abstract

A method for downlink power tests of a device under test comprising: generating a downlink signal with a predefined downlink power level in a quiet zone at the device under test; measuring a first absolute power level received by the device under test; determining whether the measured first power level lies within a predefined first range; repeatedly measuring subsequent power levels received by the device under test; and determining by the control unit whether the measured subsequent power levels lie within a predefined second range around the measured first power level with respect to the current downlink power level. Further, a test system and a test setup for downlink power tests are shown.

Claims

1. A method for downlink power tests of a device under test using a test system comprising a signal generator, a control unit and a test chamber having a quiet zone, the method comprising:

arranging said device under test in said quiet zone;

generating a downlink signal with a predefined downlink power level in said quiet zone by said signal generator;

measuring in a first test phase a first absolute power level received by said device under test and transmitting said measured first power level to said control unit;

determining by said control unit whether said measured first power level lies within a predefined first range around said predefined downlink power level,

if said measured first power level lies within a predefined first range, repeatedly measuring subsequent power levels received by said device under test in a second test phase and transmitting said measured subsequent power levels to said control unit; and

determining by said control unit whether said measured subsequent power levels lie within a predefined second range around the measured first power level with respect to the current downlink power level.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first range and said second range are defined by predefined measurement accuracy requirements.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said second range is defined by baseband accuracy limits of said predefined measurement accuracy requirements.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein said first range includes a permitted antenna gain of said predefined measurement accuracy requirements.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said first range corresponds to the sum of said baseband accuracy limits and said permitted antenna gain of said predefined measurement accuracy requirements.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said measured first power level and said measured subsequent power levels are transmitted to the control unit as SS-RSRP reports.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein measuring said subsequent power levels is part of a consistency test with said downlink power level being constant.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein measuring said subsequent power levels is part of a linearity test with said downlink power level varying, wherein said second range is shifted with said varying power level correspondingly.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the downlink power level is varied in at least one of a linear manner, a non-linear manner and a stepwise manner.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said signal generator is a protocol tester.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said device under test is capable of performing and reporting downlink power measurements.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said measured first power level is discarded and said second test phase is not initiated if said measured first power level lies outside said predefined first range.

13. A test system for downlink power tests of a device under test comprising:

a signal generator, a control unit and a test chamber having a quiet zone, said device under test being arranged in said quiet zone,

wherein said signal generator is configured to generate a downlink signal with a predefined downlink power level in said quiet zone; and

wherein said control unit is configured to;

receive from said device under test in a first test phase a measured first absolute power level received by said device under test;

determine whether said measured first power level lies within a predefined first range around said predefined downlink power level;

receive in a second test phase repeatedly measured subsequent power levels from said device under test, if said measured first power level lies within a predefined first range; and

determine whether said measured subsequent power levels lie within a predefined second range around the measured first power level with respect to the current downlink power level.

14. The test system according to claim 13, wherein said signal generator is a protocol tester.

15. A test setup for downlink power tests of a device under test with a device under test and a test system comprising a signal generator, a control unit and a test chamber having a quiet zone,

wherein said device under test is arranged in said quiet zone and said device under test is capable of performing and reporting downlink power measurements;

wherein said signal generator is configured to generate a downlink signal with a predefined downlink power level in said quiet zone; and

wherein said control unit is configured to;

receive from said device under test in a first test phase a measured first absolute power level received by said device under test;

determine whether said measured first power level lies within a predefined first range around said predefined downlink power level;

receive in a second test phase repeatedly measured subsequent power levels from said device under test if said measured first power level lies within a predefined first range; and

determine whether said measured subsequent power levels lie within a predefined second range around the measured first power level with respect to the current downlink power level.

16. The test setup according to claim 15, wherein said signal generator is a protocol tester.