METHODS FOR CALIBRATION OF RADIO-FREQUENCY PATH LOSS IN RADIO-FREQUENCY TEST EQUIPMENT
First Claim
1. A method of calibrating a plurality of test stations using a control test setup apparatus, wherein each test station includes a test unit, a test fixture, and a radio-frequency cable that connects the test fixture to the test unit, the method comprising:
- with test equipment, calibrating the control test setup apparatus to obtain a set of reference power levels;
connecting the control test setup apparatus to the test fixture of a selected one of the test stations;
with the control test setup apparatus, sending radio-frequency signals at desired frequencies to the test unit of the selected one of the test stations over the radio-frequency cable;
with the test unit of the selected one of the test stations, measuring a set of test station power levels for the radio-frequency signals at the desired frequencies; and
with computing equipment, computing uplink test station error values based on the set of reference power levels and the set of test station power levels.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Calibration equipment for calibrating multiple test stations in a test system is provided. Each test station may include a test unit, a test fixture, and a radio-frequency (RF) cable that connects the test unit to the test fixture. A control test setup may be used to calibrate uplink and downlink characteristics associated with each test station (e.g., to determine path loss associated with the RF cable and test fixture and variations associated with the test unit). The control test setup may calibrate each test station at desired frequencies to generate a test station error (offset) table. The test unit of each test station may be individually configured based on the test station error table so that offset is minimized among the different stations and so that the test stations may reliably measure hundreds or thousands of wireless electronic devices during product testing.
31 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A method of calibrating a plurality of test stations using a control test setup apparatus, wherein each test station includes a test unit, a test fixture, and a radio-frequency cable that connects the test fixture to the test unit, the method comprising:
-
with test equipment, calibrating the control test setup apparatus to obtain a set of reference power levels; connecting the control test setup apparatus to the test fixture of a selected one of the test stations; with the control test setup apparatus, sending radio-frequency signals at desired frequencies to the test unit of the selected one of the test stations over the radio-frequency cable; with the test unit of the selected one of the test stations, measuring a set of test station power levels for the radio-frequency signals at the desired frequencies; and with computing equipment, computing uplink test station error values based on the set of reference power levels and the set of test station power levels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method of calibrating a plurality of test stations using a control test setup apparatus, wherein each test station includes a test unit, a test fixture, and a radio-frequency cable that connects the test fixture to the test unit, the method comprising:
-
with test equipment, calibrating the control test setup apparatus to obtain a set of control test setup path loss power levels; connecting the control test setup apparatus to the test fixture of a selected one of the test stations; with the test unit of the selected one of the test stations, sending radio-frequency signals at desired frequencies and at a requested power level to the control test setup apparatus over the radio-frequency cable; with the control test setup, measuring a set of power meter power levels for the radio-frequency signals at the desired frequencies; and with computing equipment, computing downlink test station error values based on the set of control test setup path loss power levels, the set of power meter power levels, and the requested power level. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method of calibrating a test station with calibration equipment, wherein the test station includes a test unit, a test fixture, and a radio-frequency connector that connects the test fixture to the test unit, wherein the test fixture has a radio-frequency connector configured to mate with a radio-frequency port in a device under test during testing, and wherein the calibration equipment includes a calibration plate with first and second ports, the method comprising:
-
with a power meter connected to the second port of the calibration plate, measuring a reference power level of reference radio-frequency signals supplied at the second port of the calibration plate to produce calibrated reference radio-frequency signals; and with the second port connected to the radio-frequency connector of the test fixture, measuring an uplink path loss associated with the test station by applying the calibrated reference radio-frequency signals from the second port of the calibration plate to the radio-frequency connector of the test fixture. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification