Over-the-air measurement chamber and over-the-air measurement method

Abstract

An over-the-air measurement chamber is provided for performing measurements with respect to a device under test. The over-the-air measurement chamber includes a thermally isolated space inside the over-the-air measurement chamber, a positioner for positioning the device under test, and a first gas guiding means for intake of a gas and a second gas guiding means for outtake of the gas. The positioner comprises an inner portion and an outer rotational unit. The first and second gas guiding means are fed into the inner portion of the positioner through a hollow rotational axis of the outer rotational unit.

Claims

1. An over-the-air measurement chamber for performing measurements with respect to a device under test, the over-the-air measurement chamber comprising: a thermally isolated space inside the over-the-air measurement chamber; a positioner for positioning the device under test, wherein the positioner comprises an inner rotational unit and an outer rotational unit; and a first gas guiding means for intake of a gas and a second gas guiding means for outtake of the gas; and wherein the first and second gas guiding means are fed into the inner portion of the positioner through a hollow rotational axis of the outer rotational unit.

2. The over-the-air measurement chamber according to claim 1, wherein the thermally isolated space surrounds the device under test, and/or wherein the inner portion comprises the thermally isolated space.

3. The over-the-air measurement chamber according to claim 1, wherein the thermally isolated space is of spherical or ellipsoidal shape, and/or wherein the thermally isolated space is a thermally isolated bubble or a kind thereof.

4. The over-the-air measurement chamber according to claim 1, wherein the thermally isolated space is formed by a radio frequency neutral material, and/or wherein the thermally isolated space comprises a radio frequency neutral upper dome.

5. The over-the-air measurement chamber according to claim 1, wherein the inner portion of the positioner comprises an inner rotational axis, wherein the inner rotational axis is configured to rotatably hold the device under test.

6. The over-the-air measurement chamber according to claim 5, wherein the hollow rotational axis is independently rotatable from the inner rotational axis.

7. The over-the-air measurement chamber according to claim 5, wherein the hollow rotational axis and the inner rotational axis form an angle between 5 and 90 degrees.

8. The over-the-air measurement chamber according to claim 1, wherein the gas guided by the first and second gas guiding means comprises heated gas or cooled gas, and/or wherein the gas guided by the first and second gas guiding means comprises at least one of air, nitrogen or sulfur hexafluoride.

9. The over-the-air measurement chamber according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second gas guiding means comprises at least one of a hose, a pipe, a corrugated pipe, a bellows-based hose, and a bellows-based pipe.

10. The over-the-air measurement chamber according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second gas guiding means comprises a rotary joint that is configured for compressed gas type applications such that the hollow rotational axis is independently rotatable from a corresponding stationary gas guiding means located outside of the outer rotational unit, and/or wherein the first and second gas guiding means are rotatable with the outer rotational unit.

11. The over-the-air measurement chamber according to claim 1, wherein the first and second gas guiding means are connected to the thermally isolated space.

12. The over-the-air measurement chamber according to claim 1, wherein the inner portion of the positioner is rotatable around the hollow rotational axis, and/or wherein the outer rotational unit is rotatable around the hollow rotational axis.

13. The over-the-air measurement chamber according to claim 1, wherein the positioner further comprises: a stationary base, wherein the stationary base is configured to rotatably hold the hollow rotational axis, and/or wherein the stationary base is configured to rotatably hold the inner portion, and/or wherein the stationary base is configured to rotatably hold the outer rotation unit.

14. The over-the-air measurement chamber according to claim 1, further comprising: a feedthrough configured to allow the first and second gas guiding means to pass into and out of the over-the-air measurement chamber.

15. An over-the-air measurement method comprising the steps of: placing a device under test into an over-the-air measurement chamber that comprises a thermally isolated space inside the over-the-air measurement chamber, a positioner for positioning the device under test, and a first gas guiding means for intake of a gas and a second gas guiding means for outtake of the gas, wherein the positioner comprises an inner rotational unit and an outer rotational unit, and wherein the first and second gas guiding means are fed into the inner portion of the positioner through a hollow rotational axis of the outer rotational unit; and performing at least one over-the-air measurement with respect to the device under test.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention are now further explained with regard to the drawings by way of example only and not for limitation. In the drawings

(2) FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of an inventive over-the-air measurement chamber; and

(3) FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) An over-the-air measurement chamber and an over-the-air measurement method in order to allow for performing measurements, especially measurements regarding wireless connectivity capabilities under different temperature conditions, with respect to a device under test in a flexible manner, thereby ensuring a high accuracy and efficiency of the measurement, are described. In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It is apparent, however, that the invention may be practiced without these specific details or with an equivalent arrangement. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention.

(5) With respect to FIG. 1, a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an over-the-air measurement chamber 1 for performing measurements with respect to a device under test 2 is shown.

(6) According to FIG. 1, the over-the-air measurement chamber 1 comprises a thermally isolated space 3 inside the over-the-air measurement chamber 1, a positioner 4 for positioning the device under test 2, wherein the positioner 4 comprises an inner portion 5 and an outer rotational unit 6, and two gas guiding means 7a, 7b for gas intake and gas out-take. As it can be seen, the two gas guiding means 7a, 7b are fed into the inner portion 5 of the positioner 4 through a hollow rotational axis 8 of the outer rotational unit 6.

(7) As it can further be seen from FIG. 1, the thermally isolated space 3 surrounds the device under test 2. In addition to this, the inner portion 5 comprises the thermally isolated space 3. In other words, the thermally isolated space 3 is attached to the inner portion 5.

(8) Furthermore, in this exemplary case the thermally isolated space 3 is a thermally isolated bubble, which is formed by a radio frequency neutral material. Preferably, said thermally isolated bubble may be made from rohacell. According to FIG. 1, in other words, the thermally isolated bubble comprises a radio frequency neutral upper dome.

(9) It is further noted that the thermally isolated space 3 or the thermally isolated bubble may especially be based on a double-walled design in order to allow for a high thermal insulation. In this context, the space between the respective walls of the double-walled design may preferably comprise air or a vacuum.

(10) With respect to the over-the-air measurement chamber 1, it should generally be mentioned that the over-the-air measurement chamber 1 may optionally comprise a compact antenna test range (CATR) reflector. Preferably, said CATR reflector may be located inside the over-the-air measurement chamber and/or outside the thermally isolated space 3. In this context, it is noted that the CATR reflector is optional, since far-field conditions with special respect to the device under test 2 can be established in a direct manner especially without the reflector or in an indirect manner especially with the reflector.

(11) Moreover, the inner portion 5 of the positioner 4 comprises an inner rotational axis 9. Said inner rotational axis 9 is configured to rotatably hold the device under test 2. Additionally, in this exemplary case, the inner rotational axis 9 is independently rotatable from the inner portion 5. In this context, it is noted that, for instance, a rubber ring may preferably allow the inner rotational axis 9 to rotate independently from the inner portion 5 of the positioner 4.

(12) With respect to the gas guided by the two gas guiding means 7a, 7b, it is noted that said gas may especially comprises heated gas or cooled gas. It is further noted that additionally or alternatively, the gas guided by the two gas guiding means 7a, 7b may comprise at least one of air, nitrogen, or sulfur hexafluoride.

(13) With respect to the gas guiding means 7a, 7b, it should be mentioned that at least one of the two gas guiding means 7a, 7b comprises at least one of a hose, a pipe, a corrugated pipe, a bellows-based hose, or a bellows-based pipe.

(14) Furthermore, in accordance with FIG. 1, each of the two gas guiding means 7a, 7b fed into the inner portion 5 comprises a rotary joint 10a, 10b which is configured for compressed gas type applications such that the hollow rotational axis 8 is independently rotatable of corresponding stationary gas guiding means 13a, 13b being outside the outer rotational unit 6. In addition to this, the two gas guiding means 7a, 7b fed into the inner portion 5 are rotatable with the outer rotational unit 6.

(15) In further addition to this, the two gas guiding means 7a, 7b fed into the inner portion 5 are connected to the thermally isolated space 3 or the thermally isolated bubble, respectively.

(16) Moreover, in this exemplary case, as it can also be seen from FIG. 1, both the inner portion 5 of the positioner 4 and the outer rotational unit 6 are rotatable around the hollow rotational axis 8.

(17) Additionally, the positioner 4 further comprises a stationary base 11. In this exemplary case according to FIG. 1, the stationary base is configured to rotatably hold each of the hollow rotational axis 8, the inner portion 5, and the outer rotation unit 6.

(18) Furthermore, it should be mentioned that the hollow rotational axis 8 is independently rotatable from the inner rotational axis 9.

(19) In addition to this or as an alternative, it is further noted that the hollow rotational axis 8 and the inner rotational axis 9 form an angle between 5 and 90 degrees, preferably between 45 and 90 degrees, more preferably between 60 and 90 degrees, most preferably between 80 and 90 degrees. Exemplarily, as it can be seen, the hollow rotational axis 8 is perpendicular to the inner rotational axis 9.

(20) In addition to this, it should be mentioned that the over-the-air measurement chamber 1 further comprises a feedthrough 12 configured to get the two gas guiding means, especially the stationary gas guiding means 13a, 13b, into and out of the over-the-air measurement chamber 1.

(21) Finally, FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of an embodiment of the inventive method. In a first step S100, a device under test is placed into an over-the-air measurement chamber according to the first aspect of the invention or any preferred implementation form thereof. Then, in a second step S101, at least one over-the-air measurement is performed with respect to the device under test.

(22) While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Numerous changes to the disclosed embodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described embodiments. Rather, the scope of the invention should be defined in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

(23) Although the invention has been illustrated and described with respect to one or more implementations, equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other implementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.