ART-MAN^© eRP is a Radio Frequency Vector Measurement based System (RF-VMBS). The system is composed of a complete Radio Frequency receiver based on a double channel superheterodyne architecture. This enables to measure wireless devices' multiple frequencies in real conditions emission modes. This unique technology directly accesses to magnitude, phase, frequency and time of any radio signal: the ART-MAN^© eRP is a real-time scanner exclusively relying on the laws of physics (Maxwell and Huygens).

Manufactured in France, this new generation of SAR measurement system is designed by ART-Fi.

This ART-MAN^© system is modular by nature. Right and left head phantoms can be easily installed to complete thehardware configuration. Adding the two phantoms enables to perform SAR measurement at the normative head positions.

The IEC 62209-3 standard has been published in Q3 2019. This standard is composed of the more stringent procedure ever released in terms of validation tests requested to approve SAR measurement systems. It is the first performance oriented SAR measurement standard enabling modern measurement technology such as radio receiver supported by ART-Fi. Regulators are strongly involved in the IEC 62209-3 standard and support evolutions to improve measurement accuracy and efficiency. This advanced standard is central for 5G multiple frequencies in real emission mode conditions. 

ART-Fi's calibration laboratory is officially ISO 17025 accredited by COFRAC (accreditation number 2-6545, scope available on www.cofrac.fr). The ISO 17025 calibration method is based on the IEC 62209-3 Standard.

The aim of the ART-Fi RF Vector near-field scanner is to fully characterise the electromagnetic fields emitted by wireless devices - interpolation/extrapolation less - to maximise accuracy. This rigorous and comprehensive 2-D scan characterisation mandates to directly measure the magnitude, phase and time-frequency for getting access to 3-D absolute SAR measurement. 

ART-Fi offers the most complete scientific analysis possible by using D-PHASE^® measurement technology inspired by multispectral retinal imaging. Based on this disruptive technology, ART-MAN^© eRP drastically improve SAR measurement processes combining speed, accuracy and ease of use.

New wireless devices such as 5G smartphones emit simultaneously on multiple frequencies that drastically challenge SAR measurement process.

The ART-MAN^© eRP addresses this issue enabling to measure the real 3GPP radio protocol for multiple frequencies emissions. Obviously wireless devices have to be measured in real condition of use and emissions to warranty that usage and testing conditions are perfectly aligned.

As new 5G wireless devices emit simultaneously on multiple (N) antennas, it drastically challenges SAR measurement process. The ART-MAN^© eRP addresses this issue by simplifying the measurement process requiring N+1 measurements instead of N²  measurements.

The ART-MAN^© eRP system is designed to simplify the global SAR measurement operations. It facilitates and improves the wireless device positioning, avoid fluids constraints (measurement, handling, storage, evaporation breathing, recycling... ). The patented design of the ART-MAN^© eRP is the result of users' feedbacks and ergonomics studies based on maximizing automation. The ART-MAN^© eRP is at human height, which greatly simplifies the handling of wireless devices.

Measurement results and test conditions are easily accessible via a search bar and several filter options including device type, product model or manufacturer. ART-MAN^© software provides a full 3-D graphical interface, with visualization of local and spatially averaged SAR. SARLAB^© supports all complex combined emissions such as the most recent 5G nSA, with both narrow and wide band approach. The plateform also allows correlated signal measurement (MIMO) in real emission mode conditions.

SARLAB^© interface has been optimized to offer seamless and time saving operations, providing automated measurement sequence (supporting all telecom standards) as well as customized report generation. The SARLAB^© includes an automated DUT positioning feature, a base-station control simulator (channel sweeping, handover...), a report generator, an autopositioning device function (request ART-BORG^© robot), and an auto quality check function 

Based on its advanced technology, ART-MAN^© combined with SARLAB^© provides unique applications and metrix addressing advanced R&D need for SAR assessment including proximity sensors identification, time average SAR, DUT electromagnetic near-field phase imaging.

D-PHASE^© offers major benefits for reducing drastically the uncertainty budget.

The Device Under Test (DUT) can operate at any frequency within the 0.6 - 6 GHz range, using any signal access (FDD, TDD), any modulations (QPSK, xQAM...) and multiple emissions (5G nSA ...).

285 ART-Fi patented RF Vector probes are embedded in each left and right head sealed phantoms filled with wideband IEC/FCC compliant material. The sealed body phantom section contains 390 RF Vector probes immersed in IEC/FCC wideband body tissue-simulating fluid.

High-speed radiofrequency multiplexer allows a full probe-array scan in less than 30ms. The scan time depends on probe integration, optimized for each signal type and modulation. Two RF output signals are systematically monitored for E-field phase assessment and downconverted using superheterodyne reception technique.

Downconverted signals are sampled at 250 MSPS with a 16-bit digitization. FPGA circuits perform on-the-fly computations of vector FFTs used for evaluating the amplitude and phase of the measured voltages. Signal processing includes: application of calibration coefficients for retrieving E-field data from measured voltages, volumic field reconstruction based on inverse boundary-value techniques and peak spatial-average 1g/10g SAR calculation.

• Expanded uncertainty (95% confidence interval k=2): ≤ 30%

• Operating frequency range: 0.6 – 6 GHz

• Body phantom: 390 RF Vector probes

• Analysis bandwidth: up to 100 MHz

• System I/O: Gigabit Ethernet interface

• Dimensions (W x H x D): 140 x 90 x 62 cm

• Weight: 120 kg

• Body phantom dimensions: 300 x 231 mm ellipse

• 780 E-Field probes per body phantom section (390 dual polarized probes)

• Human tissue dielectric parameters compliant with the IEC 62209-3 standard

• All phantoms shapes, shell thickness & dielectric parameters compliant with the IEC 62209-3 standard.

• Characteristic impedance: 50 Ohm

• Multiplexing characteristics: 64-channel to 2-channel multiplexer Switch Technology : GaAS pHEMT

• Downconverter: 2-channel

• Synchronous RF receiver superheterodyne architecture

• Slicable 40 MHz IF filters bandwidth

• Analog to digital conversion: 16 bits, 250 MS/s digitizer

• Synchronized acquisition on signal bursts

• Maximum scan rate (RF Vector probe array): 1 FFT performed on 1024 samples

• Operating system: ART-MAN^© OS
• FPGA processors: 2 X Xilinx Virtex - 500 MHz max clock speed
• FFT: 2-channel 16-bit 1024 samples
• Signal averaging / probe integration: specified for each
• modulation and signal type – typ. 32 cycles/RF Vector probe
• Peak spatial-average SAR calculation algorithms compliant with IEC 62209-3 standard