An ultra-high timing resolution pulse generator with spur suppression and correction of errors based on real-time...

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Signal Processing
• Instrumentation

Background:

• Achieving ultra-high timing resolution in pulse generation is critical for advanced electronic systems.
• Conventional methods often face limitations in precision and flexibility.
• Real-time waveform computation offers a promising avenue for overcoming these challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and implement a novel ultra-high timing resolution pulse generator.
• To demonstrate the effectiveness of the waveform real-time computation method for precise pulse generation.
• To achieve superior timing resolution and accuracy for various pulse parameters.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a waveform real-time computation method with real-time computing and filtering of waveform samples.
• Injecting jitter into the waveform time parameter to suppress harmonic components and waveform spurs.
• Designing complementary digital filters, combined as Farrow filter coefficients, for pulse error correction.
• Implementing pulse width, frequency, and amplitude modulation based on the real-time computation method.

Main Results:

• Generated pulses with 0.1 ps timing resolution at a 2.5 GSPS sampling rate.
• Achieved timing accuracy of 50 ps for pulse width, edge time, pulse period, and channel delay.
• Demonstrated continuous and glitch-free changes in timing parameters.
• Implemented a four-channel generator with specified minimum pulse width, edge time, frequency, and amplitude ranges.

Conclusions:

• The proposed waveform real-time computation method enables unprecedented timing resolution and accuracy in pulse generation.
• The implemented digital filters effectively correct waveform distortions and suppress unwanted spurs.
• The pulse generator offers high flexibility for modulation and continuous parameter adjustment without glitches.