Spatial Correlation Metric for OTA Testing of mmWave Beamforming Arrays in SS-MPAC Setups

Xiaoli Yang, Nan Ma, Fei Yu, Jianqiao Chen

Abstract: Over-the-air (OTA) testing of millimeter-wave (mmWave) devices are expected to be essential in the development of the fifth-generation (5G) user equipment (UE). As a potential OTA test method, the simple-sectored multi-probe anechoic chamber (SS-MPAC) can provide target fading propagation environment for the device under test (DUT). The test system performance metric that is key to mmWave beamforming arrays performance should be selected in SS-MPAC. Therefore, in this paper, the spatial correlation metric is discussed to evaluate the OTA system performance for test the arrays that use the hybrid beamforming technology. In addition, the key design parameters of SS-MPAC are found by simulations with this metric. The results with the utilized two 3D channel models indicate that at 28 GHz, the same two linear arrays (with four elements) can be tested with a length of measurement distance of 1 m and with at minimum forty active dual polarized probes.