Base station antenna automatic test system architecture solution

The antenna automatic test system is a comprehensive test system used to measure the main performance of the product during the antenna production process. The main test indicators are: the directional pattern and the passive intermodulation level of the antenna, as well as the standing wave ratio and isolation of each port of the antenna. The system consists of: passive intermodulation analyzer, network analyzer, computer (built-in software for testing various products and GPIB card, etc.), RF switch matrix, switch matrix control unit and RF probe, etc.

The basic test principle is as follows: first, use a network analyzer to measure the relevant parameters of the antenna oscillator unit under test, and compare them with the data of the product in the preset software to obtain the simulated radiation pattern of the vertical plane (E plane) of the antenna, and use this to determine whether the various units of the antenna array are normal and estimate the basic characteristics of the far field. Then use a passive intermodulation analyzer to measure the intermodulation indicators of the antenna and locate the position of the worst intermodulation point in the antenna.

Figure 1: Schematic diagram of antenna automatic test structure

2. Features

1. Specially designed for low efficiency of base station antenna testing

The ideal design data of different base station antennas are built in, which can provide the radiation pattern of the ideal base station antenna, providing basis and guidance for actual design and production testing.

2. Rapidly measure the directivity pattern of base station antennas and simulate far-field testing

Far-field testing often takes several hours. In the period of large-scale production, it is the most important link restricting production efficiency. If every antenna cannot be tested in the far field, the product quality will not be guaranteed. However, this system fundamentally solves this problem. It only takes less than 1 minute to quickly measure the directional pattern of the base station antenna and simulate the far-field test, so as to achieve the goal of full inspection.

3. Automatically determine whether a unit design is reasonable or whether there is a production fault

The ideal antenna pattern is formed based on the ideal design data of different built-in base station antennas, and compared with the data obtained from actual tests, so that it can quickly determine whether the design of a unit in a certain frequency band is reasonable or whether there is a production fault, and then quickly repair the existing problems.

4. Quickly measure the passive intermodulation of base station antennas and locate the worst source point

Conventional base station antenna passive intermodulation tests can only determine whether the entire base station antenna is qualified, but cannot determine where the unqualified area is. By using this test system, the passive intermodulation of the base station antenna can be quickly measured and the worst source point can be located, thus solving the blindness of finding the passive intermodulation point.

5. Rapidly measure the standing wave ratio, isolation and other parameters of the base station antenna port

6. Applicable to various conventional network analyzers

The system has built-in drivers for common network analyzers on the market, which can automatically match them. At the same time, customized services can also be provided to customize corresponding drivers for all special network analyzers of customers.

7. Friendly operation interface

Taking into account the actual measurement situation of base station antenna manufacturers, the network analyzer is controlled by a computer and a virtual instrument control interface is used to get rid of the traditional test equipment button operation mode, making the operation simple, the training cycle short, and the operator easy to use.

8. Automatically output test reports and various test report formats

After the test, various test reports can be automatically generated, and multiple test report formats such as JPG, PDF, Excel, etc. can be provided, which can effectively preserve the test data and test waveforms during the test, facilitating later problem diagnosis and analysis.

Attached pictures:

Figure 2: Schematic diagram of the basic principle of testing antenna radiation pattern

Figure 3: Schematic diagram of the basic principle of using reflection ports to test antenna passive intermodulation

Figure 4: Schematic diagram of the basic principle of using the transmission port to locate the antenna passive intermodulation point

Figure 5: Direction diagram