Mastering automotive radar EIRP measurement for peak performance

Your task

Automotive radar suppliers must accurately measure EIRP in automotive radar sensors to comply with regulations, ensure sensor reliability, optimize sensor performance, maintain quality standards and establish user confidence, which are all crucial to vehicle safety and the driving experience. Standards, such as ETSI in Europe, place limits on the maximum power that radar sensors can emit to prevent interference with other electronic devices. Compliance with these limits is essential. EIRP measurements allow radar manufacturers to verify product quality and consistency in areas from R&D to production. Making sure that each radar unit emits the correct amount of power within a specified tolerance limit lets suppliers maintain high quality standards and user satisfaction.

Accurate EIRP measurements help optimize radar sensor performance. Characterizing output power and coverage lets radar suppliers fine-tune designs, improve detection range and make sure the sensors have sufficient power for detection. Precise EIRP measurements play a crucial role in the reliable and effective operation of ADAS/AD systems and overall vehicle safety.

Rohde & Schwarz solution

Rohde & Schwarz has reliable and repeatable cutting-edge test and measurement solution for the automotive radars of today and tomorrow. The precision engineering and advanced technology make the AREG800A ideal for accurate and reliable radar testing and measurement – from early R&D to production.

A fully calibrated receive path (RX input antenna to power measurement output) is integrated into the mmWave remote frontend (output interface in the IF domain). When the AREG800A automotive radar echo generator is combined with the R&S®NRP8SN power sensor, it is an ideal test solution for accurately measuring the EIRP for automotive radar sensors. The solution can also be used to validate radar sensor compliance with specific standards (ETSI in Europe).

The R&S®NRP8SN power sensor architecture has three separate diode paths, each operated in the optimum detector range, to precisely and accurately determine the EIRP for radar sensors.

Application

The R&S®AREG8-81S mmWave remote frontend is connected to a base unit and downconverts the RF radar signal (ISM and E band) to the AREG800A IF (0.7 GHz to 5.7 GHz). The R&S®NRP8SN power sensor connects the IF output interface on the mmWave remote frontend to the AREG800A base unit. The EIRP value for the radar under test is displayed on the AREG800A GUI.

Summary

Benefit from the extensive Rohde & Schwarz portfolio of reliable automotive radar testing solutions:

• Accurate measurement of EIRP for radar sensors in all automotive radar bands (ISM and E band) from R&D to production
• The EIRP value for the radar under test is displayed on the AREG800A GUI
• Cost-efficient since R&S®NRP8SN power sensors are accurate enough to measure the EIRP in the E band
• Footprint optimized with separable RF frontend for integration in shielded chambers
• Standalone commercial-off-the-shelf solution
• No synchronization with radar under test required
• Fast execution minimizes test cycle times