JP2007212176A - Automatic measuring apparatus for rf characteristics - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic measuring apparatus for RF characteristics which automatically measures whether a high-frequency instrument has desired RF characteristics. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus includes a measuring terminal 3 and a measuring instrument 14 for measuring a test piece 1 or a test piece 22, a hand 6 for connecting and disconnecting a termination 2 of a terminal under measurement, a hand control section 15 for controlling the hand 6, an X-axis stage 8, a Y-axis stage 9, and a Z-axis stage 11 for moving the measuring terminal 3 and the hand 6, a drive axis control section 16 for controlling the X-axis stage 8, the Y-axis stage 9, and the Z-axis stage 11, a computer 13 for controlling the measuring instrument 14, the hand control section 15, and the drive axis control section 16, and an electric wave absorber 25 provided inside an apparatus housing wall 17 for attenuating the amplitude level of an electric wave propagating inside an apparatus housing 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic measuring apparatus that automatically measures RF (Radio Frequency) characteristic measurement of a high-frequency device.

The following is disclosed as a conventional RF characteristic measuring apparatus.
The object to be measured is a VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) device, and its output signal is split into two at the coupler, one is input to the RF switch, and the other is selected by the WG switch. . The mixer section separates each input signal into measurement frequencies, and down-converts each to a frequency band suitable for measurement by the measuring instrument. The RF switch unit has already selected each output signal of the coupler unit and the mixer unit according to the test item according to the output control signal of the control unit, and has already output the measurement device according to the test item out of the measuring device. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-38512 (FIG. 1)

In a conventional automatic measurement apparatus, automatic measurement is performed by selecting a measurement device and switching an RF switch and a WG (Wave Guide) switch between the object to be measured and the measurement device.
For example, Patent Document 1 shows an example in which the number of objects to be measured is four, but in this configuration, when an even larger number (for example, 100) of objects to be measured is to be measured, the objects to be measured In proportion to the increase in quantity, it was necessary to increase the number of RF switches and WG switches installed, resulting in a problem that the number of components of the automatic measuring apparatus increased and the apparatus was expensive.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to obtain an automatic RF characteristic measuring apparatus that automatically and continuously inspects without increasing the number of RF switches and WG switches even if the number of terminals to be measured increases.

  This RF characteristic automatic measuring apparatus includes a plurality of terminals to be measured (input side) attached to a specimen, a hand for attaching / detaching a measurement terminal and a terminator to a predetermined terminal to be measured (input side), and the hand Characteristics from a slider section driven in three axis directions, a drive axis control section for driving the slider section to a predetermined position in three axis directions, and controlling the opening and closing of the hand, and a terminal to be measured (output side) of the specimen A computer that manages a measuring instrument that acquires data, and a device housing that has a structure in which the test body can be installed and has a space in which radio waves radiated from the test body propagate.

  According to the present invention, a push-on connector type terminal to be measured is provided in the RF switch section, and a large number of high-frequency connection sections can be automatically switched by replacing this high-frequency connector with a three-axis stage. There is an effect that an inexpensive automatic inspection apparatus capable of continuous inspection can be obtained.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an automatic RF characteristic measuring apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a test body, 2 is a terminator, 3 is a measuring terminal, 4 is a terminal to be measured (input side), 5 is a terminal to be measured (output side), 6 is a hand, 7 is an apparatus housing, 8 is an X-axis slider, 9 is a Y-axis slider, 10 is a Z-axis unit holder, 11 is a Z-axis slider, 12 is a holder, 13 Is a computer, 14 is a measuring instrument, 15 is a hand control unit, 16 is a drive shaft control unit, 17 is an apparatus housing wall surface, 18a and 18b are coaxial cables, 19 is a control cable, and 20a to 20c are control cables.

  This RF characteristic automatic measuring apparatus 100 once installs a test body 1 having a plurality of terminals to be measured (input side) 4 or a plurality of test bodies 1 having a single terminal to be measured (input side) 4. Can be automated without attaching and detaching.

  In a conventional automatic measuring apparatus for RF characteristics, an RF switch or a WG switch is inserted between the test body 1 and the measuring instrument 14 as described above, and the measuring instrument 14 is selected according to the test item. A plurality of test items are automatically measured by selecting a measurement path using a switch and a WG switch.

  Further, in the conventional test method, the measurement system becomes complicated due to an increase in the number of components in the apparatus, the number of calibration work for the measurement system increases, and switching by the RF switch and the WG switch is performed in many places in the measurement apparatus. Therefore, the measurement reproducibility was reduced.

  However, in the RF characteristic automatic measuring apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the terminator 2 is attached so that the test body 1 terminates all the measured terminals (input side) 4 on the upper surface side of the test body 1. Installed in the apparatus housing 7. Moreover, the test body 1 is a main component of APAA (Active Phased Array Antenna), and each test body 1 has a large number of terminals to be measured (input side) 4 (about several tens to several hundreds). ing. For this reason, it has a large number of terminals to be measured, which is impossible with the conventional apparatus configuration, and enables the RF characteristic automatic test of the test body.

Further, the RF characteristic automatic measuring apparatus 100 is for inserting and removing the terminator 2 of the measured terminal (input side) 4 in order to insert the measuring terminal 3 into the predetermined measured terminal (input side) 4 of the test body 1. It is characterized in that it has a hand 6.
The measurement terminal 3 is connected to the measuring instrument 14 via the coaxial cable 18 a, and the hand 6 is connected to the hand control unit 15 via the control cable 19.

The measurement terminal 3 and the hand 6 are installed on a holder 12, and the holder 12 is installed on a Z-axis stage 11.
The Z-axis stage 11 is installed on the Z-axis unit holder 10, and the holder 10 is installed on the X-axis stage 8 and the Y-axis stage 9.
The X axis stage 8 is connected to the drive axis controller 16 via the control cable 20c, the Y axis stage 9 is connected to the control cable 20b, and the Z axis stage 11 is connected to the drive axis controller 16 via the control cable 20a.

  The terminal to be measured (output side) 5 on the lower surface side of the test body 1 is connected to the measuring instrument 14 via the coaxial cable 18b.

  The measuring instrument 14, the hand control unit 15, and the drive axis control unit 16 are connected to the computer 13 via a control cable.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a test body applied to the first embodiment, 2a to 2i are terminators, 4a to 4i are terminals to be measured (input side), and 5 is a terminal to be measured (output side). , 21 are high-frequency lines.
The test body applied to the first embodiment is a high-frequency distribution / synthesis circuit device having a push-on connector type terminal to be measured that can directly connect the devices.

  The test body 1 is a high-frequency distribution / synthesis circuit that is a component of APAA (Active Phased Array Antenna). A high frequency line 21 for distributing and synthesizing high frequency signals is formed inside the test body 1. The terminals to be measured (input side) 4 are push-on connector type terminals to be measured (4a to 4i), and terminators (2a to 2i) are installed so as to terminate all the terminals to be measured. Similarly, the measured terminal (output side) 5 is a push-on connector type measured terminal.

  The test body 1 is, for example, a main component of APAA, and each test body 1 has a large number of input measurement terminals 4a to 4i (about several tens to several hundreds).

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of measuring the RF characteristic using the RF characteristic automatic measuring apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The measuring instrument 14 is connected to the terminal under test (output side) 5 of the specimen beforehand via the coaxial cable 18b. (ST1) Next, the terminators 2a to 2i are connected to all the terminals to be measured (input side) 4. (ST2)

  In the RF characteristic automatic measuring apparatus 100 configured as in the first embodiment, when measuring the RF characteristics of the test body 1, the hand 6 is terminated in order to remove the terminators 2a to 2i of the terminals 4a to 4i to be measured. In order to move it over 2a to 2i, the computer 13 transmits a movement instruction to the drive axis control unit 16, and the drive axis control unit 16 is connected to the X axis stage 8, the Y axis stage 9, and the Z axis stage 11. The AC servo motor is driven and moved.

  After the movement of the Z-axis stage 11 is completed, a hand grip instruction is transmitted from the computer 13 to the hand control unit 15, and the hand 6 removes the terminator 2 at the location to be measured and grips it. (ST3)

  With the hand 6 holding the terminator 2, a movement instruction is transmitted from the computer 13 to the drive axis control unit 16, and the Z-axis stage 11 moves in the upward direction by a predetermined amount. (ST4)

  After the movement of the Z-axis stage 11 is completed, a movement instruction is transmitted from the computer 13 to the drive axis control unit 16 to move the X-axis stage 8 and the Y-axis stage 9 in order to move the measurement terminal 3 over the terminal to be measured. Let

After the movement of the X axis stage 8 and the Y axis stage 9 is completed, a movement instruction is transmitted from the computer 13 to the drive axis control unit 16 to move the Z axis stage 11 in the downward direction.
The terminal to be measured 4 is of a push-on connector type, and the measuring terminal 3 is moved to the terminal 4 to be measured by positioning the tip of the measuring terminal 3 with high accuracy and lowering the Z-axis stage 11 by a predetermined amount. Insert into. (ST5)

  After setting the measurement path connected to the measuring instrument shown in FIG. 1, RF characteristics are measured by transmitting a measurement instruction from the computer 13 to the measuring instrument 14 using GPIB. Specifically, upon receiving a measurement instruction from the computer 13, the measuring instrument 14 performs S parameter measurement of a predetermined measured terminal (input side) 4. After the measurement is completed, the calculator 13 uses GPIB from the measuring instrument 14. Then, a measurement result is obtained and stored in a storage area corresponding to a predetermined terminal to be measured (input side) 4, and the process proceeds to the next operation ST7. (ST6)

  It is determined whether or not all the measured points have been completed (ST7). If the measurement is completed (Yes), the process ends. If not (No), the same operation is repeated from ST3.

  According to the first embodiment, it is not necessary to add a large number of RF switches and WG switches, which are conventionally installed, and only the amount of movement of the X-axis slider 8 and the Y-axis slider 9 can be changed to change the terminal to be measured. As a result, it is possible to reduce the cost of the apparatus, and at the same time, the measurement system can be simplified and the measurement reproducibility can be improved.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 4 shows an RF characteristic automatic measuring apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, in which 24 is a radiated radio wave, 25 is a radio wave absorber installed inside the apparatus housing wall surface 17, and 1 to 17 are diagrams. Same as 1.
The test body 22 applied to the present embodiment is an element antenna having a push-on connector type measured terminal that can directly connect devices.

The test body 22 in the second embodiment is a main component of an APAA (Active Phased Array Antenna), and each test body 1 includes a large number of terminals to be measured (input side) 4a to 4i (several tens to several hundreds). Degree).
When the device under test is an element antenna used for an array antenna or the like, it is necessary to measure the reflection characteristics of the device under test after radiating a high-frequency signal from the device under test to evaluate its performance. .

  Since the conventional automatic measurement apparatus for RF characteristics can only handle closed circuit characteristic measurement, there is no mechanism in the apparatus for attenuating the high-frequency signal radiated from the object to be measured. In the configuration, the reflection characteristics of the element antenna could not be measured.

  However, in the RF characteristic automatic measuring apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the test body 22 is installed in the apparatus housing 7 with the terminator 2 attached so as to terminate all the terminals to be measured on the upper surface side of the test body 22. Yes.

Further, in order to insert the measuring terminal 3 into a predetermined terminal to be measured of the test body 22, a hand 6 for attaching and detaching the terminator 2 of the terminal to be measured is provided.
The measurement terminal 3 is connected to the measuring instrument 14 via the coaxial cable 18 a, and the hand 6 is connected to the hand control unit 15 via the control cable 19.

The measurement terminal 3 and the hand 6 are installed on a holder 12, and the holder 12 is installed on a Z-axis stage 11.
The Z-axis stage 11 is installed on the Z-axis unit holder 10, and the holder 10 is installed on the X-axis stage 8 and the Y-axis stage 9.
The X axis stage 8 is connected to the drive axis controller 16 via the control cable 20c, the Y axis stage 9 is connected to the control cable 20b, and the Z axis stage 11 is connected to the drive axis controller 16 via the control cable 20a.

  The measuring instrument 14, the hand control unit 15, and the drive axis control unit 16 are connected to the computer 13 via a control cable.

  Here, the lower surface of the test body 22 was radiated from the element antenna output section 23 into the space for the performance evaluation of the test body 22 by installing a radio wave absorber 25 inside the apparatus housing wall surface 17. Radio waves propagate through the inside of the apparatus housing 7, and the radio wave amplitude level can be attenuated by the radio wave absorber 25, so that the reflection characteristics of the test body 22 can be measured.

  FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a test body applied to the second embodiment, 22 is a test body, 23a to 23i are element antenna output units, 2a to 2i are terminators, and 4a to 4i are measurement. The terminals are the same as in FIG.

  The radiated radio wave 24 is radiated from the element antenna output portions 23 a to 23 i corresponding to the measured terminal of the test body 22, but the measured terminal of the test body 22 is received by the radio wave absorber 25 installed on the apparatus housing wall surface 17. By reflecting the amplitude level of the reflected wave inside the apparatus housing 7 input to the output unit corresponding to the above to the lower limit of the measurement sensitivity of the measuring instrument 14, the reflection measurement of the test body 22 is made possible.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation for measuring RF characteristics according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In the measuring apparatus configured as in the second embodiment, when measuring the reflection characteristic of the test body 22, the terminator 2 of the terminal to be measured is removed and held.

  In advance, terminators are connected to all the terminals to be measured. (ST12)

  In order to move the hand 6 over the terminator 2, a movement instruction is transmitted from the computer 13 to the drive axis control unit 16, and the drive axis control unit 16 includes the X axis stage 8, the Y axis stage 9, and the Z axis stage. The AC servo motor connected to 11 is driven and moved. (ST14)

  After the movement of the Z-axis stage 11 is completed, a hand grip instruction is transmitted from the computer 13 to the hand control unit 15, and the hand 6 grips the terminator 2. (ST13)

  With the hand 6 holding the terminator 2, a movement instruction is transmitted from the computer 13 to the drive axis control unit 16, and the Z-axis stage 11 moves in the upward direction by a predetermined amount.

  After the movement of the Z-axis stage 11 is completed, a movement instruction is transmitted from the computer 13 to the drive axis control unit 16 to move the X-axis stage 8 and the Y-axis stage 9 in order to move the measurement terminal 3 over the terminal to be measured. Let

After the movement of the X axis stage 8 and the Y axis stage 9 is completed, a movement instruction is transmitted from the computer 13 to the drive axis control unit 16 to move the Z axis stage 11 in the downward direction.
The terminal to be measured 4 is of a push-on connector type, and the measuring terminal 3 is moved to the terminal 4 to be measured by positioning the tip of the measuring terminal 3 with high accuracy and lowering the Z-axis stage 11 by a predetermined amount. Insert into. (ST15)

  After setting the measurement path connected to the measuring instrument shown in FIG. 4, the RF characteristics are measured by transmitting a measurement instruction from the computer 13 to the measuring instrument 14 using GPIB. Specifically, upon receiving a measurement instruction from the computer 13, the measuring instrument 14 performs S parameter measurement of a predetermined measured terminal (input side) 4. After the measurement is completed, the calculator 13 uses GPIB from the measuring instrument 14. Then, a measurement result is obtained and stored in a storage area corresponding to a predetermined terminal to be measured (input side) 4, and the process proceeds to the next operation ST7. (ST16)

  It is determined whether or not all the locations to be measured are completed (ST17). If the measurement is completed (Yes), the process ends. If not (No), the same operation is repeated from ST13.

  According to the second embodiment, there is an effect that it is possible to measure the element antenna which is impossible with the conventional automatic measuring apparatus, and the type of the radio wave absorber 25 is set according to the measurement frequency band of the test body 22. By changing, it is possible to measure a wide frequency band.

  In the above description, the RF characteristic automatic measuring apparatus according to the present invention has been described for the case of measuring one test body having a plurality of terminals to be measured. Needless to say, it can also be used when doing so.

It is a side view which shows Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is the schematic of the test body applied to Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which measures RF characteristic by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a side view which shows Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is the schematic of the test body applied to Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of Embodiment 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Test body, 2 Terminator, 3 Measurement terminal, 4 Terminal to be measured (input side), 5 Terminal to be measured (output side), 6 Hand, 7 Apparatus housing, 8 X-axis slider, 9 Y-axis slider, 10 Z Axis unit holder, 11 Z-axis slider, 12 holder, 13 computer, 14 measuring instrument, 15 hand control unit, 16 drive shaft control unit, 17 device housing wall surface, 18 coaxial cable, 19 control cable, 20 control cable, 21 high frequency Line, 22 test body, 23 element antenna output section, 24 radiated radio wave, 25 radio wave absorber, 100 RF characteristic automatic measuring device.

Claims (3)

A plurality of terminals to be measured (input side) attached to the specimen;
A hand for attaching / detaching the measurement terminal and the terminator to the predetermined measured terminal (input side);
A slider portion for driving the hand in three axial directions;
A drive shaft control unit that drives the slider unit to a predetermined position in three axis directions and controls the opening and closing of the hand;
A measuring instrument acquires characteristic data from the measured terminal (output side) of the test specimen, controls the data acquisition process, and records and stores the acquired data;
An apparatus housing having a structure in which the test body can be installed and having a space in which radio waves radiated from the test body propagate;
An RF (Radio Frequency) characteristic automatic measuring device characterized by comprising: 2. The RF characteristic automatic measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a radio wave absorber for attenuating a high-frequency signal radiated from the test body is provided inside the wall surface of the apparatus housing. 3. The automatic RF characteristic measuring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the radio wave absorber is attachable / detachable and exchangeable.

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