Patent ID: 8228087

Claim:
A method for facilitating testing of a plurality of devices under test (DUTs) having multiple input multiple output (MIMO) radio frequency (RF) signal transmission and reception capabilities with a plurality of separate vector signal analyzers (VSAs) and a plurality of vector signal generators (VSGs), comprising: providing a plurality of controllable signal paths for controlling conveyance of a plurality of RF signals between a plurality of DUTs, a plurality of VSAs and a plurality of VSGs, wherein said providing a plurality of controllable signal paths for controlling conveyance of a plurality of RF signals between a plurality of DUTs, a plurality of VSAs and a plurality of VSGs comprises: providing a plurality of bi-directional signal combining and splitting circuits for coupling to said pluralities of VSAs and VSGs; and providing a plurality of bi-directional signal conduction control circuits for coupling between said plurality of DUTs and said plurality of bi-directional signal combining and splitting circuits; and receiving a plurality of control signals and in response thereto controlling respective ones of said plurality of controllable signal paths such that each one of a first portion of said plurality of controllable signal paths has a lower impedance to facilitate conveyance of one or more of said plurality of RF signals, and each one of a second portion of said plurality of controllable signal paths has a higher impedance to substantially prevent conveyance of another one or more of said plurality of RF signals, wherein, in accordance with said plurality of control signals, said plurality of controllable signal paths facilitate one or more of substantially simultaneous conveyance of first multiple ones of said plurality of RF signals from one of said plurality of DUTs to one of said plurality of VSAs, alternating conveyance of second multiple ones of said plurality of RF signals from another one of said plurality of DUTs to another one of said plurality of VSAs, substantially simultaneous conveyance of at least first and second ones of said plurality of RF signals from at least first and second ones of said plurality of VSGs, respectively, to each of at least first and second ones of said plurality of DUTs, alternating conveyance of said at least first and second ones of said plurality of RF signals from said at least first and second ones of said plurality of VSGs, respectively, to said each of at least first and second ones of said plurality of DUTs, and substantially simultaneous conveyance of at least first and second ones of said plurality of RF signals from one of said plurality of DUTs to at least first and second ones of said plurality of VSAs.