Frequency modulated (FM) chirp testing for automotive radars using standard automated test equipment (ATE) digital pin channels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10401476-B2
Application number	US-201615076508-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 21, 2016
Priority date	Apr 1, 2015
Publication date	Sep 3, 2019
Grant date	Sep 3, 2019

Abstract

A method for characterizing a FM chirp signal generated by a device under test (DUT) is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a selection of a sample frequency and chirp duration for capturing the FM chirp signal. The method also comprises down converting the FM chirp signal and capturing the FM chirp signal using a digital pin electronics card. The method comprises obtaining a plurality of period measurements from the captured FM chirp signal using a timing measurement unit (TMU) of an automated test equipment (ATE) and converting each of the plurality of period measurements into corresponding frequency values.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for characterizing a frequency modulated (FM) chirp signal generated by a device under test (DUT), the method comprising:
receiving a selection of a sample frequency and chirp duration for capturing the FM chirp signal;
down converting the FM chirp signal;
capturing the FM chirp signal using a digital pin electronics card to produce a captured FM chirp signal;
obtaining a plurality of period measurements from the captured FM chirp signal using a timing measurement unit (TMU) of an automated test equipment (ATE); and
converting each of the plurality of period measurements into corresponding frequency values.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sample frequency and the chirp duration are selected to obtain a desired resolution bandwidth, and further comprising:
characterizing the captured FM chirp signal by analyzing the frequency values versus corresponding time values.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
creating a visual indication of the captured FM chirp signal by plotting the frequency values versus corresponding time values on a display unit.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
calculating a deviation of the captured FM chirp signal from an ideal FM chirp signal.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sample frequency and chirp duration are selected, wherein a resultant resolution bandwidth is less than a predetermined required chirp resolution value.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sample frequency and the chirp duration are selected based on an expected maximum transmit rate programmed into the DUT.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of period measurements are obtained at predetermined time intervals over the chirp duration.

8. An Automated Test Equipment (ATE) system, the system comprising:
a memory comprising instructions stored therein, wherein the instructions are operable to characterize a frequency modulated (FM) chirp signal generated by a device under test (DUT);
a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to operate in accordance with the instructions to:
receive a selection of a sample frequency and chirp duration for capturing the FM chirp signal;
down convert the FM chirp signal;
capture the FM chirp signal using a digital pin electronics card to produce a captured FM chirp signal, wherein the digital pin electronics card is operable to couple with a test-head of the ATE, and wherein the digital pin electronics card comprise a timing measurement unit (TMU);
obtain a plurality of period measurements from the captured FM chirp signal using the TMU; and
convert each of the plurality of period measurements into corresponding frequency values.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the sample frequency and the chirp duration are selected to obtain a desired resolution bandwidth, and wherein the processor is further configured to operate in accordance with the instructions to:
characterize the captured FM chirp signal by analyzing the frequency values versus corresponding time values.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
create a visual indication of the captured FM chirp signal by plotting the frequency values versus corresponding time values on a display unit associated with the ATE.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
calculate a deviation of the captured FM chirp signal from an ideal FM chirp signal.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the sample frequency and chirp duration are selected, wherein a resultant resolution bandwidth is less than a predetermined required chirp resolution value.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the sample frequency and the chirp duration are selected based on an expected maximum transmit rate programmed into the DUT.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of period measurements are obtained at predetermined time intervals over the chirp duration.

Assignees

• Advantest Corp

Inventors

• McAleenan Roger
• Bartlett Robert

Classifications

• G01S13/34

  using transmission of continuous, frequency-modulated waves while heterodyning the received signal, or a signal derived therefrom, with a locally-generated signal related to the contemporaneously transmitted signal · CPC title

• G01S7/4008 Primary

  of transmitters · CPC title

• G01R23/02

  Arrangements for measuring frequency, e.g. pulse repetition rate; Arrangements for measuring period of current or voltage · CPC title

• G01R31/2834

  Automated test systems [ATE]; using microprocessors or computers (G01R31/317 takes precedence; ATE for detection of defective computer hardware G06F11/2736) · CPC title