Over-the-air measurements, tolerances and multiradio interoperability on 5G mmW radio platform
Thesis event information
Date and time of the thesis defence
Place of the thesis defence
Remote link: https://oulu.zoom.us/j/61689304107
Topic of the dissertation
Over-the-air measurements, tolerances and multiradio interoperability on 5G mmW radio platform
Doctoral candidate
Licentiate of technology Marko Leinonen
Faculty and unit
University of Oulu Graduate School, Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, Radio technology
Subject of study
Radio technology
Opponent
Professor Ville Viikari, Aalto University
Custos
Professor Aarno Pärssinen, University of Oulu
Over the air measurements, tolerances and multiradio interoperability on 5G millimeter wave radio platform
In this dissertation, the author has studied how a proof-of-concept prototype for a 5G millimeter-wave radio can be built and its performance can be analyzed against tolerances and anticipated product requirements without the guidance of the standard requirements. It was shown in the thesis, that the development of a system-level concept radio unit resembles closely the development process of the industrial product. 5G millimeter-wave radio needs to be tested using over the air measurements based on the standard. However, the requirements were not available at the time of the development. Here new measurement methods were developed by the author to test the developed millimeter-wave concept radio.
Over the air error vector magnitude measurement opens a new possibility to perform measurements during communication signaling. Additionally, the use of millimeter-wave frequencies enables new testing to be performed in an RF laboratory or office environment due to the small signal wavelength. As an example, the noise figure measurement for a millimeter-wave phased array receiver was demonstrated based on over the air error vector magnitude measurements in this thesis without expensive noise source equipment. Gain control both in the transmitter and the receiver were adapted to scale the required measurement range down in different scenarios. This enables 5G millimeter-wave link range and cell coverage estimations with beam steering without long-range outdoor measurements.
The higher 5G millimeter-wave frequencies challenge the current manufacturing methods for telecommunication products since the wavelength of the signal is shorter, and the absolute manufacturing tolerances are larger at higher frequencies. The shape of the probability density function of the radio parameters is needed for quality level estimation purposes, and it was proven in the thesis that the antenna input matching follows a log-normal distribution on the dB scale. The product and measurement system calibration will not correct repeatability and reproducibility errors in the measurements. It was found that a standard deviation of the repeatably of the 5G millimeter-wave signal power level with over the air measurement in an RF laboratory or office environment is comparable with inaccuracies of modern radio frequency chambers for 4G measurements.
Over the air error vector magnitude measurement opens a new possibility to perform measurements during communication signaling. Additionally, the use of millimeter-wave frequencies enables new testing to be performed in an RF laboratory or office environment due to the small signal wavelength. As an example, the noise figure measurement for a millimeter-wave phased array receiver was demonstrated based on over the air error vector magnitude measurements in this thesis without expensive noise source equipment. Gain control both in the transmitter and the receiver were adapted to scale the required measurement range down in different scenarios. This enables 5G millimeter-wave link range and cell coverage estimations with beam steering without long-range outdoor measurements.
The higher 5G millimeter-wave frequencies challenge the current manufacturing methods for telecommunication products since the wavelength of the signal is shorter, and the absolute manufacturing tolerances are larger at higher frequencies. The shape of the probability density function of the radio parameters is needed for quality level estimation purposes, and it was proven in the thesis that the antenna input matching follows a log-normal distribution on the dB scale. The product and measurement system calibration will not correct repeatability and reproducibility errors in the measurements. It was found that a standard deviation of the repeatably of the 5G millimeter-wave signal power level with over the air measurement in an RF laboratory or office environment is comparable with inaccuracies of modern radio frequency chambers for 4G measurements.
Last updated: 1.3.2023