Antenna Coupler for 3G Phone Testing

5th May , 2004

Europe : Willtek Communications announced the launch of its new 4916 Antenna Coupler, supporting the extended frequency ranges for 3G mobile phone testing.

Above shows Willtek Test Engineer using the 4916 Antenna Coupler whilst undertaking mobile phone tests.

The new coupler is based upon the success of the 4910 Universal Antenna Coupler which was the first of its kind in the wireless industry, with close to 10,000 sold to date. The 4916 Antenna Coupler now takes the advantages of its predecessor to higher levels by providing increased accuracy and repeatability for a wider range of applications. The coupler uses a new coupling technology with improved RF matching for higher-accuracy measurements, resulting in lower failure rates and shorter repair times. Willtek will start shipping the 4916 Antenna Coupler in June 2004.

The frequency range of the new 4916 Antenna Coupler ranges from 700 MHz to 2.7 GHz. This covers the well-known 2G and 3G frequency bands as well as the new 3G bands for the US at 750 MHz and for Asia at 2.7 GHz. It also includes Wireless LAN and Bluetooth frequencies, making the 4916 the first antenna coupler with a contiguous bandwidth covering the important frequency bands for cellular wireless.

The new design results in a relatively constant coupling factor over the whole frequency range, saving users the time to deal with the frequency dependency. Test equipment previously had to be programmed to take coupling factors into account that not only differed between different phone models but also from one measurement frequency and another. For the innovative RF and mechanical designs, Willtek patents are pending.

The improved RF matching leads to a VSWR (voltage standing wave ratio) below 2, compared to a typical ratio from 3 to 5.5 in other couplers. The lower the VSWR, the higher the measurement accuracy of the overall test system is. Accurate measurements avoid incorrect test verdicts and subsequent unnecessary repair, e.g. when a good mobile phone fails a test.

Willtek incorporates many more improvements: Two different easy-to-replace shuttles help cope with different phone sizes from miniature phone to PDA (personal digital assistant). The shuttle can be locked in five preset positions to support optimum coupling at reproducible locations over the antenna, leading to high measurement repeatability. The same goal is supported by the antenna with its polarisation-independent characteristic. A larger distance between mobile phone and coupler antenna lowers the risk of RF repercussions. A new connector type (quick SMA) ensures consistent RF transmission at higher frequencies.

The 4916 fits well into the 4920 RF Shield Box so that older boxes can be upgraded with the new and improved 4916 Antenna Coupler. Willtek customers can now prepare their test systems for 3G wireless testing by participating in an attractive trade-in programme. As of now, the 4910 Universal Antenna Coupler can be exchanged for a new 4916 Antenna Coupler at a fair price. The programme runs until September 2004.

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