The continued expansion of the cloud and intelligent IoT devices has placed demands on the RF ecosystem and its related infrastructures. This includes the addition of advanced functionality like Bluetooth Low Energy devices supporting Channel Sounding, which significantly enhances positioning accuracy for location applications. In addition, these devices offer improved power consumption and superior security, with the Bluetooth SIG introducing test cases to qualify these new features.
One company that's addressing this situation is 7layers, with the successful validation of its Interlab Test Solution Bluetooth RF for Channel Sounding qualification, leveraging the CMW wideband radio communication tester from Rohde & Schwarz. It's first test platform listed by the Bluetooth SIG to perform Channel Sounding qualification testing. The tester is compliant with Bluetooth RFPHY release 6.0, validating functionality like the secure fine ranging feature for increased positioning accuracy in consumer and commercial applications.
Tester Qualification and Main Features
A Bureau Veritas Group company, 7layers worked with Rohde & Schwarz to develop test solutions for Bluetooth Qualification Test Facilities (BQTFs) and Bluetooth Recognized Test Facilities (BRTFs). The 7layers Interlab Test Solution fulfills all qualification requirements for Bluetooth Classic and Low Energy, including Direction Finding. It provides comprehensive test automation and ensures compliance to the Bluetooth specifications.
Using a wideband radio communication tester of the R&S CMW platform, the solution delivers integrated RF path calibration, high measurement accuracy, and precise analysis capabilities. The Rohde & Schwarz test platform supports RF physical-layer measurements for existing applications and prequalification tests as a standalone box.
According to Frank Spiller, Manager of Interlab Test Products at 7layers, “The industry is eagerly anticipating the qualification of a test solution for Bluetooth Channel Sounding by the Bluetooth SIG. We are proud to offer the first validated test solution, implemented thanks to the advanced test capabilities of our partner Rohde & Schwarz. We enable our customers to perform high-quality and automated testing as part of the internal verification and regression process for a smooth transition to qualify products.”
Christoph Pointner, Senior Vice President for Mobile Radio Testers at Rohde & Schwarz, added, “Thanks to our close partnership with 7layers, we were able to quickly integrate the required test cases into the test solution. This means, that vendors of wireless chipsets and modules can now validate the new Bluetooth Channel Sounding feature with an R&S CMW Bluetooth RF tester and the Interlab Test Solution for Bluetooth Channel Sounding.
"This tester can be used for R&D tests, pre-qualification and production testing. Using the same test solution as BQTFs and BRTFs increases the likelihood of their products achieving the Bluetooth qualification on the first attempt, significantly reducing time-to-market.”
