Systems and methods for over-the-air testing of wireless systems

• US 8,326,229 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2010
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ETS-Lindgren LP (ESCO Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ETS-Lindgren LP (ESCO Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Foegelle, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Tuan
• Application Number:
  US12/731,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20100216409A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 455/67.11, 455/67.14, 455/67.16, 455/115.1, 455/115.2, 455/226.1, 455/226.2, 455/226.3, 324/637, 324/639, 324/633, 324/627, 324/663, 324/613, 324/636, 324/202, 324/204, 324/224, 324/261, 324/262
• US Class Current: 455/67.11
• 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 test apparatus for testing a wireless device in a multi-path environment, the test apparatus comprising:

a first partially lined reverberation chamber comprising surfaces that are lined with absorber and comprising reflecting surfaces that are not lined with absorber;

within the first partially lined reverberation chamber, at least a first rotatable obstacle that when rotated varies a multi-path effect of the test apparatus;

a second chamber coupled to the first partially lined reverberation chamber by a plurality of propagation path corridors; and

a third chamber coupled to the first partially lined reverberation chamber by a plurality of propagation path corridors.

2. The test apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotatable obstacle is at least partially reflecting.

3. The test apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotatable obstacle is at least partially covered with absorber.

4. The test apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second rotatable obstacle that when rotated varies a multi-path effect of the chamber.

5. The test apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second chamber exhibits a rotating absorbing baffle.

6. Test apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second chamber is adapted to hold a device under test and the third chamber is adapted to hold one or more antennas.

7. A method of testing a wireless device in a multipath environment, the method comprising:

providing a first partially lined reverberation chamber that includes surfaces that are lined with absorber and reflecting surfaces that are not fined with absorber;

providing a rotatable obstacle within the first partially aligned reverberation chamber that when rotated varies the variable multipath environment to simulate a variable multipath environment;

providing a second chamber coupled to the first partially lined reverberation chamber by a plurality of propagation path corridors; and

providing a third chamber coupled to the first partially lined reverberation chamber by a plurality of propagation path corridors.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising selectively lining, between tests, surfaces of the first partially line reverberation chamber to achieve a desired multipath effect.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising rotating the rotatable obstacle to achieve a desired multipath effect.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising rotating the rotatable obstacle to achieve a desired multipath effect.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing an additional one or more rotating obstacles.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the rotating obstacles exhibits a reflecting surface.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the rotating obstacle exhibits a corner.

14. A test structure, comprising:

a first partially lined reverberation chamber having at least one rotatable obstacle;

a second chamber adapted to hold a device under test, the second chamber coupled to the first partially lined reverberation chamber by a first set of propagation path corridors; and

a third chamber adapted to hold at least one antenna, the third chamber coupled to the first partially lined reverberation chamber by a second set of propagation path corridors.

15. The test structure of claim 14, wherein the first partially lined reverberation chamber has a plurality of rotatable obstacles.

16. The test structure of claim 15, wherein a plurality of rotatable obstacles are positioned to achieve a desired multi-path effect.

17. The test structure of claim 14, wherein the first set of propagation path corridors is a plurality of waveguides of different electrical lengths.

18. The test structure of claim 14, wherein the second chamber is a partially lined reverberation chamber.

19. The test structure of claim 14, wherein the third chamber is a partially lined reverberation chamber.