Method for testing a radio frequency (RF) receiver and related methods
View Patent ↗A method for testing a radio frequency (RF) receiver may include measuring a plurality of bit error levels for the RF receiver at a given RF frequency. The method may further include applying a Huber function to the measured plurality of bit error levels to generate a bit error ratio (BER) estimate for the RF receiver. The method would also include using the BER estimate to generate a sensitivity for the RF receiver.
1. A method for testing a radio frequency (RF) receiver comprising:
measuring, in an anechoic chamber, a plurality of bit error levels for the RF receiver at a given frequency from among a plurality of different frequencies; and
applying a Huber function to the measured bit error levels to generate a bit error ratio (BER) estimate for the RF receiver, the Huber function being defined as:
ρ
k
(
f
)
=
{
f
2
/
2
if
f
≤
k
k
f
-
k
2
/
2
if
f
>
k
where k is a positive constant.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising using the BER estimate to generate a sensitivity for the RF receiver.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein k is within a range of 0.8 to 1.4.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein k is defined as:
k
=
2
∑
1
n
(
x
i
-
x
0
)
n
-
1
,
where x 0 is an initial bit error level and n is a total number of bit error levels.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the initial bit error level x 0 is defined as:
x
0
=
∑
i
n
x
i
n
.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the BER estimate comprises a residual BER (RBER) estimate.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the RF receiver comprises a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) receiver.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the RF receiver comprises a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) receiver.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the RF receiver comprises an Enhanced Data Rates for Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) Evolution (EDGE) receiver.
10. A method for testing a radio frequency (RF) receiver comprising:
measuring, in an outdoor environment, a plurality of bit error levels for the RF receiver at a given frequency from among a plurality of different frequencies; and
applying a Huber function to the measured bit error levels to generate a bit error ratio (BER) estimate for the RF receiver, the Huber function being defined as:
ρ
k
(
f
)
=
{
f
2
/
2
if
f
≤
k
k
f
-
k
2
/
2
if
f
>
k
where k is a positive constant.
11. The method of claim 10 further comprising using the BER estimate to generate a sensitivity for the RF receiver.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein k is within a range of 0.8 to 1.4.
13. The method of claim 10 wherein k is defined as:
k
=
2
∑
1
n
(
x
i
-
x
0
)
n
-
1
,
where x 0 is an initial bit error level and n is a total number of bit error levels.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the initial bit error level x 0 is defined as:
x
0
=
∑
i
n
x
i
n
.
15. The method of claim 10 wherein the BER estimate comprises a residual BER (RBER) estimate.
16. The method of claim 10 wherein the RF receiver comprises a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) receiver.
17. The method of claim 10 wherein the RF receiver comprises a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) receiver.
18. The method of claim 10 wherein the RF receiver comprises an Enhanced Data Rates for Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) Evolution (EDGE) receiver.
19. A test system for testing a radio frequency (RF) receiver comprising:
an anechoic chamber configured to contain the RF receiver; and
test circuitry coupled to the RF receiver and configured to
measure, in the anechoic chamber, a plurality of bit error levels for the RF receiver at a given frequency from among a plurality of different frequencies, and
apply a Huber function to the measured bit error levels to generate a bit error ratio (BER) estimate for the RF receiver, the Huber function being defined as:
ρ
k
(
f
)
=
{
f
2
/
2
if
f
≤
k
k
f
-
k
2
/
2
if
f
>
k
where k is a positive constant.
20. The test system of claim 19 wherein the test circuitry is configured to use the BER estimate to generate a sensitivity for the RF receiver.
21. The test system of claim 19 wherein k is within a range of 0.8 to 1.4.
22. The test system of claim 19 wherein k is defined as:
k
=
2
∑
1
n
(
x
i
-
x
0
)
n
-
1
,
where x 0 is an initial bit error level and n is a total number of bit error levels.
23. The test system of claim 22 wherein the initial bit error level x 0 is defined as:
x
0
=
∑
i
n
x
i
n
.
24. The test system of claim 19 wherein the BER estimate comprises a residual BER (RBER) estimate.