TWI400462B - Testing system and method for radio frequency module - Google Patents

Description

Wireless RF module test system and test method

The invention relates to a radio frequency module test system and method for testing a radio frequency module.

In mobile communication products, radio frequency components are essential components. As the demand for mobile communication products increases, wireless RF components have been modularized to simplify wireless communication design and reduce product manufacturing costs. In addition, under the high division of parts manufacturing and high cost considerations, mobile communication product manufacturers purchase more parts from parts suppliers to reduce the manufacturing cost of the entire product.

However, the manufacturer of general mobile communication products has to pay for the independent testing of the radio frequency module itself, at least until the product completes the motherboard part, and can perform indirect testing with the connection port set on the main board. If the fixed radio frequency module is found to be defective at this time, the cost of rework or scrapping is no longer just a single radio frequency module, and the cost of rework is too high, so that other good on the main board. Parts are also scrapped with one, resulting in additional waste. Moreover, the cost of processing semi-finished products has so far been wasted.

Therefore, it is necessary to propose a test system to perform tests before assembling the radio frequency module to avoid unnecessary waste of subsequent processes and solve the above problems.

One aspect of the present invention is to provide a radio frequency module test system for testing a radio frequency module.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for testing a radio frequency module implemented in the above radio frequency module test system.

The radio frequency module test system of the present invention comprises a data processing device and a signal conversion module. The radio frequency module to be tested includes a first signal input interface and a first signal output interface. The data processing device includes a first communication interface, and the signal conversion module includes a second signal input interface, a second signal output interface, and a second communication interface. The second signal input interface is detachably electrically connected to the first signal output interface, and the second signal output interface is detachably and electrically connected to the first signal input interface, and the second communication interface and the first communication interface are Separate ground connection.

The data processing device indirectly transmits a control signal to the radio frequency module or receives a feedback signal from the radio frequency module via the signal conversion module. In other words, the data processing device (for example, a personal computer) can indirectly receive the feedback signal that the wireless RF module responds under the test condition, or set or modify the wireless RF, by the function of the signal conversion module to convert the signal. Module operating parameters and Media Access Control (MAC) address. The data processing device further enables the user to easily interpret the feedback signal and set and modify the parameters of the radio frequency module by using the designed test software.

Similarly, the method for testing a radio frequency module of the present invention is to prepare the data processing device and the signal conversion module, and then electrically connect the second signal input interface to the first signal output interface, the second The signal output interface is detachably electrically connected to the first signal input interface, and the second communication interface is detachably and electrically connected to the first communication interface. Then, the user can operate the data processing device to indirectly send a control signal to the radio frequency module or receive a feedback signal from the radio frequency module via the signal conversion module.

Therefore, the radio frequency module test system and method of the present invention can perform testing and make necessary modification or setting before the assembly process of the radio frequency module, thereby preventing defective products from entering the subsequent process and increasing the cost. It can also improve product yield. At the same time, the radio frequency module can be classified by the test result, which is beneficial to subsequent process design (for example, matching with other parts), improving product performance and reducing waste.

The advantages and spirit of the present invention will be further understood from the following detailed description of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 , FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a radio frequency module test system 1 according to an embodiment. The radio frequency module test system 1 is used to test a radio frequency module 3 , wherein the radio frequency module 3 includes The first signal input interface and the first signal output interface, the first signal input interface includes two signal contacts 32a, 32b, and the first signal output interface also includes two signal contacts 34a, 34b.

According to the specific embodiment, the radio frequency module test system 1 includes a data processing device 12, a signal conversion module 14, two clock generators 16a, 16b, and a power supply 18. The data processing device 12 includes a first communication interface 122. The signal conversion module 14 includes a second communication interface 142, a second signal input interface, and a second signal output interface. The second signal output interface includes two signal contacts 144a and 144b. Corresponding to the two signal contacts 32a, 32b of the first signal input interface, the second signal input interface includes two signal contacts 146a, 146b respectively corresponding to the two signal contacts 34a, 34b of the first signal output interface.

According to the specific embodiment, the clock generators 16a, 16b can respectively generate working clocks of 32.768 KHz and 26 MHz, and the power supply 18 can provide power supplies of 1.8 V and 3.3 V, and the first communication interface 122 and the second communication interface 142. They are respectively a D-sub connector, which can be connected by a cable assembly; however, the invention is not limited thereto.

When testing the radio frequency module 3, the radio frequency module 3 must be connected to the radio frequency module test system 1. Therefore, the signal contacts 32a, 32b of the first signal input interface are separately and electrically connected to the signal contacts 144a, 144b of the second signal output interface, and the signal contacts 34a, 34b of the first signal output interface are respectively required to be The signal contacts 146a, 146b of the second signal input interface are detachably and electrically connected. The clock generators 16a, 16b are also electrically connected to the radio frequency module 3, respectively, to provide two working clocks of the radio frequency module 3: 32.768 KHz and 26 MHz. The power supply 18 is also electrically connected to the radio frequency module 3 to provide two operating voltages of the radio frequency module 3: 1.8V and 3.3V. It should be noted that the foregoing electrical connection may be achieved by a connector (such as a socket) or a simple contact contact (or with an elastic pressing force), but the invention is not limited thereto.

After the wireless RF module 3 is connected to the wireless RF module test system 1, the user can operate the data processing device 12 (for example, a personal computer) to test or modify the wireless RF module 3, set parameters, and the like. . Of course, the operation of the user can be implemented by software. If the software provides a Graphic Display Interface (GDI), the convenience of the user can be increased.

Although the voltage level of the data processing device 12 and the peripheral device is different from the voltage level of the wireless RF module 3 and its peripheral components, the communication device provided by the wireless RF module 3 is also associated with the existing data processing device 12. The peripheral communication is different, but the data processing device 12 can still communicate with the radio frequency module 3 by the signal conversion function of the signal conversion module 14.

According to the specific embodiment, a suitable circuit diagram of the signal conversion module 14 is shown in FIG. To match the communication specifications with the data processing device 12, the signal conversion module 14 includes an RS232 signal processing chip (Texas Instruments, product number MAX3232CPWR) to convert the signal from the radio frequency module 3 via the 9-pin D-sub connector. (The second communication interface 142) is transmitted to the data processing device 12.

In addition, the radio frequency module test system 1 of the present invention also provides the power supply and clock required for the normal operation of the radio frequency module 3, thereby providing a comprehensive test solution. It is to be noted that the signal conversion module 14, the clock generators 16a, 16b and the power supply 18 can be integrated into a test platform, and a socket can be disposed thereon, and the wireless RF module 3 can be directly inserted into the socket. The connection can be completed and then tested. This can greatly reduce the test operation, improve the test efficiency, and reduce the test operation. Damage caused by the radio frequency module 3.

For the test procedure of the radio frequency module 3, please refer to the following instructions. Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 . FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a method for testing a radio frequency module according to the present invention. First, an external initialization condition of the radio frequency module 3 is provided, as shown in step S102. Next, the operating voltage of the radio frequency module 3 is provided, as shown in step S104; and the radio frequency module 3 is electrically connected to the signal conversion module 14, as shown in step S106; the signal conversion module 14 and the data processing device are also 12 electrical connection, as shown in step S108. Finally, the user can perform the function test on the radio frequency module 3 via the data processing device 12, and modify the media access control address and the like of the radio frequency module 3 as needed, as shown in step S110.

It should be noted that the foregoing steps S104, S106, and S108 can be implemented in one step by using the integrated radio frequency module test system 1 (integrated into a single test platform as described above), once inserted or installed. The power supply and signal contact connection can be completed, so the above steps S104, S106 and S108 can be directly integrated.

Based on the foregoing description of the signal conversion module 14, the data processing device 12 can send a control signal to the signal conversion module 14 according to the user's operation on the test request, and the signal conversion module 14 converts the control signal and The processed control signal is sent to the radio frequency module 3, and the radio frequency module 3 performs corresponding work according to the message or instruction included in the control signal.

On the other hand, the radio frequency module 3 can send the feedback signal to the signal conversion module 14, and the signal conversion module 14 also converts the feedback signal. And sending the processed feedback signal to the data processing device 12; in addition, the reason for the wireless RF module 3 to send the feedback signal may be to receive an external radio wave or respond to the control signal of the data processing device 12, .

In short, the data processing device 12 indirectly transmits a control signal to the radio frequency module 3 or receives a feedback signal from the radio frequency module 3 via the signal conversion module 14. Therefore, the data processing device 12 can communicate with the radio frequency module 3 by the signal conversion function of the signal conversion module 14. Therefore, in step S110, the control signal sent by the data processing device 12 may include a signal for setting the working parameters of the radio frequency module 3, or a signal for modifying the media access control address of the radio frequency module 3, or It is a signal containing other test control commands.

In summary, the present invention provides a test system and method for testing or setting operations before the wireless RF module performs product assembly, and can further integrate the test system into a single test platform to simplify the test operation. Therefore, the wireless radio frequency module testing system and method of the invention can avoid the defective products from entering the subsequent process, increase the cost, and improve the product yield. At the same time, through the test results, the radio frequency module (batch) can be classified to increase process flexibility, improve product performance, and reduce waste.

The features and spirit of the present invention will be more apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments. On the contrary, the intention is to cover various modifications and equivalents within the scope of the invention as claimed. Therefore, the scope of the patent claimed by the present invention The scope should be interpreted broadly according to the above description so that it covers all possible changes and arrangements of equality.

1‧‧‧Wireless RF Module Test System

3‧‧‧Wireless RF Module

12‧‧‧Data processing device

14‧‧‧Signal Conversion Module

16a, 16b‧‧‧ clock generator

18‧‧‧Power supply

32a, 32b, 34a, 34b‧‧‧ signal contacts

122‧‧‧First Communication Interface

142‧‧‧Second communication interface

144a, 144b, 146a, 146b‧‧‧ signal contacts

S102~S110‧‧‧Steps

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a radio frequency module test system according to an embodiment.

Figure 2 shows a circuit diagram of a suitable example of a signal conversion module.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a method for testing a radio frequency module according to the present invention.

1. . . Wireless RF Module Test System

3. . . Wireless RF module

12. . . Data processing device

14. . . Signal conversion module

16a, 16b. . . Clock generator

18. . . Power Supplier

32a, 32b, 34a, 34b. . . Signal contact

122. . . First communication interface

142. . . Second communication interface

144a, 144b, 146a, 146b. . . Signal contact

Claims (11)

A radio frequency module test system for testing a radio frequency module, the radio frequency module includes a first signal input interface and a first signal output interface, the radio frequency module test system includes: a power supply The data processing device includes a first communication interface, and a signal conversion module includes a second signal input interface, and a power processing device is configured to be electrically connected to the wireless RF module. a second signal output interface and a second communication interface, the second signal input interface is detachably electrically connected to the first signal output interface, and the second signal output interface is detachably and electrically connected to the first signal input interface. The second communication interface is detachably electrically connected to the first communication interface, wherein the data processing device indirectly sends a control signal to the wireless RF module or receives a feedback signal from the wireless RF module via the signal conversion module. . The radio frequency module test system of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency module has a media access control address, and the control signal includes a signal for modifying the media access control address. The radio frequency module test system of claim 1, wherein the control signal includes a signal for setting an operating parameter of the radio frequency module. The radio frequency module test system of claim 1, further comprising a second clock generator electrically coupled to the radio frequency module to provide a working clock of 32.768 KHz and 26 MHz, respectively. The radio frequency module test system of claim 1, wherein the first communication interface and the second communication interface are respectively a D-sub connector. The radio frequency module test system of claim 5, wherein the signal conversion module comprises an RS232 signal processing chip for converting the control signal and the feedback signal. A radio frequency module test method for testing a radio frequency module, the radio frequency module includes a first signal input interface and a first signal output interface, and the radio frequency module test method comprises the following steps: The power supply is electrically connected to the radio frequency module to provide power required by the radio frequency module; a data processing device is prepared, including a first communication interface; and a signal conversion module is prepared, including a second signal input interface, a second signal output interface and a second communication interface; the second signal input interface is detachably electrically connected to the first signal output interface, and the second signal output interface is detachable from the first signal input interface Connecting, the second communication interface is detachably electrically connected to the first communication interface; and the data processing device indirectly transmits a control signal to the wireless RF module or receives feedback from the wireless RF module via the signal conversion module Signal. The radio frequency module test method of claim 7, wherein the radio frequency module has a media access control address, and the radio frequency module test method further comprises the following steps: the radio frequency module is The first signal input interface receives the control Signal to modify the media access control address. The method for testing a radio frequency module according to claim 7 further includes the following steps: the radio frequency module receives the control signal via the first signal input interface to modify its operating parameters. The method for testing a radio frequency module according to claim 7 further includes the following steps: electrically connecting the two-way generator to the radio frequency module to provide working clocks of 32.768 KHz and 26 MHz, respectively. The method for testing a radio frequency module according to claim 7, wherein the signal conversion module includes an RS232 signal processing chip, and the signal conversion module indirectly transmits the converted control signal to the radio frequency module or transmits Converting the feedback signal to the data processing module.