Patent ID: 12216145

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings, where like numerals reference like elements, is intended as a description of various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter and is not intended to represent the only embodiments. Each embodiment described in this disclosure is provided merely as an example or illustration and should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The illustrative examples provided herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the claimed subject matter to the precise forms disclosed. All of the features disclosed hereinafter with respect to the example embodiments and/or the accompanying figures can alone or in any sub-combination be combined with features of the aspects of the present disclosure including features of preferred embodiments thereof, provided the resulting feature combination is reasonable to a person skilled in the art.

FIG.1is a schematic drawing of an anechoic chamber10for testing a device under test (DUT) over-the-air (OTA). The anechoic chamber10comprises a housing12. The housing12defines an interior volume14of the anechoic chamber10. The interior volume14comprises a testing area16of the anechoic chamber10in which the DUT is located for testing purposes.

Within the testing area16of the anechoic chamber10a reflecting surface18is arranged. The reflecting surface18is configured to variably modify in a defined/controlled manner at least one reflection process of an electromagnetic wave propagating through the interior volume14of the anechoic chamber10.

FIG.2is a schematic drawing of a system20for testing a device under test (DUT)22over-the-air. In this case the anechoic chamber10comprises a first reflecting surface18A and a second reflecting surface18B arranged within the testing area16, e.g. associated with side walls of the anechoic chamber10. Moreover, the system20comprises several transmission antenna elements24A to24C and reception antenna elements26A,26B arranged within the testing area16.

In the shown embodiment, the several transmission antenna elements24A to24C and reception antenna elements26A,26B are part of an antenna array. Alternatively, the several transmission antenna elements24A to24C and reception antenna elements26A,26B may be separately formed and located in different regions of the anechoic chamber10.

Each transmission antenna element24A to24C has a transmission stream28A to28C associated thereto. Also, each reception antenna element26A,26B has a reception stream30A,30B associated thereto.

The transmission antenna elements24A to24C are arranged according to first row while the reception antenna elements26A,26B are arranged according to the second row. Thereby, a multidimensional multiple input/multiple output (MIMO) antenna array32is established. In principle, only a single transmission antenna element24A or a single reception antenna element26A need to be present, thereby establishing a single output/multiple input (SIMO) antenna array or a multiple output/single input (MISO) antenna array. Of course, the number of antenna elements may also be different than described before. In some embodiments, the number of transmission antenna elements24A and reception antenna elements26A may also be same.

Within the present embodiment the MIMO antenna array32is shown to be separate of the DUT22. However, this is optional. The transmission antenna elements24A and the reception antenna elements26A may also be at least partially provided by the DUT22. For example, a transmission antenna element24A may be separate of the DUT22while a reception antenna element26A may be internal with regard to the DUT22or vice versa.

The transmission antenna elements24A are configured to emit an electromagnetic wave towards the DUT22in response to the transmission stream28A associated thereto. While the first electromagnetic wave34A is reflected by the first reflecting surface18A before it impinges the DUT22, a second electromagnetic wave34B directly propagates towards the DUT22.

The reflection process36of the first electromagnetic wave34A at the first reflecting surface18A amongst others depends on the reflecting properties of the first reflecting surface18A. In this regard, the first reflecting surface18A is configured to variably modify in a defined manner its reflecting properties.

To this end, the present system20comprises a processing circuit38which is coupled to the first reflecting surface18A, the second reflecting surface18B, and the MIMO antenna array32. The processing circuit38may transmit control signals, e.g. electric signals, to the first reflecting surface18A.

In response to the control signals the reflecting properties of the first reflecting surface18A may be modified “in-field”. This means that the anechoic chamber10does not need to be opened in order to alter the reflecting properties of the reflecting surface18A. Hence, no manual access to the anechoic chamber10or the first reflecting surface18A is required in this regard. The modification of the reflecting properties is achieved during the testing procedure of the DUT22, for example during an ongoing testing. Thereby, potential time delays caused by the modification of the reflecting properties are prevented.

Furthermore, an automatic test sequence can be performed that comprises several different tests/measurements with different reflecting properties of the reflecting surface18A.

Example modification includes a non-negligible reflecting coefficient is only provided with regard to the first partial surface area40A of the first reflecting surface18A. This means that the second partial surface area40B only shows a negligible reflecting coefficient. Accordingly, an electromagnetic wave34A impinging the second partial surface area40B will be substantially absorbed and not reflected by this partial surface area40B.

Moreover, the reflecting properties may also be altered such that a non-negligible reflecting coefficient is only provided for a limited reflecting angle range42. Of course, the reflecting angle depends on the incident angle of the electromagnetic wave34A. In other words, for electromagnetic waves34A impinging the first reflecting surface18A according to certain incident angles, the reflecting coefficient may be different then compared to an electromagnetic wave impinging the first reflecting surface18A at a different incident angle.

The aforementioned modifications of the reflecting properties of the reflecting surface18A may also be combined. These modifications may be achieved in response to stimulus provided by the processing circuit38which acts as a control circuit in this regard.

Therefore, tailored electromagnetic wave scenarios may be established within the testing area16of the anechoic chamber10in view of the DUT22.

The reception antenna elements26A,26B are configured to receive electromagnetic waves44A,44B propagating to the reception antenna elements26A,26B and to establish respective reception streams30A,30B associated thereto. Likewise, the received electromagnetic waves44A,44B may have been the subject of reflection processes before being received.

The present embodiment shows reflecting surfaces18A,18B being substantially flat. In other words, the reflecting surfaces18A,18B have only negligible protrusions or depressions. Moreover, the reflecting surfaces18A,18B may optionally be part of wall portions46A,46B of the anechoic chamber10which delimit the testing area16.

The second reflecting surface18B may be established in a similar manner as the first reflecting surface18A. However, the second reflecting surface18B may also comprise different surface areas or rather different properties to be modified compared with the first reflecting surface18A. Hence, the different reflecting surfaces18A,18B may be used for different testing purposes as they are enabled to modify the properties in a different manner.

FIG.3is a schematic drawing of a system20for testing a DUT22over-the-air according to another embodiment. This embodiment substantially corresponds to the embodiment described hereinbefore with reference toFIG.2. Therefore, only distinguishing features are described.

Within the present embodiment, only a single reflecting surface18is provided. The reflecting surface18has a cylindrical shape48. Therefore, highly symmetric reflecting scenarios may be established, especially if the DUT22is arranged in accordance with the longitudinal extension axis of the cylindrical shape48. Consequently, evaluation of the testing procedure is simplified. Still, the reflecting surface18may be considered to be flat since it does not comprise any noticeable depressions or protrusions extending from the general curvature of the cylindrical shape48. Put differently, the reflecting surface18has only depressions and protrusions which are negligible with regard to the reflecting process36.

Still, the modification of the reflecting properties may be caused by a stimulus provided by the signal caused by the processing circuit38that may act as a control circuit.

For example, the reflecting properties may be altered in response to specific configurations of the transmission antenna elements24A or the reception antenna elements26A. In this regard, exemplarily a polarization axis50of an electromagnetic wave34A transmitted by first transmission antenna element24A may be modified to investigate the DUT22in different aspects. In response to modification of the polarization axis50, the reflecting properties of the reflecting surface18A are variably modifiable in a defined manner. Alternatively, signals with different frequencies or rather different collimations shall be used for testing purposes, which can be done by using the reflecting surfaces18A,18B for beam-steering.

FIG.4is a schematic drawing of a method52of testing a DUT22under test over-the-air. Optional steps are shown in dashed lines.

Within the first step54an anechoic chamber10is provided having a testing area16with the DUT22and at least one reflecting surface18A arranged therein. The anechoic chamber10comprises at least one transmission antenna element24A and/or at least one reception antenna element26A.

Subsequently, in step56at least one electromagnetic wave34A is emitted. Afterwards, in step58, using the at least one reflecting surface18A, at least one reflection process36of the at least one electromagnetic wave34A is variably manipulated in a defined manner. In step60the at least one electromagnetic wave34A reflected by the at least one reflecting surface18A is received.

Since the reflecting properties of the reflecting surface18A are variably manipulated in a defined manner, tailored reflecting scenarios may be provided in view of the DUT22. Consequently, the DUT22may be investigated in several desired aspects.

Optionally, step58may be further developed by partial step62, where the at least one reflecting surface18A is variably manipulated to have a non-negligible reflection coefficient within a partial surface area40A thereof.

Alternatively or cumulatively, step58may also be further developed by partial step64, where the at least one reflecting surface18A is variably manipulated to have a non-negligible reflection coefficient with regard to a limited reflection angle range42.

Embodiments of the method52may also include the optional step66of variably manipulating, using the at least one reflecting surface18A, at least one refraction process or diffraction process of the at least one electromagnetic wave34A.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein utilize circuitry (e.g., one or more circuits) in order to implement protocols, methodologies or technologies disclosed herein, operably couple two or more components, generate information, process information, analyze information, generate signals, encode/decode signals, convert signals, transmit and/or receive signals, control other devices, etc. Circuitry of any type can be used. It will be appreciated that the term “information” can be use synonymously with the term “signals” in this paragraph. It will be further appreciated that the terms “circuitry,” “circuit,” “one or more circuits,” etc., can be used synonymously herein.

In an embodiment, circuitry includes, among other things, one or more computing devices such as a processor (e.g., a microprocessor), a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a system on a chip (SoC), or the like, or any combinations thereof, and can include discrete digital or analog circuit elements or electronics, or combinations thereof.

In an embodiment, circuitry includes hardware circuit implementations (e.g., implementations in analog circuitry, implementations in digital circuitry, and the like, and combinations thereof). In an embodiment, circuitry includes combinations of circuits and computer program products having software or firmware instructions stored on one or more computer readable memories that work together to cause a device to perform one or more protocols, methodologies or technologies described herein. In an embodiment, circuitry includes circuits, such as, for example, microprocessors or portions of microprocessor, that require software, firmware, and the like for operation. In an embodiment, circuitry includes an implementation comprising one or more processors or portions thereof and accompanying software, firmware, hardware, and the like.

In some examples, the functionality described herein can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based computer systems or circuits, etc., or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions. Each of these special purpose hardware-based computer systems or circuits, etc., or combinations of special purpose hardware circuits and computer instructions form specifically configured circuits, machines, apparatus, devices, etc., capable of implemented the functionality described herein.

In the foregoing description, specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of representative embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, however, that the embodiments disclosed herein may be practiced without embodying all of the specific details. In some instances, well-known process steps have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure various aspects of the present disclosure. Further, it will be appreciated that embodiments of the present disclosure may employ any combination of features described herein.

The present application may reference quantities and numbers. Unless specifically stated, such quantities and numbers are not to be considered restrictive, but exemplary of the possible quantities or numbers associated with the present application. Also in this regard, the present application may use the term “plurality” to reference a quantity or number. In this regard, the term “plurality” is meant to be any number that is more than one, for example, two, three, four, five, etc. The terms “about,” “approximately,” “near,” etc., mean plus or minus 5% of the stated value. For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “at least one of A and B” is equivalent to “A and/or B” or vice versa, namely “A” alone, “B” alone or “A and B.”. Similarly, the phrase “at least one of A, B, and C,” for example, means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B, and C), including all further possible permutations when greater than three elements are listed.

Throughout this specification, terms of art may be used. These terms are to take on their ordinary meaning in the art from which they come, unless specifically defined herein or the context of their use would clearly suggest otherwise.

The principles, representative embodiments, and modes of operation of the present disclosure have been described in the foregoing description. However, aspects of the present disclosure which are intended to be protected are not to be construed as limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. Further, the embodiments described herein are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. It will be appreciated that variations and changes may be made by others, and equivalents employed, without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such variations, changes, and equivalents fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, as claimed.