PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8971821-B2
Application Number: US-201213681685-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Robotic wireless test system

Abstract:
A test system may include a wireless test chamber with metal walls lined with pyramidal absorbers. A trapdoor may be provided in a wall opening to accommodate a robotic arm. The robotic arm may have grippers that grip a device under test or a support structure that is supporting a device under test. The robotic arm may move the device under test to a docking station for automatic battery charging during testing. When it is desired to perform wireless tests on a device under test, the robotic arm may move the device under test through the trapdoor into an interior portion of the test chamber. A turntable and movable test antenna may be used to rotate the device under test while varying angular orientations between test antenna and device under test. Emitted radiation levels can be measured using a liquid filled phantom and test probe on a robotic arm.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wireless test system for testing radio-frequency transceiver circuitry in devices under test, comprising:
 a test chamber having an interior configured to receive the device under test; 
 at least one test antenna that is configured to wirelessly test the device under test within the test chamber; 
 a robotic system configured to position the device under test within the test chamber; 
 movable support structures that move the device under test during wireless testing with the test antenna; and 
 a docking station having a plurality of connectors, wherein each of the connectors is configured to mate with a port in the device under test. 
 
     
     
       2. The wireless test system defined in  claim 1  wherein the movable support structures comprise a turntable that rotates the device under test. 
     
     
       3. The wireless test system defined in  claim 2  where the robotic system is configured to place the device under test on the turntable. 
     
     
       4. The wireless test system defined in  claim 3  wherein the robotic system comprises a robotic arm. 
     
     
       5. The wireless test system defined in  claim 4  wherein the test chamber has a wall, the wireless test system further comprising a trapdoor that covers an opening in the wall. 
     
     
       6. The wireless test system defined in  claim 5  further comprising pyramidal absorbers on an inner surface of the wall and on the trapdoor. 
     
     
       7. The wireless test system defined in  claim 1  further comprising charging circuitry and a connector coupled to the charging circuitry, wherein the connector is configured to mate with the device under test to charge a battery in the device under test. 
     
     
       8. The wireless test system defined in  claim 7  wherein the robotic system is configured to couple the device under test to the connector. 
     
     
       9. The wireless test system defined in  claim 1  wherein the robotic system comprises arm segments and positioners that move the arm segments. 
     
     
       10. The wireless test system defined in  claim 1  further comprising a positioner that moves the test antenna during wireless testing. 
     
     
       11. The wireless test system defined in  claim 10  wherein the movable support structures comprise a turntable that supports the device under test, wherein the robotic system comprises a robotic arm with grippers that is configured to place the device under test on the turntable. 
     
     
       12. The wireless test system defined in  claim 1  further comprising a trapdoor through which the robotic system moves the device under test when moving the device under test between the docking station and the interior of the test chamber. 
     
     
       13. A method for wirelessly testing a device under test in a test chamber using a phantom body structure, comprising:
 with a robotic system, moving the device under test within the test chamber to a desired position relative to the phantom body structure; and 
 after moving the device under test with the robotic system, performing wireless testing on the device under test using test equipment. 
 
     
     
       14. The method defined in  claim 13  wherein the robotic system comprises a robotic arm, the method further comprising holding the device under test in the desired position relative to the phantom body structure with the robotic arm during the wireless testing. 
     
     
       15. The method defined in  claim 14  wherein performing the wireless testing comprises making emitted radiation level test measurements with a test probe. 
     
     
       16. The method defined in  claim 15  wherein the phantom body structure includes a phantom head filled with liquid and wherein performing the wireless testing comprises making the emitted radiation level test measurements while the test probe is in the liquid. 
     
     
       17. A method of wirelessly testing a device under test in a test chamber having a movable test antenna and a rotatable support structure, comprising:
 using a robotic system to place a device under test on the rotatable support structure; 
 positioning the test antenna using a positioner; and 
 rotating the rotatable support structure to rotate the device under test relative to the test antenna. 
 
     
     
       18. The method defined in  claim 17  further comprising using the robotic system to couple the device under test to a connector that charges a battery within the device under test. 
     
     
       19. The method defined in  claim 18  wherein the robotic system has a robotic arm and grippers and wherein using the robotic system comprises gripping the device under test with the grippers and bending the robotic arm. 
     
     
       20. A wireless test system for testing radio-frequency transceiver circuitry in devices under test, comprising:
 a test chamber having an interior configured to receive the device under test, wherein the test chamber has test chamber walls and pyramidal absorbers on the test chamber walls; 
 at least one test antenna that is configured to wirelessly test the device under test within the test chamber; 
 a dielectric support structure on which the device under test rests; and 
 a robotic system configured to move the dielectric support structure and the device under test resting on the dielectric support structure. 
 
     
     
       21. The wireless test system defined in  claim 20  wherein the robotic system comprises grippers that are configured to grip the dielectric support structure. 
     
     
       22. The wireless test system defined in  claim 21  wherein the dielectric support structure comprises a phantom head.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This relates to electronic devices and, more particularly, to systems for testing wireless electronic devices. 
     Electronic devices such as cellular telephones and other portable devices are often provided with wireless circuitry. For example, cellular telephones contain wireless radio-frequency transceiver circuitry for communicating using cellular telephones bands. Electronic devices may also contain circuitry for communicating using wireless local area network communications bands and other communications bands of interest. 
     Before devices are sold to customers, extensive wireless tests are performed. Testing allows designers to optimize antenna and wireless transceiver performance. Testing also ensures that regulatory limits on emitted radiation levels are satisfied. 
     Modern wireless electronic devices are becoming increasingly sophisticated. For example, wireless devices are being designed with the capability to operate in large numbers of frequency bands using multiple antennas. Conventional test systems can become overburdened when performing desired tests over multiple bands and antennas, leading to potential delays. 
     It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved test systems for wirelessly testing electronic devices. 
     SUMMARY 
     Devices under test may be wirelessly tested in a test system. The test system may include a wireless test chamber with metal walls lined with pyramidal absorbers. A trapdoor may be provided in an opening in a chamber wall to accommodate a robotic arm or other robotic system. 
     A robotic arm may have grippers that can grip a device under test or that can grip a phantom head or other support structure that is supporting a device under test. The robotic arm may move the device under test to a docking station for automatic battery charging during testing. When it is desired to perform wireless tests on a device under test, the robotic arm may move a device under test that is outside of the chamber through the trapdoor into an interior portion of the test chamber. The robotic arm may also move devices under test within the interior of the test chamber to facilitate testing. 
     Movable support structures such as a turntable and a test antenna positioner may be used to place a device under test in a variety of angular orientations with respect to a test antenna during testing. The robotic arm may periodically flip the device under test or may otherwise adjust the placement of the device under test on the turntable to ensure that the device under test is tested in all desired orientations. 
     Emitted radiation levels can be measured using a liquid filled phantom and test probe on a robotic arm. The test probe may be moved within the liquid filled phantom while another robotic arm moves a device under test to a variety of different positions with respect to the phantom. 
     Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an illustrative electronic device of the type that may be tested using a wireless test system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an illustrative docking station having connectors that are adapted to plug into connector ports on wireless electronic devices in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a wireless test system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram of an illustrative test chamber and associated robotic systems for performing wireless tests on wireless electronic devices in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an illustrative robotic arm of the type that may be used to move devices under test within a wireless test chamber in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a portion of an anechoic chamber wall with pyramidal absorbers for reducing reflections in a wireless test chamber in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a wireless test chamber wall in which a trapdoor covered with pyramidal anechoic chamber wall absorbers has been formed to accommodate a robotic arm in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of a two-sided trapdoor covered with pyramidal anechoic chamber wall absorbers in a wireless test chamber to accommodate a robotic arm in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a rotating wireless test chamber turntable on which a device under test is resting on an end surface in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a rotating wireless test chamber turntable on which a device under test is resting on a side surface in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a rotating wireless test chamber turntable on which a device under test is resting on a rear surface in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of a robotic wireless test chamber arm being used to position devices under test that are resting on dielectric support structures within a wireless test chamber in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a phantom head with support posts for holding a device under test in a wireless test chamber with a robotic arm in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of a wireless test system in which a robotic arm is being used to perform wireless tests on devices under test that have been mounted on respective phantom heads in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a side view of a wireless test system of the type in which specific absorption rate measurements on a device under test are being made using a robotic arm in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in using robotic test systems to perform wireless tests on devices under test in a test chamber in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Wireless testing may be performed on electronic equipment that communicates using wireless signals. The electronic equipment that is being tested may sometimes be referred to as a wireless electronic device or device under test. 
     An illustrative electronic device of the type that may be wirelessly tested is shown in  FIG. 1 . Device  10  of  FIG. 1  may be a handheld device such as a cellular telephone or media player, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, other portable computing equipment, a wearable or miniature device such as a wristwatch or pendant device, a television, a computer monitor, a computer integrated into a computer display, a set-top box, a wireless access point, a desktop computer, or other electronic equipment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , electronic device  10  may include a display such as display  14 . Display  14  may be a touch screen that incorporates a layer of conductive capacitive touch sensor electrodes or other touch sensor components or may be a display that is not touch-sensitive. Display  14  may include an array of display pixels formed from liquid crystal display (LCD) components, an array of electrophoretic display pixels, an array of electrowetting display pixels, or display pixels based on other display technologies. 
     Display  14  may be protected using a display cover layer such as a layer of transparent glass or clear plastic. Openings may be formed in the display cover layer. For example, an opening may be formed in the display cover layer to accommodate a button such as button  16  and an opening such as opening  18  may be used to form a speaker port. Device configurations without openings in display  14  may also be used for device  10 . 
     Device  10  may have a housing such as housing  12 . Housing  12 , which may sometimes be referred to as an enclosure or case, may be formed of plastic, glass, ceramics, fiber composites, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, etc.), other suitable materials, or a combination of any two or more of these materials. 
     Housing  12  may be formed using a unibody configuration in which some or all of housing  12  is machined or molded as a single structure or may be formed using multiple structures (e.g., an internal frame structure, one or more structures that form exterior housing surfaces, etc.). 
     Device  10  may have one or more connector ports such as connector port  20 . Connector port  20  may have associated contacts such as contacts  22 . Contacts  22 , which may sometimes be referred to as contact pins or pins, may be used to transmit and receive data. Device  10  may also receive power from an external source using contacts  22  and may power external accessories using contacts  22 . 
     In general, contacts  22  may include any suitable number of power contacts and data contacts. Contacts  22  may also include some contacts that are used to convey both power and data signals. The connector structures associated with port  20  may have two or more contacts  22 , three or more contacts  22 , four or more contacts  22  (e.g., a pair of power pins and a pair of differential serial data pins), five or more contacts, eight or more contacts, etc. 
     Connector port  20  may have a male connector, a female connector, or may form part of a symmetrical connector. Configurations in which connector  20  of device  10  is a female connector may sometimes be described herein as an example. This is, however, merely illustrative. Devices under test such as device  10  of  FIG. 1  may have any suitable number of connectors  20 , may have any suitable number of contacts  22  in each connector  20 , and may have connectors  20  of any suitable shape (e.g., audio jack format, data port format, Universal Serial Bus format, etc.). 
     Wireless testing may involve the transmission and reception of wireless signals in a number of different wireless communications bands of interest. The gathering of test data for all desired frequencies of interest and the testing of all antenna structures and other components within a wireless device may take a significant period of time. As a result, it may be desirable to power devices under test for hours or even days so that testing may be completed. If desired, power can be provided to devices under test using cables and cables can be used to communicate with devices under test. For example, devices under test may be tethered to cables within a test chamber. Often, however, it may be desirable to perform tests without any attached cables. If cables are attached to a device under test during testing, the cables may electromagnetically influence radio-frequency signals in the vicinity of the device under test and lead to potentially inaccurate test results. 
     In order to wirelessly test a device under test in a wireless test chamber without any attached cables, devices under test may be powered with batteries. For example, a cellular telephone or tablet computer that is being wirelessly tested may use internal battery power to operate radio-frequency transceiver circuitry within the device under test. 
     To ensure that accurate real-world test results are obtained, it is desirable to use a battery in a device under test that is identical or nearly identical to the type of battery that would be used in a production version of the device under test. Such batteries may contain sufficient power for hours of standby time or normal usage, but can become depleted when subjected to the power demands of continuous wireless testing. Accordingly, test systems may be provided with recharging capabilities. 
     To enhance testing efficiency, automated systems (sometimes referred to as robotic systems or robots) may be used to recharge devices under test. This allows devices under test to be tested over long periods of time with little or no intervention from an operator. As an example, a set of devices under test can be loaded into an automated wireless test system before a weekend. Tests may then be performed automatically over the weekend, even if the test system is unstaffed or lightly staffed with test personnel. 
     During automated testing, the batteries in the devices under test may become depleted. In a wireless test system with automated battery recharging, however, each time a battery in a device under test becomes depleted, a robot within the test system may move the device under test with the depleted battery from a test station to charging station for wireless or wired charging. For example, a robotic system may move a device under test to a docking station with connectors for supplying charging power. After the battery has been recharged in the docking station and desired data has been transferred, the robot can return the device under test to the test station for additional testing. The robot can also perform tasks such as changing the orientation of the device under test within the test system. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an illustrative docking station of the type that may be used to receive wireless devices under test in a wireless test system. As shown in  FIG. 2 , docking station  24  may include a support structure such as support structure  26 . Support structures  26  may be formed from plastic, metal, or other suitable structures. Features such as clamps, guiding rails, and other structures may be provided in docking station  24  to help a robot load devices under test into docking station  24 . 
     Docking station  24  may contain connectors such as connectors  28 . Each connector  28  may contain contacts  30 . Contacts  30  and the other parts of connectors  28  may be configured to mate with corresponding contacts in the connectors of devices under test. For example, contacts  30  of docking station connectors  28  may be configured to mate with contacts  22  of connector  20  of device under test  10  of  FIG. 1 . The number and type of contacts  30  on connectors  28  may match the number and type of contacts  22  in connector  20 . If, as an example, connector  20  is a female connector with eight contacts  22 , each connector  28  of docking station  24  may include eight corresponding contacts  30 . Docking station  24  may have any suitable number of connectors  28  (e.g., one or more, two or more, five or more, ten or more, etc.). 
     Each connector  28  in docking station  24  may have the same shape or different connectors  28  may have different configurations to accommodate different types of devices under test. If desired, docking station  24  may contain different connectors that are configured to mate with different respective ports in a device under test (e.g., a data port and a power port). The configuration of  FIG. 2  in which docking station  24  has a single type of connector is merely illustrative. 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram of an illustrative testing system that may be used in testing device under test  10 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , test system  54  may include test equipment  52  that is used in testing devices under test such as device under test  10 . Device under test  10  may include storage and processing circuitry  32 . Storage and processing circuitry  32  may include one or more processors such as microprocessors, microcontrollers, control circuits that are part of application-specific integrated circuits, audio integrated circuits, and other control circuitry. Storage and processing circuitry  32  may also include memory integrated circuits, hard disk drives, solid state drives, removable storage media, and other components for storing data. 
     Device  10  may receive power from external sources (e.g., alternating current or direct current power may be received via connector  20 ) and may use power regulator circuitry within power management circuitry  34  to provide corresponding internal power to battery  56  and the other components of device  10 . Power regulator circuitry in power management circuitry  34  may also be used to provide power from battery  56  to external accessories that are coupled to device  10  and to regulate the distribution of power to internal device components. 
     Input-output circuitry  36  may include buttons, sensors, light-emitting components such as status indicator lights, audio components such as microphones and speakers, touch screen displays, displays without touch functionality, touch pads, keyboards, and other input-output components. Wired communications circuitry  58  may include transmitter and receiver circuitry for conveying data over wired communications paths (e.g., serial and/or parallel bus data paths coupled to connector  20 , etc.). Communications circuitry  58  may, for example, include Universal Serial Bus communications circuitry that is coupled to contacts in connector  20 . 
     Wireless circuitry  38  may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  40  and antenna structures  42 . Radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  40  may include cellular telephone transceiver circuitry, wireless local area network transceiver circuitry (e.g., IEEE 802.11 circuitry), and satellite navigation system receiver circuitry (e.g., a receiver for receiving Global Positioning System signals). Wireless circuitry  38  may also include near field communications circuitry, circuitry for receiving radio signals, television signals, and paging signals, and transceiver circuitry for handling other communications bands of interest. 
     Antenna structures  42  may include one or more antennas such as inverted-F antennas, planar inverted-F antennas, patch antennas, monopole antennas, dipole antennas, loop antennas, closed and open slot antennas, antennas of other designs, and hybrid antennas that are formed from one or more antenna resonating element structures such as these. There may be one antenna in device  10 , more than one antenna in device  10 , two or more antennas in device  10 , three or more antennas in device  10 , or four or more antennas in device  10 . 
     When it is desired to charge battery  56 , a robotic system may be used to couple device  10  to a source of external power. For example, a robotic arm may pick up device under test  10  and may place device under test  10  in docking station  24 . When mounted in docking station  24 , connector  20  may mate with a corresponding one of connectors  28 . In the docket configuration, power from line source  60  or other suitable source may be provided to device  10 . In device  10 , the power that is received via connector  20  may be used by power management circuitry  34  to recharge battery  56  and to power device  10 . Data may also be conveyed between storage and processing circuitry  32  and test equipment  52  over the wired connection formed by mating connector  20  and connector  28 . For example, test results may be conveyed from device under test  10  to external equipment and test instructions may be conveyed from external equipment to device under test  10 . 
     Test equipment  52  may include one or more test antennas such as test antennas  50 . The test antennas may be organized in an array and/or may be mounted on movable equipment (e.g., a robotic system) that allows the antennas to be moved into a variety of different angular orientations with respect to device under test  10 . 
     Test antennas  50  may be used in transmitting wireless radio-frequency signals  46  to device under test  10  for reception by a receiver in radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  40 . Test antennas  50  may also be used in receiving wireless radio-frequency signals  46  that have been transmitted by transceiver circuitry  40  to test equipment  52 . Test circuitry within test equipment  50  such as vector network analyzer equipment, power meter equipment, call box equipment, and other test equipment (illustrated schematically as tester  48  in the example of  FIG. 3 ) may be used in performing wireless tests with device under test  10 . Tester  48  and antennas such as antenna  50  may be coupled to each other using coaxial cables or other transmission lines. 
     When it is desired to perform wireless tests on device under test  10 , the robotic arm that was used in loading device under test  10  into docking station  24  can be used to decouple device under test  10  from docking station  24 . Device under test  10  can be tested using test equipment  52  of  FIG. 3  while device under test  10  is rotating on a rotatable test platform or other test equipment. 
     Wireless test measurements such as far field radio-frequency signal test measurements can be performed while device under test  10  is isolated from radio-frequency interference within a wireless test chamber such as wireless test chamber  64  of  FIG. 4 . Wireless test chamber  64  may be, for example, a chamber that is the size of a small room (e.g., a cube with dimensions of 2-20 meters so that far field measurements may be made). Chamber walls  104  may be formed from a conductive material such as metal to prevent external radio-frequency signals from reaching the interior of the chamber. Chamber wall  104  may be lined with pyramidal absorbers such as pyramidal anechoic chamber wall absorbers  102  to suppress reflections of internal signals that might otherwise have a potential to interfere with the wireless measurements being made. 
     Robotic system (arm)  66  may include one or more segments such as arm segments  74 . Positioners such as positioners  76  may be used to control the orientation of arm segments  74  (e.g., to bend arm  66 ). Head  68  may contain a positioner that controls the opening and closing of gripper members such as grippers (jaws)  70  and/or that controls the rotation of grippers  70 . When it is desired to hold onto a device under test or other structure in chamber  64 , grippers  70  may be closed using the positioner in head  68 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , for example, grippers  70  may be moved in direction  72  to grip device under test  10 ′. Using robotic arm  66 ′, devices under test such as device under test  10 ′ may be loaded into docking station  24 . For example, connector  20 ′ of device under test  10 ′ may mate with a corresponding one of connectors  28 , so that charging circuitry  62  can charge the battery in device under test  10 ′ using power source  60 . When docked in docking station  24 , devices under test may also communicate with test equipment  52  (e.g., to download test data from the device under test to tester  48  and/or storage and processing circuitry and/or to receive test instructions from tester  48  and/or storage and processing circuitry  65 ). 
     Test equipment  52  may include a tester for transmitting and receiving wireless signals using one or more test antennas such as illustrative horn antenna  50  of  FIG. 4 . Device under test  10  may be mounted on a support structure such as rotatable turntable  92  by robotic system  66 . Turntable  92  may be rotated 360° about a rotational axis that runs along the center of rotating shaft  90 . Shaft  90  may be controlled by rotating actuator  88 . Actuator  88  may be a motor or other positioning equipment that rotates shaft  90  to control the rotational orientation of turntable  92  and device under test  10  in response to control signals from storage and processing circuitry  65  or other control circuitry associated with test equipment  52 . 
     Storage and processing circuitry  65  may be implemented using one or more personal computers, dedicated control circuits, control circuitry that is formed as part of tester  48  (e.g., as part of a call box or vector network analyzer). Storage and processing circuitry  65  may be used to control the operation of tester  48 , robotic positioning systems such as robotic system  66 , turntable positioner  88  for turntable  92 , and other electrical and mechanical equipment in the test system of  FIG. 4 . 
     During testing, storage and processing circuitry  64  may control test equipment  52  to direct tester  48  to transmit and receive desired wireless test signals  46  using test antennas such test antenna  50 . Device under test  10  may run test software (e.g., a test version of an operating system or other testing code) that coordinates its operation with test equipment  48 . For example, device under test  10  may transmit signals over a range of frequencies and a range of output powers. At the same time, test equipment  52  may use tester  48  to measure how much of the transmitted power is being received. Test antenna  50  (e.g., a horn antenna) or other test antennas may, for example, make radio-frequency signal power measurements over a range of positions. 
     While wireless device under test  10  is transmitting (or, if desired, receiving) signals, horn antenna  50  may be swept along track  96  or otherwise moved within chamber  64 , as indicated by dashed line path  100 . A positioner such as actuator  98  or other positioner may be used to control the location of horn antenna  50  along track  96 . Positioner  98  may be controlled by storage and processing circuitry  65  or other equipment in test equipment  52 . 
     Storage and processing circuitry  65  can also control the operation of trapdoor positioner  86 . Trapdoor positioner  86  may be used to open and close trapdoor  78  in directions  84  and  82 , respectively. Trapdoor  78  may, for example, be closed in direction  82  to cover opening  106  in the floor of chamber  64  or to cover an opening in other portions of wall  104  of chamber  64 . Trapdoor  78  may be closed to cover opening  106  when robotic system  66  has retracted and is no longer present within the interior of chamber  64 . Wireless tests may be performed when robotic system  66  is located outside of walls  104  of chamber  64 , so that metal structures in system  66  do not influence wireless test results. 
     If desired, other metal structures such as metal structures associated with docking station  24  may be located outside of chamber  64 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , for example, docking station  24  may be located in position  24 ′ outside of chamber walls  104 . With this type of configuration, robotic system  66  can load devices under test into the docking station by carrying the devices under test from the interior of chamber  64  to docking station  24 ′ through trapdoor opening  106  in chamber wall  104 . When it is desired to test a charged device under test that is located in docking station  24 ′, robotic system  66  can move the device under test through opening  106  and can place the device under test in a desired location on turntable  92 . By storing devices under test that are charging or otherwise not being currently used in wireless testing outside of chamber  64 , the number of metal structures that might potentially interfere with wireless test measurements within chamber  64  can be reduced. 
     Robotic system  66  can position device under test  10  in a variety of positions on turntable  92 . For example, robotic system  66  can initially place device under test  10  in a front-face up configuration in which display  14  of  FIG. 1  is facing upwards and in which the opposing rear surface of device under test  10  is resting on the upper surface of turntable  92 . After testing of device under test  10  in the front-face up configuration, robotic system  66  can flip device under test  10  so that the front face of device under test  10  is facing downwards on turntable  92  and so that the rear face of device under test  10  is facing upwards in a rear-face up configuration. By placing device under test  10  in multiple orientations on turntable  92  using robotic positioner  66 , by using positioner  98  and track  96  to sweep horn antenna  50  through 90° of angle with respect to device under test  10 , and by using turntable  92  to rotate device  10  through 360° of rotation about the axis of shaft  90 , the wireless performance of device under test  10  can be tested in all possible angles of orientation relative to antenna  50 . This allows radiation patterns (e.g., antenna efficiency plots) and other data to be gathered when testing device under test  10 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an illustrative robotic system that may be used in positioning devices under test  10  in a test system of the type shown in  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , robotic system  66  may include gripper members such as grippers  70  mounted on a support such as rotatable head  68 . Arm members  74  may be positioned using positioners  76  at rotating joints. If desired, other robotic positioners may be used in the test system. For example, robotic systems may be used in which arms extend and retract using screw mechanisms or telescoping members, in which grippers and other mechanisms slide linearly along rails, in which conveyor belts are used to move devices under test, etc. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a portion of the interior surface of the test chamber walls of test chamber  64  of  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , wall  104  may be covered signal absorber structures such as pyramidal absorbers  102 . If desired, other types of structures for reducing radio-frequency signal reflections from metal chambers walls may be used. The use of pyramidal absorbers  102  for the lining of anechoic chamber  64  of  FIG. 4  is merely illustrative. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , trapdoor  78  may be formed from a section of chamber wall  104  that is raised and lowered using robotic system  66  (e.g., trapdoor  78  may be attached to one of arm segments  74  or rotatable positioners  76  in system  66 ). Trapdoors such as trapdoor  78  of  FIG. 7  and trapdoor  78  of  FIG. 6  may be covered with a region of pyramidal absorbers  102 . When trapdoor  78  is placed in its stowed position, wall  104  of chamber  64  will be closed over wall opening  106 , so that radio-frequency interference will not reach the interior of chamber  64  and so that pyramidal absorbers  102  on trapdoor  78  will lie flush with pyramidal absorbers  102  on adjacent portions of chamber wall  104 . 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of trapdoor  78  in a configuration in which trapdoor  78  has multiple sections. As shown in  FIG. 8 , left-hand trapdoor section  78 A may be coupled to chamber wall  104  using positioner  86 A or a hinge. Right-hand trapdoor section  78 B may be coupled to chamber wall  104  using positioner  86 B or a hinge. Positioners  86 A and  86 B or other computer-controlled trapdoor positioning equipment such as arm  66  of  FIG. 6  may be controlled by storage and processing circuitry  65  ( FIG. 4 ). Trapdoors may also be open and closed manually or may be open and closed using robotic arm  66 . 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of turntable  92  in a configuration in which robotic system  66  has been used to place device under test  10  in an upright position balanced on one of its ends during testing. After testing of device under test  10  in the configuration shown in  FIG. 9 , robotic system  66  may flip device under test  10  so that device under test  10  is resting with its opposing end on turntable  92  (as an example). 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional side view of device under test  10  in a configuration in which robotic system  66  has been used to place device under test  10  on one of its sides on turntable  92 . Following rotation of turntable  92  to test device under test  10 , robotic system  66  may flip device under test  10  so that its opposing side is placed on top of turntable  92 . 
       FIG. 11  shows how robotic system  66  may place device under test  10  in a face up configuration on turntable  92 . Following face-up testing, the robotic system may flip the device under test, placing the device under test in a face-down configuration. Robotic system  66  may also place device under test  10  in angled orientations on turntable  92  or other support structures within chamber  64  if desired. The illustrative configurations of  FIGS. 9 ,  10 , and  11  are merely illustrative. 
       FIG. 12  shows how dielectric support structures such as dielectric foam members may be used as carriers and supports for devices under test. As shown in  FIG. 12 , devices under test  10  may be mounted on upper surfaces  112  of support structures  110 . Support structures  110  may be blocks of foam or other dielectric material that does not interfere with wireless testing of devices under test  10  in chamber  64 . The presence of a support structure such as support structures  110  during testing helps maintain a device under test at a desired height H above chamber wall floor  104  or other surface on which robotic system  66  places the device under test. As described in connection with docking station  24 ′ of  FIG. 4 , it may be desirable to exclude conductive structures such as unused devices under test  10  (e.g., devices that are being charged or otherwise not being used to perform wireless tests) from chamber  64  during testing. It may therefore be desirable for robotic system  66  to place a selected one of devices under test  10  and support structures  110  within chamber  64  during testing while placing the remaining devices under test (and, if desired, supports  110 ) outside of chamber  64 . Robotic system  66  may move the devices under test and support structures through trapdoor  78  as needed. 
     Wireless tests may be performed using phantom body parts such as phantom head  114  of  FIG. 13 . Phantom heads such as phantom head  114  (sometimes referred to as a standard anthropomorphic model) may have the shape of a human head (e.g., a head with ears, cheeks, facial features, and other features of a head). Phantom body parts may be formed from hollow plastic and filled with tissue-equivalent liquid or may be formed form solid dielectric (e.g., solid plastic). Support structures  116  may be used as guiding structures that guide device under test  10  into a desired position with respect to the features of phantom head  114  and may be used to maintain device under test  10  in this position during testing. While device under test  10  is being maintained in position by support structures  116 , the wireless test system may be used in making radio-frequency radiation pattern measurements and other test measurements (e.g., measurements of emitted radio-frequency radiation levels—sometimes referred to as specific absorption rate tests). 
       FIG. 14  shows how phantom heads  114  may be stored within chamber  64 . If desired, heads  114  may be stored outside of chamber  64 , as shown by illustrative head  114 ′. In configurations in which phantom head  114 ′ is stored outside of chamber  64 , robotic arm  66  can move the phantom head and associated device under test through chamber wall opening  106  using trapdoor  78 . 
       FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional side view of test chamber  64  in a configuration in which device under test  10  is being tested for emitted radiation levels (i.e., device under test  10  is being subjected to specific absorption rate tests). Robotic arm  66  may be used to position device under test  10  in one or more positions adjacent to phantom head portion  126  of phantom body  122  during testing. Dielectric support structure  128  may serve as a dielectric interface between device under test  10  and robotic arm  66 . This may help to ensure that metal structures in robotic arm  66  will not affect test results. Dielectric support structure  128  may be formed from a block of plastic such as plastic foam. Phantom body  112  may be a hollow plastic phantom test structure that is filled with tissue-equivalent liquid  124 . Probe  120  can be immersed in liquid  124  by robotic system  66 ′. Robotic system  66 ′ may use arm segments  74 ′ and positioners  76 ′ to move probe  120  in a desired pattern within liquid  124  that allows emitted radiation levels from device  10  to be mapped in three dimensions. Tester  48 , which may be coupled to probe  120  by path  130 , may gather power readings and other data from probe head  120  during testing. 
     Illustrative steps involved in testing devices under test  10  using robotic test systems are shown in  FIG. 16 . 
     At step  200 , robotic system  66  may place a charged device under test  10  in a desired test location within test chamber  64 . Devices under test may be stored outside of chamber  64  or may be stored inside chamber  64 . The batteries within the devices under test may be charged by docking the devices under test in a docking station that supplies power to the devices under test using charging circuitry such as charging circuitry  62  from line power  60  or other power source. If desired, devices under test  10  may be mounted on support structures such as dielectric support members  112  of  FIG. 12  and phantom head  114  of  FIG. 13 . In this type of configuration, robotic system  66  may move the support structure into a desired test location during the operations of step  200 . When moving device under test  10  (and, if desired, associated dielectric support structures) from the exterior of chamber  64  to the interior of chamber  64 , robotic system  66  may pass through chamber wall opening  106  using trapdoor structures  76 . 
     Inside chamber  64 , robotic system  66  may position device under test  10  in a desired location using support structures such as support structure  112  of  FIG. 12  or phantom head  114  of  FIG. 13  and/or may place device under test  10  directly on turntable  92  or other test system support structure. During tests of emitted radiation levels, robotic system  66  may hold device under test  10  in a desired position using support structure  128 . 
     After placing device under test  10  in test chamber  64 , device under test  10  may be wirelessly tested (step  202 ). During the operations of step  202 , test equipment  52  may be used to gather wireless test results (e.g., antenna efficiency patterns, emitted power levels, etc.). In systems with turntable  92  or similar structures for ensuring complete coverage for device testing under a variety of orientations with respect to the test antennas in the chamber, the turntable, test antenna positioner, and other systems for positioning device under test  10  and/or test antennas in the chamber may be used to move device under test  10  and/or test antenna structures  50  while gathering test data. When performing emitted radiation level testing using a system of the type shown in  FIG. 15 , probe  120  may be moved by robotic system  66 ′ and device under test  10  may be moved between various different positions relative to phantom head  126  and body  122 . 
     If the battery in device under test  10  becomes depleted, robotic system  66  may transfer device under test  10  to a charging system such as docking station  24  or  24 ′ of  FIG. 4 . If desired, device under test  10  may be moved through chamber wall opening  106  using trapdoor  78 . Trapdoor structures such as trapdoor  78  may, if desired, be built into a sub-chamber that is enclosed within chamber  64  (e.g., a storage locker on the floor of chamber  64 ) or may be located directly under a room-shaped version of chamber  64  (e.g., the trapdoor structures may provide access to a storage location that lies directly under chamber floor  102 ). Trapdoors such as trapdoor  78  may also be created in the side walls or the ceiling of chamber  64 . After the device under test with the depleted battery has been transferred to docking station  24  or  24 ′, robotic system  66  may wait until charging is complete to return device under test  10  to its testing location or may select a different (fully charged) device under test from docking station  24  for testing while the initial device under test is charged. Testing may then continue at step  200 , as indicated by line  206 . Serial numbers or other tracking numbers may be used to track which devices under test are being tested, so that it is not necessary to exhaustively test one device under test  10  before beginning to test another device under test. 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented individually or in any combination.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20121120
Publication Date: 20150303
Grant Date: 20150303
Priority Date: 20121120
Inventors: SCHLUB ROBERT W.
SHIU BOON WAI
CHEN CHUN-LUNG
HAYLOCK JONATHAN M.
O'CONNOR HAGAN P.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G01R29/0857", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01R29/105", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01R29/0871", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W24/00", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B17/00", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01R29/0857", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01R29/105", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01R29/105", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B17/16", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B17/16", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01R29/0871", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W24/00", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01R29/0871", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01R29/0857", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 49326843