JP2023094181A - Measurement system and adjustment method - Google Patents

Abstract

To measure response time with high accuracy.SOLUTION: A measurement system comprises: a directional coupling unit whose first terminal is electrically connected with a signal output unit via a first cable and whose second terminal is electrically connected with a first antenna, and that outputs a first signal inputted to the first terminal from the second terminal and outputs a third signal that is a part of the first signal from a third terminal; and a measurement unit electrically connected with a second antenna via a second cable and electrically connected with the third terminal of the directional coupling unit via a third cable, and that acquires response time from transmission of a first electric wave to reception of a second electric wave on the basis of a second signal inputted via the second cable and the third signal inputted via the third cable.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to measurement systems and adjustment methods.

US Pat. No. 6,200,000 describes a system for testing data packet signal transceivers.

In the technique described in Patent Document 1, wireless communication is performed between two antennas. A cable signal path is connected to one antenna. Two directional couplers are inserted between the antenna and the cable signal path.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2016-516344

In the technique described in Patent Document 1, one directional coupler extracts a part of the signal of the reference data packet. A part of the signal of the extracted reference data packet is delayed by the amount of delay (the amount of delay in signal transmission) of one of the directional couplers. The other directional coupler taps off a portion of the responsive data packet received at the antenna. The partial signal of the retrieved responsive data packet is delayed by the amount of delay that the other directional coupler has. The synthesizer synthesizes the signals picked up by the two directional couplers and outputs them to the analysis circuit.

In this way, when two directional couplers are inserted between the antenna and the cable signal path, one of the extracted reference data packets is The amount of delay between the partial signal and the partial signal of the extracted responsive data packet varies. As a result, the start times of some signals of the extracted reference data packet and some signals of the extracted responsive data packet vary. Therefore, the technique described in Patent Document 1 cannot measure the response time with high accuracy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to measure response time with high accuracy.

A measurement system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a first antenna that transmits a first radio wave to a wireless communication device based on a first signal; receives the first radio wave from the first antenna; a second antenna that receives a certain second radio wave from a wireless communication device and outputs the first radio wave and a second signal based on the second radio wave; a signal output device that outputs the first signal; 1 cable electrically connected to the signal output device, the second terminal is electrically connected to the first antenna, the first signal input to the first terminal is output from the second terminal, the first a directional coupler for outputting a third signal that is part of the signal from a third terminal; After transmitting a first radio wave based on a second signal input via a second cable and a third signal input via a third cable, which are electrically connected via a cable , a measuring device for obtaining the response time to receive the second radio wave.

An adjustment method according to one aspect of the present invention includes a first antenna that transmits a first radio wave to a wireless communication device based on a first signal; a first radio wave that is received from the first antenna; a second antenna that receives a certain second radio wave from a wireless communication device and outputs the first radio wave and a second signal based on the second radio wave; a signal output device that outputs the first signal; 1 cable electrically connected to the signal output device, the second terminal is electrically connected to the first antenna, the first signal input to the first terminal is output from the second terminal, the first a directional coupler for outputting a third signal that is part of the signal from a third terminal; After transmitting a first radio wave based on a second signal input via a second cable and a third signal input via a third cable, which are electrically connected via a cable and a measuring instrument for obtaining a response time to receive a second radio wave, wherein the first terminal of the directional coupler is electrically connected to the first antenna. , the timing when the third radio wave is transmitted from the third antenna and the fourth signal output from the second antenna reaches the measuring instrument; The delay time of the first path is adjusted so that the timing at which the fifth signal reaches the measuring device coincides with the timing.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to measure a response time with high precision.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a measurement system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing signal waveforms of the measurement system according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing signal waveforms of the measurement system according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram explaining a method of adjusting the measurement system according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method for adjusting the measuring system according to the embodiment.

Embodiments of the measuring system and adjusting method of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited by this embodiment. Each embodiment is an example, and it goes without saying that partial substitutions or combinations of configurations shown in different embodiments are possible.

<Configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a measurement system according to an embodiment.

The 5th generation mobile communication system (5G) is characterized by low delay as well as high-capacity high-speed communication. In other words, 5G requires almost real-time responsiveness. The measurement system 1 can measure the response time of wireless communication with high accuracy.

The measurement system 1 performs wireless communication with the wireless communication device 2 . The measurement system 1 transmits radio waves 41 to the wireless communication device 2 . The wireless communication device 2 transmits radio waves 42 to the measurement system 1 in response to the radio waves 41 . The measurement system 1 measures the time (response time) from when the radio waves 41 are transmitted until when the radio waves 42 are received.

The radio wave 41 corresponds to an example of the "first radio wave" of the present disclosure. The radio wave 42 corresponds to an example of the "second radio wave" of the present disclosure.

The measurement system 1 includes a signal transceiver 11 , a directional coupler 12 , a first antenna 13 , a second antenna 14 and a measuring device 15 .

The signal transmitter/receiver 11 is exemplified by a communication tester, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. The signal transmitter/receiver 11 performs FDD (Frequency Division Duplex), but the present disclosure is not limited to this. In FDD, one band is divided into a transmit frequency band and a receive frequency band.

The signal transceiver 11 corresponds to an example of the "signal output device" of the present disclosure.

The directional coupler 12 is exemplified as having a coupling degree of 10 dB (decibel) and an insertion loss of 1 dB, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The first antenna 13 and the second antenna 14 are of the same type. The first antenna 13 and the second antenna 14 are, for example, broadband isotropic antennas, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The first antenna 13 and the second antenna 14 are preferably arranged close to each other.

The measuring instrument 15 is exemplified by an oscilloscope, a network analyzer, etc. capable of time domain analysis, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The signal transmitter/receiver 11 is electrically connected to the first terminal 12a of the directional coupler 12 via the cable 21 .

The cable 21 corresponds to an example of the "first cable" of the present disclosure.

A second terminal 12 b of the directional coupler 12 is electrically connected to the first antenna 13 . A third terminal 12 c of the directional coupler 12 is electrically connected to the measuring device 15 via a cable 23 .

The cable 23 corresponds to an example of the "third cable" of the present disclosure.

Second antenna 14 is electrically connected to measuring instrument 15 via cable 22 .

The cable 22 corresponds to an example of the "second cable" of the present disclosure.

The delay time of the first path 71 of the cable 22→measuring device 15 is preferably adjusted to be the same as the delay time of the second path 72 of the directional coupler 12→cable 23→measuring device 15. . Furthermore, the path loss of the first path 71 is preferably adjusted to be the same as the path loss of the second path 72 .

A method of adjusting the path loss and delay time of the first path 71 will be described later.

<Action>
The signal transmitter/receiver 11 outputs a signal 31 (reference data packet, transmission signal) to the first terminal 12 a of the directional coupler 12 via the cable 21 .

The signal 31 corresponds to an example of the "first signal" of the present disclosure.

The directional coupler 12 outputs the signal 31 input to the first terminal 12a to the first antenna 13 from the second terminal 12b. The first antenna 13 transmits radio waves 41 based on the signal 31 . The radio wave 41 is received by the wireless communication device 2 and also by the second antenna 14 .

The directional coupler 12 outputs a signal 32 that is a part of the signal 31 to the measuring device 15 via the cable 23 from the third terminal 12c.

The signal 32 corresponds to an example of the "third signal" of the present disclosure.

Signal 32 is attenuated by the degree of coupling of directional coupler 12 . Therefore, it is preferable that the measuring device 15 corrects the signal 32 by the attenuation caused by the directional coupler 12 . For example, measuring device 15 amplifies signal 32 by the amount of attenuation by directional coupler 12, but the present disclosure is not limited to this.

The second antenna 14 outputs a signal 33 based on the radio waves 41 to the measuring instrument 15 via the cable 22 .

The wireless communication device 2 transmits radio waves 42 to the measurement system 1 in response to the radio waves 41 . The radio wave 42 is received by the first antenna 13 and is also received by the second antenna 14 .

The first antenna 13 outputs a signal 51 (response data packet, received signal) based on the radio wave 42 to the second terminal 12b of the directional coupler 12 .

The directional coupler 12 outputs the signal 51 input to the second terminal 12b to the signal transmitter/receiver 11 via the cable 21 from the first terminal 12a. Signal transceiver 11 receives signal 51 .

The second antenna 14 outputs a signal 52 based on the radio waves 42 to the measuring instrument 15 via the cable 22 .

Therefore, a signal 61 in which the signal 33 and the signal 52 are superimposed is output from the second antenna 14 to the measuring device 15 .

The signal 61 corresponds to an example of the "second signal" of the present disclosure.

A signal 61 is a signal in which the signal 33 and the signal 52 are superimposed. In other words, the responsive data packet is buried in the reference data packet.

As described above, the path loss and delay time of the first path are adjusted to be the same as the path loss and delay time of the second path. Therefore, the start timing of signal 33 is the same as the start timing of signal 32 .

Moreover, as described above, the measuring device 15 corrects the signal 32 by the attenuation caused by the directional coupler 12 .

Therefore, the measuring instrument 15 analyzes the waveforms of the signals 32 and 61 . Specifically, measuring instrument 15 analyzes the waveform amplitude and phase of each of signal 32 and signal 61 . The measuring device 15 compares the two signals after analysis and removes the signal 32 after analysis from the signal 61 after analysis by calculation. For example, the measurement device 15 subtracts the components of the analyzed signal 32 from the components of the analyzed signal 61 . The signal obtained by this calculation becomes the signal 52 (responsive data packet). This allows the measuring device 15 to separate the signal 33 (reference data packet) and the signal 52 (responsive data packet).

2 and 3 are diagrams showing signal waveforms of the measurement system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the waveform of the signal 61 input to the measuring device 15. As shown in FIG. Since the signal 61 is a superimposition of the signal 33 (reference data packet) and the signal 52 (responsive data packet), the measuring instrument 15 cannot distinguish between the signal 33 and the signal 52 .

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing the waveform of the signal 32 (reference data packet) input to the measuring device 15. FIG.

FIG. 3(b) is a diagram showing the waveform of the signal after calculation by the measuring device 15. As shown in FIG. For example, instrument 15 removes the components of signal 32 (ie, signal 33) from the components of signal 61. FIG. Therefore, FIG. 3B shows the waveform of the signal 52 (responsive data packet).

The measuring device 15 can obtain the time interval between the start timing _t0 of the signal 32 and the start timing _t1 of the signal 52, that is, the response time T. The measuring device 15 can output the response time T to the outside.

<effect>
Measuring device 15 can obtain signal 52 by removing the component of signal 32 from the component of signal 61 .

In addition, unlike Patent Document 1, the first path 71 does not include a device such as a directional coupler that delays the signal.

Therefore, the measuring instrument 15 accurately measures the time (response time) from transmitting the radio wave 41 to receiving the radio wave 42, that is, the time from outputting the signal 32 to receiving the signal 52. Is possible.

For example, if the response time satisfies the 5G specification, it can be confirmed that both the measurement system 1 and the wireless communication device 2 satisfy the 5G specification.

For example, if it is known in advance that the measurement system 1 meets the 5G specifications and the response time does not meet the 5G specifications, it is confirmed that the wireless communication device 2 does not meet the 5G specifications. can.

For example, if it is known in advance that the wireless communication device 2 meets the 5G specifications and the response time does not meet the 5G specifications, it is confirmed that the measurement system 1 does not meet the 5G specifications. can.

<Adjustment method>
A method for adjusting the path loss and delay time of the first path 71 will be described.

FIG. 4 is a diagram explaining a method of adjusting the measurement system according to the embodiment. The adjustment method of the measurement system 1 uses a signal generator 81 and a third antenna 82 . Signal generator 81 outputs a known test signal to third antenna 82 . A third antenna 82 transmits radio waves 91 based on the test signal to the measurement system 1 .

The radio wave 91 corresponds to an example of the "third radio wave" of the present disclosure.

Although the third antenna 82 is illustrated to be the same type of antenna as the first antenna 13 and the second antenna 14, the present disclosure is not so limited.

The place where the third antenna 82 is arranged is, for example, a place where the distance between the third antenna 82 and the first antenna 13 and the distance between the third antenna 82 and the second antenna 14 are the same. but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method for adjusting the measuring system according to the embodiment.

The first terminal 12a of the directional coupler 12 is electrically connected to the first antenna 13 (step S100). At this time, the second terminal 12b does not have to be connected to anything.

The signal generator 81 outputs the test signal to the third antenna 82 (step S102).

The third antenna 82 transmits radio waves 91 based on the test signal to the measurement system 1 (step S104).

The first antenna 13 outputs a signal 101 based on the radio wave 91 to the first terminal 12a of the directional coupler 12, and the second antenna 14 outputs a signal 102 based on the radio wave 91 to the measuring device 15 (step S106).

Directional coupler 12 outputs signal 103, which is a part of signal 101, from third terminal 12c to measuring instrument 15 via cable 23 (step S108).

The signal 102 corresponds to an example of the "fourth signal" of the present disclosure. The signal 103 corresponds to an example of the "fifth signal" of the present disclosure.

The measuring instrument 15 analyzes the waveforms of the signals 102 and 103 in the time domain (step S110).

The delay time of the cable 22 is adjusted so that the timing at which the signal 102 reaches the measuring device 15 matches the timing at which the signal 103 reaches the measuring device 15 (step S112).

Although the delay time of cable 22 is exemplified by lengthening or shortening the length of cable 22, the present disclosure is not so limited. For example, a delay element or variable delay element may be inserted into the cable 22 .

Furthermore, it is preferable to adjust the path loss of the cable 22 so that the signal level of the signal 102 reaching the measuring device 15 and the signal level of the signal 103 reaching the measuring device 15 match.

Although the path loss of cable 22 is illustrated by lengthening or shortening the length of cable 22, the present disclosure is not so limited. For example, an attenuator or variable attenuator may be inserted into the cable 22 .

By the adjustment method described above, the delay time of the first path 71 can be adjusted to be the same as the delay time of the second path 72 . Also, the path loss of the first path 71 can be adjusted to be the same as the path loss of the second path 72 .

In addition, the above-described embodiment is for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and is not for limiting and interpreting the present invention. The present invention may be modified/improved without departing from its spirit, and the present invention also includes equivalents thereof.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 measurement system 2 wireless communication device 11 signal transceiver 12 directional coupler 13 first antenna 14 second antenna 15 measuring instrument 81 signal generator 82 third antenna

Claims (6)

a first antenna that transmits a first radio wave to the wireless communication device based on the first signal;
receiving the first radio wave from the first antenna, receiving a second radio wave in response to the first radio wave from the wireless communication device, and outputting a second signal based on the first radio wave and the second radio wave , a second antenna, and
a signal output device that outputs the first signal;
A first terminal is electrically connected to the signal output device through a first cable, a second terminal is electrically connected to the first antenna, and the first signal input to the first terminal is the a directional coupler outputting from a second terminal and outputting from a third terminal a third signal that is part of the first signal;
electrically connected to the second antenna via a second cable, electrically connected to the third terminal of the directional coupler via a third cable, and input via the second cable Obtaining a response time from transmitting the first radio wave to receiving the second radio wave based on the second signal and the third signal input via the third cable , a measuring instrument, and
including,
measurement system. A measurement system according to claim 1, wherein
The measuring instrument
By removing the component of the third signal from the component of the second signal, the component of the second radio wave received by the second antenna is obtained, and the timing of the component of the second radio wave and the third signal are obtained. obtaining the response time based on signal timing;
measurement system. The measurement system according to claim 1 or 2,
The delay time of the first path from the second cable to the measuring instrument is the same as the delay time of the second path from the directional coupler to the measuring instrument.
measurement system. A measurement system according to claim 3,
the path loss of the first path is the same as the path loss of the second path;
measurement system. a first antenna for transmitting a first radio wave to a wireless communication device based on a first signal; receiving the first radio wave from the first antenna and transmitting a second radio wave in response to the first radio wave to the radio; a second antenna that receives from a communication device and outputs a second signal based on the first radio wave and the second radio wave; a signal output device that outputs the first signal; and a first terminal having a first cable. a second terminal electrically connected to the first antenna, and outputting the first signal input to the first terminal from the second terminal; a directional coupler for outputting a third signal that is part of the first signal from a third terminal; the directional coupler electrically connected to the second antenna via a second cable; electrically connected to a third terminal via a third cable, based on the second signal input via the second cable and the third signal input via the third cable; and a measuring device that obtains a response time from transmitting the first radio wave to receiving the second radio wave, wherein
electrically connecting the first terminal of the directional coupler to the first antenna;
transmitting a third radio wave from the third antenna,
A timing at which a fourth signal output from the second antenna reaches the measuring device, and a fifth signal output from the third terminal, which is part of a signal input to the first terminal, is the measuring device. Adjust the delay time of the first path from the second cable to the measuring device so that the timing of reaching the
adjustment method. The adjustment method according to claim 5,
adjusting the path loss of the first path so that the signal level of the fourth signal reaching the measuring device and the signal level of the fifth signal reaching the measuring device match;
adjustment method.

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