SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OVER-THE-AIR TESTING OF WIRELESS SYSTEMS

• US 20100216409A1
• Filed: 03/25/2010
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Foegelle
• Original Assignee: Michael Foegelle
• Inventors: Foegelle, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,326,229 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/67.120
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/04 Housings; Supporting members; Arrangements of terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 17/20 AC or DC potentiometric measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/20 of receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic

Abstract

Embodiments include systems and methods for over-the-air testing of wireless systems. Embodiments comprise separated anechoic chambers containing wireless devices. The anechoic chambers are connected by propagation path corridors.

Claims

1. A method for over-the-air testing of a wireless device, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of anechoic chambers coupled by a plurality of propagation path corridors, with a first one of the plurality of anechoic chambers adapted to house a first wireless device and a second one of the plurality of anechoic chambers adapted to house a first transmitting device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a third one of the plurality of anechoic chambers is adapted to house a second wireless device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least on propagation path corridor comprises a stub to create standing wave reflections.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of anechoic chambers comprises a rotating absorbing paddle device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the one of the plurality of anechoic chambers that comprises the rotating absorbing paddle device further comprises the first transmitting device.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the one of the plurality of anechoic chambers that comprises the rotating absorbing paddle device further comprises the first wireless device.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the one of the plurality of anechoic chambers that comprises the rotating absorbing paddle device has at least one wall that is only partially lined with absorber.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of propagation path corridors enable simulation of path lengths selected from the group consisting of 4.5 meters, 9 meters, 15 meters, 30 meters, 42 meters, 45 meters, and 75 meters.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a third one of the plurality of anechoic chambers is adapted to house a plurality of independently excitable antennas.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a fourth one of the plurality of anechoic chambers is adapted to house a second wireless device.

11. A test configuration for testing a wireless device, the test configuration comprising:

a first anechoic chamber adapted to house the wireless device;

a second anechoic chamber adapted to house a transmitting device; and

a plurality of propagation corridors to couple the first anechoic chamber and the second anechoic chamber via of a third anechoic chamber.

12. The test configuration of claim 11, wherein the third anechoic chamber is coupled to the first and second anechoic chambers by the propagation corridors, and the third anechoic chamber comprises at least one rotatable absorbing paddle and at least one wall that is only partially lined with absorber.

13. The test configuration of claim 11, wherein the transmitting device is a plurality of separately excited antennas.

14. The test configuration of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of propagation corridors couples the first anechoic chamber to the third anechoic chamber and at least a second one of the plurality of propagation corridors couples the second anechoic chamber to the third anechoic chamber.

15. The test configuration of claim 11, wherein at least one propagation corridors is a waveguide.

16. The test configuration of claim 11, wherein at least one propagation corridor is a coaxial cable.

17. The test configuration of claim 11, wherein the wireless device is mounted on a rotatable platform.

18. A test configuration, comprising:

an anechoic chamber adapted to house a wireless device having a transmitter and a receiver;

a first propagation path corridor mounted in a first position to provide a first propagation path; and

a second propagation path corridor mounted in a second position to provide a second propagation path.

19. The test configuration of claim 18, wherein the first propagation path corridor is mounted at a first wall of the anechoic chamber.

20. The test configuration of claim 19, wherein the second propagation path corridor is mounted at a second wall of the anechoic chamber.

21. A test configuration, comprising:

an anechoic chamber with a plurality of walls that are only partially lined with absorber; and

a plurality of rotating absorber paddles positioned within the anechoic chamber.

22. The test configuration of claim 21, further comprising a plurality of separately excitable antennas positioned within the anechoic chamber.