In the development of next-generation radar and electronic warfare systems, typical test scenarios include simulations such as low-observable signals mixed with ground clutter and environmental interferers.
Addressing these demanding scenarios requires an arbitrary waveform generator or signal-scenario generator that has two key attributes.
The first is a design that provides wide bandwidth and high resolution simultaneously. The second is built-in capabilities that support the creation of long, complex signal scenarios.
The Agilent M8190A SSG has 14-bit resolution at 8 GSa/s or 12-bit resolution at 12 GSa/s, and offers two modes that ensure good signal fidelity at high frequencies.
It also enables long playback time with up to 2 GSa of waveform memory and a variety of sequencing capabilities.
Today, typical AWGs force system creators to make a trade-off between units that offer either wide bandwidth and low resolution or limited bandwidth and high resolution.
The respective levels of performance in both bandwidth and resolution depend on the digital-to-analog converter used in the AWG.
Bandwidth is limited by the DAC sample rate and accuracy is affected by the quality and performance of the analog components used inside the device.
Agilent researchers have developed a way to eliminate the spurious signals (spurs) and distortion present in typical DAC designs. The approach focuses on the beginning of the signal-generation process, reducing the need for filtering at the end of the signal chain.
This is based on two key ideas. One is to let switched current sources settle within the DAC. The other is to resample the signal with a special low-noise clock before outputting the simulated signal.
The resulting DAC output provides spurious-free dynamic range of up to 80 dBc, which is much better than most other designs can achieve.
At 8 GSa/s, the DAC typically delivers 75 dBc SFDR (excluding second and third harmonics) across an output frequency range of 0 to 3 GHz.
One of the most important design choices was the decision to use a low-temperature, multilayer ceramic substrate. A package with many layers is necessary to meet specifications for noise and spurious response.
The net result is good performance at high frequencies. As implemented in the M8190A SSG, the ability to achieve high resolution at high frequency gives system developers greater confidence that they are testing their design, not the signal source.
To create realistic signal scenarios, an AWG or SSG needs more than raw DAC technology. Three additional attributes enable sufficiently long playback times: waveform memory, advanced sequencing capabilities and real-time access to individual memory segments.
The SSG can be configured with 128 MSa (standard) to 2 GSa (optional) of waveform memory per output channel. With 2 GSa installed, the maximum playback time of a single waveform is 180 ms at the highest sample rate.
The absolute quantity of waveform memory is important. However, using the available memory efficiently enables a concept called memory gain. Typical AWGs consume memory space by requiring multiple occurrences of identical segments that are repeated within a sequence.
In the M8190A, sequencing capabilities such as stepping, looping and conditional jumping make it possible to create such segments once and re-use them programmatically as needed. These capabilities can be applied to waveforms or waveform sequences.
Specific to the M8190A, up to 256,000 segments can be stored in memory and up to 4 billion loops can be defined for each segment.
Beyond the sequencing of individual segments, it’s possible to set up a series of advanced sequences. This enables users to build and playback highly complex scenarios comprising one or more sequences.
The third attribute is a hardware-based dynamic sequence-control input. This eight-bit bus is used to enable immediate or synchronous switching between segments or sequences. Immediate jumps interrupt the active segment or sequence before completion; synchronous jumps wait until the active segment or sequence is completed.
The actuating signals can come from the unit under test, another instrument within the system or any other external device.
Software is a fourth element in the solution set. Examples include Signal Studio from Agilent, MATLAB from MathWorks and LabVIEW from National Instruments. These provide an environment for signal creation and the results can be downloaded to the SSG’s memory for playback.
Two versions of Signal Studio are especially relevant in aerospace and defence applications. Signal Studio for Pulse Building (N7620A) simplifies the creation of complex pulse patterns for testing radar receivers. SS for Multitone Distortion (N7621A and N7621B) can be used to create multitone and noise power ratio signals for testing satellite transceivers.
Another useful application is Agilent’s SystemVue electronic system-level (ESL) design software. The Radar Model Library for SystemVue (W1905) includes predefined radar signals that can be selected and loaded into, for example, the M8190A.
The library also provides more than 35 highly parameterised primitive blocks and higher-level reference designs that can be used to create a working radar system.
The block set and its example workspaces serve as algorithmic and architectural reference scenarios to verify radar performance with a variety of signal conditions: target and radar cross-section scenarios; clutter conditions; jammers and environmental interferers; and different receiver algorithms.
AWGs and SSGs provide important benefits in the development of present and future radar and EW systems. The greatest technical advantage is the possibility of creating simulated signal scenarios with enhanced realism. This helps minimise the need for costly flight testing and enhances the flexibility of ground-based testing.
From a business perspective, greater flexibility makes it possible to test multiple radar or EW designs with a single measurement system, enhancing system re-use. Further, modules such as the M8190A are based on commercial, off-the-shelf technology such as AXIe. A modular approach helps reduce the size, weight and physical footprint of the test system.
To address a variety of measurement needs, the M8190A offers three software-selectable output paths: direct DAC, DC amplifier and AC amplifier. The direct DAC path is optimised for the generation of in-phase/quadrature signals that offer superior SFDR and harmonic distortion.
Key attributes include 5 GHz bandwidth, amplitude range of 350 to 700 mV peak-to-peak (fixed offset), differential output and rise/fall times of about 50 ps (20 to 80%).
The DC amplifier path is optimised for applications that require serial data and time-domain measurements. Important capabilities include differential output, amplitude range of 600 mV to 1.2 V peak-to-peak (from -1.0 to +3.0 V), rise/fall times of about 35 ps (20 to 80%) and a Bessel-Thomson filter to ensure low overshoot.
The AC amplifier path is designed for the generation of direct IF/RF signals. This output is single-ended and AC coupled with a power range of -10 to +10 dBm.