A TEST STATION FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to media where wireless communication capabilities of wireless communication devices are tested. PRIOR ART

Wireless communication devices are devices which every person uses today. Wireless communication devices are produced and sold in very great numbers. In order to present flawless products to the user, producers and dealers shall test great number of wireless communication devices in a very short time.

The wireless communication performance of wireless communication devices is tested in boxes which have structure similar to chambers which are known as non-reflection chamber in the related art. The outer surface of said boxes is coated with metal in a manner preventing electromagnetic waves coming from outside. It provides testing with less noise by covering a test unit and a test device. In order to provide the signal, sent by the antenna, to reach the wireless device directly, the inner surface of said test boxes has a protruded structure in a manner preventing reflection of the electromagnetic waves and it is made of sponge.

In the US patent US6657214, a test box is disclosed which is isolated from electromagnetic waves. However, a solution which provides testing of great number of wireless communication device in a rapid manner is not disclosed. As a result, because of all of the abovementioned problems, an improvement is required in the related technical field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a test station for wireless communication devices, for eliminating the above mentioned disadvantages and for bringing new advantages to the related technical field. The main object of the present invention is to provide a test station which provides testing of pluralities of devices simultaneously.

The main object of the present invention is to provide testing of wireless devices in a collective and rapid manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a test station which has a longer lifetime when compared with the test stations of the prior art. Another object of the present invention is to provide a test station where the absorption characteristic of the electromagnetic waves hitting the inner surface is augmented.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a test station where the absorption amount of electromagnetic waves is increased.

In order to realize all of the abovementioned objects and the objects which are to be deducted from the detailed description below, the present invention is a test station comprising a casing having an inner layer which at least partially absorbs the electromagnetic waves hitting the surface thereof and an outer layer made of a substance providing electromagnetic shielding and defining a test chamber accommodating a test unit and said wireless communication device, in order to test wireless communication performances of wireless communication devices. The present invention is characterized in that at least one section of said test casing has hexagonal cross section. Thus, since the test casing has a shape which is similar to spherical form of spreading of electromagnetic waves, and therefore since more amount of electromagnetic wave arrives at the inner layer at an angle which is close to orthogonal, absorption increases. Moreover, since the test casing volume calculated in accordance with the length of the electromagnetic waves to be used inside the test casing is smaller in hexagonal cross sectioned test casings when compared with the rectangular cross sectioned casings, less space is occupied.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said test casing has a hexagonal cross section.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said test casing comprises at least one connection item on at least one surface thereof. Thus, pluralities of test casings can be connected to each other. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, pluralities of test casings are provided which are connected to each other in a manner defining a honeycomb structure. Thus, pluralities of communication devices can be tested simultaneously. Moreover, thanks to the honeycomb structure, resistance against the lateral forces and against the orthogonal forces is provided.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said test casing comprises at least one cooling item for providing gas exchange between the test chamber and the outer medium. Thus, heating of the wireless communication device placed to the test casing for being tested is at least partially reduced.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said cooling item comprises at least one hollow cylindrical body whose one end extends to said test chamber and whose other end extends to the outer medium,

the inner and outer surfaces of said body are coated with the inner layer,

said cooling item comprises at least one fan positioned inside the body. Thus, while air flow is provided between the outer medium and the test chamber, the magnetic wave exchange is at least partially prevented.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said outer layer comprises metal.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said fan comprises metal. Thus, the electromagnetic waves coming from the outer medium hit the metal surface and they are reflected back, and the entering of the electromagnetic waves to the test chamber is partially prevented.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said inner layer is made of a porous material.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said inner layer comprises pluralities of absorption protrusions which are in pyramid form extending towards the test chamber.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a control unit is provided which is connected to said test unit and to said wireless communication device. Thus, test units and test devices inside pluralities of test casings can be controlled. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said casing comprises at least one cover.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is at least one visual item connected to said casing and connected to said control unit. Thus, the data related to the test results can be presented to a user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES In Figure 1 , a representative view of the test station is given.

In Figure 2a and 2b, a representative view of the test casing is given.

In Figure 3, a representative view of the honeycomb view of the test station is given.

In Figure 4, a representative view of the test casing in an alternative embodiment is given. REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 Test casing

1 1 Test chamber

12 Outer layer

13 Inner layer

131 Absorption protrusion

14 Side surface

15 Front surface

16 Rear surface

17 Connection item

17a First connection item

17b Second connection item

18 Cover

19 Visual item

2 Test unit

21 Antenna

3 Control unit

4 Wireless communication device

41 Wireless communication device antenna 5 Cooling item

51 Fan

52 Body

10 Test station

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the subject matter test station (10) is explained with references to examples without forming any restrictive effect only in order to make the subject more understandable.

The present invention is a test station (10) where the wireless communication characteristics of wireless communication devices (4) are tested. Said test station (10) comprises a test casing (1 ) for accommodating the tested wireless communication device (4) therein. Said test casing (1 ) encircles a test chamber (1 1 ). The outer surface of the test casing (1 ) is encircled with an outer layer (12) providing electromagnetic screening. Said outer layer (12) prevents the electromagnetic waves, coming from outside, from entering into the test chamber (1 1 ). In the preferred embodiment, said outer layer (12) is metal.

The inner surface of the test casing (1 ) is coated with an inner layer (13). Said inner layer (13) absorbs the electromagnetic waves spread from a source provided in the test chamber (1 1 ) and said inner layer (13) prevents reflection of these electromagnetic waves from itself. Thus, the electromagnetic waves formed by reflections are prevented from affecting the test medium. Said inner layer (13) comprises absorption protrusions (131 ) extending from the inner surface of the test casing (1 ) towards the test chamber (1 1 ). Said absorption protrusions (131 ) have a pyramid-like form. In the preferred embodiment, said absorption protrusions (131 ) are made of a porous substance.

Said test casing (1 ) has a hexagonal lateral cross section. In other words, it is similar to tilted form of a hexagonal orthogonal prism, whose base and top section are hexagonal, onto a side surface thereof. In the preferred embodiment, said test casing (1 ) provides placement and removal of the wireless communication device (4) by means of a cover (18) on a front surface (15) thereof. The test casing (1 ) comprises at least one connection item (17) on at least one of the side surfaces (14) thereof. There are two types of connection items (17), namely, a first connection (17a) item and a second connection item (17b). Said first connection item (17a) and said second connection item (17b) are configured in a manner connectable with each other. More than one test casing (1 ) can be connected to each other through said first connection item (17a) and through said second connection item (17b). In the preferred embodiment, with reference to Figure 3, pluralities of test casings (1 ) are connected to each other from the side surfaces (14) horizontally and orthogonally. Thus, they form an image like honeycomb when they are brought together. Thanks to the honeycomb form, the wearing amount of the casings is less when compared with the wearing amount of the casings which have rectangular box form. Moreover, since the casing is in honeycomb form, the wearing amount of the connection items (17) due to the probable lateral forces is reduced when compared with the wearing amount in the rectangular prism form. Since the only item, which prevents lateral movement of the test boxes which are joined one above the other and side by side and which are in rectangular form, is the connection item (17), thanks to the formation of the honeycomb structure by means of joining of the hexagonal cross sectioned test casings (1 ), the lateral movement is prevented since the test casings (1 ) placed one after the other and joined through at least one each surfaces are at different heights. This provides a more robust structure. The test casing (1 ) comprises at least one test unit (2). Said test unit (2) is configured to send electromagnetic wave to the wireless communication device (4) and receive electromagnetic wave from the wireless communication device (4) when required. Said test unit (2) comprises at least one antenna (21 ). Said test unit (2) is connected to a control unit (3) which is outside of the test casing (1 ). Said control unit (3) is configured to send data to the wireless communication device and to receive data from the wireless communication device when required. At the same time, the control unit (3) sends data to the test unit (2) and receives data from the test unit (2) when required. Said wireless communication device (4) comprises at least one wireless communication device antenna (21 ) in order to receive the data which is in electromagnetic wave form coming from the antenna (21 ) of the test unit (2).

Since the test casing (1 ) has a hexagonal cross section, a less noisy test medium is obtained when compared with the case where the test casing (1 ) has a rectangular prism form. The inner layer (13) having absorption protrusions (131 ) which are in pyramid form reduces the reflection of the electromagnetic wave. Said absorption protrusions (131 ) absorb at a higher proportion the electromagnetic waves coming orthogonally. Since the electromagnetic waves have a spherical distribution, when a casing having a sphere-like form is used and when the inner layer (13) is coated, the electromagnetic waves are absorbed more when compared with a casing which has rectangular prism form. Since the hexagonal cross sectioned test casing (1 ) is closer to the spherical form when compared with the casings having rectangular form, a less noisy test medium is provided. The calculation of the dimensions of the test casings (1 ) is realized in accordance with the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave to be used inside the test casing (1 ). The test casings (1 ) are selected at dimensions which are multiples of the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave. Thus, for instance when a test casing (1 ) for the wi-fi frequency, which is 2.4 GHz, is desired to be produced, while the shortest edge of a rectangular casing shall be 56 cm ; the shortest edge of the hexagonal test casing (1 ) can be 34 cm. Thus, saving from place and material can be realized without loss of test performance.

The test casing (1 ) comprises a visual item (19) in the vicinity of the cover (18). Said visual item (19) is connected to the control unit (3). The visual item (19) presents the data related to the test and the test results to the user under the control of the control unit (3).

With reference to Figure 4, in an alternative embodiment, the test casing (1 ) comprises a cooling item (5). Said cooling item (5) has a body (52) which joins the test chamber (1 1 ) and the outer medium. Said body (52) is in the form of a hollow cylinder which extends towards the test chamber (1 1 ). The inner and outer surfaces of said body (52) are coated by the inner layer (13). There is a fan (51 ) inside said body (52). Said fan (51 ) is positioned such that air flow is provided from the outer medium towards the test chamber (1 1 ) or from the test chamber (1 1 ) towards the outer medium. Said fan (51 ) is made of metal material. Thus, some of the electromagnetic waves coming from outside may reflect back from the metal surface. Since the body (52) is coated with the inner layer (13) and since the body (52) is in protrusion form towards the test chamber (1 1 ), the body (52) provides the electromagnetic waves, which exist in the test chamber (1 1 ), to be absorbed inside the cylindrical body (52). At the same time, since the electromagnetic waves, coming from outside, cannot enter into the inner medium directly and since they enter by means of hitting the surfaces of the cylindrical body (52), the electromagnetic waves are absorbed on these surfaces and they partially prevent existence of foreign electromagnetic waves in the test chamber (1 1 ). At the same time, the damaging of the tested wireless communication device (52) due to overheating is at least partially prevented. Said body (52) is positioned on the rear face of the test casing (1 ) such that the body (52) does not directly face the antenna (21 ) or the wireless communication device antenna (41 ). In the preferred embodiment, the cooling item (5) is opened to the outer medium from a rear surface (16) of the test casing (1 ). An example of the operation of the abovementioned embodiment of the present invention is as follows: Wireless communication devices are placed to the test casings (1 ) of the test station (10) which is in honeycomb shape. Data is sent to the test unit (2) by the control unit (3). The test unit (2) sends said data as electromagnetic signal from the wireless communication device to the communication device by means of the antenna (21 ). The wireless communication device transfers the reaction, related to the data received as electromagnetic signal, to the control unit (3). The control unit (3) presents the data of the test performance of said wireless communication device (4) to the user in the visual item (19), in accordance with the difference of the data, received from the wireless communication device (4), from the predetermined parameters. For instance, in the visual item (19), there are statements like "the system is functioning", "the test continues" or "the test is completed", "successful", "unsuccessful". Thus, pluralities of wireless communication devices (4) can be tested simultaneously. In alternative embodiments, pluralities of test stations (10) can be placed to the walls of a test plant. Thus, pluralities of wireless communication devices (4) can be tested simultaneously.

The protection scope of the present invention is set forth in the annexed Claims and cannot be restricted to the illustrative disclosures given above, under the detailed description. It is because a person skilled in the relevant art can obviously produce similar embodiments under the light of the foregoing disclosures, without departing from the main principles of the present invention.