ABSORBER DEVICE AND TEST SYSTEM

Abstract

An absorber device for absorbing signals is described. The absorber device has a housing with inner sides having an absorbing material. The housing is adaptable with regard to its geometry. The absorber device is portable. Moreover, a test system for testing radio frequency characteristics of a device under test is described.

Claims

1. An absorber device for absorbing signals, wherein the absorber device has a housing with inner sides having an absorbing material, wherein the housing is adaptable with regard to its geometry, and wherein the absorber device is portable.

2. The absorber device according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a first interface side and a second interface side, and wherein the interface sides are opposite to each other.

3. The absorber device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the first interface side and the second interface side is an open side.

4. The absorber device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the first interface side and the second interface side has a connection flange with mounting openings via which a connection member can be inserted to connect the absorber device via the connection flange.

5. The absorber device according to claim 2, wherein the housing provides a passage from the first interface side to the second interface side.

6. The absorber device according to claim 2, wherein the housing widens from the first interface side towards the second interface side.

7. The absorber device according to claim 2, wherein the first interface side is used for being assigned to a device under test, and wherein the second interface side is used for accommodating a test and measurement instrument at least partly.

8. The absorber device according to claim 2, wherein the second interface side is configured to accommodate more than one test and measurement instrument at least partly.

9. The absorber device according to claim 1, wherein the absorbing material is a lightweight material, but provides mechanical robustness.

10. The absorber device according to claim 1, wherein the absorbing material is made of a foam material.

11. The absorber device according to claim 1, wherein the absorbing material is shaped such that signals are absorbed.

12. The absorber device according to claim 1, wherein the housing has at least two parts that are configured to be moved relatively with respect to each other, thereby adapting the geometry of the housing.

13. The absorber device according to claim 12, wherein the housing has a main part and two side parts, wherein the two side parts are symmetrically identical, and wherein both side parts are arranged in mirror symmetry with respect to the main part.

14. The absorber device according to claim 13, wherein the two side parts are detachably connected with the main part such that the absorber device is configured to enable a relative movement of both side parts with respect to the main part, thereby adapting the geometry of the housing.

15. The absorber device according to claim 13, wherein the housing has a first interface side and a second interface side, wherein the interface sides are opposite to each other, and wherein the main part has at least two opposite sides that widen from the first interface side towards the second interface side.

16. The absorber device according to claim 1, wherein the absorber device is established in a modular manner.

17. The absorber device according to claim 13, wherein the absorber device is configured such that the main part is exchangeable, thereby modularly adapting the size of the absorber device.

18. A test system for testing over-the-air characteristics of a device under test, wherein the test system comprises: a device under test; a test and measurement instrument; and an absorber device for absorbing signals, wherein the absorber device has a housing with inner sides having an absorbing material, wherein the housing is adaptable with regard to its geometry, and wherein the absorber device is portable.

19. The test system according to claim 18, wherein the housing has a first interface side and a second interface side, which are opposite to each other, and wherein the device under test is associated with the first interface side, whereas the test and measurement instrument is at least partly accommodated by the second interface side.

20. The test system according to claim 18, wherein the device under test is a sensor of a vehicle, and wherein the absorber device is connected with the vehicle.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of the claimed subject matter will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0054] FIG. 1 schematically shows an overview of a representative test system;

[0055] FIG. 2 schematically shows an overview of an absorber device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0056] FIG. 3 shows another schematic view of an absorber device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0057] The detailed description set forth above in connection with the appended drawings, where like numerals reference like elements, are intended as a description of various embodiments of the present disclosure and are 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 disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Similarly, any steps described herein may be interchangeable with other steps, or combinations of steps, in order to achieve the same or substantially similar result. Moreover, some of the method steps can be carried serially or in parallel, or in any order unless specifically expressed or understood in the context of other method steps.

[0058] In the foregoing description, specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of exemplary 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.

[0059] 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.

[0060] Turning now to FIG. 1, a test system 10 is shown that comprises a test setup 12 for testing a device under test 14. In the shown embodiment, a vehicle with several sensors 16 is provided, which are located in a bumper region 18 of the vehicle. These sensors 16 correspond to the device under test, as their characteristics and/or properties are tested accordingly. The respective sensors 16 may relate to radar sensors, Lidar sensors and/or ultrasonic sensors that are used for sensing an environment of the vehicle when driving the vehicle, for example during a parking maneuver.

[0061] The test system 10, for example the test setup 12, comprises a turntable 20 (partly shown in FIG. 1) on which the vehicle, and therefore the sensors 16 or the device(s) under test 14, is located such that the vehicle can be turned in a plane defined by the turntable 20 during testing.

[0062] The test system 10, for example the test setup 12, further comprises a test equipment 22 with an analyzing device 24 that is connected with several test and measurement instruments 26. The analyzing device 24 includes, for example, one or more analyzing circuits.

[0063] In the shown embodiment, four test and measurement instruments 26 are provided, which are associated with the device under test 14, namely the sensors 16.

[0064] The test system 10 may further comprise two different absorber devices 28 that are associated with the device under test 14, namely the sensors 16, and the test and measurement instruments 26. As shown in FIG. 1, the test and measurement instruments 26 are partly inserted into the absorber devices 28 which will be explained hereinafter in more detail when referring to FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0065] In FIGS. 2 and 3, the respective absorber device 28 is shown in more detail to which reference is made hereinafter. The absorber device 28 is generally configured for absorbing signals such as electromagnetic signals and/or ultrasonic signals, which may impair the testing of the device under test 14, for example the sensors 16.

[0066] Generally, the absorber device 28 is used for shielding purposes such that the device under test 14 and the test and measurement instruments 26 can interact with each other without any interfering signals from the environment, for instance signals from other measurement equipment. In some embodiments, the absorber device 28 is generally funnel-like shaped, as the absorber device 28 has a housing 30 with a first interface side 32 and a second interface side 34 which are opposite to each other.

[0067] The respective interface sides 32, 34 are open, whereas the housing 30 provides a passage 36 from the first interface side 32 to the second interface side 34 that follows the shape of the hosing 30, namely the funnel-shape or rather cone shape. In other words, the respective passage 36 widens from the first interface side 32 towards the second interface side 34, thereby establishing the funnel shape of the entire housing 30 of the absorbing device 28.

[0068] Furthermore, it is shown that the first interface side 32 has a connection flange 38 established by a plate-like member having mounting openings 40 through which respective connection members, for instance bolds or screws, can be inserted in order to connect the absorber device 28 to the vehicle or rather the device under test 14. This is also schematically shown in FIG. 1, as the absorber device 28 is connected with a portion of the vehicle, namely at a portion of the bumper region 18 to which the number plate is connected.

[0069] Accordingly, the first interface side 32 is used for being assigned to the device under test 14, whereas the second interface side 34 is used for partially accommodating at least one test and measurement instrument 26 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0070] In general, the absorber device 28 comprises an absorbing material 42 that is located at inner sides of the housing 30, wherein the absorbing material 42 covers the inner surface of the housing 30. The absorbing material 42 is a lightweight material that provides a certain mechanical robustness. For instance, the absorbing material 42 is made by a foam material.

[0071] The absorbing material 42 is shaped such that signals impinging on the absorbing material 42 are absorbed effectively. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the absorbing material 42 comprises several pyramids that are used to absorb the signals due to the respective shape. Signals impinging on the pyramids get reflected between neighbored pyramids such that they are attenuated due to multiple reflection, resulting in an absorbance of the respective energy associated with the signals.

[0072] Hence, it is ensured that internal reflections along the passage 36 defined by the housing 30 are minimized, thereby reducing any influence of those internal reflections.

[0073] In general, the housing 30 of the absorber device 28 is adaptable with regard to its geometry, as the housing 30 is made of at least two different parts that can be moved with respect to each other in order to adapt the geometry of the housing 30. In the shown embodiment in FIGS. 2 and 3, the housing 30 is made of a main part 44 and two side parts 46, 48 that define lateral sides of the housing 30. The respective side parts 46, 48 may be symmetrically identical, wherein the side parts 46, 48 are arranged in mirror symmetry with respect to the main part 44.

[0074] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the main part 44 has at least two opposite sides 50, 52 that extend from the first interface side 32 towards the second interface side 34 wherein these opposite sides 50, 52 widen from first interface side 32 towards the second interface side 34, thereby already defining the funnel-shape of the housing 30. Put differently, the main part 44 already defines the funnel-like shape of the absorber device 28. The opposite sides 50, 52 are generally perpendicular to the side parts 46, 48 that define the lateral sides of the housing 30 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0075] In addition, the side parts 46, 48 are detachably connected with the main part 44 such that their relative orientation with respect to each other and with respect to the main part 44 can be adapted in order to adjust the shape of the absorber device 28, for example the housing 30.

[0076] For this purpose, the side parts 46, 48 can be disconnected from the main part 44. Then, the side parts 46, 48 may be moved with respect to the main part 44, thereby narrowing or widening the geometry of the housing 30, namely adapting the widening effect of the housing 30 accordingly. Once the intended geometry has been obtained, the side parts 46, 48 are connected with the main part 44 (again) such that a mechanically stable absorber device 28 is obtained,

[0077] Moreover, the main part 44 of the absorber device 28 can be exchanged in order to redefine the respective geometry of the absorber device 28 in an extreme manner Hence, the entire absorber device 28, for example its housing 30, is established in a modular manner.

[0078] In FIG. 1, two different kinds of absorber devices 28 are shown that have different main parts 44, but the same side parts 46, 48 that are connected to lateral sides of the different main parts 44. Accordingly, each of the absorber devices 28 shown in FIG. 1 can be adapted such that it corresponds to the other one by simply exchanging the main part 44 and (re-)positioning the respective side parts 46, 48 accordingly.

[0079] Due to the exchangeable main parts 44, the absorber devices 28 are generally established in a modular manner, as the respective main part 44 can be exchanged in order to adapt the geometry of the absorber device 28, for example the housing 30.

[0080] As already indicated above, the respective lateral sides of the main parts 44 are open and perpendicular to the opposite sides 50, 52 of the main parts 44 that widen from the first interface side 32 to the second interface side 34. Thus, the housing 30 is limited at its lateral sides by the side parts 46, 48.

[0081] In general, the shape of the housing 30, namely the funnel-like shape of the housing 30, is adapted to a field of view (FOV) of the respective sensor(s) 16 to which the absorber device 28 is assigned such that the field of view is not limited by the absorber device 28.

[0082] Nevertheless, the absorber device 28 ensures that an internal space of the absorber device 28, which is defined by the passage 36, is shielded with respect to the environment in an efficient manner, thereby reducing any noise and other disturbing effects from the environment when testing the respective sensors 16 by the test and measurement instruments 26 inserted into the absorber devices 28 via the respective second interface sides 34.

[0083] In addition, the absorbing material 42 at the inner sides of the housing 30 minimize internal reflections of the signals propagating along the passage 36.

[0084] Generally, the absorber devices 28 are portable due to their limited size such that they can be easily attached to a different device under test 14 at respective premises of the customers. Therefore, an easy-to-handle as well cost-efficient absorber device 28 is provided that ensures high absorbing characteristics such that reliable measurements can be performed.

[0085] Since the absorber device 28 provides a shielding effect with regard to the environment, the absorber device 28 is a shielding and absorber device, as disturbing signals from the environment are shielded and internal reflections are absorbed.

[0086] Generally, the test equipment 22 may encompass a radar target simulator that is configured to simulate several completely independent targets. The test and measurement instruments 26 may be connected with the respective test equipment 22 that is configured to generate an appropriate target scenario, e.g., a dynamic radar echo generator that interacts with the device under test 14, for example the radar sensor(s) 16 of the vehicle.

[0087] 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.

[0088] 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.