A novel RF phase error Built-in-Self-Test for GSM

This paper discusses a novel RF Built-in-Self-Test (RF-BiST) targeting to replace the traditionally expensive and time-consuming RF parametric phase error test on a GSM/EDGE Digital Radio Processor (DRP) radio transceiver. The verification of the RF BiST in a production environment and a comparison of the internal BiST vs. the current test in are presented, which validates the RF BiST as an accepted test method for determining the phase error of GSM devices. The results illustrate that there are great opportunities in reduction of test time and costs by moving to the internal digital method of BiST for testing RF/analog IC products.