IWRL6432: What is the proper environment for factory calibration

Thomas Karlinsey

Part Number: IWRL6432

Tool/software:

Hello,

When performing factory calibration during the manufacturing process using the factoryCalibcfg CLI command, what is the proper environment for the device?

Should it be in its final enclosure?
Does it need to be at room temperature?
Does it need to be in an anechoic environment? i.e., Could the device be in a tray with metal very near the antennas?

This document www.ti.com/.../spracf4c.pdf indicates that it should be at room temperature for phase calibration but that is different than the factoryCalibration and it indicates that it should not be in the presence of strong in-band interferors but it does not indicate if strong reflections would be a problem.

Thank you,

over 1 year ago

0 Santosh Krishnan over 1 year ago

TI__Mastermind 19620 points

Hello.

Please refer to this document for more information the environment used for different calibrations and testing.

Sincerely,

Santosh

0 Thomas Karlinsey over 1 year ago in reply to Santosh Krishnan

Prodigy 30 points

Hi Santosh,

Thank you for the link to the application note. I was not aware of that document and it was interesting to review. Unfortunately however, that document only addresses factory calibration of transmit antenna tilt, range biases, and receive channel phase and amplitude variation. It does not discuss the self calibration functionality that happens with the factoryCalibration CLI command.

Do you have any additional information on that specific type of calibration?

Thanks,

0 Santosh Krishnan over 1 year ago in reply to Thomas Karlinsey

TI__Mastermind 19620 points

Hello.

Someone will get back to you with more information by Monday.

Sincerely,

Santosh

0 Blake Kisshauer over 1 year ago

TI__Expert 4360 points

Hi Thomas,

I think Chethan provided a great answer to these questions here: https://e2e.ti.com/support/sensors-group/sensors/f/sensors-forum/892202/iwr6843-calibration-best-practice

Let me know if you have more questions on this subject!

Thanks!

Blake

0 Thomas Karlinsey over 1 year ago in reply to Blake Kisshauer

Prodigy 30 points

Hi Blake,

Thank you for pointing me to that. That is a good resource, however, it is referring to the range bias and channel calibration which is a different type of calibration altogether than what I am intending to ask about.

My question is about the self-calibration that is performed when the following CLI command is executed:

factoryCalibCfg 0 1 40 9 0x1ff000

According to the documentation I referrenced in my original question, this calibration affects things such as the APLL, Synthesizer VCO, etc. My understanding from the documentation is that the requirement for this type of calibration is that it be free from strong interferers. The document doesn't say anything about the need for a anechoic environment but I would like confirmation that this is the case.

Thanks,

0 Blake Kisshauer over 1 year ago in reply to Thomas Karlinsey

TI__Expert 4360 points

Thomas,

An anechoic environment is the ideal way to ensure a test/calibration environment is free from interferers. However, this is not always practical or practicable in a manufacturing flow. In that event, you can use your best engineering judgement to ensure the area is free from strong radiators and interferors.

I hope this helps answer your question.

Blake

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IWRL6432: What is the proper environment for factory calibration