Methods for simulating internal antennas in telemetry devices

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for simulating an internal antenna within a telemetry device. The simulator device includes a housing having at least one opening, wherein the housing is configured to accommodate close proximity placement of the telemetry device. The simulator device also includes a simulator or test antenna within the housing that corresponds to an internal antenna within a housing of the telemetry device. The simulator device further includes a radio frequency (RF) connector coupled to the simulator housing, for connection to a communication device. The simulator device also includes a fastening mechanism to secure the simulator device over the telemetry device so that the simulator antenna is adjacent to the internal antenna. The proximity of the simulator antenna to the internal antenna provides simulator device RF characteristics that simulate internal antenna RF characteristics.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A method for simulating and assessing radio frequency (RF) characteristics of a wireless communications signal at an internal antenna of a telemetry device, the method comprising:
 embedding a test antenna within a simulator housing;   securing the simulator housing over the telemetry device, wherein the test antenna is oriented in a manner corresponding to a potential location for an internal antenna within the telemetry device, and wherein the test antenna is exposed to an RF environment similar to that of the telemetry device, and wherein the simulator housing has a structural shape corresponding to a shape of the telemetry device;   connecting the simulator housing to a communication device through a RF connector coupled to the test antenna within the simulator housing; and   retrieving radio frequency (RF) characteristics from the test antenna through the communication device,   whereby the retrieved RF characteristics are a simulation of internal antenna RF characteristics at the potential location for the internal antenna of the telemetry device.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the communication device is coupled to a diagnostic device. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the diagnostic device is a coverage validation unit. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the communication device is coupled to a deployment device. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the retrieved RF characteristics include wireless network connectivity information. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the step of securing the simulator housing over the telemetry device is accomplished via a fastening mechanism selected from the group comprising: adhesive materials, magnets, restraining straps, elastic bands, hook-and-loop straps. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the test antenna is embedded on an inside surface of the simulator housing. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the test antenna is unshielded to an ambient RF environment. 
     
     
         38 . A method for simulating and assessing radio frequency (RF) characteristics of a wireless communications signal received at a potential location for a telemetry device, comprising the steps of:
 positioning a simulator device at the potential location for the telemetry device, wherein the simulator device includes a test antenna embedded therein and oriented in a manner corresponding to an internal antenna within the telemetry device, and wherein the test antenna is capable of receiving a wireless communications signal;   receiving the wireless communications signal at the test antenna within the simulator device; and   transmitting the wireless communications signal from the test antenna to a diagnostic device capable of measuring RF characteristics associated with the wireless communications signal,   whereby the RF characteristics of the wireless communications signal indicate a suitability of the potential location for the telemetry device for receiving and transmitting wireless communications signals.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the potential location for the telemetry device comprises an existing telemetry device. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the simulator device is coupled to the diagnostic device to enable communications between the devices. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the test antenna is embedded on an inside surface of the simulator device. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the diagnostic device is a coverage validation unit. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the diagnostic device is coupled to a deployment device. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the RF characteristics of the wireless communications signal include wireless network connectivity information. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the simulator device has a structural shape corresponding to a shape of the telemetry device.