- The 22nd edition of European Microwave Week (EuMW) was held in Paris from 29 September to 4 October 2019.
- Rohde & Schwarz presented a variety of radio and microwave test and measurement solutions through several concrete demonstrations covering various applications of RF and microwave components, antennas, radar, etc.
- These solutions are designed for different fields of activity: 5G NR and satellite communications, automotive, radar, electronic warfare…
- Test systems allowing the characterization of signals in the mmWave and THz range were also presented.
# Testing of RF and microwave components
Visitors to the Rohde & Schwarz booth were able to discover the latest generation R&S SMA100B analogue microwave signal generator, which reaches frequencies of 67 GHz and can reach 72 GHz. The performance of this generator in terms of low phase noise could be seen at the show by measurements made with the R&S FSWP50 phase noise analyzer.
Rohde & Schwarz also conducted amplifier tests for 5G NR communications in the mmWave FR2 range at EuMW 2019 using peak factor reduction and pre-distortion techniques. This application used the R&S FSVA3000 signal and spectrum analyzer (with amplifier measurement option) in combination with the R&S SMW200A vector signal generator to characterize amplifiers with a specific stimulus. All amplifier characteristics are delivered in a single measurement: AM/AM conversion, gain compression and error vector amplitude (EVM). The R&S FS-SNS noise source was used to measure the noise factor and gain.
Rohde & Schwarz also presented different configurations for using the R&S ZNA, its high-performance vector network analyzer (VNA) recently launched on the market. One was interested in measuring a downconverter for satellite communications, the other implemented the Rohde & Schwarz mmWave converters in the 330 GHz band. In this second configuration, the frequency converters are mounted on plates on a rail, as in wafer tests. The converter waveguide flanges can be accurately and reproducibly positioned using the micrometric brackets of the MPI MP80 MicroPositioners.
The R&S ZNBT40 vector network analyser with up to 24 test ports was also presented at the show. A demonstration highlighting its measurement capabilities on integrated circuits used by beamforming antennas for 5G NR applications, as well as satellite communications and radar applications.
# Radar test solutions
A 77 GHz test solution combining the high-performance R&S RTP oscilloscope and a harmonic mixer was also presented on the booth. The R&S RTP oscilloscope, equipped with four coherent channels, makes it possible to measure, for example, the phase difference between the different transmitters, thus meeting the test requirements of MIMO radar sensors used by autonomous vehicles.
The test solution, combining the R&S AREG100A automotive radar echo generator and the R&S SMB100B RF signal generator, was also presented at the show to demonstrate its ability to withstand the interference of automotive radar sensors.
An application for the analysis up to 5 GHz bandwidth of frequency-modulated continuous-wave radar (FMCW) signals for automotive radar or A&D applications up to 77 GHz was proposed via the use of the R&S FSW85 signal and spectrum analyzer, the R&S RTO2064 oscilloscope used as digitizer and the R&S SMW200A vector signal generator associated with the R&S SMZ90 frequency multiplier.
# OTA Antenna Test Solutions
At EuMW 2019, Rohde & Schwarz conducted an OTA (over-the-air) characterization of passive and active reflection and transmission modules with its CATR (compact antenna test range) rack-integrated antenna test system to measure EVM (error vector magnitude) and ACLR (adjacent channel leakage ratio) in the FR2 frequency band.
Another demonstration was interested in the diagnosis of thermal effects in a temperature range from -40°C to +85°C using an OTA (Over-the-Air) RF test chamber. This solution using the R&S ATS-TEMP thermal sphere is required for testing 5G communication equipment. It was exhibited on the Rohde & Schwarz booth. This can be placed in the R&S ATS1000 antenna test system (which was not presented on the booth). This test set allows the RF OTA and climatic chamber tests to be combined in a single procedure.
Finally, Rohde & Schwarz presented its new solution for laboratory testing and production of non-signaling equipment. This solution uses its R&S CMP200 radio communication tester equipped with remote radio heads with the R&S CMQ200 shielded enclosure, an integrated OTA test system that is particularly suitable for testing 5G communication devices in the FR2 frequency band.
