Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to a method for the self-testing of a reactive radio interferer.
Radio interferers are technical devices that are used to interfere with radio connections, especially communications connections. They are used for, inter alia, the protection of vehicles or vehicle convoys against remotely ignited bombs (RCIEDs, Remote Controlled Improvised Explosive Devices). A special type of radio interferers are reactive radio interferers. The interference takes place in the case of reactive radio interferers only if a signal to be interfered with is detected. For this purpose reactive radio interferers operate alternatingly and continuously in two different phases:
German patent document DE102009006861 A1 and U.S. patent document US2005/0041728 A1 disclose such reactive interference transmitters.
In order to achieve the targeted protection, all functional elements of a reactive interference transmitter must operate properly. Therefore it is necessary to monitor all components, including the passive components such as cables and antennas.
The monitoring should be carried out as continuously as possible, so that it is noticed in time if components are not operating properly or if cable connections have loosened.
Known systems for self-testing in reactive radio interferers are based on the loop-back method for testing electronic assemblies. However, the critical areas of the antenna cabling and the antenna itself are hardly checked. Moreover, according to the prior art additional electronic assemblies for self-testing purposes are often integrated within systems or are used for the testing of external measurement means.
German patent document DE 699 35 441 T2 discloses a radio base station in which to carry out a self-test a transmitter of the base station transmits a test signal that is received and analyzed by a receiver of the base station.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are directed to a method for the self-testing of a reactive interference transmitter that can be carried out without such assemblies within the device that are exclusively required for test purposes and with which testing also takes place without external testing means.
The method according to the invention does not require additional means, such as e.g. external measuring equipment or integrated measurement electronics, for the testing. Rather, the self-testing can be carried out exclusively with functional assemblies already present in the system and without any external tools.
The self-testing can advantageously be carried out continuously during the normal operation of the radio interferer without having to accept a significant limitation of the operating function.
Moreover, the self-testing according to the invention can also be carried out at system start, i.e. before the normal operation of the interference transmitter.
Because with the method according to the invention the complete reception and transmission paths of the reactive interference transmitter with all components including the antennas can be included in the test, a new quality of the test coverage can be achieved in such systems.
The invention is explained in detail using specific exemplary embodiments with reference to figures. In the figures:
The process of the self-test according to the invention is illustrated in
In general a signal is transmitted in the hashed phases LT or JAM of the relevant transmission/reception path in
According to the invention, one of the transmission/reception paths present in the system (in
The more transmission/reception paths a system has, the smaller is the limitation on the protective effect achievable during the continuous operation of the self-test function described in
There is no change regarding the function of C1 compared to the method according to
The spectral pattern of the test signal TS frequency and amplitudes is advantageously adapted to current system and environmental parameters. This enables different system configurations of the interference transmitter and current HF spectrum occupancy in the surroundings of the system to be taken into account.
The system configurations can especially differ by the arrangement of the antennas, the design of the power amplifier and in general also by the cable lengths for connecting the antennas. By adapting the amplitude, under the given system and environmental conditions in each case optimal reception levels can be produced at the transmitter. The control of the spectral pattern in the frequency is advantageously used in order to inhibit the influences of HF spectrum occupancy in the surroundings of the system on the self-testing, wherein complex waveforms can also be used with a plurality of individual carriers and different modulations.
In practical system design it is often required to restrict the number of antennas required for an interference system to a minimum. Thus, the receiving and transmitting antennas of a transmission/reception path can be combined by using suitable changeover switches or circulators. Moreover, it is also possible for a plurality of transmission/reception paths operating in an adjacent frequency range to only use one common antenna. The method according to the invention can also be used for such arrangements.
The use of a common transmitting/receiving antenna for one or even a plurality of transmission/reception paths basically has no influence here on the control of the self-test operation. In the case of a common transmitting/receiving antenna for multiple transmission/reception paths, however, none of these should be used to transmit the test signal, because otherwise the respective other transmission/reception paths would be blocked for operation in normal interference mode and parallel performance of the test operation in addition to the regular interference operation would be restricted.
Particularly advantageously, the spectral pattern of the test signal is produced such that only the harmonic frequencies of the transmission/reception path producing the test signal are used in order to avoid saturation effects on the receiving transmission/reception path. If e.g. the function of the system is tested for a certain frequency f1, then direct transmission of the frequency f1 via the power amplifier could cause destruction of the input stage of the receiver. Therefore the frequency to be tested is advantageously not generated directly, but a frequency f2 is used that produces a suitable harmonic of the frequency f1 after the power amplifier, e.g. for the 4th order f1=5*f2. The harmonic is then at a significantly lower power level below the directly generated signal frequency and can be used for self-testing without fear of destroying the receiver.
In order to prevent saturation effects on the receiving transmission/reception path, the blanking function normally available at the power amplifier of the transmitting transmission/reception path can advantageously be activated during the generation of the test signal. Specifically, when transmitting the frequency f1 to be tested, the power amplifier is not switched through as during normal operation of the amplifier but rather the blanking signal is switched on and thus high damping is achieved for the transmission of the signal applied to the input of the power amplifier with frequency f1. The signal with frequency f1 is thus limited in the transmission to a level that protects the receiver against destruction or saturation.
Because the method according to the invention can be implemented essentially by only a change of the software configuration without changes in the hardware, modular system designs can thus also be implemented.
The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
10 2012 006 228 | Mar 2012 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/DE2013/000124 | 3/7/2013 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2013/143518 | 10/3/2013 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5640143 | Myron | Jun 1997 | A |
5822429 | Casabona | Oct 1998 | A |
6505041 | Borgstrand | Jan 2003 | B1 |
7683842 | Engel et al. | Mar 2010 | B1 |
20050041728 | Karlsson | Feb 2005 | A1 |
20060240790 | Timmis et al. | Oct 2006 | A1 |
20070116093 | Karlsson | May 2007 | A1 |
20090105978 | Schuttert | Apr 2009 | A1 |
20100128761 | Cornwell | May 2010 | A1 |
20110115498 | Kumar | May 2011 | A1 |
20130084852 | Duperray | Apr 2013 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
699 35 441 | Jan 2008 | DE |
10 2009 006 861 | Aug 2010 | DE |
10 2011 101 712 | Oct 2011 | DE |
WO 0021226 | Apr 2000 | WO |
Entry |
---|
International Search Report dated Aug. 21, 2013 with English translation (seven (7) pages). |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20150050895 A1 | Feb 2015 | US |