Nuts and bolts of implementing a synthetic test environment

Tag : Power Supply Tester

While traditional rack-and-stack test systems built around benchtopinstruments or instrument-specific modules with appropriateinterconnect cabling and connectors between them continues toevolve, the need for reconfigurability, flexibility, modularity,and lower cost of ownership amongst others is driving many testengineers in the military and aerospace industries towardsoftware-centric synthetic instruments (SI). SIs synthesize thestimulus and measurement capabilities found in traditionalinstruments through a combination of software algorithms, hardwaremodules and system-level calibration software based on coreinstrumentation functional building blocks.
Even though, to improve the knowledge base of test engineers, theflow of information on SI technologies has been steadily increasingin the last couple of years, the chances are that you have not seenany detailed evidence concerning what you can or cannot dodifferently using synthetic test environments as compared toconventional rack and stack instruments. Thus, to give RF Designreaders an actual customer experience, Aeroflex Test Solution'schief technology officer Francesco Lupinetti describes a selectionprocess that led a customer to choose a synthetic implementationfor testing transmit/receive modules utilized in a phased arrayradar system. By applying a microwave synthetic test environment toa test application characterized by high-volume requirements aswell as high measurement performance requirements, the articletitled “Evaluating and selecting synthetic testenvironment,” examines the requirements, the expectationsset, and the results obtained. It also compares the tester impactto historic test methods. As it focuses on the details of themeasurements implemented and the technical results achieved, theauthor attempts to provide the nuts and bolts of implementing asynthetic mixed-signal microwave-intensive test environmentsolution.
Keeping diverse input, output and functional requirements of powersupplies in mind, the second feature in this issue of Defense Electronics focuses on space-grade DC-DC converters deployed inhigh-performance low-power RF equipments on-board a spacecraftrequiring power up to 15 W. International Rectifier's TivaBussarakons describes a multiple-output DC-DC converter designplatform that offers high performance and cost benefits withestablished assembly outlines for most custom requirements. Besidesvery low output noise, it is capable of sequencing the outputsduring power up and power down in an orderly manner. To accommodatemost major satellite power buses and a wide range of output voltageand output current combinations while maintaining the same assemblyoutlines for most design applications, this space-grade powersupply platform incorporates proprietary design topology. With itsextensive design heritage, design qualification and establisheddesign analysis templates, it offers a truly cost-effectivesolution to minimize program risk and time to market for sensitiveRF gear like receivers, transmitters, beacons, low-noise amplifiers(LNAs), and up/down converters.
The third feature sheds light on a COTS component. In this case, agraphical processing unit or GPU. Embedded GPUs are quicklybecoming the hardware backbone of military data visualization anddata fusion applications. Driven by ever-increasing requirementsfor advanced 2-D and 3-D maps, sensor fusion, and voluminousnetcentric data, graphics acceleration is increasingly a requiredcapability for application deployment. In this article titled,“Employing software in safety critical embedded GPUs,”Mark Snyder of Quantum3D discusses software-defined GPU strategy toaddress embedded GPU problems like certification to DO-178B orother standards, obsolescence, and no standard way to interface.
With many varieties of computing architectures and GPUs, such as IPcores and software implementations, now coming on to the market tooffer systems designers more choices, software standardization is akey that can allow applications to make best use of all forms ofGPUs, the author concludes.