A New Test Method for 5G Massive MIMO Devices: Plane Wave Generator with 36 Planar Array Antenna

Abstract

With the development of communication technology, 4G antenna and 5G massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) devices need the over-the-air test in the anechoic chamber. Due to the size and high working frequency, large distances between the transmitter and receiver are required to measure the device in a real far-field environment, which will largely increase the area and cost of the test system. This paper presents a simulation of the plane wave generator (PWG), which could synthesize a plane wave in the near field and largely minimize the size and cost. The PWG anechoic chamber was usually consisted of a plane wave generator, a turntable, and a whole chamber. Inside the chamber, the sidewalls, floor, and ceiling are covered with high-quality absorbers to reduce the reflected energy level. The chamber was designed and simulated using the commercial package named “EAST WAVE”. The quality of the quiet zone for this chamber was verified at 3.5 GHz through finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. During the simulation modeling, the dielectric and permeability of the absorber have also been taken into account, and the perfect matched layer conditions are applied to limit the computation domain. The simulation result shows that good amplitude and phase uniformity throughout the quiet zone (QZ) have been achieved.