Abstract:
A test signal interface and method for allowing sharing of multiple test signal generators among multiple devices under test (DUTs). Digital baseband test signals generated by the multiple test signal generators are combined and converted to a baseband analog signal for conversion to a radio frequency (RF) signal for testing the multiple DUTs.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a system and method for testing multiple radio frequency (RF) signal receivers, and in particular, to testing multiple RF signal receivers with a shared RF signal generator. 
         [0003]    2. Related Art 
         [0004]    Manufacturing test of receive-only RF signal systems, e.g., global position satellite (GPS) signal receivers, is often implemented by using a single RF signal source to be shared among multiple devices under test (DUTs). Generally, this is easily done, as the signal source typically need only provide a continuous signal, plus this has the advantage of reduced costs. 
         [0005]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , such a test implementation uses a common RF signal source  12  which receives one or more control signals  11  in accordance with which an output signal  13  is provided. This signal  13  is provided to a 1:N, e.g., 1:4, power splitter  14  which divides this signal  13  (in signal power) among its multiple output signals  15   a ,  15   b ,  15   c ,  15   d , each of which serves as the test signal for a respective DUT  16   a ,  16   b ,  16   c ,  16   d . As will be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, such power splitters  14  are well known in the art and can be implemented with virtually any number of output signal ports, or alternatively, by cascading multiple power splitters having fewer signal ports such that the output port of an upstream power splitter provides the signal for the input port of a downstream power splitter, in accordance with well-known techniques. Accordingly, virtually any number of DUTs  16  can be tested using a single RF signal source  12 . 
         [0006]    However, particularly as an increasing number of DUTs  16  is to be tested, this type of test implementation has a number of problems relating to mutual power differences among the different signals  15  feeding the DUTs  16 . In other words, ensuring that each DUT  16  receive its signal with the same power as each other DUT is not trivial. For example, the power splitter  14  will not provide each of the signals  15  at the same power level due to differences among the power divisions being accomplished within the power splitter  14  to its output signal ports  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c ,  14   d . Additionally, manufacturing tolerances and different lengths of the cables providing the test signals  15  will introduce further power differences among the signals  15 . Hence, in order to ensure equal signal levels at the DUTs  16 , adjustable signal attenuators (not shown) would need to be used and controlled externally. This adds to system costs and complicates the testing due to the external control required, as well as the calibration of each signal path (e.g., cable plus attenuator). Further, if each attenuator is not perfectly matched, i.e., in terms of the characteristic signal impedance, signal reflections can cause further differences among the power levels of the signals  15 . 
         [0007]    In the case of testing GPS signal receivers, the signal source  12  would normally be a single channel GPS signal generator. Often, it is only desired to test the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of each DUT  16 , thereby effectively testing the noise figure of the receiver. (If a multi-channel GPS signal generator is used, with multiple signal carriers provided, the carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR) would be tested.) If the noise figure is sufficiently low and the DUT  16  can see a satellite signal at a given SNR (or CNR), it is the digital signal processing that ensures signal locking with the satellites. Since the digital signal processing is tested by the supplier of the signal processing chip (and should, therefore, be assumed to be operating properly), this is often sufficient. 
         [0008]    On the other hand, if it is desired to test GPS location lock, an antenna located on the roof of the testing facility can be used to receive and convey actual GPS signals to the DUTs  16 . However, as the GPS signals received in this manner will vary, e.g., with weather conditions, this cannot be considered a reliable signal source for testing noise figure, since the input signal level for a given satellite signal is not well defined. Accordingly, this is generally useful only as a test of the ability to determine geographic location, i.e., obtain satellite lock. 
         [0009]    Alternatively, multi-channel GPS signal generators (e.g., four channels or more) can be used provide an accurate signal to which the DUTs  16  can lock. Conventional multi-channel GPS signal generators, however, are more expensive than single-channel generators, thereby limiting their use to more expensive manufacturing requirements where repeatable locking to GPS signals must be tested. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    In accordance with the presently claimed invention, a test signal interface and method are provided for allowing sharing of multiple test signal generators among multiple devices under test (DUTs). Digital baseband test signals generated by the multiple test signal generators are combined and converted to a baseband analog signal for conversion to a radio frequency (RF) signal for testing the multiple DUTs. 
         [0011]    In accordance with one embodiment of the presently claimed invention, a radio frequency (RF) signal generator for providing a test signal to be used in testing a plurality of RF signal receivers includes: 
         [0012]    signal generator circuitry responsive to a first plurality of digital baseband signals and a plurality of digital gain control signals by providing an analog baseband signal corresponding to a combination of the first plurality of digital baseband signals; and 
         [0013]    frequency conversion circuitry coupled to the signal generator circuitry and responsive to the analog baseband signal by providing a RF signal corresponding to the combination of the first plurality of digital baseband signals. 
         [0014]    In accordance with another embodiment of the presently claimed invention, an analog data signal generator for providing a test data signal to be used in testing a plurality of data signal receivers includes: 
         [0015]    a plurality of digital signal generator circuits responsive to a plurality of digital code signals by providing a first plurality of digital baseband signals; 
         [0016]    a plurality of digital gain control circuits coupled to the plurality of digital signal generator circuits and responsive to the first plurality of digital baseband signals and a plurality of digital gain control signals by providing a second plurality of digital baseband signals, wherein ratios of respective related ones of the first and second pluralities of digital baseband signals correspond to respective ones of the plurality of digital gain control signals; 
         [0017]    digital signal combining circuitry coupled to the plurality of digital gain control circuits and responsive to the second plurality of digital baseband signals by providing a digital combination signal related to the second plurality of digital baseband signals; and 
         [0018]    digital-to-analog conversion (DAC) circuitry coupled to the digital signal combining circuitry and responsive to the digital combination signal by providing an analog baseband signal related to a combination of the digital code signals. 
         [0019]    In accordance with another embodiment of the presently claimed invention, a method for providing a test data signal for testing a plurality of data signal receivers includes: 
         [0020]    receiving a first plurality of digital codes and in response thereto providing a first plurality of digital baseband signals each of which is related to a respective one of the first plurality of digital codes; 
         [0021]    receiving the first plurality of digital baseband signals and a plurality of digital gain control signals and in response thereto providing a second plurality of digital baseband signals, wherein ratios of respective related ones of the first and second pluralities of digital baseband signals correspond to respective ones of the plurality of digital gain control signals; 
         [0022]    combining the second plurality of digital baseband signals to provide a digital combination signal related to the second plurality of digital baseband signals; and 
         [0023]    converting the digital combination signal to one or more RF signals, wherein each of the one or more RF signals includes a plurality of RF signal components related to the first plurality of digital codes; 
         [0024]    converting, with each one of a plurality of data signal receivers, a respective one of the one or more RF signals to a respective one of one or more converted digital baseband signals related to the digital combination signal; and 
         [0025]    decoding, with each one of a plurality of data signal receivers, a respective one of the one or more converted digital baseband signals to retrieve a respective one of the first plurality of digital codes. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a conventional testing system for testing multiple DUTs with a single RF signal source. 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a test system using a shared RF signal generator for providing a test signal for multiple DUTs in accordance with one embodiment of the presently claimed invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is a table of exemplary signal power levels and signal path attenuation values for the test system of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a test system using a test signal source for testing multiple DUTs in accordance with one embodiment of the presently claimed invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the digital signal generators of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the DUTs of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a receiver within a DUT. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]    The following detailed description is of example embodiments of the presently claimed invention with references to the accompanying drawings. Such description is intended to be illustrative and not limiting with respect to the scope of the present invention. Such embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the subject invention, and it will be understood that other embodiments may be practiced with some variations without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject invention. 
         [0034]    Throughout the present disclosure, absent a clear indication to the contrary from the context, it will be understood that individual circuit elements as described may be singular or plural in number. For example, the terms “circuit” and “circuitry” may include either a single component or a plurality of components, which are either active and/or passive and are connected or otherwise coupled together (e.g., as one or more integrated circuit chips) to provide the described function. Additionally, the term “signal” may refer to one or more currents, one or more voltages, or a data signal. Within the drawings, like or related elements will have like or related alpha, numeric or alphanumeric designators. Further, while the present invention has been discussed in the context of implementations using discrete electronic circuitry (preferably in the form of one or more integrated circuit chips), the functions of any part of such circuitry may alternatively be implemented using one or more appropriately programmed processors, depending upon the signal frequencies or data rates to be processed. 
         [0035]    A typical GPS signal receiver receives a combined signal containing the power and data for all satellites that are “visible” to the receiver, and can identify each individual satellite and its timing and power (i.e., CNR) based on the different codes used by each satellite in the system. Multi-channel GPS signal generators are typically capable of individually controlling the power level of each simulated satellite signal with high accuracy, e.g., with 0.1 dB power resolution. Since each signal is originates from a single baseband signal and all such baseband signals are then combined into a composite signal (with all satellite signals included) which is up-converted in frequency, the relative power levels of the individual satellite signals can be very accurate, since they are controlled in the digital domain. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a test system for using an RF signal generator to provide a test signal for testing multiple DUTs in accordance with one embodiment of the presently claimed invention includes a test signal source  102  containing multiple digital code sources  104  (e.g., GPS signal codes), multiple digital signal generators  106  (e.g., GPS signal generators), multiple signal gain control circuits  108 , multiple gain control signal sources  110 , signal combining circuitry  112  and digital-to-analog conversion (DAC) circuitry  114 , all interconnected substantially as shown (with “multiple” being four for purposes of this example). Each digital signal generator  106   a ,  106   b ,  106   c ,  106   d , in accordance with its respective digital code signal  105   a ,  105   b ,  105   c ,  105   d  from its digital code source  104   a ,  104   b ,  104   c ,  104   d , provides a respective digital baseband signal  107   a ,  107   b ,  107   c ,  107   d . Each of these signals,  107   a ,  107   b ,  107   c ,  107   d  has its signal level (e.g., power) set by its respective gain control circuit  108   a ,  108   b ,  108   c ,  108   d  in accordance with a respective gain control signal  111   a ,  111   b ,  111   c ,  111   d  from its associated gain control signal source  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c ,  110   d . The resulting corresponding gain-controlled signals  109   a ,  109   b ,  109   c ,  109   d  are combined (e.g., summed) in the signal combining circuitry  112 . The resulting combined signal  113  is converted by the DAC  114  to a corresponding analog signal  115 . 
         [0037]    This analog signal  115  is up-converted in frequency in a signal mixer  116  driven by a RF signal  119  provided by a local oscillator (e.g., voltage-controlled oscillator)  118 . (In accordance with well known techniques, the mixer  116  can be a quadrature signal mixer in which the analog baseband signal  115  is mixed with quadrature oscillator signals  119  from the local oscillator  118 , although other well known frequency up-conversion techniques can be used as well.) The resulting modulated RF signal  117  is amplified with amplifier circuitry  120  which can have a signal gain controlled in accordance with one or more gain control signals  121   a  to produce a gain-controlled RF signal  121   b . This RF signal  121   b  can be provided to a power splitter  122  which provides multiple substantially equal (in power) RF signals  123   a , . . . ,  123   n  suitable for testing multiple DUTs  16  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0038]    With such a test signal generator  102 , when used as a GPS signal test source, it is possible to control each individual satellite signal power in the digital domain. With the signal power from this multi-channel signal generator  102  split among multiple test signals  123   a , each individual DUT can look for a different satellite signal, each of which can have its relative power individually controlled. This allows each satellite signal to be received by a specific DUT to have the desired signal power. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , if the signal generator  102  is to be shared among four DUTs, the gain-controlled signals  109   a ,  109   b ,  109   c ,  109   d  can be individually controlled in power to ensure that each corresponding signal component within the RF test signals  123  has the appropriate power level to compensate for differences in signal path losses. For example, if DUT  1 , DUT  2 , DUT  3  and DUT  4  have signal path losses of 7.0, 7.5, 8.0 and 7.5 dB, respectively, and it is desired that each DUT receive a signal power of −145.0 dBm, then the gain control signals  111   a ,  111   b ,  111   c ,  111   d  can be set to establish the power levels of the gain-controlled signals,  109   a ,  109   b ,  109   c ,  109   d  such that their respective signal components within the RF test signals  123  have power levels of −138.0, −137.5, −137.0 and −137.5 dBm, respectively. 
         [0040]    As will be readily appreciated, this allows the power of the individual test signals  109   a ,  109   b ,  109   c ,  109   d  to be set at levels providing compensation for different losses within the various signal paths to the individual DUTs. Hence, one need only determine the individual signal path loss to each DUT to determine the necessary adjustment, e.g., via the gain control signals  111   a ,  111   b ,  111   c ,  111   d , for each individual source signal  109   a ,  109   b ,  109   c ,  109   d.    
         [0041]    Further, if the data signal sources  104  provide true satellite data and location information, it will be possible to perform lock tests on each DUT. While lock time may vary among the different DUTs due to slightly different power levels seen by each DUT, and may take longer than simple SNR testing, such testing can be performed in parallel as part of the same test. Additionally, since satellites are not truly stationary during actual use, individual clock signals or clock signal controls (to emulate satellite movements, e.g., by skipping clock cycles or introducing signal delays for selected clock signals) for the various data signal sources  104  and digital signal generators  106  would be needed for accurate testing of actual lock capabilities of the DUTs. However, if it is only necessary to test for individual satellite signals, which can be stationary in the sense that they are not tested relative to other satellite signals, a single system clock can be used. 
         [0042]    Alternatively, notwithstanding what is generally a nominally equal power splitting provided by the power splitter  122 , it is possible to test the DUTs at different relative signal powers. As discussed above, once the signal path losses are known for each DUT, the gain control circuits  108  can be controlled such that each individual gain-controlled signal  109   a ,  109   b ,  109   c ,  109   d  has a different signal power relative to the others. With dynamic control of the gain control signals  111   a ,  111   b ,  111   c ,  111   d , multiple measurements can be made within each DUT for each of the GPS signal components, from which the data from each GPS signal can be measured and interpolated to determine an estimated CNR at a given input signal level. Further alternatively, with the different GPS signals at different power levels, it can be determined which of the GPS signals can be received and which cannot be received, thereby allowing the SNR to be measured for some signals but not for others, thereby providing for an estimation of the receiver noise figure. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , testing multiple DUTs with a test signal source in accordance with one embodiment of the presently acclaimed invention can be achieved as described hereinbelow. The test signal source  102  can be provided its digital code signal  105  and its gain control signal  111  from a controller  200  (e.g., one or more personal computers programmed to provide the requisite codes, data, control signals and timing signals as discussed herein). The resulting analog signal  115 , as discussed above, is frequency up-converted in a mixer  116  driven by the local oscillator signal  119 . The local oscillator  118  can also receive one or more control signals  201  from the controller  200 . The resulting modulated RF signal  117  is amplified by the amplifier circuitry  120  in accordance with its one or more gain control signals  121   a  (also received from the controller  200 ) to produce the RF signal  121   b  to be distributed via the power splitter  122 . 
         [0044]    Each distributed signal  123   a , . . . ,  123   n  is received by a respective DUT  16   a , . . . ,  16   n , each of which is controlled by one or more respective control signals  223   a , . . . ,  223   n  from the controller  200 . In accordance with these control signals  223   a , . . . ,  223   n  (discussed in more detail below), each DUT  16   a , . . . ,  16   n  provides a respective recovered data signal  17   a , . . . ,  17   n  containing the original transmitted information, e.g. GPS signal information. 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the digital signal generators  106  can be implemented for operation as shown. The transmitted signal information, e.g., GPS data  205   a , modulates the digital code  105   a  (e.g., a pseudo-random code in accordance with well known techniques), thereby producing an encoded signal  107   a  for transmission. As discussed above, this signal  107   a , along with the remaining encoded signals  107   b ,  107   c , . . . , following level setting in accordance with the gain control signals  111  ( FIG. 2 ), are combined and converted to the analog signal  115 . 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , each of the DUTs  16  can be implemented to include (among other elements or devices for performing additional functions) a signal mixer  212 , a local RF signal source  214 , an analog-to-digital converter (ADC)  216 , multiple receiver circuits  218   a , . . . ,  218   m , and an output signal router (e.g., multiplexor)  220 , interconnected substantially as shown. The incoming RF signal  123   a  is frequency down-converted in the mixer  212  using the RF signal  215  from the local source  214 . The resulting analog baseband signal  213  is converted by the ADC  216  to a digital signal  217  which is for reception and processing by each of the receiver circuits  218   a , . . . ,  218   m  (discussed in more detail below). The resulting recovered data signals  219   a ,  219   m  are routed (e.g., multiplexed) by the signal router  220  to provide the output data signal  17   a . The control signals  223   a  from the controller ( FIG. 4 ) includes respective control signals  223   aa , . . . ,  223   am ,  223   az  for controlling the individual receiver circuits  218   a , . . . ,  218   m  and signal router  220 . 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , an exemplary embodiment of the receiver circuits  218   a , . . . ,  218   m  includes a phase-lock-loop (PLL)  236 , code lock circuitry  238 , and a signal correlator  240 , interconnected substantially as shown. The incoming digital signal  217  from the ADC  216  ( FIG. 6 ) drives the PLL circuit  236  which serves as a clock, or code, recovery circuit to produce a recovered code signal  237   c  corresponding to the original digital code  105   a , and a recovered data signal  237   d  corresponding to the original data signal  205   a  ( FIG. 5 ). The code lock circuitry  238 , in accordance with control data  223   aa , uses the recovered code signal  237   c  to phase lock its expected digital code  223   aa . The resulting phase-locked expected code signal  239  is correlated with the recovered data signal  237   d  in accordance with well known techniques to produce the recovered data  219   a  ( FIG. 6 ). 
         [0048]    As will be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, although the presently claimed invention has been described primarily in the context of GPS signal testing, other signal broadcast systems combining multiple streams of information in a single signal can also be tested in accordance with the system and techniques described herein by controlling the power of each individual data stream and measuring the bit error rate (BER) for each data stream. 
         [0049]    Various other modifications and alternations in the structure and method of operation of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the present invention and that structures and methods within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby.