Development of a prototype differential probe for TDR measurements

“该项目将证明设计和生产低成本差分测试探头的可行性，以使用时域反射计（TDR）结合LA技术公司现有的矢量网络分析仪（VNA）来测试差分电路。使用非常快的逻辑电路（现在常见于几GHz的速度）的增加已经导致对低成本和易于使用的技术的需求增加，以简化差分微波电路。我们的目标是开发一种独特的手持式低成本探头，与我们现有的仪器一起工作，在高达6GHz的频率下进行测量。多千兆位逻辑电路将成为英国所有未来电信基础设施的核心（包括5G移动的和无线网络），并将对用于测量其性能的成本效益工具产生巨大需求，在生产和开发过程中。该项目将集中在确定生产手持低成本探头的可行性。该项目的主要目标是生产一个工作原型，验证并开发一种与LA Techniques现有的矢量网络分析仪兼容的校准方法。该项目具有创新性，因为目前市场上还没有这样的探头。现有的技术是繁琐和昂贵的，要么采用复杂的探测装置连接到多端口矢量网络分析仪或使用真实的时间低频时域反射仪导致低频（1 GHz或更少）measurement.We的愿景是生产一个探头和VNA封装在市场上独一无二的，提供一个低成本和惊人的容易使用差分测量能力，以6 GHz。"

"The project will demonstrate the feasibility of designing and producing a low cost differential test probe to characterise differential circuits using time domain reflectometry (TDR) in conjunction with LA Techniques' existing vector network analyser (VNA). The increase in use of very fast logic circuits (now common at multi GHz speeds) has led to an increase requirement for low cost and easy to use techniques to characterise differential microwave circuits. Our aim is to develop a unique hand held, low cost probe to operate with our existing instrument to make measurements at up to 6GHz.Multi gigabit logic circuits will be at the heart of all future telecommunication infrastructure for the UK (including 5G mobile and wireless networks) and will create enormous demand for cost effective tools for the measurement of their performance, both in production and during development.The project will focus on determining the feasibility of producing a hand held low cost probe. The key objectives will be to produce a working prototype, characterise it and develop a means of calibration compatible with LA Techniques' existing vector network analyser.The project is innovative as no such probe exists in the market today. Existing techniques are cumbersome and expensive, either employing complex probing arrangements connected to multiport vector network analysers or using real time low frequency time domain reflectometry resulting in low frequency (1 GHz or less) measurements.Our vision is to produce a probe and VNA package unique in the market; offering a low cost and stunningly easy to use differential measurement capability to 6GHz."