3D wave-field synthesis for testing of radio devices

For the sake of new radio devices to conform to respective standards, implementing functionality such as cognitive radio, Long Term Evolution beyond 2x2, or Global Navigation Satellite Systems, a demand for extensive testing arises. A promising solution is the validation inside an Over-the-Air testbed that creates a virtual electromagnetic environment using wave-field synthesis. This paper analyzes the polarimetric accuracy of a wave field generated by a hemispheric (3D) antenna arrangement. As most radio devices have a flat shape (e. g. smart phones, tablets, compact cognitive radio antennas) or a metallic backplane along a defined surface, the complexity of the optimization problem can be reduced. Analyzing the wave-field synthesis accuracy, it has to be kept in mind that for most radio devices the signal-to-noise ratio is limited in a range between 0-30 dB, which indirectly defines the upper limits of the required wave-field synthesis accuracy.