Methods for characterizing tunable radio-frequency elements

• US 9,214,718 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2012
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Mow, Matthew A., Biedka, Thomas E., Han, Liang, Dragone, Rocco V. Jr., Hu, Hongfei, Darnell, Dean F., Nickel, Joshua G., Schlub, Robert W., Pascolini, Mattia, Caballero, Ruben
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tung X
• Assistant Examiner(s): FREDERIKSEN, DAVID B
• Application Number:
  US13/415,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20130234741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: 324/750.01, 324/537, 324/612, 324/76.51, 324/76.19
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/32 in circuits having distributed constants , e.g. having very long conductors or involving high frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2822 of microwave or radiofrequency circuits of attenuation, gain, e.g. using network analyzers G01R27/28
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/328 between a radiating element and ground
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/12 of transmit antennas, e.g. of the amplitude or phase
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/16 Test equipment located at the transmitter

Abstract

A wireless electronic device may contain at least one antenna tuning element for use in tuning the operating frequency range of the device. The antenna tuning element may include radio-frequency switches, continuously/semi-continuously adjustable components such as tunable resistors, inductors, and capacitors, and other load circuits that provide desired impedance characteristics. A test station may be used to measure the radio-frequency characteristics associated with the tuning element. The test station may provide adjustable temperature, power, and impedance control to help emulate a true application environment for the tuning element without having to place the tuning element within an actual device during testing. The test system may include at least one signal generator and a tester for measuring harmonic distortion values and may include at least two signal generators and a tester for measuring intermodulation distortion values. During testing, the antenna tuning element may be placed in a series or shunt configuration.

Claims

1. A radio-frequency test system for testing an adjustable antenna tuning element, comprising:

a first signal generator that is configured to provide first radio-frequency signals at only a first frequency to the adjustable antenna tuning element;

a second signal generator configured to provide second radio-frequency signals at only a second frequency that is different than the first frequency to the adjustable antenna tuning element; and

a first load pull tuner coupled to the adjustable antenna tuning element;

a tester that is coupled to the adjustable antenna tuning element via a broadband radio-frequency coupler, wherein the tester is configured to obtain radio-frequency signal measurements while the first and second signal generators are providing the first and second radio-frequency signals to the adjustable antenna tuning element, and wherein the radio-frequency signal measurements obtained using the tester include intermodulation distortion measurements associated with the first radio-frequency signals at the first frequency and the second radio-frequency signals at the second frequency; and

a notch filter interposed between the tester and the broadband radio-frequency coupler, wherein the notch filter is configured to attenuate radio-frequency signals at the first frequency.

2. The radio-frequency test system defined in claim 1, wherein the adjustable antenna tuning element includes first and second terminals, wherein the first signal generator is coupled to the first terminal of the adjustable antenna tuning element, and wherein the second signal generator is coupled to the second terminal of the adjustable antenna tuning element.

3. The radio-frequency test system defined in claim 1, wherein the adjustable antenna tuning element includes first and second terminals, wherein the first and second signal generators are coupled to the first terminal of the adjustable antenna tuning element.

4. The radio-frequency test system defined in claim 1, wherein the adjustable antenna tuning element includes first and second terminals, wherein the first load pull tuner is coupled to the first terminal of the adjustable antenna tuning element, the test system further comprising:

at least a second load pull tuner that is coupled to the second terminal of the adjustable antenna tuning element; and

a test host configured to control the first and second load pull tuners for emulating performance of the adjustable antenna tuning element in a tunable wireless electronic device antenna.

5. The radio-frequency test system defined in claim 1, further comprising:

first and second band-pass filters interposed between the notch filter and the tester, wherein the first band-pass filter is configured to pass through only radio-frequency signals at a second order intermodulation frequency, and wherein the second band-pass filter is configured to pass through only radio-frequency signals at a third order intermodulation frequency.