5G终端MIMO OTA测试方法研究现状与展望

MIMO(multi-input multi-output)OTA(over-the-air)测试是评估天线系统辐射性能的重要方法,也是设备在研发、生产阶段必经的步骤之一。随着5G移动通信系统的到来,毫米波等新特性的引入,为传统MIMO OTA测试方法带来了新的挑战,也使得OTA测试成为5G毫米波终端唯一可行的测试解决方案。首先论述了5G OTA测试所面临的挑战,分析了4G移动通信系统OTA测试方法在5G OTA性能测试中的适用性,并探究了如何将低频测试方法扩展到毫米波终端测试。然后总结了3GPP对于MIMO OTA测试的研究现状,详细阐述了简单扇形排列的多探头吸波暗室(simple-sectored multi-probe anechoic chamber,SS-MPAC)的系统模型、测试原理以及性能评价指标等,并验证了SS-MPAC配置中利用更少的探头仍可以获得合理的测试精度。最后对未来的研究趋势进行了展望。

Research status and prospect of MIMO OTA test methods for 5G terminals

MIMO(multi-input multi-output)OTA(over-the-air)testing is an important method to evaluate the radiation performance of the antenna system,as well as an indispensable step of research&development(R&D)and mass production stages.With the advent of the 5G mobile communication system,the introduction of millimeter wave(mmWave)and other new technologies brings new challenges to the traditional MIMO OTA test method,and meanwhile makes OTA testing the only feasible solution for testing future 5G devices.Firstly,the challenges faced by 5G OTA testing was described.Then the applicability of the 4G mobile communication system OTA test method to the 5G OTA performance test was analyzed,and how to extend the low-frequency test method to the mmWave terminal test was studied.Then the current status of 3GPP’s research on MIMO OTA testing was summarized,and the system model,test principle,and performance evaluation indexes of simple-sectored multi-probe anechoic chamber(SS-MPAC)were explained in detail.In addition,smaller setup sizes can still yield reasonable measurement accuracy was verified.Finally,future research trends were prospected.