Over-the-Air Testing for Total Radiated Power of Unwanted Emissions

Abstract

5th Generation Mobile Networks (5G) will employ mm-wave base stations with integrated Active Antenna Systems (AASs) with beam-tracking capabilities using narrow beams obtained from array antennas integrated with radios and Power Amplifiers (PAs). The integration of antennas and electronics means that measurements at antenna connectors are not possible. Regulatory limits for unwanted Radio Frequency (RF) emissions are currently set in terms of Total Radiated Power (TRP). With no antenna connectors, Over-the-Air (OTA) methods for TRP of unwanted emissions are needed. Major challenges are: large number of angular points for electrically large devices at mm-wave frequencies, and large number of possible antenna configurations per frequency. Herein, an OTA TRP measurement method based on power density measurements on a spherical surface in an anechoic chamber is investigated.