Method for calibrating a testing apparatus

• US 6,947,709 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2001
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aeroflex Incorporated (Cobham PLC)
• Original Assignee: WLI Wireless Instruments GmbH (Cobham PLC)
• Inventors: Kaindl, Rolf
• Primary Examiner(s): CRAVER, CHARLES R
• Application Number:
  US09/758,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20010008832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,712 Days
• Field of Search: 455/66.1, 455 6711- 6716, 455/67.7, 455/68, 455/556.1, 455344-346, 455/347, 455/414, 455423-425, 455/63.1, 4552261-2264
• US Class Current: 455/67.7
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/104 of other parameters, e.g. DC offset, delay or propagation times
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/11 for calibration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

A method for frequency calibration of attesting apparatus for testing or mobile terminals, such as mobile or cellular telephones, provided for operation in a mobile communication net includes testing apparatus that listens to an established communication based on a data communication between the mobile terminal and the mobile telecommunication net. Information signals underlying the communication are at least partially sampled and evaluated by the testing device. Based on this evaluation, a reference frequency unit incorporated in the testing device is calibrated. Preferably, bursts of the mobile terminal establishing the data communication are analyzed by testing apparatus as the information signals.

Claims

1. A method for frequency calibration of a testing apparatus for testing mobile terminals provided for operation in a mobile communication net, including mobile or cellular telephones, comprising:

a testing apparatus passively listening to an established communication based on a data communication between a mobile terminal and a mobile communication net, the testing apparatus at least partially sampling and evaluating the information signals underlying the communication; and

based on the evaluation, calibrating a reference frequency unit incorporated in the testing apparatus, wherein bit streams are processed as information signals and wherein calibrating the reference frequency unit includes minimizing the frequency error of the bit streams measured by the testing apparatus.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the established communication includes a data communication between the mobile terminal and a base station of the mobile communication network.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein to establish a data communication between the mobile terminal and the base station, the mobile terminal is initialized and booked onto the mobile communication net.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein, the bit streams are periodical in the time domain.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein bursts from the mobile terminal establishing the data communication are analyzed by the testing apparatus as the bit streams.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reference frequency unit is electrically calibrated.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the bursts are analyzed by the testing apparatus in an asynchronous test mode.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein, prior to the testing apparatus passively listening, the mobile terminal and the base station perform an initial synchronization.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the testing apparatus is coupled to a power splitter.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reference frequency unit is mechanically calibrated.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the testing apparatus is coupled to an antenna for passively listening to the communication between the mobile terminal and the communication net.

12. A testing apparatus for testing mobile terminals provided for operation in a mobile communication net, including mobile or cellular telephones, the testing apparatus comprising:

a reference frequency unit,

wherein the testing apparatus passively listens to an established communication based on a data communication between a mobile terminal and a mobile communication net, the testing apparatus at least partially sampling and evaluating the information signals underlying the communication,

wherein based on the evaluation, the reference frequency unit is calibrated,

wherein bit streams are processed as information signals, and

wherein calibrating the reference frequency unit includes minimizing the frequency error of the bits streams measured by the testing apparatus.

13. The testing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the reference frequency unit includes a quartz oscillators.

14. The testing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a graphic real time display device.