Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B17/00—Monitoring; Testing
  • H04B17/10—Monitoring; Testing of transmitters
  • H04B17/15—Performance testing
  • H04B17/19—Self-testing arrangements
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W24/00—Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
  • H04W24/06—Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
  • G01R29/00—Arrangements for measuring or indicating electric quantities not covered by groups G01R19/00 - G01R27/00
  • G01R29/08—Measuring electromagnetic field characteristics
  • G01R29/0807—Measuring electromagnetic field characteristics characterised by the application
  • G01R29/0814—Field measurements related to measuring influence on or from apparatus, components or humans, e.g. in ESD, EMI, EMC, EMP testing, measuring radiation leakage; detecting presence of micro- or radiowave emitters; dosimetry; testing shielding; measurements related to lightning
  • G01R29/0821—Field measurements related to measuring influence on or from apparatus, components or humans, e.g. in ESD, EMI, EMC, EMP testing, measuring radiation leakage; detecting presence of micro- or radiowave emitters; dosimetry; testing shielding; measurements related to lightning rooms and test sites therefor, e.g. anechoic chambers, open field sites or TEM cells
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
  • G01R29/00—Arrangements for measuring or indicating electric quantities not covered by groups G01R19/00 - G01R27/00
  • G01R29/08—Measuring electromagnetic field characteristics
  • G01R29/0807—Measuring electromagnetic field characteristics characterised by the application
  • G01R29/0814—Field measurements related to measuring influence on or from apparatus, components or humans, e.g. in ESD, EMI, EMC, EMP testing, measuring radiation leakage; detecting presence of micro- or radiowave emitters; dosimetry; testing shielding; measurements related to lightning
  • G01R29/0835—Testing shielding, e.g. for efficiency
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
  • G01R29/00—Arrangements for measuring or indicating electric quantities not covered by groups G01R19/00 - G01R27/00
  • G01R29/08—Measuring electromagnetic field characteristics
  • G01R29/0864—Measuring electromagnetic field characteristics characterised by constructional or functional features
  • G01R29/0871—Complete apparatus or systems; circuits, e.g. receivers or amplifiers
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B17/00—Monitoring; Testing
  • H04B17/0082—Monitoring; Testing using service channels; using auxiliary channels
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B17/00—Monitoring; Testing
  • H04B17/10—Monitoring; Testing of transmitters
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B17/00—Monitoring; Testing
  • H04B17/20—Monitoring; Testing of receivers
  • H04B17/29—Performance testing
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B17/00—Monitoring; Testing
  • H04B17/30—Monitoring; Testing of propagation channels
  • H04B17/391—Modelling the propagation channel
  • H04B17/3912—Simulation models, e.g. distribution of spectral power density or received signal strength indicator [RSSI] for a given geographic region
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B17/00—Monitoring; Testing
  • H04B17/30—Monitoring; Testing of propagation channels

Definitions

• the invention relates to an intelligent transmitter-receiver system synchronized at any location in space, making it possible in particular to network several radiating probes (or antennas) for the emission and/or reception of electromagnetic radiation as part of a beam formation or radiating device characterization.
• the invention also relates to the characterization of a device under test.
• the transceiver can be alone for a characterization of a wired device, or connected to radiating probes and networked by optical link to generate a realistic wireless communication scenario to or from a communicating device under test.
• a multi-sensor transmission and reception system for characterizing a radiating device usually comprises several radiating electromagnetic probes (or antennas) arranged in the shape of an arch. This arrangement is advantageous in that it makes it possible to replace a mechanical movement axis with an electronic scanning axis.
• Documents WO2012/45877 or WO2012/45879 describe such systems.
• Such systems are advantageous compared to a conventional measurement means of the BCMA type (Compact Antenna Measurement Base) or the single sensor type. These systems constitute a very powerful and rapid means of measurement.
• the probes are passive and permanently wired for an operating configuration fixed at installation. In addition, it is difficult to position them where you want in space given the difficulties inherent in cabling.
• the invention solves the problem of reconfiguring transmission/reception systems for measurement or beam formation to obtain great flexibility of use.
• the invention relates to a transmission and reception system comprising at least two modules intended to be connected to an antenna probe or a device under test, each comprising a transmission and reception sub-module connected to a sub-module.
• processing and communication module the transmission and reception sub-module comprising two radio frequency outputs from which two radio frequency cables extend to connect the module to a radiating element or directly to a device under test, the processing and communication sub-module being configured to, from at least one communication protocol, generate communication signals intended to be communicated to the transmission and reception sub-module to be transmitted on the radio frequency cables, the transmission and reception sub-module, the processing sub-module and communication are housed in a housing preferably shielded to be impervious to electromagnetic radiation, the modules being, in addition, connected together in series by means of an optical link.
• each module is associated with a bipolarized antenna connected to the transmission and reception sub-module via radio frequency cables;
• the radio frequency cables have the shortest possible length allowing the connection of elements with radio frequency connectors while limiting the associated losses.
• the transmission reception system comprises a control unit configured to communicate a communication protocol to the module, the control unit being connected to the module via a dedicated link adapted to the signals, the link being an Ethernet link or an optical link.
• the modules are connected together in series by means of an optical link, the system comprising a control unit connected to the first module of the series of modules via a dedicated link and configured to control the modules and to synchronize them with each other, the control unit being able to control one or more chains of modules.
• control unit is configured to control the modules and to synchronize them with each other so as to generate an electromagnetic environment.
• the modules are arranged on a support in the form of an arch, disk or sphere, the support being intended to be positioned around a device under test;
• control unit is configured to configure each module according to a defined measurement environment.
• the invention therefore proposes a reconfigurable system making it possible to completely reconfigure the transmission and reception system on demand.
• the invention makes it possible to generate a scenario dedicated to any location in space.
• the different systems are distributed in space by synchronizing them with each other at dedicated positions. It is therefore possible to exactly control their behavior in time and space.
• Each system is advantageously small and therefore compact, which allows it to be placed anywhere in the space. Also, the dimensions lead to a technological concentration allowing a large number of systems to be distributed.
• the synchronization of the different systems allows for parallelized processing, which allows an increase in speed.
• specific processing can be carried out remotely or distributed across all the different systems.
• Each system can communicate directly with a computer via USB/Ethernet links.
• the invention can also be used as a vector network analyzer type measuring instrument. , spectrum analyzer, vector signal analyzer.
• the modular aspect of the system architecture makes it possible to cascade blocks to add functionalities such as frequency conversion to higher or lower frequencies, RCS (Radar Cross Section) measurements, or S parameters (in English, Scattering Parameters).
• RCS Rad Cross Section
• S parameters in English, Scattering Parameters
• the system according to the invention is intended to equip, for example, multi-sensor radiofrequency measurement systems (in particular spherical near-field measurement bases).
• the system according to the invention can be used to generate radiation diagrams that can be reconfigured at will in reception as well as in transmission, in particular for plane wave synthesis or beam formation, by networking them.
• the targeted frequency range of the radio frequency spectrum extends from a few megahertz to a few hundred gigahertz.
• the invention makes it possible to test and therefore characterize communicating devices at 5G frequencies.
• the invention makes it possible to test one or more antennas powered by cables or provided directly with their source or with their integrated receivers and which can operate in transmission and/or reception.
• the invention makes it possible to know the response of the antenna and the integrated transmitter/receiver of a mobile telephone to external electromagnetic radiation.
• the invention makes it possible to know the response of a GNSS antenna (in English, Global Navigation Satellite System) with its on-board receiver to external electromagnetic interference.
• the invention makes it possible to measure the radiation pattern of a radar antenna in several spatial directions.
• the invention makes it possible to measure the sensitivity of a mobile phone in several directions of space and also to generate wave propagation scenarios corresponding to an environment such as a building, a vehicle, and/or an area. urban or rural.
• any communicating system can be characterized and put into a communication situation in a realistic scenario by means of the invention comprising integrated instrumentation. A whole battery of tests can thus be carried out thanks to the freely reconfigurable nature of the system of the invention.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a transmission and reception system according to a first embodiment
• FIG. 2 illustrates a transmission and reception system according to a second embodiment
• FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a module of a transmission and reception system according to the invention
• FIG. 4 illustrates an antenna of a probe according to the invention
• FIG. 5 illustrates a transmission and reception system according to a third embodiment
• - Figure 6 illustrates a transmission and reception system according to a fourth embodiment
• - Figure 7 illustrates a transmission and reception system according to a fifth embodiment
• FIGS. 8a and 8b schematically illustrate the measurement of a communicating device in a classic Ml MO system whose wired configuration is fixed, compared to a MIMO system obtained by means of the system according to the invention.
• Figure 1 illustrates a transmission and reception system 1 intended to be in communication with a device 2, for example a device under test (in English, Device Under Test, DUT) according to a first embodiment.
• the system 1 comprises a transmission and reception module 4 connected directly to the device 2.
• Figure 2 illustrates a transmission and reception system 1' intended to be in communication with a device 2' according to a second embodiment.
• the system 1' comprises a module 4 connected to the device 2' by a wireless link via an antenna 41 or probe. This may also be a 2’ device under test.
• the module 4 comprises a transmission and reception sub-module 411 connected to a processing and communication sub-module 412, the transmission and reception sub-module 411 comprising two radio frequency outputs RF1, RF2 from which extend two radio frequency cables 43 to connect the module 4 directly to a device 2 or to an antenna 41.
• the transmission and reception sub-module 411 and the processing and communication sub-module 412 are advantageously housed in a housing 42 preferably shielded to be impervious to electromagnetic radiation.
• the box 42 is small, as small as possible to properly accommodate the different elements.
• the processing and communication sub-module 412 is configured to, from at least one communication protocol, generate communication signals intended to be communicated to the transmission and reception sub-module 411 to be transmitted on the radio frequency cables 43.
• a communication protocol is typically one of 5G, 4G, Wi-Fi, BluetoothTM communication protocols or more generally a specification of several rules for a particular type of communication.
• the radio frequency cables 43 are of the shortest possible length. They generally do not exceed, for example, 10 cm. But the length of radio frequency cables 43 can be adapted according to the frequency or integration constraint. The advantage is to be able to position the module 4 as close as possible to the device 2 to which it must connect, or if connected to an antenna 41, to limit the losses due to its wiring.
• the processing and communication submodule 412 includes a stage 413 for signal processing and a stage 414 for communication management.
• the processing stage 413 includes for example a processor and one or more FPGAs (in English, Field-Programmable Gate Array) and makes it possible to process and calibrate the signals on the one hand, but also to configure the shape of the electromagnetic wave (attenuation effect, phase shift, fading, Doppler, or time delay effect). It is thus possible to generate chirps for radar applications for example. It is also possible to generate complex modulated signals (e.g. 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, Wi-Fi, radar signals etc.).
• the communication stage 413 is configured for communication management and is linked to different interfaces: USB 415, optical 416, Ethernet 417 depending on the desired communication.
• USB interface makes it possible to connect the module 4 to a measurement system 12 or directly to a computer for programming the FPGA and for its debugging, the optical interface 416 to an optical link and the Ethernet interface to a unit of control 11 of computer type for example.
• the optical interface 416 notably allows communication between two modules.
• sub-module 412 includes an interface 418 for the power supply of the sub-modules 411, 412.
• the sub-module 411 includes an interface 419 to be connected to the sub-module 412.
• the sub-modules 411, 412 are on separate electronic cards for better integration into the system, but these sub-modules can very well be integrated on a single card.
• Each module 4 therefore comprises a digital transmitter/receiver comprising several channels (for example two channels) and a directly implemented channel emulator function making it possible to generate advanced communication protocols.
• Module 4 is reversible in the sense that it can transmit a signal (Tx direction), as well as receive one (Rx direction). In reception (Rx), module 4 can measure a signal and carry out processing on this signal. In transmission (Tx), the module generates the desired signal.
• each module 4 can be reconfigured as desired, which allows great flexibility in its use.
• the consumption of the system is relatively low compared to conventional equipment equipping a multi-sensor system with conventional architecture. comprising passive modules. There is therefore a power gain in the link budget which makes it possible to work with signals at lower levels and correspondingly reduced energy consumption.
• Consumption varies depending on the application chosen which requires more or less computing power.
• the system of the invention allows flexible consumption depending on the type of use. Given the simple wiring, the possible applications are multiple.
• Each module is capable of receiving and transmitting a CW or complex signal.
• the treatments being carried out at the level of each module it becomes perfect thanks to the calibration applied locally.
• the calibration data can be stored at the processing and communications sub-module and not on an external device as is the case with conventional systems.
• the communication protocol is provided to the module (in particular at stage 413) via a control unit 10.
• the control unit 10 may, depending on the case, only include a computer 11 which sends the protocol to the module via a dedicated 3a Ethernet type link. However, to allow signals to be sent to module 4 which are not supported by an Ethernet connection (bandwidth, flow rates), the control unit 10 comprises, in addition to the computer 11, a box 12 making it possible to generate signals which are not supported by an Ethernet link.
• the box 12 is connected to the computer 11 which controls it.
• Such a box is a CRPI box (Common Public Radio Interface).
• Module 4 is in this case connected to box 12 via an optical link 3b.
• the control unit 10 can also include a spectrum analyzer 14 connected to the computer 11.
• the box 12 is advantageously connected to a radio measurement system 13 (in English, Radio Communication Tester, RCT).
• RCT Radio Communication Tester
• the box 12 has the role of also interfacing with conventional measuring devices (network emulator, complex signal generator, etc.).
• the computer 11 therefore makes it possible to manage the configuration of the module 4 remotely and is more generally a device comprising a user interface, a processor and an Ethernet link.
• the computer 11 also makes it possible to identify a malfunction of the module 4. As will be understood, all the intelligence of the module is positioned as close as possible to the device under test 2.
• the module 4 is connected to a device under test 2' via an antenna 41 which is a bipolarized passive antenna 41, the device under test 2' then being a radiating device, a mobile phone, a tablet, a connected object.
• the passive antenna 41 is advantageously an assembly of two radiating elements 41a, 41 b in a cross-shaped assembly, each element of the cross corresponding to a polarization for the radiation of the antenna 41.
• the passive antenna 41 has dimensions which depend on the desired frequencies in relation to the device under test 2'.
• the advantage of the orthogonal positioning of two linearly polarized antennas is to perfectly know the wave vector in the plane of the antennas, and therefore to know the electric field precisely at this location.
• the dimensions depend on the frequency bands covered by the antenna. For example: 0.4-6 GHz, 6-18 GHz, 18-50 GHz. The higher the frequency band, the smaller the dimensions. The lower the frequency band, the larger the dimensions.
• the passive antenna 41 is connected to the transmission and reception sub-module 411 via two radio frequency links 43 (one for each polarization and therefore each radiating element 41 a, 41 b of the antenna 41). These radio frequency links must be as short as possible.
• the passive antenna 41 is at a distance of approximately a few centimeters from the box 42. It will be noted here that this distance is very small and that we seek to have the shortest possible cable connection to achieve maximum freedom from cable link losses inherent to high frequencies. In the case illustrated here, the losses are limited.
• module 4 comprises a transmission and reception sub-module 411 connected to a processing and communication sub-module 412, the transmission and reception sub-module 411 comprising two radio frequency outputs RF1, RF2 from which extend two radio frequency cables 43 for connecting the module 4 to a radiating element 41 or directly to the device under test 2.
• Figure 5 illustrates a transmission and reception system 1' according to a third embodiment comprising several modules 4, here three modules 4 identical to that already described.
• a device under test 2' is here positioned on a support 5.
• Such a support 5 is movable around an axis of rotation so as to be able to position the device under test 2 in different ways depending on the desired measurements.
• modules with radiating antennas can be arranged on the same 2D plane to constitute a network (rectangular, or round in general) and in this case it is possible to form a particular beam pointing one or more directions in space to emit or receive signals (Tx/Rx).
• Modules 4 are small and can be positioned anywhere in space and in particular around the device under test.
• the modules 4 are connected to each other in series by a high-speed link 6, preferably an optical link.
• each module 4 is connected in series to its neighbor by the optical link 6 (in English "Daisy Chain") and the connection can be in both directions, that is to say that a module can communicate with its neighbors in both directions.
• Modules 4 are powered by means of a power cable connected to a power supply (not shown).
• the power cable connects each module two by two in the same way as optical link 6.
• the measurement system 1' essentially comprises an optical link 6 and an electrical power cable.
• connection between two modules 4 is configured to convey digital data for this two-by-two communication.
• wiring of modules 4 is simple and allows a significant data rate on the optical link.
• the system 1' here again comprises a control unit 10 configured to control the modules 4 around or near the device under test 2' and to synchronize them with each other.
• the control unit 10 communicates with all the other modules 4 via the first module of the series of modules 4 by being connected to this module by a dedicated link 3a, 3b (Ethernet or optical depending on the type of signals).
• a dedicated link 3a, 3b (Ethernet or optical depending on the type of signals).
• radio frequency links are almost non-existent.
• the control unit 10 conforms to that described in relation to Figure 1.
• the control unit 10 also makes it possible to identify a malfunction in one of the modules by self-diagnosis.
• the processing and communication submodule 412 supports the CRPI communication protocol (in English, Common Public Radio Interface) which allows a module 4 to communicate with its neighbors.
• CRPI communication protocol in English, Common Public Radio Interface
• each module 4 offers the possibility of on-board processing, including in particular the correction of errors linked to the antennal imperfection of the modules (orthomodes).
• On-board processing between pairs of modules 4 (or multiplets of probes) to carry out measurements of transmission parameters is also possible.
• radio frequency links are those which connect the submodule 411 to the antenna 41 made up of transducer radiating elements. These links are very short and the associated losses are therefore very low, which no longer constitutes a barrier for use at the highest frequencies of the 5G spectrum. In addition, the low presence of radio frequency links resolves the problem of crucial link losses at high frequencies (order of magnitude > 20 GHz).
• Figure 6 illustrates a transmission and reception system 1” according to a fourth embodiment for measuring the electromagnetic radiation of a radiating device 2”.
• the device under test 2 is advantageously positioned on a support 5.
• the modules 4 are distributed over a support structure 7 which in Figure 6 is in the shape of an arch but other shapes are possible. A distribution according to a matrix structure or spherical is for example possible.
• the shape of the support 7 depends on the desired measurement context.
• the advantage of arranging them on a hoop makes it possible to reconstruct, by rotating the axis of the support 5, the 3D map of the electromagnetic radiation of the device under test 2”.
• the distribution of the modules and therefore the antennas on the hoop is regular for 3D characterization (the device under test can be passive). Only in the case of particular communications scenarios only certain modules are activated, and in this case the device under test is necessarily an active (or autonomous Tx/Rx) communicating device.
• These modules can be positioned on a sphere (for example fifteen modules distributed in a discrete manner), and are in this case positioned in space (with synchronization and freedom of positioning without constraints linked to link losses) as presented in Figure 5.
• the support 5 is mobile and makes it possible to make successive vertical sections of radiation so as to cover the entire sphere surrounding the device under test 2” and thus obtain complete 3D radiation.
• the 2” radiating device under test is an antenna that we wish to characterize in transmission and reception.
• the device under test 2 is connected to the control unit via a radio frequency cable link 8 while the series of modules 4 is connected to the controller 10 via an optical or Ethernet link depending on the signals used to characterize the antenna.
• this would be an optical link for testing 5G antennas in particular.
• the modules 4 are connected to each other via an optical link 6 (see also Figure 5 and the associated description).
• Figure 7 illustrates a T” transmission and reception system according to a fifth embodiment for measuring the electromagnetic radiation of a 2’ radiating device.
• the system includes a relay antenna A to simulate communication with a base station in the downward direction (in English, downlink) and the modules 4 are used to capture the waves emitted by the device under test 2' in the upward direction (in English, uplink).
• the roles are reversed in the direction of communication.
• the use of this relay antenna A is a possibility when it comes to testing a communicating object, because full duplex communication is also possible with the modules 4.
• the relay antenna A is connected to the controller 10 via of a radiofrequency cable link 8.
• the housing 42 is housed in the support structure 7 around the device under test 2'. This is different from known multi-sensor solutions according to which each antenna is connected to a bay by radio frequency links which are necessarily greater than in the solution described here, the bay not being able to be positioned as close as possible to the modules 4.
• the invention is also advantageously used for MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) OTA (Over The Air) simulation which usually uses a centralized channel emulator.
• MIMO Multiple Input Multiple Output
• OTA Over The Air
• simulation is facilitated thanks to the architecture of the system of the invention: more flexibility and easy wiring, decentralized computing power, scalable architecture.
• the device under test 2' (a mobile phone) is placed in an anechoic chamber CA around antennas A connected to a bay 20 and a control unit 10.
• the antennas A and the bay 20 make it possible to simulate a MIMO environment.
• the complex wiring of each antenna A is placed in the center of the modules 4 of the system according to the invention with simplified wiring by means in particular of an optical link 6 to the control unit 10.
• the system of the invention makes it possible to test radiating or communicating RF equipment over a wide range of frequencies (up to tens of gigahertz), with a wide bandwidth of several hundred MHz, and to simulate numerous test conditions such as multipath, Doppler effect, noise.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Electromagnetism (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
• Variable-Direction Aerials And Aerial Arrays (AREA)
• Monitoring And Testing Of Transmission In General (AREA)
• Transceivers (AREA)
• Shielding Devices Or Components To Electric Or Magnetic Fields (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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• 2022
  • 2022-03-25 FR FR2202690A patent/FR3133966B1/fr active Active
• 2023
  • 2023-03-20 KR KR1020247035066A patent/KR20250007520A/ko active Pending
  • 2023-03-20 CN CN202380030062.4A patent/CN119174216A/zh active Pending
  • 2023-03-20 AU AU2023240401A patent/AU2023240401A1/en active Pending
  • 2023-03-20 EP EP23716638.4A patent/EP4500933A1/de active Pending
  • 2023-03-20 WO PCT/FR2023/050385 patent/WO2023180659A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2023-03-20 CA CA3245860A patent/CA3245860A1/fr active Pending
  • 2023-03-20 US US18/850,157 patent/US20260012817A1/en active Pending
  • 2023-03-20 JP JP2024556549A patent/JP2025510183A/ja active Pending

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