Loopback-Based Built-In-Self-Test

摘要

A method of self-test for a near-field communication (NFC) radio frequency (RF) front-end unit comprising one antenna driver and at least one unit from a group comprising one reader and one card emulator, the RF front-end unit being connected to a digital front-end unit, wherein the antenna driver and the unit are interconnected through a first connection line via their respective first input-output interface and are also interconnected through a second connection line via their respective second input-output interface, the digital front-end unit being connected to the second connection line, the method comprising: activating the antenna driver and the unit based on control signals; generating a first signal onto the first connection line by modulating a respective first bitstream; retrieving a second bitstream from the second connection line, by demodulating the first signal; and, determining an outcome of the self-test by monitoring the demodulated signal.

主权项

1. A method of self-test for a near-field communication, NFC,
radio frequency, RF, front-end unit comprising one NFC antenna driver and at least one NFC unit from a group comprising a NFC reader and a NFC card emulator, the RF front-end unit being connected to a digital front-end unit, the antenna driver and the NFC unit of the RF front-end unit being interconnected through a first connection line via respective first input-output interfaces and being also interconnected through a second connection line via respective second input-output interfaces, and the digital front-end unit being connected to the second connection line, the method comprising: activating the NFC antenna driver and the NFC unit based on control signals received from the digital front-end through the second connection line; generating, at the NFC antenna driver a first signal sent onto the first connection line, by modulating a respective first bitstream received from the digital front-end through the second connection line; retrieving, at the NFC unit, a second bitstream from the second connection line, by demodulating the first signal, onto the second connection line; and, determining an outcome of the self-test by monitoring the demodulated signal; wherein:the NFC unit comprises both the NFC reader and the NFC card emulator, and the first signal modulates a bitstream having no useful data, the method further comprising before the demodulating, the first signal further modulates a third bitstream, in order to generate a second signal that emulates a signal transmitted from an external NFC card.