Patent Application
20230266374
Embodiments of the invention relate to the field of wireless communication device testing; and more specifically, to the design of enclosures for the testing of wireless devices and the configuration of enclosures for the testing of wireless devices.
Testing of electronic devices with wireless communication capabilities (e.g., use of radio frequency spectrum) can be facilitated by isolation from ambient signals and by an environment with minimal signal reflection or refraction. Testing structures with these properties are utilized for testing the wireless capabilities of these electronic devices. Anechoic chambers are examples of testing structures for these electronic devices. Anechoic chambers are designed as enclosed rooms whereby specialized material designed for attenuation of signals (i.e. radio frequency signals) can be used as a surface covering to allow an enclosed room to emulate, or attempt to approximate, the characteristics of free space by mitigating unwanted signal reflections as a consequence of being in an enclosed room.
Testing structures such as anechoic chambers serve as an isolated environment to allow for controlled testing of the wanted signals within the testing structure. This type of testing is especially useful and necessarily required for testcases where live over the air transmission of the wanted signals is required either as a direct consequence of the technology (i.e. cabling interfaces are not allowed between devices under test such as for 5G testing) or utilization of unlicensed radio spectrum is required and therefore must be contained. The specialized material for covering the interior surfaces of such an environment is referred to as anechoic material (also known as, for example, absorbers, microwave absorbers, acoustic absorbers, anechoic foam, and similar terms). Existing methods for installing anechoic material in such a testing structure typically requires the use of adhesives such as glue, epoxy, silicon, Velcro, tape, or other more involved processes such as a clip and rail systems. These methods for preparing a testing structure make reconfiguration or reassembly difficult as the adhesives and other mechanisms damage the anechoic material rendering it ineffective for reuse.
In one embodiment, an apparatus for fastening anechoic material includes a base, a retention mechanism coupled to the base, and an attachment mechanism coupled to the base, the attachment mechanism to removably attach the apparatus to a ferrous wall.
In another embodiment, a system includes anechoic material forming a substrate, and the apparatus of the preceding claims removably coupled to the anechoic material, the apparatus disposed through the anechoic material to hold the anechoic material to a ferrous surface.
In another embodiment, a method of manufacturing the apparatus is provided that includes forming the base and retention mechanism by injection molding.
The invention may best be understood by referring to the following description and accompanying drawings that are used to illustrate embodiments of the invention. In the drawings:
The following description describes a removable fastener to attach anechoic material to a testing structure. In the following description, numerous specific details such as logic implementations, opcodes, means to specify operands, resource partitioning/sharing/duplication implementations, types and interrelationships of system components, and logic partitioning/integration choices are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be appreciated, however, by one skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced without such specific details. Those of ordinary skill in the art, with the included descriptions, will be able to implement appropriate functionality without undue experimentation.
References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.
Bracketed text and blocks with dashed borders (e.g., large dashes, small dashes, dot-dash, and dots) may be used herein to illustrate optional operations that add additional features to embodiments of the invention. However, such notation should not be taken to mean that these are the only options or optional operations, and/or that blocks with solid borders are not optional in certain embodiments of the invention.
In the following description and claims, the terms “coupled” and “connected,” along with their derivatives, may be used. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. “Coupled” is used to indicate that two or more elements, which may or may not be in direct physical or electrical contact with each other, co-operate or interact with each other. “Connected” is used to indicate the establishment of communication between two or more elements that are coupled with each other.
The construction of testing structures in the art relies on the use of adhesives and similar mechanisms for attaching anechoic materials to the testing structure. The problem with using adhesives and similar mechanisms for attaching anechoic material to a surface of a testing structure is that adhesives and similar mechanisms are typically a one-time application and/or requires a clean-up/removal of the adhesives from the testing structure surfaces. Removing the adhesives or similar mechanisms from anechoic materials can also damage the anechoic material rendering it ineffective. In addition, using adhesives or similar mechanisms to attach anechoic material to testing structures prevents any changes from being made to the configuration once the anechoic materials are set in place. Adhesives also damage the anechoic material after the adhesives have set as the material may tear upon removal of the adhesive or during separation of the anechoic material from the testing structure. Therefore, installing anechoic material using adhesives and similar mechanisms requires precision placement the first time. Removing or rearranging anechoic material relative to the testing structure for any reason after initial placement could require additional purchase of anechoic material to replace any pieces that may be damaged as a result of the removal of the adhesives or similar mechanisms used.
The embodiments provide a removable fastener that is designed to be installed from the front side of the anechoic material through a substrate of the anechoic material. The substrate of the anechoic material can have any shape or design suitable for attenuating the signaling to be tested. In some example embodiments, a square pyramidal anechoic material is utilized. The removable fastener can include a retention mechanism to interface with one surface of the anechoic material. In one example, the retention mechanism is a set of tines. A ‘set,’ as used herein can be any whole number of items including one item. The removable fastener also includes an attachment mechanism. In one example, the retention mechanism is a magnet. The retention mechanism and attachment mechanism together are designed to hold the anechoic material in place against a surface of a testing structure. The embodiments of the removable fastener can have any length or shape. The length and shape of the removable fastener can be dependent on the design of the anechoic material that is utilized. The embodiments of the removable fastener can be equipped with a strong attachment mechanism such as a magnet (e.g. a neodymium magnet) to ensure maximum holding strength using a minimum amount of space.
The embodiments overcome these defects of the cited art. The removable fastener can be added and removed from the anechoic material with ease without the need for the additional removal and/or clean-up required of adhesives. The removable fastener also does not damage the anechoic material. The removable fastener has the advantage of also not requiring the complication and cost of the installation of a substructure to attach to as is the case with a clip and rail system. In some embodiments, the removable fastener is equipped with a detachment mechanism. In one example embodiment, a loop on the topside of a base of the removable fastener is included such that the removable fastener can be more easily removed, for example, using a tool equipped with a small hook, the use of pliers, or a similar tool. In some embodiments, a specialized tool is not required. The removable fastener can be detached from the test structure manually. For example, a technician could use their fingers to grip below the tines to remove the fastener if no tools are readily available.
The advantage of the embodiments is the ease by which anechoic material can be added or removed to a testing structure without the added collateral damage imposed on the anechoic material itself or the necessary removal, clean-up, and reapplication of new adhesives to the surfaces of the testing structure as well as the anechoic material. In many testing scenarios, there can be a need to remove and reposition anechoic material as a consequence of evolving test cases that require different frequencies to be tested (and thus different Anechoic material to match the specifications) or the need to reconfigure/relocate portions of the anechoic material or the entire testing structure. In such cases, the ability to remove, protect, and transport anechoic material for reinstallation is vitally important as damage to the anechoic material (in particular, the tips) could render the anechoic material ineffective for future testing thus forcing the replacement/purchase of new anechoic material at additional cost.
The retention mechanism 107 is coupled to the base 101 and provides a gripping mechanism for holding the anechoic material against a ferrous surface. The shape, length, and number of tines can be dependent on the anechoic material chosen for the application. The cross-shaped embodiment is provided by way of example and not limitation. The cross-shaped retention mechanism 107 in the example is designed for use with a square base pyramidal tip anechoic material. In other embodiments, the retention mechanism 107 can include additional tines or have an alternate shape such as a flat circular, square, polygonal, spherical, spoke and wheel or other shape that provides a surface to grip or press on the substrate of anechoic material. The retention mechanism 107 can be formed of the same material as the base 101 or a different material. The retention mechanism can be any material including a natural material or synthetic material such as plastic, resin, metal, or similar material. The retention mechanism 107 can be formed as a single unitary structure with the base 101 or can be a separate structure attached to the base 101 by any coupling mechanism. The retention mechanism 107 can be attached by adhesives, screws, complementary threading, or any similar coupling mechanism.
The attachment mechanism 103 is a mechanism to enable the removable fastener 100 to be removably attached to a testing structure. ‘Removable’ as used herein refers to a capability to be detached without materially changing the fastener or the object that the fastener is being attached to. In some embodiments, the attachment mechanism 103 can be a magnet. The magnet can be formed of a rare earth material, e.g., neodymium. The size and strength of the magnet can be selected to be capable of securing a portion (i.e., a specific percentage) of a substrate of the anechoic material. In other embodiments, other similar attachment mechanisms can be utilized including magnets, electro-magnets, suction cups, or similar mechanisms. In some embodiments, the magnet can be selected to have a strength capable of securing at least 25% of the substrate of anechoic material or an approximate 12 inch by 12 inch by 4 inch section of anechoic material. The amount of anechoic material secured can be directly related to the length of the retention mechanism 107. Longer tines could allow more of the anechoic material to be secured with fewer removable fasteners 100 overall.
In some embodiments, the base 101 defines a threaded shaft 105 or similar coupling mechanism. The use of a threaded shaft 105 provides a mechanism for attachment mechanism 103 (e.g., magnets) with integrated threads to be attached to the base 101. The coupling mechanism 105 by which an attachment mechanism 103 can be coupled to the base 101 is not limited to the use of a threaded shaft 105. Other methods for incorporating an attachment mechanism 103 into the base 101 could include, but are not limited to, for example, a captive solution whereby a magnet or similar attachment mechanism 103 is encapsulated in the base 101 of the removable fastener 100 as a single self-contained removable fastener design. Where threaded shafts 105 are utilized as part of the removable fastener, the use of threaded inserts (i.e. a separate threaded insert structure with a knurled exterior surface) can be incorporated depending on the manufacturing process chosen. In some embodiments, the threaded insert structure is formed from brass or similar material.
In some embodiments, the removable fastener includes a detachment mechanism 109. The detachment mechanism 109 can be a loop, hook, grip, or similar structure that enables a tool to engage with the removable fastener to easily remove the removable fastener from a testing structure. In some embodiments, the detachment mechanism 109 can include moving components to reposition the base 101 or attachment mechanism relative to the testing structure. For example, the detachment mechanism 109 can be a button or toggle to disengage an electro-magnet, a slide to move the attachment mechanism 103 further from the testing structure thereby disengaging (e.g., moving a magnet of the removable fastener away from a testing structure to weaken the magnetic connection) or similar mechanism. The detachment mechanism 109 can be used in any manner for removal of the removable fastener 100 from a testing structure once the removable fastener 100 is set in place.
In this embodiment of the removable fastener 100, the detachment mechanism 109 can similarly be attached via a coupling mechanism 203. The coupling mechanism 203 can be complementary threading, form fit (e.g., knurled surfaces), or similar coupling mechanism. In other embodiments, the detachment mechanism 109 can be integrally formed with the base 101 (e.g., as shown in
In some embodiments, the base 407 and the shaped section 401 can be formed as a unitary structure. In other embodiments, the shaped section 401, base 407, and any other section of the substrate of anechoic material 403 can be formed as unitary components or can be broken up into any number of sub-components for assembly. The anechoic materials of the substrate 403 can be assembled via adhesives, interlocking structures, custom sized or designed, or similarly assembled.
The anechoic material substrate 403 can rest against a surface 405 of a testing structure. The surface 405 can be formed of any material and have any size or shape. In one embodiment, the surface 405 includes a ferrous material to which a magnet in the removable fastener 100 can attach. The surface 405 can be a flat plane, an uneven, porous surface, such as a mesh or cut outs, with contact points for engaging the removable fasteners 100.
In one example, the anechoic material substrate 403 can be a 2′ × 2′ square. The removable fasteners are placed on the 2′ × 2′ square of anechoic material using a square base pyramid tip design. The removable fasteners 100 can be spaced 1′ apart or similarly spaced. The spacing can be determined based on the load that each removable fastener can bear as well as the weight of the anechoic material substrate 403. A ratio of removable fasteners 100 to anechoic material substrate 403 can then be determined and spacing can be a function of the ratio.
The testing structure 600 can have any size or shape sufficient to hold electronic devices to be tested. The testing structure 600 can include other structures for holding, interacting with, or otherwise managing the electronic devices to be tested such as test beds, holders, wiring, and similar components. The testing structure can be formed from any material or combination of materials. In some embodiments, surfaces or contact points upon which the anechoic material is to be mounted using the removable fasteners 100 can be formed of ferrous material such that a magnet of the removable fastener 100 can be utilized to mount the removable fastener to the testing structure and to hold the anechoic material substrate.
The operations in the flow diagrams will be described with reference to the exemplary embodiments of the other figures. However, it should be understood that the operations of the flow diagrams can be performed by embodiments of the invention other than those discussed with reference to the other figures, and the embodiments of the invention discussed with reference to these other figures can perform operations different than those discussed with reference to the flow diagrams.
In the example process, the base and retention can be injection molded (Block 701). The base and retention mechanism can be injection molded as a unitary component or separately injection molded and later assembled. The materials utilized can be any suitable for an injection molding process including any natural material or synthetic material such as plastic, resin, metal, and similar materials. In some embodiments, the base can be molded with internal threading or similar retention mechanism. In the illustrated example, a separate brass fitting is inserted into the base by a vibration process (Block 703). The brass fitting and/or the internal walls of the base can have a knurled surface to improve the bonding strength between the surfaces. The brass fitting can provide threading to interface with an attachment mechanism. The brass fitting thereby provides a coupling mechanism between the base and the attachment mechanism. The attachment mechanism can thereby be attached to the removable fastener (Block 705). The attachment mechanism can be added by use of the complementary threading where the attachment mechanism has a threaded shaft.
With the attachment mechanism secured, the removable fastener can be deployed. The removable fastener can be inserted into a hole or via of the anechoic material substrate (Block 707). Insertion of the removable fastener and contact with a testing structure can attach the removable fastener to the testing structure thereby holding the anechoic material substrate against the testing structure (Block 709). If the removable fastener needs to be repositioned or removed, then the detachment mechanism of the removable fastener can be utilized (Block 711). For example, where the detachment mechanism is a loop, then a hook or similar tool can be utilized. In other embodiments, a button or similar mechanism can disengage the removable fastener.
The removable fastener is used as a mechanism to attach anechoic material directly to a surface of a testing structure without the need for adhesives or the installation of a separate substructure to attach to. Used with a testing structure and a combination of other removable fasteners and anechoic material substrates, the installation of each removable fastener starts with identifying precisely where the installer would like to place each removable fastener on each substrate of anechoic material. In some embodiments, a sharp object (e.g., a pick, screwdriver, or similar device) can be used to start a hole from the front of the anechoic material to the back. This ensures that the removable fastener sits exactly where desired on the overall surface of the anechoic material as well as being at the low point (i.e. base), for example, between the pyramidal (or similar) anechoic protrusions. This process is repeated for each location on a piece of anechoic material as desired as part of installation. The quantity, characteristics, and location of the removable fasteners should be determined such as to provide the desired holding strength and overall appearance. For example, it may be desired to have more removable fasteners for holding ceiling material in place vs. wall material. In some embodiments, tine extenders can be used for ceiling material or other placements that are more difficult to retain. This is to help reduce deflection of the material as a result of gravity pulling down on it from the ceiling. Once all removable fasteners are situated on a substrate of anechoic material where desired, the installer will bring the rear side of the anechoic material near to the ferrous surface of the testing structure where the attachment mechanism (e.g., magnets) in the base of each removable fastener will affix the entire substrate of anechoic material as required directly at the desired location and orientation on the surface of the testing structure. This process is repeated until all surfaces are covered with the desired number of anechoic material pieces as required for the testing structure.
In
The foregoing embodiments present a removable fastener that can effectively and directly hold a substrate of anechoic material in place without the need for adhesives, Velcro, or complicated apparatus’s, as a separate substructure to attach to. The use of a magnet combined with the concept of a retention mechanism such as tines to hold the anechoic material against a ferrous or similar surface of a testing structure is practical, and effective for testing.
For example, while the flow diagrams in the figures show a particular order of operations performed by certain embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that such order is exemplary (e.g., alternative embodiments may perform the operations in a different order, combine certain operations, overlap certain operations, etc.).
While the invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described, can be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The description is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of limiting.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2020/056577 | 7/13/2020 | WO |
