Here is what you need to know about test setups as mmWave frequencies bring OTA testing to 5G for everything from chipset measurements to validating the performance of a mobile device.
Prior to 5G, most tests for wireless devices have been performed using conducted test methods. This includes the testing of modem chipsets, radio frequency (RF) parameter tests, and full device functional and performance verification. Over-the-air (OTA) test methods have been used mostly for antenna performance testing, and device multiple input multiple output (MIMO) performance measurements. 5G millimeter-wave (mmWave) devices represent a disruptive shift for the wireless industry because OTA is the only viable approach for test methods for all radio test cases.
At mmWave frequencies, the higher path loss and the shorter wavelengths require directional antennas (gain) that are electrically steerable— typically phased arrays. Many 5G devices will also require multiple sets of mmWave antennas in addition to traditional LTE and frequency range 1 (FR1) monopole antennas. Since the mmWave antennas must be bonded directly to the RF front-end (RFFE) amplifiers, devices cannot be accessed and tested the way they are at lower frequencies. Radiated test methods are needed.
Traditional conducted RF test methods use a well-behaved, predictable transmission line between the measurement solution and the device under test (DUT)— typically a coaxial cable. OTA replaces this cable with an over-the-air link through which the DUT communicates directly to an antenna that is part of the test solution. To ensure a well-behaved RF environment (i.e. a predictable transmission line plus elimination of external interference), the OTA connection is best managed inside of an anechoic chamber.
A typical OTA measurement solution therefore includes the RF measurement equipment and a chamber. There are several fundamental components associated with the chamber:
Engineers need to consider several factors when choosing the right setup for the required measurements— but first, a quick review of electromagnetic field parlance and rules of thumb.
How does wave propagation work?
As the electromagnetic distance from an antenna increases, the electromagnetic field’s behavior and characteristics will vary. A simplified model above shows three regions of concern: reactive near-field (reactive NF), radiated near-field (radiated NF), and radiated far-field (radiated FF). When making OTA measurements, the distance between the DUT and the probe antenna must be considered given the characteristics of each region. For example, making measurements in NF requires transformation techniques to convert the NF results to FF equivalents. This requires phase recovery or control of the input phase to the DUT. In this figure, R is the radial distance from the antenna, D is the diameter of the smallest sphere that could surround the radiating antenna aperture, and lambda is the wavelength (Figure 1).
So, what are the key considerations for an engineer to define an OTA measurement setup?
Range length: Distance between the probe and the DUT
The range length must be optimized for stable and accurate measurement results. As stated above, if measuring in the FF is required, the range length is best kept to a distance greater than R = 2D2/λ.
Hence, the size of the chamber is directly impacted by both the wavelength (frequency) in question and the size of the device antenna. For example, the far field for a 5-cm antenna at 28 GHz is about 50 cm. It increases to 190 cm for a 10-cm module at the same frequency, and grows to over 4 m for a 15-cm device (Figure 2).
DUT: device characteristics in a mmWave OTA test setup
The DUT can range from being a radiating element to an entire device. In handsets, the DUT will create a “D” that includes the mechanical size of the antenna plus the coupling to the radiating elements. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has defined three DUT antenna configurations including (Figure 3):
Figure 3 DUT antenna configurations
Black box testing
Black box testing is a 3GPP mandated concept for device conformance testing in which engineers must treat the position and number of antennas as being unknown. The DUT is tested as a “black box” and the aperture of the antenna (D) must be assumed to be the same size as the entire DUT. Thus, the device configuration has an impact on the required range length for FF measurements (Figure 4).
Quiet zone
The quiet zone is the area where RF propagation is predictable and well-behaved. This is important for accuracy and repeatability, especially for the testing of RF parameters or when low amplitude and phase variations are needed. The quiet zone needs to be large enough to contain the key item being tested—whether that is an entire device, or just the antenna. The size of the device or antenna being tested determines the requirements for the size of the quiet zone. And, of course, the larger the quiet zone required, the larger the chamber needs to be (Figure 5).
Figure 5 Quiet zone
CATR: An alternative approach to DFF OTA testing
A compact antenna test range (CATR) is an indirect far field (IFF) OTA test method. A CATR uses a shaped reflector to perform a physical near-field-to-far-field transformation. This results in a shorter range length and a larger quiet zone, and thus reduces the size of a chamber depending on a given DUT size, aperture size, and frequency. Beams reflected from a parabolic mirror become collimated beams. This transformation from a spherical wave front to a planar wave front enables a large quiet zone with very little amplitude and phase ripple. The resulting shorter range length also means less path loss between the DUT and the probe, which allows for better measurement dynamic range and better signal to noise (SNR) (Figure 6).
5G means that mmWave OTA testing is becoming a much more mainstream requirement. The challenges of these types of measurements are new to much of the commercial wireless industry. It is important to partner with a mmWave and OTA test expert who is also involved in 3GPP specifications for early knowledge and influence of the requirements. Keysight has been shipping commercial mmWave test capability for decades and has established the world’s leading family of mmWave OTA test solutions.
For more information on 5G device challenges, click here.
Jessy Cavazos is part of Keysight’s Industry Solutions Marketing team.
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