Temperature and Humidity Reliability Test of 5G Module

With the advent of the 5G Era, its high reliability, ultra-low latency, wide coverage, and mass connection characteristics are integrated with Internet applications, allowing the latter to provide new opportunities for in-depth development of smart city building, industrial IoT, Internet of Vehicles, smart agriculture, smart healthcare, and other sectors. Which aspects are involved in the reliability test of 5G universal modules? Let’s find them together.

Technical requirements and test methods for the reliability of industry-oriented terminal 5G universal modules are established based on operational requirements and standard progress in China to address such aspects of 5G universal module as temperature & humidity reliability, dust & mist reliability, mechanical reliability, and electrical reliability.

Temperature & Humidity Reliability Test

IoT terminal products need to function in environments with different temperatures and humidity. Depending on scenario, such functionality may be exposed to extreme temperatures and humidity, which require the temperature and humidity reliability of module to be highly reliable. Generally, 5G modules need to be tested in the following aspects during temperature & humidity reliability test.

Low-temperature and high-temperature storage tests: Simulate the DUT exposure to the specified low-temperature or high-temperature operating state without power supply, such as the transportation and storage of 5G universal modules for industry terminals at high and low temperatures.  

Temperature shock test: Verify the safety performance, reliability, and solder joint quality of the DUT in high and low temperature transients. The standard test environment is restored after the prescribed harsh environment; in the standard test environment, the appearance, welding quality, and performance test shall comply with relevant requirements.

Damp and hot storage test: Simulate the DUT exposure to the specified high-humidity operating state without power supply, such as the transportation and storage of 5G universal modules for industry terminals at high humidity.

High/low-temperature operating test: Simulate the DUT exposure to the specified high/low-temperature operating state power supply, such as the use of 5G universal modules for industry terminals at extreme high and low temperatures.

Damp heat operation test: Simulate the DUT exposure to the specified high-humidity operating state with power supply, such as the use of 5G universal modules for industry terminals at high temperatures and humidity.

High-temperature aging test: Simulate the long-term exposure of DUT to the specified high-temperature electrified operating state to demonstrate the compliance of DUT performance with requirements. The severity level of high temperature test is dependent on the temperature and duration.

Temperature gradient test: Simulate the live operation of DUT at room temperature with temperature gradient variation to demonstrate operational performance of DUT at extreme high and low temperatures.

Temperature cycling test: Simulate the live operation of DUT to demonstrate the compliance of DUT performance with requirements even in temperature cycling.

Damp-heat cycling test: The specification of temperature and humidity reliability simulates the operating state of DUT exposed to specified humidity environment; for example, the industry terminal-oriented 5G universal module is used in humid environment.

Temperature/humidity integrated cycling test: Simulate the exposure of DUT to high-temperature/humidity and low-temperature operating states without power supply, and perform acceleration to determine the resistance of industry terminal-oriented 5G universal module to degradation at high temperatures/humidity and low temperatures.

Hot soak test: Simulate the exposure of DUT to operating state in specified hot soak environment; for example, the industry terminal-oriented 5G universal module functions in hot soak environment. All DUT performance tests in the environments of prescribed severity level shall comply with relevant requirements. The operating performance of DUT shall meet specified performance requirements during and after tests. Upon completion of specified tests, the DUT shall be subject to terminal conformance tests as per 3GPP 38.521-1, 38.521-2, and 38.521-3, and meet the indicator specifications of 3GPP 38.101-1, 38.101-2, and 38.101-3, as well as the performance requirements on throughput and power consumption.

When planned and designed, SIMCom's 5G module received a number of rigorous temperature and humidity reliability tests to ensure the proper functioning in actual operating environments. The high reliability and high speed of 5G modules also make them applicable for CPE, robots, UAVs, HD videos, and other applications. SIMCom has launched intensive cooperation with industry partners like China Mobile, China Telecom, BOE, Suzhou Pengxun, Coolpad, etc. in UAV, big video, robot, CPE, laptop, and other 5G areas. There will be a large number of 5G terminal solutions to hit the market early this year.