JP2022045681A - Terminal holding tool, terminal rotary device and mobile terminal test device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a terminal holding tool capable of holding a mobile communication terminal so that an axial direction of an antenna of the mobile communication terminal is an optimum direction for transmitting and receiving linearly polarized signals in a predetermined direction.SOLUTION: A terminal holding tool 120 that holds DUT under test with an antenna comprises: a base part 122 that is rotationally driven around a first axial line A1; a pair of arm parts 127, 128 that are slidable along a second axial line A2 orthogonal to the first axial line A1 and each extend parallel to the first axial line A1; and a slide guide part 140 that is fixed to the base part 122, and guides the slide movement of the pair of arm parts 127, 128 so that the pair of arm parts 127, 128 holds the DUT from both sides along the second axial line A2 with the first axial line A1 sandwiched between them.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

The present invention is a terminal holder, a terminal rotating device, and a mobile terminal test device used for measuring transmission characteristics or reception characteristics of a test object such as a mobile communication terminal using an anechoic box in an OTA (Over The Air) environment. Regarding.

In recent years, with the development of multimedia, wireless terminals (smartphones, tablet terminals, etc.) equipped with antennas for wireless communication such as cellular and wireless LAN have been actively produced. In the future, there is a particular demand for wireless terminals that transmit and receive wireless signals compatible with IEEE802.11ad and 5G cellular, which use wideband signals in the millimeter wave band.

At a wireless terminal design / development company or its manufacturing plant, the output level and reception sensitivity of transmitted radio waves specified for each communication standard are measured for the wireless communication antenna provided in the wireless terminal, and these RFs (Radio) are measured. Frequency) A performance test is performed to determine whether the characteristics meet a predetermined standard.

With the generation shift from 4G or 4G advance to 5G, the test method of the above-mentioned performance test is also changing. For example, in a performance test in which a wireless terminal for a 5G NR (New Radio) system (hereinafter referred to as a 5G wireless terminal) is used as a test target (Device Under Test: DUT), the DUT was the mainstream in tests such as 4G and 4G advance. As for the method of connecting the antenna terminal and the test device by wire, it is necessary to attach the antenna terminal to the high frequency circuit to deteriorate the characteristics, or to attach the antenna terminal to all the elements due to the large number of elements of the array antenna. It cannot be used because it is not realistic in consideration. Therefore, the DUT is housed together with the test antenna in an anechoic box that is not affected by the surrounding radio wave environment, and the test signal is transmitted from the test antenna to the DUT and the test signal from the DUT that receives the test signal is tested. A so-called OTA test is performed in which reception by an antenna is performed by wireless communication (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In the OTA test, a quiet zone is formed by the test antenna, and the DUT is placed in the quiet zone. Here, the quiet zone is a concept that represents the range of the spatial region in which the DUT is irradiated with radio waves of substantially uniform amplitude and phase from the test antenna in the radio wave anechoic box constituting the OTA test environment (the quiet zone). For example, see 3GPP TR 38.810 V16.5.0). The shape of the quiet zone is usually spherical. By arranging the DUT in such a quiet zone, it becomes possible to perform the OTA test in a state where the influence of scattered waves from the surroundings is suppressed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2020-085744

When measuring the radiated power of wireless terminals such as total radiated power (TRP) and EIRP (Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power), all wireless terminals are measured based on the propagation direction of the test signal. You need a positioner that can be oriented. If the antenna provided in the wireless terminal is an antenna that receives linear polarization, it is desirable to align the polarization direction of the test signal with the axial direction of the antenna of the wireless terminal so that the received power becomes the maximum power. ..

The conventional positioner described in Patent Document 1 was able to point the wireless terminal in all directions. However, even if the propagation direction of the test signal and the orientation of the wireless terminal match, the axial direction of the antenna of the wireless terminal does not always point in the optimum direction with respect to the polarization direction of the test signal. Conventional positioners have not considered directing the axial direction of the antenna of the wireless terminal to the optimum direction with respect to the polarization direction of the test signal.

The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, so that the axial direction of the antenna of the mobile communication terminal is the optimum direction for transmitting and receiving a linearly polarized signal in a predetermined direction. , A terminal holder capable of holding a mobile communication terminal, a terminal rotating device, and a mobile terminal test device.

In order to solve the above problems, the terminal holder according to the present invention is a terminal holder (120) for holding a mobile communication terminal (100) to be tested having an antenna (110), and is a first axis line. A base portion (122) that is rotationally driven around (A1) and a second axis (A2) that is orthogonal to the first axis can be slidably moved, and each of them is on the first axis. A pair of arm portions (127, 128) extending in parallel and a pair of arm portions are fixed to the base portion, and the pair of arm portions are both sides along the second axis with the first axis in between. It is configured to include a slide guide portion (140) for guiding the slide movement of the pair of arm portions so as to sandwich the mobile communication terminal.

As described above, in the terminal holder according to the present invention, the slide guide portion sandwiches the mobile communication terminal from both sides along the second axis with the pair of arm portions sandwiching the first axis. The slide movement of the pair of arm portions is guided along the second axis. With this configuration, the pair of arm portions can be held, for example, from the upper end surface and the lower end surface of the thin plate-shaped rectangular parallelepiped mobile communication terminal, the holding posture to be held from the left side surface and the right side surface of the mobile communication terminal, and the like. , The mobile communication terminal can be held in a plurality of different holding postures with reference to the first axis and the second axis.

As a result, the mobile communication terminal is adjusted by rotating the terminal holder around the first axis while holding the mobile communication terminal in the more preferable holding posture among the plurality of holding postures. The axial direction of the antenna can be optimally adjusted for transmission and reception of linearly polarized signals in a predetermined direction.

Further, since the pair of arm portions can be slidably moved along the second axis, even mobile communication terminals having different holding postures and sizes can be easily held by sandwiching them from both sides. can. Moreover, since the mobile communication terminal is sandwiched only by a pair of arms, the mobile communication terminal is placed on a board or the like when performing a communication test such as transmission / reception, as compared with the conventional technique. Objects close to the mobile communication terminal can be suppressed to the minimum necessary, and the influence on the radio signal used in the test can be suppressed.

Further, in the terminal holder according to the present invention, the pair of arm portions sandwiches the plate-shaped square-shaped mobile communication terminal in a plurality of different holding postures with reference to the first axis and the second axis. The plurality of holding postures are configured to be possible, and (A) the vertical direction of the mobile communication terminal is parallel to the first axis, and the left-right direction of the mobile communication terminal is parallel to the second axis. (B) The vertical direction of the mobile communication terminal is parallel to the second axis, and the left-right direction of the mobile communication terminal is parallel to the first axis. And (C) the vertical and horizontal directions of the mobile communication terminal are perpendicular to the first axis, and the vertical direction of the mobile communication terminal is parallel or perpendicular to the second axis. The configuration may include a third holding posture.

With this configuration, the terminal holder according to the present invention holds the terminal holder around the first axis while holding the mobile communication terminal in the more preferable holding posture among the first to third holding postures. By rotating and adjusting the rotation angle, the axial direction of the antenna of the mobile communication terminal can be optimally adjusted for transmission and reception of a linearly polarized signal in a predetermined direction.

Further, in the terminal holder according to the present invention, in the slide guide portion, the pair of arm portions slide in opposite directions on both sides of the second axis with the first axis in between, and the slide guide portion is described. The slide movement of the pair of arm portions may be guided so that the distances of the arm portions from the first axis are the same as each other.

With this configuration, the terminal holder according to the present invention holds the mobile communication terminal so that the first axis always passes through the substantially center of the mobile communication terminal sandwiched by the pair of arm portions. Alignment at the time of setting the communication terminal becomes easy.

Further, in the terminal holder according to the present invention, each of the arm portions includes a positioning portion (129, 130) for restricting the movement of the mobile communication terminal in the longitudinal direction of the arm portion, and the positioning portion is the arm. It may be configured to be slidable along the longitudinal direction of the portion.

With this configuration, the terminal holder according to the present invention can accurately set the position of the mobile communication terminal in the longitudinal direction of the arm portion by the positioning portion. Further, since the positioning portion is slidable along the longitudinal direction of the arm portion, even mobile communication terminals having different holding postures and sizes can be easily held.

Further, in the terminal holder according to the present invention, the slide guide portion includes a ball screw (133), and the screw shaft (134) of the ball screw has a first screw shaft (134a) and a second screw shaft (134b). ) Are connected in the longitudinal direction, and the first and second screw shafts may be configured such that the same lead has threads formed in opposite directions to each other.

With this configuration, the terminal holder according to the present invention is paired by guiding the slide movement of one arm portion by the first screw shaft and guiding the slide movement of the other arm portion by the second screw shaft. It is possible to slide the arm portions closer to each other and slide the pair of arm portions away from each other. As a result, the mobile communication terminal can be pinched by the pair of arms by a simple operation of turning the screw shaft, and the setting of the mobile communication terminal becomes easy.

Further, in the terminal holder according to the present invention, each arm portion may be provided with a scale (141) along the longitudinal direction of each arm portion.

With this configuration, the terminal holder according to the present invention can accurately set the position of the slidable positioning portion along the longitudinal direction of the arm portion.

Further, in the terminal holder according to the present invention, the pair of arm portions are configured such that concave portions (127a, 128a) having a V-shaped cross section are formed on the surfaces facing each other along the longitudinal direction of the arm portions. There may be.

With this configuration, the terminal holder according to the present invention is sandwiched from the upper end surface and the lower end surface of a plate-shaped rectangular parallelepiped mobile communication terminal by a pair of arm portions, or when it is sandwiched from the left side surface and the right side surface. The mobile communication terminal can be stably and accurately held in the concave portion of the opposite surface of the pair of arm portions.

Further, the terminal rotating device according to the present invention is a terminal rotating device (200) that rotates a mobile communication terminal (100) to be tested and has an antenna (110) to change the posture of the mobile communication terminal. A rotary table (204) that is rotationally driven around the third axis (A3), and a support column (205) that has one end fixed to the rotary table and extends in a direction parallel to the direction of the third axis. A connecting portion (207) provided on the other end side of the support column and rotationally driven around the first axis (A1) orthogonal to the third axis, and the base portion connected to the connecting portion. It is a configuration including the terminal holder (120) according to any one of the above.

With this configuration, the terminal rotating device according to the present invention rotates the terminal holder around the first and third axes while holding the mobile communication terminal in the more preferable holding posture among the plurality of holding postures. By adjusting the rotation angle, the axial direction of the antenna of the mobile communication terminal can be optimally adjusted for transmission and reception of a linearly polarized signal in a predetermined direction.

Further, the mobile terminal test device according to the present invention is a mobile terminal test device (1) for measuring transmission characteristics or reception characteristics of a mobile communication terminal (100) having an antenna (110), and is suitable for the surrounding radio wave environment. An anechoic box (50) having an unaffected internal space (51), a test antenna (6) provided in the internal space to transmit or receive a radio signal between the antenna, and a quiet in the internal space. The terminal rotating device (200) that sequentially changes the posture of the mobile communication terminal arranged in the zone (QZ), and each time the posture of the mobile communication terminal is changed by the terminal rotating device. The configuration includes a measuring device (20) for measuring the transmission characteristic or the reception characteristic of the mobile communication terminal.

With this configuration, the mobile terminal test apparatus according to the present invention holds the mobile communication terminal in the more preferable holding posture among the plurality of holding postures, and holds the terminal holder of the terminal rotating device in the first and third positions. By rotating around the axis of the mobile communication terminal and adjusting the rotation angle, the axial direction of the antenna of the mobile communication terminal can be optimally adjusted for transmission and reception of a linearly polarized signal in a predetermined direction. By performing the measurement in a state where the axial direction of the antenna of the mobile communication terminal is optimally adjusted, it is possible to accurately measure the transmission characteristics and the reception characteristics of the mobile communication terminal.

According to the present invention, a terminal holder, a terminal rotating device, and a terminal rotating device capable of holding a mobile communication terminal so that the axial direction of the antenna of the mobile communication terminal is the optimum direction for transmitting and receiving a signal of linear polarization in a predetermined direction. A mobile terminal test device can be provided.

It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of the whole of the mobile terminal test apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the mobile terminal test apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the integrated control apparatus of the mobile terminal test apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the NR system simulator of the mobile terminal test apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the near field and the distant field in the radio wave propagation between an antenna AT and a radio terminal. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the reflector used in the mobile terminal test apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the terminal rotation apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the terminal rotating device in a state where the terminal holder is removed from the terminal rotating device of FIG. 7. It is a perspective view of the terminal holder which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 9 is a perspective view of the terminal holder with the cover removed from the terminal holder of FIG. 9. 9 shows a terminal holder in a state where the base portion is removed from the terminal holder, (a) is a front view, (b) is a left side view, (c) is a rear view, and (d) is a plan view. .. It is a perspective view of the terminal rotating device in the state which the radio wave absorber is attached to the terminal rotating device of FIG. It is a perspective view of the terminal rotating device which holds a mobile communication terminal in a 1st holding posture. (A) is a front view of FIG. 13, and (b) is a side view of FIG. A terminal rotating device holding the mobile communication terminal in the second holding posture is shown, (a) is a front view, and (b) is a side view. A terminal rotating device holding the mobile communication terminal in the third holding posture is shown, (a) is a front view, and (b) is a side view. It is a flowchart which shows the outline of the test method performed using the mobile terminal test apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, the mobile terminal test apparatus (also referred to as a test apparatus) according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The dimensional ratio of each component on each drawing does not always match the actual dimensional ratio.

The test apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment measures the transmission characteristic or the reception characteristic of the DUT 100 having the antenna 110, and is adapted to measure, for example, the RF characteristic of the DUT 100. For this purpose, the test device 1 includes an OTA chamber 50, a test antenna 6, a reflector 7, a terminal rotation device 200, an integrated control device 10, an NR system simulator 20, and a signal processing unit 40. There is.

The test device 1 of the present embodiment corresponds to the mobile terminal test device of the present invention, the OTA chamber 50 of the present invention corresponds to the anechoic box of the present invention, and the integrated control device 10 and NR of the present invention. The system simulator 20 and the signal processing unit 40 correspond to the measuring device 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows the external structure of the test device 1, and FIG. 2 shows the functional block of the test device 1. However, FIG. 1 shows an arrangement mode of each component of the OTA chamber 50 in a state of being seen through from the front.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the OTA chamber 50 has an internal space 51 that is not affected by the surrounding radio wave environment. The test antenna 6 is installed in the internal space 51 of the OTA chamber 50, and transmits or receives a radio signal for measuring the transmission characteristic or the reception characteristic of the DUT 100 with or from the antenna 110. The terminal rotating device 200 is adapted to change the posture of the DUT 100 arranged in the quiet zone QZ in the internal space 51 of the OTA chamber 50. The integrated control device 10, the NR system simulator 20, and the signal processing unit 40 measure the transmission characteristics or reception characteristics of the DUT 100 using the test antenna 6 for the DUT 100 whose posture has been changed by the terminal rotation device 200. It has become like.

The test device 1 is used, for example, together with a rack structure 90 having a plurality of racks 90a as shown in FIG. 1, and is operated in a manner in which each component is placed on each rack 90a. FIG. 1 shows an example in which an integrated control device 10, an NR system simulator 20, and an OTA chamber 50 are mounted on three racks 90a of the rack structure 90, respectively. Hereinafter, each component will be described.

(OTA chamber)
The OTA chamber 50 realizes an OTA test environment for a performance test of a wireless terminal for 5G, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, a metal casing having a rectangular parallelepiped internal space 51. It is composed of a body body portion 52. The OTA chamber 50 accommodates the DUT 100 and the test antenna 6 facing the antenna 110 of the DUT 100 in the internal space 51 in a state of preventing the intrusion of radio waves from the outside and the radiation of radio waves to the outside. As will be described later, as the test antenna 6, for example, a directional antenna for millimeter waves such as a horn antenna can be used.

Further, the radio wave absorber 55 is attached to the entire inner surface of the OTA chamber 50, that is, the entire surface of the bottom surface 52a, the side surface 52b, and the upper surface 52c of the housing body 52, to secure the anechoic characteristics of the internal space and to the outside. The function of controlling the radiation of radio waves to is strengthened. As described above, the OTA chamber 50 realizes an anechoic box having an internal space 51 that is not affected by the surrounding radio wave environment. The anechoic chamber used in this embodiment is, for example, an anechoic type.

(DUT)
The DUT 100 to be tested is a wireless terminal (also referred to as a mobile communication terminal) such as a smartphone. Communication standards for DUT100 include cellular (LTE, LTE-A, W-CDMA (registered trademark), GSM (registered trademark), CDMA2000, 1xEV-DO, TD-SCDMA, etc.), wireless LAN (IEEE802.11b / g / g / (A / n / ac / ad, etc.), Bluetooth (registered trademark), GNSS (GPS, Galileo, CDMASS, BeiDou, etc.), FM, and digital broadcasting (DVB-H, ISDB-T, etc.). Further, the DUT 100 may be a wireless terminal that transmits / receives a radio signal in a millimeter wave band corresponding to 5G cellular or the like.

In this embodiment, the DUT 100 is a 5G NR wireless terminal. For 5G NR radio terminals, the 5G NR standard stipulates that the communicable frequency range is a predetermined frequency band that includes not only the millimeter wave band but also other frequency bands used in LTE and the like. Therefore, the antenna 110 of the DUT 100 transmits or receives a radio signal of a predetermined frequency band (5G NR band) which is a measurement target of the transmission characteristic or the reception characteristic of the DUT 100. The antenna 110 is, for example, an array antenna such as a Massive-MIMO antenna.

In the present embodiment, the DUT 100 can receive the test signal via the test antenna 6 and the reflector 7 and can transmit the measured signal during the measurement regarding transmission / reception in the OTA chamber 50.

(Variable posture mechanism)
As shown in FIG. 1, a terminal rotating device 200 for changing the posture of the DUT 100 arranged in the quiet zone QZ is provided on the bottom surface 52a of the housing body 52 of the OTA chamber 50 on the internal space 51 side. .. The terminal rotation device 200 is, for example, a two-axis positioner including a rotation mechanism that rotates around each of the two axes. The terminal rotating device 200 constitutes an OTA test system (Combined-axes system) that rotates the DUT 100 with a degree of freedom of rotation around two axes in a state where the test antenna 6 is fixed. The terminal rotating device 200 will be described in detail later.

(Link antenna)
In the OTA chamber 50, at the required position of the housing body 52, two types of link antennas 5 and 8 for establishing or maintaining a link (call) with the DUT 100 are provided with link antenna holders 57 and 59, respectively. It is attached using. The link antenna 5 is a link antenna for LTE and is used in a non-standalone mode. On the other hand, the link antenna 8 is a link antenna for 5G and is used to maintain a 5G call. The link antennas 5 and 8 are held by the link antenna holders 57 and 59, respectively, so as to have directivity with respect to the DUT 100 held by the terminal rotating device 200. Since the test antenna 6 can also be used as the link antenna instead of using the link antennas 5 and 8 described above, the test antenna 6 will be described below assuming that the test antenna 6 also has the function of the link antenna. do.

(Neighborhood and distant worlds)
Next, the near field and the distant field will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing how radio waves radiated from the antenna AT toward the wireless terminal 100A are transmitted. The antenna AT is equivalent to the test antenna 6 as a primary radiator described later. The wireless terminal 100A is equivalent to the DUT100. In FIG. 5, (a) shows a DFF (Direct Far Field) method in which radio waves are directly transmitted from the antenna AT to the wireless terminal 100A, and (b) is a reflector 7A having a rotating paraboloid in which radio waves are transmitted from the antenna AT. The IFF (Indirect Far Field) method transmitted to the wireless terminal 100A via the radio wave terminal 100A is shown.

As shown in FIG. 5A, a radio wave having an antenna AT as a radiation source has a property that a surface (wavefront) connecting points having the same phase spreads in a spherical shape around the radiation source and propagates. At this time, interference waves generated by disturbances such as scattering, refraction, and reflection as shown by the broken line are also generated. In addition, the wavefront is a curved spherical surface (spherical wave) at a distance close to the radiation source, but the wavefront becomes close to a plane (plane wave) at a distance from the radiation source. Generally, the region where the wavefront needs to be considered as a spherical surface is called the near field (NEAR FIELD), and the region where the wavefront can be regarded as a plane is called the far field (FAR FIELD). In the propagation of the radio wave shown in FIG. 5A, it is preferable that the wireless terminal 100A receives a plane wave rather than a spherical wave in order to perform an accurate measurement.

In order to receive a plane wave, the wireless terminal 100A needs to be installed in a distant field. When the position and antenna size of the antenna in the wireless terminal 100A are not known, the far field is a region beyond 2D ² / λ from the antenna AT. Here, D is the maximum linear size of the wireless terminal 100A, and λ is the wavelength of the radio wave.

FIG. 5B shows a method of arranging the reflector 7A having a rotating paraboloid so as to reflect the radio wave of the antenna AT and bring the reflected wave to the position of the wireless terminal 100A (CATR (Compact)). Antenna Test Range) method). According to this method, the distance between the antenna AT and the wireless terminal 100A can be shortened, and the plane wave region expands from the distance immediately after the reflection on the mirror surface of the reflector 7A, so that the effect of reducing the propagation loss can be expected. The degree of a plane wave can be expressed by the phase difference of waves of the same phase. The allowable phase difference as the degree of plane wave is, for example, λ / 16. The phase difference can be evaluated, for example, with a vector network analyzer (VNA).

(Test antenna)
Next, the test antenna 6 will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the test antenna 6 provides a radio signal (hereinafter, also referred to as a test signal) for measuring the transmission characteristic or the reception characteristic of the DUT 100 with the antenna 110 via the reflector 7. It is designed to send or receive. The test antenna 6 functions as a primary radiator and includes a horizontally polarized antenna 6H and a vertically polarized antenna 6V (see FIG. 2). The reflector 7 has a reflecting surface curved in a curved surface, reflects radio waves of a radio signal for measurement, and has an offset parabolic (see FIG. 6) type structure described later. The reflector 7 is made of, for example, aluminum. As shown in FIG. 1, the reflector 7 is attached to a required position on the side surface 52b of the OTA chamber 50 by using the reflector holder 58.

The reflector 7 receives the radio wave of the test signal radiated from the test antenna 6 as the primary radiator arranged at the focal position F determined from the rotating paraboloid on the rotating paraboloid, and holds it in the terminal rotating device 200. It is reflected toward the DUT 100 (during transmission). Further, the reflector 7 receives the radio wave of the measured signal radiated from the antenna 110 by the DUT 100 that has received the test signal on the rotating paraboloid and reflects it toward the test antenna 6 (at the time of reception). The reflector 7 is arranged at a position and a posture in which transmission and reception can be performed at the same time. That is, the reflector 7 is adapted to reflect the radio wave of the radio signal transmitted and received between the test antenna 6 and the antenna 110 of the DUT 100 through the rotating paraboloid.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the structure of the reflector 7. The reflector 7 is an offset parabolic type and has a mirror surface (a shape obtained by cutting out a part of the rotating parabolic surface of a perfect circular parabola) that is asymmetric with respect to the axis RS of the rotating parabolic surface. The test antenna 6 as a primary radiator is located at the focal position F of the offset paraboloid in an offset state in which the beam axis BS is tilted with respect to the axis RS of the rotating paraboloid, for example, by an angle α (for example, 30 °). Have been placed. In other words, the test antenna 6 is arranged so as to face the reflector 7 at an elevation angle α, and the receiving surface of the test antenna 6 is held at an angle perpendicular to the beam axis BS of the radio signal. ..

With this configuration, radio waves radiated from the test antenna 6 (for example, a test signal for the DUT 100) are reflected on the rotating paraboloid in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the rotating paraboloid, and the axis of the rotating paraboloid. A radio wave incident on a rotating paraboloid in a direction parallel to the direction (for example, a signal to be measured transmitted from the DUT 100) can be reflected by the rotating paraboloid and guided to the test antenna 6. In other words, the reflector 7 converts the spherical wave radio wave radiated from the test antenna 6 into a plane wave radio wave and sends it to the DUT 100, and at the same time, the plane wave radio wave radiated from the DUT 100 and incident on the reflector 7 is the test antenna. It is intended to focus on 6. Compared to the parabola type, the offset parabola requires a smaller reflector 7 and can be arranged so that the mirror surface approaches vertically, so that the structure of the OTA chamber 50 can be miniaturized.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the reflector reflection type test antenna 6 is arranged below the horizontal plane passing through the arrangement position of the DUT 100. The radio wave beam radiated from the test antenna 6 and reflected by the reflector 7 is propagated in the negative direction of the Z axis to form a spherical quiet zone QZ. The center of the radio wave beam reflecting the position of the opening center of the reflector 7 is propagated in the negative direction of the Z-axis line to reach the arrangement position of the DUT 100.

(Terminal rotating device)
Next, the terminal rotating device 200 that functions as the posture variable mechanism of the DUT 100 will be described.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the terminal rotating device 200. The terminal rotation device 200 is adapted to rotate the DUT 100 to be tested having the antenna 110 around two axes to change the posture of the DUT 100. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the terminal rotating device 200 includes a base 201, a first driving unit 202, a first rotating shaft 203, a rotary table 204, a support column 205, and a second rotating shaft 207. A second drive unit 208 and a terminal holder 120 are provided.

As will be described in detail later, the terminal holder 120 sandwiches the DUT 100 by a pair of arm portions 127 and 128, and is integrally rotationally driven around the first axis A1. .. The pair of arm portions 127 and 128 can slide and move along the second axis A2 orthogonal to the first axis A1. The second axis A2 is an axis fixed to the terminal holder 120.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the terminal rotating device 200 in a state where the terminal holder 120 is removed. As shown in FIG. 8, the first rotary shaft 203 and the rotary table 204 are rotationally driven around the third axis A3, and the second rotary shaft 207 is rotationally driven around the first axis A1. It has become so. The first axis A1 is orthogonal to the third axis A3 at the intersection O. The terminal holder 120 is adapted to be attached to the end portion 207a of the second rotating shaft 207 as a connecting portion by a screw or the like.

In the present embodiment, the first axis A1 is orthogonal to the third axis A3, but the present embodiment is not limited to this. If the DUT 100 can be arranged in the quiet zone QZ, the first axis A1 may not intersect the third axis A3, or the first axis A1 may intersect the third axis A3 diagonally.

Hereinafter, each component will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the base 201 has a fixing plate 211 fixed on the bottom surface 52a of the OTA chamber 50, four legs 212 erected on the fixing plate 211, and four legs. A rotating shaft support portion 213 fixed to the upper portion of the portion 212 is provided.

The first rotary shaft 203 is rotatably supported by the rotary shaft support portion 213 about the third axis A3.

The first drive unit 202 includes a drive motor such as a stepping motor that generates a rotational drive force, and is installed on, for example, a fixing plate 211 fixed to the bottom surface 52a of the OTA chamber 50. The first drive unit 202 is adapted to rotationally drive the first rotary shaft 203 around the third axis A3, for example, via a belt and a pulley.

In the rotary table 204, when the central portion of the lower surface of the table is fixed to the upper end portion of the first rotary shaft 203 and the first rotary shaft 203 is rotationally driven by the rotary drive force of the first drive unit 202, the third rotary table 204 is third. It is designed to rotate by a predetermined angle around the axis A3 of.

The lower end of the support column 205 is fixed at a position at a predetermined distance from the third axis A3 on the rotary table 204, and extends in a direction parallel to the direction of the third axis A3 (upward). The support column 205 is adapted to rotate together with the rotary table 204 by the rotational driving force of the first drive unit 202.

The second rotary shaft 207 is rotatably supported around the first axis A1 by the rotary shaft support portion 218 attached to the upper part of the support column 205.

The second drive unit 208 includes a drive motor such as a stepping motor that generates a rotary drive force, and is attached to, for example, the lower surface of the rotary table 204. The second drive unit 208 is adapted to rotationally drive the second rotary shaft 207 around the first axis A1 via, for example, a belt and a pulley.

Since the terminal holder 120 is connected to the end portion 207a of the second rotating shaft 207 as a connecting tool, the terminal holder 120 is rotated by a predetermined angle around the first axis A1 by the rotational driving force of the second driving unit 208. It has become like.

In the present embodiment, the third axis A3 is, for example, an axis extending in the vertical direction with respect to the bottom surface 52a of the OTA chamber 50. Further, the first axis line A1 is, for example, an axis line extending in the horizontal direction from the side surface of the support column 205. The terminal rotating device 200 configured in this way rotates the DUT 100 held by the terminal holder 120 in all three-dimensional directions with respect to the test antenna 6 and the reflector 7, for example, with the center of the DUT 100 as the rotation center. The antenna 110 can be rotated so that its posture can be sequentially changed so as to face the antenna 110.

Specifically, in the OTA test system, the center of the DUT 100 is located at the center of rotation (also referred to as the origin O), which is the intersection of the first axis A1 and the third axis A3, which are the two rotation axes of the terminal rotation device 200. It may be arranged. At this time, the center of the DUT 100 becomes an immovable rotation center when the DUT 100 is rotated about two axes by the terminal rotating device 200.

The rotary table 204 is provided with a link antenna 209 supported by the link antenna holder 214 at a position opposite to the support column 205 with the center of the rotary table 204 interposed therebetween. Further, in the upper part of the support column 205, a link antenna 210 supported by the link antenna holder 215 is provided in the upper part of the support column 216. The link antennas 209 and 210 can be used in place of the link antennas 5 and 8.

(Terminal holder)
Next, the terminal holder 120 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11.

9 is a perspective view of the terminal holder 120, and FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the terminal holder 120 with the cover 124 removed. The terminal holder 120 is used by being attached to the terminal rotating device 200, which is a posture variable mechanism, and is adapted to hold the DUT 100. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the terminal holder 120 includes a base portion 122, a slide guide portion 140, and a pair of arm portions 127 and 128. Hereinafter, each component will be described. The material of the terminal holder 120 may be metal or a dielectric, and the use of the dielectric reduces the influence of the reflection of radio waves.

(Base part)
The base portion 122 is made of a plate-shaped member, and is attached to the end portion 207a of the second rotating shaft 207 of the terminal rotating device 200 by a screw or the like so that the plate surface 122a is perpendicular to the first axis line A1. It is designed to be used. The base portion 122 is rotationally driven around the first axis A1 together with the second rotary shaft 207 that is rotationally driven.

(Slide guide)
The slide guide portion 140 is fixed to the plate surface 122a of the base portion 122 with screws or the like to guide the slide movement of the pair of arm portions 127 and 128. Specifically, the slide guide portion 140 has a pair of arm portions 127, such that the pair of arm portions 127 and 128 sandwich the DUT 100 from both sides along the second axis A2 with the first axis A1 interposed therebetween. It is designed to guide the slide movement of 128.

Specifically, in the slide guide portion 140, the pair of arm portions 127 and 128 slide in opposite directions on both sides of the second axis A2 with the first axis A1 interposed therebetween, and the first of each arm portion. The slide movement of the pair of arm portions 127 and 128 is guided so that the distance L from the axis A1 of 1 is the same as each other (see FIG. 11B).

With this configuration, the terminal holder 120 according to the present embodiment holds the DUT 100 so that the first axis A1 always passes through the center of the DUT 100 sandwiched by the pair of arm portions 127 and 128, and therefore, when the DUT 100 is set. Alignment becomes easy.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, the slide guide portion 140 has a ball screw support portion 123, a ball screw 133 supported by the ball screw support portion 123, and a rotary knob 125 for rotating the screw shaft 134 of the ball screw 133. And have.

More specifically, the ball screw support portion 123 is made of a plate-shaped member, and is attached to the base portion 122 by a screw or the like. The ball screw 133 includes a first screw shaft 134a, a second screw shaft 134b, a first nut 135, a second nut 136, a first slider plate 137, a second slider plate 138, and the like.

The screw shaft 134 of the ball screw 133 is configured such that the first screw shaft 134a and the second screw shaft 134b are connected in the longitudinal direction at the connecting portion 139, and the first and second screw shafts 134a and 134b have the same lead. The threads are formed in opposite directions.

With this configuration, the terminal holder 120 according to the present embodiment guides the slide movement of one arm portion 127 by the first screw shaft 134a, and slides the other arm portion 128 by the second screw shaft 134b. By guiding, the pair of arm portions 127 and 128 can slide and move closer to each other, and the pair of arm portions 127 and 128 can slide and move away from each other. As a result, the DUT 100 can be sandwiched by the pair of arm portions 127 and 128 by a simple operation of turning the screw shaft 134 with the rotary knob 125, and the DUT 100 can be easily set.

Specifically, the first nut 135 is attached to the first screw shaft 134a so that the first nut 135 linearly moves in the longitudinal direction of the first screw shaft 134a with the rotation of the first screw shaft 134a. It has become. Further, the second nut 136 is attached to the second screw shaft 134b, and the second nut 136 moves linearly in the longitudinal direction of the second screw shaft 134b as the second screw shaft 134b rotates. ..

A first slider plate 137 is connected to the first nut 135, and the first slide plate 137 moves linearly with the linear movement of the first nut 135. Further, a second slider plate 138 is connected to the second nut 136, and the second slider plate 138 moves linearly with the linear movement of the second nut 136.

An arm portion 127 is erected on the first slider plate 137, and the longitudinal direction of the arm portion 127 is parallel to the first axis A1. Further, an arm portion 128 is erected on the second slider plate 138, and the longitudinal direction of the arm portion 128 is parallel to the first axis A1.

Since the first screw shaft 134a and the second screw shaft 134b are connected by the connecting portion 139, when the screw shaft 134 is rotated by the rotary knob 125, the first nut 135 and the second nut 136 are connected to each other. It is designed to slide in the opposite direction. Therefore, the first slider plate 137 and the arm portion 127 connected to the first nut 135 and the second slider plate 138 and the arm portion 128 connected to the second nut 136 are connected to each other as the screw shaft 134 rotates. It is designed to slide in the opposite direction.

In the present embodiment, the ball screw 133 has a configuration in which the first screw shaft 134a and the second screw shaft 134b are connected in the longitudinal direction, but may not be connected. When not connected, the first screw shaft 134a and the second screw shaft 134b can be rotated individually, and the arm portion 127 and the arm portion 128 are slid and moved individually.

Further, in the present embodiment, the slide guide portion 140 is configured to guide the slide movement of the pair of arm portions 127 and 128 by the ball screw 133, but is not limited to this configuration. Instead of the ball screw 133, or in addition to the ball screw 133, a linear guide that guides the slide movement of the pair of arm portions 127 and 128 by rails may be used.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the DUT 100 is pinched by the pair of arm portions 127 and 128, the screw shaft 134 of the ball screw 133 rotates in the direction in which the pinching force is loosened to prevent the DUT 100 from coming off from the arm portions 127 and 128. Therefore, by removing the rotation knob 125 and mounting it in the opposite direction, the screw shaft 134 is fixed so that it cannot rotate. However, the method for preventing the DUT 100 from falling off is not limited to this, and an elastic body such as a spring may be used to apply an urging force in the direction in which the pair of arm portions 127 and 128 approach each other. Further, the structure may be a combination of such an elastic body such as a spring and a linear guide.

(Arm part)
The pair of arm portions 127 and 128 constitute a holding means 126 for holding the DUT 100. Specifically, the pair of arm portions 127 and 128 are configured to extend parallel to the first axis A1 and slide along the second axis A2 orthogonal to the first axis A1. It is designed to do. More specifically, the pair of arm portions 127 and 128 sandwich the DUT 100 from both sides along the second axis A2 with the first axis A1 interposed therebetween. Further, the pair of arm portions 127 and 128 can hold the plate-shaped rectangular parallelepiped DUT 100 in a plurality of different holding postures with reference to the first axis A1 and the second axis A2.

The pair of arm portions 127 and 128 include positioning portions 129 and 130, respectively. The positioning portions 129 and 130 have the same structure.

The arm portion 127 includes a positioning portion 129 that regulates the movement of the DUT 100 in the longitudinal direction of the arm portion 127. The positioning portion 129 is made of an annular member having an opening in the center, and the arm portion 127 is inserted through the opening so that the positioning portion 129 can slide along the longitudinal direction of the arm portion 127. With this configuration, the terminal holder 120 can accurately set the position of the DUT 100 in the longitudinal direction of the arm portion by the positioning portion 129.

A convex portion 129a is formed on the inner surface of the annular member of the positioning portion 129. A groove 127b is formed on the outer surface of the arm portion 127 in the longitudinal direction of the arm portion. The positioning portion 129 can be stably slid with the convex portion 129a in the groove 127b of the arm portion 127. As described above, since the positioning portion 129 is slidable along the longitudinal direction of the arm portion, even DUTs 100 having different holding postures and sizes can be accurately and easily held.

Similarly, the arm portion 128 includes a positioning portion 130 that regulates the DUT 100 from moving in the longitudinal direction of the arm portion 128. The positioning portion 130 is composed of an annular member having an opening in the center, and the arm portion 128 is inserted through the opening so that the positioning portion 130 can slide and move along the longitudinal direction of the arm portion 128. A convex portion 130a is formed on the inner surface of the annular member of the positioning portion 130. A groove 128b is formed on the outer surface of the arm portion 128 in the longitudinal direction of the arm portion. The positioning portion 130 can be stably slid with the convex portion 130a in the groove 128b of the arm portion 128.

Each of the arm portions 127 and 128 is provided with a scale 141 along the longitudinal direction of the arm portion. With this configuration, the terminal holder 120 can accurately set the positions of the positioning portions 129 and 130 that can be slidably moved along the longitudinal direction of the arm portions 127 and 128.

The positioning portions 129 and 130 are provided with fixing screws 131 and 132 for fixing the positions of the positioning portions 129 and 130 in the longitudinal direction of the arm portions 127 and 128, respectively.

The pair of arm portions 127 and 128 are formed with concave portions 127a and 128a having a V-shaped cross section along the longitudinal direction of the arm portions on the surfaces facing each other. With this configuration, when the terminal holder 120 is sandwiched by a pair of arm portions 127 and 128 from the upper end surface 103 and the lower end surface 104 of the thin plate-shaped rectangular parallelepiped DUT 100, or from the left side surface 105 and the right side surface 106. In addition, the DUT 100 can be stably and accurately held by the concave portions 127a and 128a on the opposite surfaces of the pair of arm portions 127 and 128.

Specifically, the opposite surfaces of the pair of arm portions 127 and 128 are two inclined surfaces forming the concave portions 127a and 128a having a V-shaped cross section and two flat surfaces (banks) formed on both sides thereof. Part). The DUT 100 sandwiched in a cantilever shape abuts on these two inclined surfaces and the positioning portions 129 and 130 and is stably held (first and second holding postures), or these two flat surfaces. It comes into contact with the positioning portions 129 and 130 and is stably held (third holding posture). The cross-sectional shapes of the concave portions 127a and 128a are V-shaped, but if the DUT 100 is held by abutting on two inclined surfaces in the first and second holding postures, the V-shaped valley bottom is formed. May have a flat portion, and is referred to as a V-shaped cross section including such a cross-sectional shape.

A non-slip elastic sheet such as a thin rubber sheet is attached to the surfaces of the pair of arm portions 127 and 128 on the opposite sides and the surfaces of the positioning portions 129 and 130 on the side where the DUT 100 abuts to ensure the DUT 100. It can be held in.

Next, the holding posture of the DUT 100 which is sandwiched and held by the pair of arm portions 127 and 128 of the terminal holder 120 will be described.

The terminal holder 120 can hold the DUT 100 in the following first to third holding postures specified with reference to the first axis A1 and the second axis A2. The DUT 100 is assumed to have a plate-shaped rectangular parallelepiped shape having a front surface 101, a back surface 102, an upper end surface 103, a lower end surface 104, a left side surface 105, and a right side surface 106. In the DUT 100, the "vertical direction" (B1) is a direction orthogonal to the upper end surface 103 and the lower end surface 104, and the "left-right direction" (B2) is a direction orthogonal to the left side surface 105 and the right side surface 106. , "Thickness direction" (B3) is a direction orthogonal to the front surface 101 and the back surface 102 (see FIG. 13).

(First holding posture)
The first holding posture is a holding posture in which the vertical direction of the DUT 100 is parallel to the first axis A1 and the left-right direction of the DUT 100 is parallel to the second axis A2. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the pair of arm portions 127 and 128 may hold the DUT 100 from the left side surface 105 and the right side surface 106 and hold the DUT 100 in the first holding posture. can.

(Second holding posture)
The second holding posture is a holding posture in which the vertical direction of the DUT 100 is parallel to the second axis A2 and the left-right direction of the DUT 100 is parallel to the first axis A1. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15, the pair of arm portions 127 and 128 can hold the DUT 100 from the upper end surface 103 and the lower end surface 104 and hold the DUT 100 in the second holding posture. In the case of the second holding posture, the extension shaft 217 is attached to the end 207a of the second rotating shaft 207 in order to adjust the position so that the third axis A3 passes through the center position of the DUT 100, and the end of the extension shaft 217 is attached. A terminal holder 120 is attached to the portion.

(Third holding posture)
The third holding posture is a holding posture in which the vertical and horizontal directions of the DUT 100 are perpendicular to the first axis A1 and the vertical direction of the DUT 100 is parallel or perpendicular to the second axis A2. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 16, the pair of arm portions 127 and 128 sandwich the DUT 100 from the upper end surface 103 and the lower end surface 104, or sandwich the DUT 100 from the left side surface 105 and the right side surface 106 to hold the DUT 100. It can be held in the third holding posture. In the case of the third holding posture, the extension shaft 217 is attached to the end portion 207a of the second rotating shaft 207 in order to adjust the position so that the third axis A3 passes through the center position of the DUT 100, and the end of the extension shaft 217 is attached. A terminal holder 120 is attached to the portion.

Next, the integrated control device 10, the NR system simulator 20, and the signal processing unit 40 of the test device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

(Integrated control device)
As described below, the integrated control device 10 comprehensively controls the NR system simulator 20 and the terminal rotation device 200. For this purpose, the integrated control device 10 is communicably connected to the NR system simulator 20 and the terminal rotation device 200 via a network 19 such as Ethernet (registered trademark).

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the integrated control device 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the integrated control device 10 has a control unit 11, an operation unit 12, and a display unit 13. The control unit 11 is configured by, for example, a computer device. In this computer device, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11a, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 11b, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 11c, and an external interface (I / F) unit 11d It has a non-volatile storage medium such as a hard disk device (not shown) and various input / output ports.

The CPU 11a is adapted to perform comprehensive control for the NR system simulator 20 and the terminal rotation device 200. The ROM 11b stores an OS (Operating System) for starting up the CPU 11a, other programs, control parameters, and the like. The RAM 11c is designed to store execution codes, data, and the like of the OS and applications used by the CPU 11a for operation. The external interface (I / F) unit 11d has an input interface function for inputting a predetermined signal and an output interface function for outputting a predetermined signal.

The external I / F unit 11d is communicably connected to the NR system simulator 20 via the network 19. Further, the external I / F unit 11d is also connected to the terminal rotating device 200 provided in the OTA chamber 50 via the network 19. An operation unit 12 and a display unit 13 are connected to the input / output port. The operation unit 12 is a functional unit for inputting various information such as commands, and the display unit 13 is a functional unit for displaying various information such as an input screen for the various information and measurement results.

The computer device described above functions as a control unit 11 by the CPU 11a executing a program stored in the ROM 11b with the RAM 11c as a working area. As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 11 has a call connection control unit 14, a signal transmission / reception control unit 15, and a DUT attitude control unit 17. The call connection control unit 14, the signal transmission / reception control unit 15, and the DUT attitude control unit 17 are also realized by the CPU 11a executing a predetermined program stored in the ROM 11b in the work area of the RAM 11c.

The call connection control unit 14 drives the test antenna 6 to transmit and receive a control signal (wireless signal) to and from the DUT 100, so that the call (radio signal can be transmitted and received) between the NR system simulator 20 and the DUT 100. Control to establish the state).

The signal transmission / reception control unit 15 monitors the user operation in the operation unit 12, and the call connection control unit 14 takes the opportunity of the user performing a predetermined measurement start operation related to the measurement of the transmission characteristic and the reception characteristic of the DUT 100. A signal transmission command is transmitted to the NR system simulator 20 via the call connection control of. Further, the signal transmission / reception control unit 15 controls the NR system simulator 20 to transmit a test signal via the test antenna 6, and also transmits a signal reception command to the NR system simulator 20 to transmit the test antenna 6. It controls to receive the signal to be measured via.

The DUT attitude control unit 17 controls the attitude of the DUT 100 held in the terminal rotation device 200 at the time of measurement. In order to realize this control, for example, the DUT attitude control table 17a is stored in advance in the ROM 11b. In the DUT attitude control table 17a, for example, when a stepping motor is adopted as the first and second drive units 202 and 208, the number of drive pulses (number of operation pulses) that determines the rotational drive of the stepping motor is set. It is stored as control data.

The DUT attitude control unit 17 expands the DUT attitude control table 17a into the work area of the RAM 11c, and based on the DUT attitude control table 17a, as described above, the DUT 100 causes the antenna 110 to sequentially face in all directions in three dimensions. The terminal rotation device 200 is driven and controlled so as to change the attitude. The DUT attitude control unit 17 may drive and control the terminal rotation device 200 so that the antenna 110 of the DUT 100 can suitably transmit and receive signals of linear polarization in a predetermined direction.

(NR system simulator)
As shown in FIG. 4, the NR system simulator 20 of the test apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has a signal measurement unit 21, a control unit 22, an operation unit 23, and a display unit 24. The signal measurement unit 21 includes a signal generation function unit composed of a signal generation unit 21a, a digital / analog converter (DAC) 21b, a modulation unit 21c, a transmission unit 21e of the RF unit 21d, and a reception unit 21f of the RF unit 21d. It has an analog / digital converter (ADC) 21g and a signal analysis function unit composed of an analysis processing unit 21h.

In the signal generation function unit of the signal measurement unit 21, the signal generation unit 21a transmits waveform data having a reference waveform, specifically, for example, an I component baseband signal and a Q component baseband signal which is an orthogonal component signal thereof. Generate. The DAC 21b converts waveform data (I component baseband signal and Q component baseband signal) having a reference waveform output from the signal generation unit 21a from a digital signal to an analog signal and outputs the waveform data to the modulation unit 21c. The modulation unit 21c mixes a local signal with each of the I component baseband signal and the Q component baseband signal, further synthesizes both, and performs a modulation process to output an analog modulation signal. The RF unit 21d generates a test signal corresponding to the frequency of each communication standard from the analog modulation signal output from the modulation unit 21c, and outputs the generated test signal to the signal processing unit 40 by the transmission unit 21e.

The signal processing unit 40 is configured to perform signal processing such as frequency conversion of a signal transmitted to and received from the test antenna 6.

Further, in the signal analysis function unit of the signal measurement unit 21, the RF unit 21d receives the measured signal transmitted from the DUT 100, which has received the test signal by the antenna 110, at the reception unit 21f via the signal processing unit 40. Then, the signal to be measured is mixed with the local signal to be converted into an intermediate frequency band signal (IF signal). The ADC 21g converts the measured signal converted into an IF signal by the receiving unit 21f of the RF unit 21d into a digital signal and outputs it to the analysis processing unit 21h.

The analysis processing unit 21h generates waveform data corresponding to the I component baseband signal and the Q component baseband signal by digital processing the measured signal, which is a digital signal output by the ADC 21g, and then the waveform data. The process of analyzing the I component baseband signal and the Q component baseband signal is performed based on the above. In the measurement of the transmission characteristic (RF characteristic) for the DUT 100, the analysis processing unit 21h is, for example, equivalent isotropic radiation power (EIRP), total radiation power (TRP), spurious emission, modulation accuracy (EVM), transmission power, and constellation. , Spectrum, etc. can be measured. Further, the analysis processing unit 21h can measure, for example, the reception sensitivity, the bit error rate (BER), the packet error rate (PER), and the like in the measurement of the reception characteristic (RF characteristic) for the DUT 100. Here, EIRP is the radio signal strength in the main beam direction of the antenna 110 of the DUT 100. Further, TRP is the total value of electric power radiated into space from the antenna 110 of the DUT 100.

The control unit 22 is composed of, for example, a computer device including a CPU, RAM, ROM, and various input / output interfaces, similar to the control unit 11 of the integrated control device 10 described above. The CPU performs predetermined information processing and control for realizing each function of the signal generation function unit, the signal analysis function unit, the operation unit 23, and the display unit 24.

The operation unit 23 and the display unit 24 are connected to the input / output interface of the computer device. The operation unit 23 is a functional unit for inputting various information such as commands, and the display unit 24 is a functional unit for displaying various information such as the input screen of the various information and the measurement result.

In the present embodiment, the integrated control device 10 and the NR system simulator 20 are separate devices, but they may be configured as one device. In this case, the control unit 11 of the integrated control device 10 and the control unit 22 of the NR system simulator 20 may be integrated and realized by one computer device.

(Signal processing unit)
Next, the signal processing unit 40 will be described.

The signal processing unit 40 is provided between the NR system simulator 20 and the test antenna 6, and performs signal processing such as frequency conversion of signals transmitted and received between the test antenna 6 and the test antenna 6.

Specifically, the signal processing unit 40 includes an upconverter, a downconverter, an amplifier, a frequency filter, etc., and frequency conversion (up-conversion), amplification, frequency selection, etc. for the test signal transmitted to the test antenna 6. The signal is processed and output to the test antenna 6. Further, the signal processing unit 40 performs signal processing such as frequency conversion (down-conversion), amplification, and frequency selection on the signal under test input from the test antenna 6 and outputs the signal to the signal measurement unit 21. It has become.

(Test method)
Next, a test method performed using the test apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The following is an example of a test method, and it goes without saying that the specific test method differs depending on the type of test.

First, the user selects the holding posture of the DUT 100 when setting the DUT 100 in the terminal rotating device 200 from the first to third holding postures (step S1). The holding posture may be selected based on preliminary measurement results or the like so that the axial direction of the antenna 110 of the DUT 100 is a direction that can optimally transmit and receive the linearly polarized wave signal used in the test. ..

Next, the user sets the DUT 100 to be tested in the holding posture selected in step S1 with respect to the terminal holder 120 of the terminal rotating device 200 provided in the internal space 51 of the OTA chamber 50 (step S2).

Specifically, the positioning portions 129 and 130 mounted on the arm portions 127 and 128 are set at predetermined positions in the longitudinal direction of the arm portions 127 and 128. At that time, the positioning portions 129 and 130 are set at positions such that the rotation center of the set DUT 100 comes to the intersection O of the first axis line A1 and the third axis line A3. Next, the rotary knob 125 is turned to widen the space between the pair of arm portions 127 and 128, the DUT 100 is positioned between the pair of arm portions 127 and 128 in the selected holding posture, and the rotary knob 125 is turned to make a pair. The distance between the arm portions 127 and 128 is narrowed so that the DUT 100 is sandwiched. The screw shaft 134 is fixed by using the rotary knob 125 so that the screw shaft 134 of the ball screw does not rotate while the DUT 100 is sandwiched.

Next, the user uses the operation unit 12 of the integrated control device 10 to perform a measurement start operation instructing the control unit 11 to start the measurement of the transmission characteristic and the reception characteristic of the DUT 100. This measurement start operation may be performed by the operation unit 23 of the NR system simulator 20.

The call connection control unit 14 of the control unit 11 uses the test antenna 6 to transmit and receive a control signal (wireless signal) to and from the DUT 100 to perform call connection control (step S3). Specifically, the NR system simulator 20 wirelessly transmits a control signal (call connection request signal) having a predetermined frequency to the DUT 100 via the test antenna 6. On the other hand, the DUT 100 that has received the call connection request signal returns a control signal (call connection response signal) after setting the frequency requested for connection. The NR system simulator 20 receives this call connection response signal and confirms that the response has been performed normally. A series of these processes is call connection control. This call connection control establishes a state in which a radio signal having a predetermined frequency can be transmitted and received between the NR system simulator 20 and the DUT 100 via the test antenna 6.

The process of receiving the radio signal transmitted from the NR system simulator 20 via the test antenna 6 by the DUT 100 is referred to as a downlink (DL) process. On the contrary, the process of transmitting a radio signal to the NR system simulator 20 by the DUT 100 via the test antenna 6 is called an uplink (UL) process. The test antenna 6 is used to perform a process of establishing a link (call) and a process of downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) after the link is established, and also has a function of a link antenna. ing.

After establishing the call connection in step S3, the DUT attitude control unit 17 of the integrated control device 10 controls the attitude of the DUT 100 arranged in the quiet zone QZ to a predetermined attitude by the terminal rotation device 200 (step S4). For example, the DUT 100 held in the holding posture selected in step S1 is rotated around the first axis A1 and the third axis A3, so that the axial direction of the antenna 110 of the DUT 100 is linearly biased as used in the test. The attitude of the DUT 100 is controlled so that the wave signal can be transmitted and received optimally.

After the DUT 100 is controlled to a predetermined posture by the terminal rotation device 200, the signal transmission / reception control unit 15 of the integrated control device 10 transmits a signal transmission command to the NR system simulator 20. The NR system simulator 20 transmits a test signal to the DUT 100 via the test antenna 6 based on this signal transmission command (step S5).

The test signal transmission control by the NR system simulator 20 is carried out as follows. In the NR system simulator 20 (see FIG. 4), the signal generation unit 21a generates a signal for generating a test signal under the control of the control unit 22 that has received the signal transmission command. Next, the DAC 21b performs digital / analog conversion processing on the signal generated by the signal generation unit. Next, the modulation unit 21c performs modulation processing on the analog signal obtained by the digital / analog conversion. Next, the RF unit 21d generates a test signal corresponding to the frequency of each communication standard from the modulated signal, and the transmission unit 21e sends this test signal (DL data) to the signal processing unit 40.

The signal processing unit 40 is provided in the OTA chamber 50, performs signal processing such as frequency conversion (up-conversion), amplification, and frequency selection on the test signal, and sends the test signal to the test antenna 6. The test antenna 6 outputs the test signal toward the DUT 100 via the reflector 7.

The signal transmission / reception control unit 15 controls to transmit the test signal at an appropriate timing after the control of the test signal transmission is started in step S5 until the measurement of the transmission characteristic and the reception characteristic of the DUT 100 is completed. ..

On the other hand, the DUT 100 receives the test signal (DL data) transmitted via the test antenna 6 by the antenna 110 in different postures that are sequentially changed based on the posture control in step S4, and the DUT 100 receives the test signal (DL data). The measured signal, which is a response signal to the test signal, is transmitted.

After starting the transmission of the test signal in step S5, the reception process is subsequently performed under the control of the signal transmission / reception control unit 15 (step S6). In this reception processing, the test antenna 6 receives the measured signal transmitted from the DUT 100 that has received the test signal and outputs it to the signal processing unit 40. The signal processing unit 40 performs signal processing such as frequency conversion (down-conversion), amplification, and frequency selection, and outputs the signal to the NR system simulator 20.

The NR system simulator 20 executes a measurement process for measuring the frequency-converted signal to be measured by the signal processing unit 40 (step S7).

Specifically, the receiving unit 21f of the RF unit 21d of the NR system simulator 20 inputs the signal to be measured signal-processed by the signal processing unit 40. Under the control of the control unit 22, the RF unit 21d converts the measured signal input to the reception unit 21f into an IF signal having a lower frequency. Next, the ADC 21g converts the IF signal from an analog signal to a digital signal and outputs the IF signal to the analysis processing unit 21h under the control of the control unit 22. The analysis processing unit 21h generates waveform data corresponding to the I component baseband signal and the Q component baseband signal, respectively. Further, the analysis processing unit 21h analyzes the signal to be measured based on the generated waveform data under the control of the control unit 22.

More specifically, in the NR system simulator 20, the analysis processing unit 21h measures the transmission characteristic and the reception characteristic of the DUT 100 based on the analysis result of the signal to be measured under the control of the control unit 22.

For example, the transmission characteristics (RF characteristics) of the DUT 100 are as follows. First, the NR system simulator 20 transmits a request frame for uplink signal transmission as a test signal under the control of the control unit 22. The DUT 100 transmits the uplink signal frame as a measured signal to the NR system simulator 20 in response to the request frame for transmitting the uplink signal. The analysis processing unit 21h performs processing for evaluating the transmission characteristics of the DUT 100 based on this uplink signal frame.

Further, the reception characteristic (RF characteristic) of the DUT 100 is, for example, as follows. Under the control of the control unit 22, the analysis processing unit 21h determines the number of transmissions of the measurement frame transmitted from the NR system simulator 20 as a test signal, and the ACK and NACK transmitted from the DUT 100 to the measurement frame as a measurement signal. The ratio of the number of times of receiving is calculated as an error rate (PER).

In step S7, the analysis processing unit 21h stores the measurement results of the transmission characteristics and the reception characteristics of the DUT 100 in a storage area such as a RAM (not shown) under the control of the control unit 22. This measurement result may be displayed on the display unit 24 or the display unit 13.

Next, the control unit 11 of the integrated control device 10 determines whether or not the measurement of the transmission characteristic and the reception characteristic of the DUT 100 has been completed for all the desired postures (step S8). Here, if it is determined that the measurement has not been completed (NO in step S8), the process returns to step S4 and continues.

When it is determined that the measurement has been completed for all the postures (YES in step S8), the control unit 11 ends the test.

In the above description, the measurement is performed in the holding posture selected from the first to third holding postures, but the measurement is not limited to this, and the measurement is performed in all the first to third holding postures. You may do it.

Next, the action / effect will be described.

As described above, in the terminal holder 120 according to the present embodiment, in the slide guide portion 140, the pair of arm portions 127 and 128 sandwich the first axis A1 and the DUT 100 from both sides along the second axis A2. The pair of arm portions 127 and 128 are guided to slide along the second axis A2 so as to sandwich the arm portion 127 and 128. With this configuration, the pair of arm portions 127 and 128 are held, for example, from the upper end surface 103 and the lower end surface 104 of the thin plate-shaped rectangular parallelepiped DUT 100, and from the left side surface 105 and the right side surface 106 of the DUT 100. The DUT 100 can be held in a plurality of different holding postures with reference to the first axis A1 and the second axis A2.

As a result, the terminal holder 120 is rotated around the first axis A1 in a state where the DUT 100 is held in the more preferable holding posture among the plurality of holding postures, and the rotation angle is adjusted to adjust the rotation angle of the antenna 110 of the DUT 100. The axial direction can be optimally adjusted for transmission and reception of linearly polarized signals in a predetermined direction.

Further, since the pair of arm portions 127 and 128 are slidable along the second axis A2, even DUT100s having different holding postures and sizes can be easily held by sandwiching them from both sides. Can be done. Moreover, since the DUT 100 is sandwiched only by a pair of arm portions 127 and 128, the DUT 100 is closer to the DUT 100 than the conventional technology in which the DUT 100 is placed on a plate or the like when performing a communication test such as transmission / reception. It is possible to suppress the object to be used to the minimum necessary, and it is possible to suppress the influence on the radio signal used in the test.

Further, in the terminal holder according to the present embodiment, the pair of arm portions 127 and 128 can hold the DUT 100 in the following three holding postures.
(A) A first holding posture in which the vertical direction B1 of the DUT 100 is parallel to the first axis line A1 and the horizontal direction B2 of the DUT 100 is parallel to the second axis line A2.
(B) A second holding posture in which the vertical direction B1 of the DUT 100 is parallel to the second axis A2 and the horizontal direction B2 of the DUT 100 is parallel to the first axis A1, and (C) the vertical direction B1 and the DUT 100. A third holding posture in which the left-right direction B2 is perpendicular to the first axis A1 and the vertical direction B1 of the DUT 100 is parallel or perpendicular to the second axis A2.

With this configuration, the terminal holder 120 according to the present embodiment holds the terminal holder 120 around the first axis A1 in a state where the DUT 100 is held in a more preferable holding posture among the first to third holding postures. By rotating to and adjusting the rotation angle, the axial direction of the antenna 110 of the DUT 100 can be optimally adjusted for transmission and reception of a linearly polarized signal in a predetermined direction.

More specifically, the plate-shaped rectangular parallelepiped DUT 100 has a front surface 101, a back surface 102, an upper end surface 103, a lower end surface 104, a left side surface 105, and a right side surface 106. The pair of arm portions 127 and 128
(A) When the DUT 100 is held in the first holding posture, the DUT 100 is sandwiched from the left side surface 105 and the right side surface 106 (see FIGS. 13 and 14).
(B) When the DUT 100 is held in the second holding posture, the DUT 100 is sandwiched from the upper end surface 103 and the lower end surface 104 (see FIG. 15).
(C) When the DUT 100 is held in the third holding posture, the DUT 100 is sandwiched from the upper end surface 103 and the lower end surface 104, or from the left side surface 105 and the right side surface 106 (see FIG. 16).

Further, since the terminal rotating device 200 according to the present embodiment includes the terminal holder 120 of the present embodiment, the DUT 100 is held in a more preferable holding posture among the first to third holding postures. By rotating the terminal holder 120 around the first axis A1 and the third axis A3 to adjust the rotation angle, the axial direction of the antenna 110 of the DUT 100 is optimized for transmitting and receiving signals of linear polarization in a predetermined direction. Can be adjusted.

Further, since the mobile terminal test device 1 according to the present embodiment includes the terminal rotation device 200 of the present embodiment, the DUT 100 is held in a more preferable holding posture among the first to third holding postures. By rotating the terminal holder 120 of the terminal rotating device 200 around the first axis A1 and the third axis A3 to adjust the rotation angle, the axial direction of the antenna 110 of the DUT 100 is linearly polarized in a predetermined direction. It can be optimally adjusted for signal transmission / reception. By performing the measurement in a state where the axial direction of the antenna 110 of the DUT 100 is optimally adjusted, the transmission characteristic and the reception characteristic of the DUT 100 can be accurately measured.

Further, the mobile terminal test apparatus of the present invention can be applied not only to an anechoic box but also to an anechoic chamber.

As described above, the present invention has an effect that the mobile communication terminal can be held so that the axial direction of the antenna of the mobile communication terminal is the optimum direction for transmitting and receiving linearly polarized signals in a predetermined direction. However, it is useful for terminal holders, terminal rotation devices, and mobile terminal test devices in general.

1 Test equipment (mobile terminal test equipment)
2 Measuring device 5, 8, 209, 210 Link antenna 6 Test antenna 7 Reflector 7A Reflector 10 Integrated control device 11, 22 Control unit 11a CPU
11b ROM
11c RAM
11d External interface unit 12, 23 Operation unit 13, 24 Display unit 14 Call connection control unit 15 Signal transmission / reception control unit 17 DUT attitude control unit 17a DUT attitude control table 19 Network 20 NR system simulator 21 Signal measurement unit 21a Signal generation unit 21b DAC
21c Modulation unit 21d RF unit 21e Transmitter unit 21f Receiver unit 21g ADC
21h Analysis processing unit 40 Signal processing unit 50 OTA chamber (radio wave anechoic box)
51 Internal space 52 Housing body 52a Bottom surface 52b Side surface 52c Top surface 55 Radio wave absorber 57, 59, 214, 215 Link antenna holder 58 Reflector holder 90 Rack structure 90a Rack 100 DUT (mobile communication terminal)
100A Wireless terminal 101 Front 102 Back 103 Top surface 104 Bottom surface 105 Left side 106 Right side 110 Antenna 120 Terminal holder 122 Base 123 Ball screw support 124 Cover 125 Rotating knob 126 Holding means 127, 128 Arm 127a, 128a Concave Part 127b, 128b Groove 129, 130 Positioning part 129a, 130a Convex part 131, 132 Fixing screw 133 Ball screw 134 Screw shaft 134a First screw shaft 134b Second screw shaft 135 First nut 136 Second nut 137 First slider plate 138 2nd slider plate 139 Connecting part 140 Slide guide part 141 Scale 200 Terminal rotating device 201 Base part 202 1st driving part 203 1st rotating shaft 204 Rotating table 205, 216 Strut 207 2nd rotating shaft (connecting part)
207a End 208 2nd drive 211 Fixing plate 212 Leg 213 218 Rotating shaft support 217 Extension shaft QZ Quiet zone A1 1st axis A2 2nd axis A3 3rd axis B1 Vertical B2 Left / right direction

Claims (9)

A terminal holder (120) for holding a mobile communication terminal (100) to be tested having an antenna (110).
A base portion (122) that is rotationally driven around the first axis (A1), and
With a pair of arm portions (127, 128) that are slidable along a second axis (A2) orthogonal to the first axis and each extend parallel to the first axis. ,
The pair of arm portions is fixed to the base portion, and the pair of arm portions sandwich the first axis and sandwich the mobile communication terminal from both sides along the second axis. A slide guide unit (140) that guides the slide movement, and
A terminal holder. The pair of arm portions is configured to be capable of sandwiching the plate-shaped rectangular parallelepiped mobile communication terminal in a plurality of different holding postures with reference to the first axis and the second axis.
The plurality of holding postures are
(A) A first holding posture in which the vertical direction of the mobile communication terminal is parallel to the first axis and the left-right direction of the mobile communication terminal is parallel to the second axis.
(B) A second holding posture in which the vertical direction of the mobile communication terminal is parallel to the second axis and the left-right direction of the mobile communication terminal is parallel to the first axis, and (C). A third holding posture in which the vertical and horizontal directions of the mobile communication terminal are perpendicular to the first axis and the vertical direction of the mobile communication terminal is parallel or perpendicular to the second axis.
The terminal holder according to claim 1. In the slide guide portion, the pair of arm portions slide in opposite directions on both sides of the second axis with the first axis in between, and the arm portions are from the first axis. The terminal holder according to claim 1 or 2, which guides the slide movement of the pair of arms so that the distances are the same as each other. Each of the arm portions includes a positioning portion (129, 130) that regulates the movement of the mobile communication terminal in the longitudinal direction of the arm portion, and the positioning portion is slidable along the longitudinal direction of the arm portion. The terminal holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the terminal holder is characterized by the above-mentioned. The slide guide portion includes a ball screw (133), and the screw shaft (134) of the ball screw is configured by connecting a first screw shaft (134a) and a second screw shaft (134b) in the longitudinal direction. The terminal holder according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first and second screw shafts have threads formed in opposite directions with the same lead. The terminal holder according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each arm portion is provided with a scale (141) along the longitudinal direction of each arm portion. Any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the pair of arm portions are formed with concave portions (127a, 128a) having a V-shaped cross section along the longitudinal direction of the arm portions on the surfaces facing each other. The terminal holder described in item 1. A terminal rotating device (200) for rotating a mobile communication terminal (100) to be tested having an antenna (110) to change the posture of the mobile communication terminal.
A rotary table (204) that is rotationally driven around the third axis (A3),
A strut (205) having one end fixed to the rotary table and extending in a direction parallel to the direction of the third axis,
A connecting portion (207) provided on the other end side of the support column and rotationally driven around the first axis line orthogonal to the third axis line.
The terminal holder (120) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the base portion is connected to the connecting portion.
Terminal rotation device equipped with. A mobile terminal test device (1) for measuring transmission characteristics or reception characteristics of a mobile communication terminal (100) having an antenna (110).
An anechoic box (50) having an internal space (51) that is not affected by the surrounding radio wave environment,
A test antenna (6) provided in the internal space and transmitting or receiving a radio signal to and from the antenna, and a test antenna (6).
The terminal rotating device (200) according to claim 8, wherein the posture of the mobile communication terminal arranged in the quiet zone (QZ) in the internal space is sequentially changed.
A measuring device (20) that measures the transmission characteristic or the reception characteristic of the mobile communication terminal each time the posture of the mobile communication terminal is changed by the terminal rotation device.
Mobile terminal test equipment equipped with.

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