CASE STUDY
5G Manufacturer Reduces Test
Time by 20X
A leading manufacturer of multi-antenna high-frequency 5G transceivers needed
a technology partner with a comprehensive test platform that included hardware,
software, and services. Working with Keysight, they achieved a 20X improvement in
Company:
speed, 10X improvement in asset utilization, and easily repurposed their test stations. • 5G transceiver manufacturer
Key Issues:
• Fast testing of large
Challenges: Traditional Test Approach Lacked Readiness transceiver arrays
A worldwide transceiver manufacturer made a substantial investment in the design • Underutilized test hardware
and manufacture of equipment for 4G and new 5G networks. Their 5G product Solutions:
• Keysight consulting services
designs include arrays of massive MIMO radio transceivers that need to operate
• PathWave Test software
at higher mmWave frequencies than 4G equipment. The test team needed a
• PathWave Analytics software
manufacturing test platform that could handle an increasing number of transceivers
Results:
and antennas at mmWave frequencies. The test platform also needed to perform • 20X test speed improvement
over-the-air measurements quickly. • 10X improved asset
utilization
• Flexible test station
repurposing from 3G to 5G
“Our future depends on our ability to innovate new
5G products at competitive prices.”
-Design & Test Director
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The new test architecture had to be flexible. Since 5G is an emerging standard, many
of the required tests are not fully defined. The new frequency bands with numerous
channels are at higher frequencies than 4G networks. The test equipment must manage
mmWave measurements potentially up to 71GHz on up to 128 transceivers, and must
include OTA (over-the-air) testing.
Figure 1 is the manufacturer’s test approach using a multi-channel RF measurement
system with a PC controller to compute the desired test parameters sequentially. For
example, EVM, SEM, and ACP align with one specific signal format. Test times with this
approach increase linearly with more channels. This quickly becomes cost prohibitive.
Moreover, the test hardware sits idle while the calculations are run, causing under-utilization
of test assets.
TRADITIONAL
Measurement setup
Acquire data
EVM
Calculate measurements SEM
ACPR
Met spec?
TEST RESULTS
ACQUIRE, TEST, ANALYZE
Instruments idle during calibration
Figure 1: Traditional testing approach leaves test hardware idle
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Solution: A Breakthrough with Distributed Architecture
The company partnered with Keysight Technologies to create a new test strategy
using a cloud-based concept shown in Figure 2. In this approach, the test hardware
continuously acquires measurement data while the computing workload is handled
in private cloud servers. The critical calculations run in parallel on the faster servers,
providing significant speed improvements. The test equipment is now fully used with
minimal idle time, resulting in higher asset utilization and lower capital expenditure.
CLOUD APPROACH
Test acceleration + Non-stop utilization of assets
Measurement setup
Acquire data Acquire data Acquire data
“This customer needed a breakthrough
approach to testing multi-antenna, high
Calculate measurements
frequency products. We proposed a
measurement algorithms running in parallel on a very fast computer
distributed processing approach using
computing resources on the customer’s
Met spec? private cloud servers.”
-Applications Engineer, Keysight 5G Specialist
TEST RESULTS
ACQUIRE, TEST, ANALYZE IN PARALLEL
100% asset utilization
Figure 2: PathWave software enables parallel measurements and faster processing in the cloud,
dramatically improving test speeds
Figure 3 shows the overall test solution architecture. Modular PXI hardware provides
the necessary test signals and acquires the time and frequency data needed for the
transceiver electronics; including power supplies, filters, digital, and RF sections.
PathWave Test manages the test sequences across the various test stations. High-
powered network computers collect the data from the remote test stations to quickly
compute the required measurement parameters; EVM, SEM, and ACPR using
PathWave. Those results are available in a central database for easy access and
analysis via PathWave Analytics software.
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PATHWAVE
OPERATOR ANALYTICS
USER
INTERFACE SW
HW
CONSOLES
NETWORK 10G ETHERNET CORPORATE
SWITCH SERVER
DISTRIBUTED TEST STATIONS PATHWAVE
ANALYTICS
PS PL 1G ETHERNET PATHWAVE
POWER CONTROLLER CLOUD SERVER
SUPPLY SWITCH USER LOGIN
TESTER ANALYSIS
SERVER
SG VNA PATHWAVE
CONTROLLER USER LOGIN PATHWAVE
FILTER RF SWITCH TEST
TESTER SEQUENCER
DATABASES
SG PG BER PATHWAVE
PATHWAVE TEST
DIGITAL CONTROLLER USER LOGIN
RF SWITCH ACQUISITION
TESTER
PATHWAVE
TEST
SG SA SA SA PATHWAVE MEASUREMENT
CONTROLLER USER LOGIN
RF RF SWITCH
TESTER
TEST SITES DATA CENTER/PRIVATE CLOUD
Figure 3: PathWave software provides significant test speed and asset utilization benefits
The new test architecture is more efficient, with measurement algorithms shared
across test stations and easily updated to support new signal formats and hardware.
Also, test station software is managed and updated remotely by authorized users. By
reconfiguring the software, test stations are modified to test any device across a variety
of signal formats from 3G to 5G. Pathwave test software provides fast measurements
for every format via the cloud server. The solution increases manufacturing flexibility
because each test station is used to test a wider variety of products.
Results: Preparing for the 5G Future
With Keysight’s solution, the manufacturer successfully accelerated the process of
commercializing their 5G transceivers. Keysight gave them increased confidence
because of the high-precision measurement tools in their testing equipment. They
knew Keysight stays up-to-date with the latest 5G standards. The test automation
software shortened their workflow and reduced their complexity.
“Keysight showed us a comprehensive approach to testing 5G that
included measurement hardware, PathWave software, and Keysight
Engineering Services to give us confidence in their strategy. They
really understood our problem and helped us develop a solution
that enables us to transform and win in our markets.”
-Design & Test Director
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The manufacturer experienced speed improvements quickly by using PathWave’s new
innovative test approach. They reported a 20X increase in measurement throughput
by moving data processing to their cloud servers. The resulting increase in test speed
and reduced idle time resulted in a 10X asset utilization improvement. The flexibility
of the test architecture allowed the manufacturer to repurpose test stations across a
variety of 3G to 5G transceivers.
Learn more about Keysight’s modern 5G test solutions
www.keysight.com/find/5G
Video: Manufacturer streamlines 5G development with a scalable solution
https://youtu.be/RoIxpg9X-gU
www.keysight.com/find/pathwave
Learn more at: www.keysight.com
For more information on Keysight Technologies’ products, applications or services,
please contact your local Keysight office. The complete list is available at:
www.keysight.com/find/contactus
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This information is subject to change without notice. © Keysight Technologies, 2019, Published in USA, January 3, 2019, 5992-3584EN
