Experimental investigation of the uniformity of root-mean-square delay spread simulated in reverberation chamber

Abstract

Uniformity of root-mean-square delay spread (RMS-DS) is important for the reliability of over-the-air test when reverberation chamber (RC) is used as a wireless channel simulator. Both the state of stirrers and location of devices under test could affect the uniformity of RMS-DS. In this study we measured the RMS-DS in RC when stirrers were in different state and receiving antenna was located at different positions in the test volume, and the uniformity of RMS-DS was evaluated by standard divisions. Our results showed that the standard division of RMS-DS arising from the states of stirrers was 30 ns to 50 ns, from the locations of receiving antenna was 17 ns to 33 ns, and the holistic standard division was 41 ns to 52 ns. Comparing with the mean value of RMS-DS simulated in RC, which is 3.1 μs to 3.8 μs, the uniformity is in the level of 1% and mainly caused by states of stirrers. In sum, our study introduced the first example of experimental investigation on the uniformity of RMS-DS simulated in RC.