Port multiplier and radio communication test system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11416430-B2
Application number	US-202016780685-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 3, 2020
Priority date	Feb 3, 2020
Publication date	Aug 16, 2022
Grant date	Aug 16, 2022

Abstract

A port multiplier for extending ports of a radio communication test instrument comprises an input for receiving at least one input signal, a power supply unit, a control logic, and at least one output for outputting a processed signal. The port multiplier is configured to split the at least one input signal into its different components such that a radio signal component of the input signal is forwarded to the at least one output. A power signal component of the input signal is forwarded to the power supply unit. Further, a control signal component of the input signal is forwarded to the control logic. Moreover, a radio communication test system for testing a device under test is described.

First claim

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A port multiplier for extending ports of a radio communication test instrument, said port multiplier comprising:
an input for receiving at least one input signal from the radio communication test instrument for testing a device under test,
a power supply,
a control circuit,
a housing that encompasses said power supply and said control circuit, and a plurality of outputs for outputting a processed signal for testing said device under test,
said input and said outputs being assigned to an outer surface of said housing,
said port multiplier being configured to split said at least one input signal into its different components such that a radio signal component of said input signal is forwarded to said outputs, a power signal component of said input signal is forwarded to said power supply, and a control signal component of said input signal is forwarded to said control circuit.

2. The port multiplier according to claim 1 , wherein said port multiplier comprises a splitter connected with said input, said splitter being configured to split said input signal into its different components.

3. The port multiplier according to claim 1 , wherein said port multiplier has a switch with at least two switching outputs.

4. The port multiplier according to claim 3 , wherein said switch is configured to activate only one switching output at a time or to activate a plurality of switching outputs simultaneously.

5. The port multiplier according to claim 3 , wherein said switch is configured to perform an OSM measurement on a component connected with said input or said output of the port multiplier.

6. The port multiplier according to claim 1 , wherein at least one power meter is provided that is assigned to said input or said output of the port multiplier, said power meter being configured to obtain a measurement value concerning the respective power at said input or said output.

7. The port multiplier according to claim 6 , wherein said control circuit is connected with said power meter, said control circuit being configured to convert said measurement value into a communication signal component.

8. The port multiplier according to claim 1 , wherein said different components of said input signal do not interfere with each other in frequency.

9. A radio communication test system for testing a device under test, said test system comprising:
a radio communication test instrument with at least one communication port;
a device under test; and
a port multiplier with an input, a power supply unit, a control logic, and at least one output,
said test instrument and said port multiplier being interconnected with each other by a single cable connection that is established by a multifunctional cable that is connected with said communication port of said test instrument and said input of said port multiplier such that a single input signal is transmitted from said communication port of said test instrument via said multifunctional cable towards said input of said port multiplier, wherein said port multiplier is configured to split said at least one input signal into its different components such that a radio signal component of said input signal is forwarded to said at least one output, a power signal component of said input signal is forwarded to said power supply unit, and a control signal component of said input signal is forwarded to said control logic,
said device under test being connected with said at least one output.

10. The radio communication test system according to claim 9 , wherein said multifunctional cable is configured to transmit a radio signal component, a power signal component, and a control signal component.

11. The radio communication test system according to claim 9 , wherein said port multiplier comprises at least one of a switch and a splitter configured to split said input signal into its different components.

12. The radio communication test system according to claim 9 , wherein said multifunctional cable establishes a bidirectional communication between said test instrument and said port multiplier.

13. The radio communication test system according to claim 9 , wherein said multifunctional cable is established by a coaxial cable or a hybrid cable.

14. The radio communication test system according to claim 9 , wherein said port multiplier is configured to communicate with said test instrument, thereby notifying said test instrument that said port multiplier is connected with said test instrument.

15. The radio communication test system according to claim 9 , wherein at least one power meter is provided that is assigned to said input or said output, said power meter being configured to obtain a measurement value concerning the respective power at said input or said output, said control logic being connected with said power meter, said control logic being configured to convert said measurement value into a communication signal component that is forwarded to said test instrument via said multifunctional cable.

16. The radio communication test system according to claim 9 , wherein several port multipliers are provided that are interconnected with each other.

17. A port multiplier for extending ports of a radio communication test instrument, said port multiplier comprising:
an input for receiving at least one input signal;
a power supply;
a control circuit;
a switch with at least two switching outputs;
a housing that encompasses said power supply, said control circuit, and said switch; and
two outputs for outputting a processed signal respectively, said two outputs being connected with said at least two switching outputs,
said port multiplier being configured to split said at least one input signal into its different components such that a radio signal component of said input signal is forwarded to said outputs, a power signal component of said input signal is forwarded to said power supply, and a control signal component of said input signal is forwarded to said control circuit,
said switch being configured to activate a plurality of switching outputs simultaneously such that a multicast operation mode or a broadcast operation mode is provided by the port multiplier.

Assignees

• Rohde & Schwarz

Inventors

• Holzmann Gottfried
• Oetjen Martin
• Jelen Matthias
• Moser Albert

Classifications

• H04B17/0085

  using test signal generators · CPC title

• G06F13/4027 Primary

  using bus bridges (G06F13/4022 takes precedence) · CPC title