Emulating a Black Box with Not-Too Big Chamber - CATR

As mentioned above, it is likely for only blackbox approach to be accepted as a test method for commercialized device since UE manufacturer does not like to disclose the detailed antenna information, but blackbox approach tend to require huge chamber (i.e, large distance between the transmitter and reciever antenna). To reduce the problem of the chamber size issue an alternative concept called CATR(Compact Area Test Range). The overall concept is described in TR 37.842 as shown below.

 

< TR 37.842 - Figure 10.3.1.1.3.1-1: CATR measurement system setup for EIRP >

 

As shown above,  you will see the signal from the transmitter antenna bounces (reflects) from a specially designed reflector and then reaches to the receiver antenna. This would take an effect of folding up a long linear distance into a small space, which result in reducing the size of the chamber. In addition, by designining the reflector in a specific form, you can make all the parallel rays from DUT reaches to Feed antenna(measurement antenna). And, also you can make the rays from the feed antenna reaches DUT as parallel rays. Actually the basic principle is similar to what you learned in high school physics about Ray diagram of Parabolic mirror. Try googleing 'Parabolic Mirror Ray Diagram' or 'Parabolic Mirror Ray Tracing' etc.