Thinking out the box

Communications designers are continually faced with a number of challenges and they are now required to make an array of different measurements when testing different communications technologies. These measurements are further complicated by the convergence of multiple technologies into mobile handsets. Designers must also contend with evolution in existing technologies as well as the emergence of new technologies – both of which make the job of the R&D engineer more complicated than ever before. One area in particular where these challenges are felt is test. Here, technological complexity and compliance with industry standards is vital. Consider the design and development of a mobile WiMAX product; the standard and associated signal structure is so complicated that the design has to be just right for the system to work. Therefore, designers need to verify the device performance accurately using the correct test equipment to create and analyse real world mobile WiMAX signals with all their inherent complexity at the level of performance required for the system. To address these challenges, innovation in both design and test is required to quickly move existing and emerging wireless technologies forward. This innovation is coming from design engineers who are continually working to push the limits of technology, as well as from the providers of test and measurement solutions.