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

• US 9,179,340 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2014
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• 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:
  US14/161,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20140134957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 649 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, 455/67.12, 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: 1/1
• 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 chambers configured to contain devices to be tested. The chambers are connected by separately bounded propagation path corridors.

Claims

1. A method of testing a device, the method comprising:

placing a first device within a first chamber that is at least partially lined with absorber;

placing a second device within a second chamber that is at least partially lined with absorber; and

coupling the first and second chambers by a plurality of separately bounded propagation path corridors, the plurality of separately bounded propagation path corridors being designed to simulate propagation paths of different predetermined lengths.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing, between tests, one of adding and subtracting absorber lining of surfaces of at least one of the first and second chambers to vary a multipath environment of the device under test.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein different ones of the plurality of separately bounded propagation path corridors are selected for each of a plurality of successive tests.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a first propagation path corridor is a first waveguide of a first length and a second propagation path corridor is a second waveguide of a second length.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of separately bounded propagation path corridors are situated in parallel.

5. A test chamber for testing a device via electromagnetic waves, the test chamber comprising:

a first chamber;

a second chamber; and

a plurality of separately bounded propagation path corridors connecting the first and second chamber, the plurality of separately bounded propagation path corridors being designed to simulate propagation paths of different predetermined lengths.

6. The test chamber of claim 5, wherein a first propagation path corridor includes a coaxial cable of a first length a second propagation path corridor includes a coaxial cable of a second length.

7. The test chamber of claim 5, wherein the first chamber is partially lined with absorber.

8. The test chamber of claim 5, wherein electrical lengths of the plurality of propagation path corridors are selected to achieve a desired multipath environment within the test chamber.

14. The test chamber of claim 5, wherein the plurality of separately bounded propagation path corridors are situated in parallel.

15. The test chamber of claim 5, wherein a first propagation path corridor includes a first waveguide of a first length and a second propagation path corridor includes a second waveguide of a second length.

16. The test chamber of claim 15, wherein the first length is different from the second length.

17. The test chamber of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first and second waveguides is terminated with a horn antenna.

18. The test chamber of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first and second waveguides includes at least one of a branch and a shorted stub to create standing wave reflections of a desired periodicity.

9. A test chamber for testing a communication device, the communication device having at least one antenna for one of receiving and transmitting electromagnetic signals, the test chamber including:

a first chamber, a second chamber and a third chamber, the first chamber configured to receive the communication device and connected to the second and third chamber via first and second separately bounded propagation path corridors, respectively, the first and second separately bounded propagation path corridors being designed to simulate propagation paths of different predetermined lengths.

10. The test chamber of claim 9, wherein the third chamber is partially lined with absorber material.

11. The test chamber of claim 10, wherein the third chamber includes at least one rotating paddle wheel.

12. The test chamber of claim 9, wherein a first separately bounded propagation path corridor connects the first chamber to the second chamber, and a second separately bounded propagation path corridor connects the second chamber to the third chamber.

19. The test chamber of claim 9, further comprising a second separately bounded propagation path corridor situated in parallel with the first separately bounded propagation path corridor.