Abstract

Previous senior design teams developed an amplifier board for Teradyne Corporation. This board will boost the input signal to a computer-based spectrum analyzer also designed by a previous senior design team. The assembly of the amplifier needs to be finished, and the board must be successfully powered up and debugged. Teradyne needs this board to be thoroughly tested to ensure it will meet specifications. Solutions should be proposed for any errors discovered during testing, and as time allows, these solutions should be implemented and the board re-tested.

Introduction

Design Objectives• Tests will verify all specifications• Results will be well-documented• Tests will be repeatable

Functional Requirements• Support signals from 0Hz - 100MHz • Amplification gain of up to 60dB• Under 1mV DC-offset after calibration• Low noise and distortion

Project Milestones• Assembled and functional prototype• Completed test plans• Completed testing and test reports• Documentation of proposed solutions

Proposed Approach• Debug board design• Research technologies used• Assemble prototype• Develop test plans • Simulate circuit for debugging• Automate testing• Product integration

Support Technologies• LabVIEW• PSpice• Altera Quartus II• PCB Express• Time domain testing • Frequency domain testing

Financial Requirement

Description Cost

FPGA $ 60

Components $ 13.2

Poster $ 30

Total Cost $103.2

Team Members

Jesse Bartley Zhi Gao

Michael Hayen JiWon Lee

Client

Teradyne Inc.

Jacob Mertz

Ramon De La Cruz

Acknowledgement

Jason Boyd

Dr. Robert Weber

Dr. Randy Geiger

Faculty advisor

Dr. Chris Chu

The FPGA Controlled Amplifier Module will provide a high-quality amplified input signal to the computer-based spectrum analyzer. Rigorous testing and will ensure that the amplifier board can provide this input signal with sufficient gain and bandwidth, and minimal distortion and noise. The tests will result in a list of improvements and corrections that can be made to the board in order to meet or improve the performance specifications.

FPGA Controlled Amplifier ModuleFPGA Controlled Amplifier ModulePC-based Spectrum Analyzer May06-14PC-based Spectrum Analyzer May06-14

Personal EffortDesign Constraints• Tests must use equipment available on campus• Solutions must accommodate existing design

Project Schedule

Because Technology Never Stops

Problem Statement •Amplifier prototype must be assembled•Board must be thoroughly tested•Solutions must be proposed to flaws

Operating Environment•Climate-controlled lab•Temperature: 0~50°•Low electro static discharge

Intended Use and Users•Amplifier for spectrum analyzer•Engineers at Teradyne Corporation•Potential for future commercialization

Limitations•The design must meet specifications•Must use the existing design•Equipment must be available on campus

End Product and Deliverables•Assembled and functional prototype•Tested and corrected design•Test plans and reports•Documentation of recommendations

Assumptions•This version will not be sold commercially•Previous board design is valid•Appropriate test equipment is available

   Available Total  

Input Gain Harmonic  

Frequency Settings Distortion Noise

Range (dB) (dB) (nV/rtHz)

DC – 1kHz 6, 20, 40, 60 < - 105 1.5

> 1kHz - 20 kHz 6, 20, 40, 60 < - 95 1.5

> 20kHz – 100kHz 6, 20, 40 < -85 2.5

> 100kHz - 1MHz 6, 20, 40 < - 80 3.5

> 1MHz - 10MHz 6, 20, 40 < - 70 3.5

> 10MHz – 20MHz 6, 20 < -65 3.5

> 20MHz – 50MHz 6, 20 < -50 5.0

> 50MHz – 100MHz 6, 20 < -40 5.0

Specification Table

Project Requirements

Approach and Considerations

Estimated Resources

General Information

Summary

Design Technologies•Two-stage operational amplifier•Offset correction algorithm (VHDL)•FPGA digital control

Testing Considerations•Amplifier Performance Testing•FPGA Performance Testing•DAC Control Testing•Integration Performance Testing

Typical Testing Setup

LabVIEW

GPIBInput

Output

Power

Spectrum Analyzer Amplifier

DAC

Output

Comparator

FPGA

Two-Stage Op-AmpInput

DC correction voltage

Amplifier Block Diagram