Development of a prototype differential probe for TDR measurements

“该项目将展示设计和生产低成本差分测试探头的可行性，该探头使用时域反射仪（TDR）和LA Techniques现有的矢量网络分析仪（VNA）来表征差分电路。使用非常快的逻辑电路（现在在多GHz速度下常见）的增加导致对低成本和易于使用的技术的需求增加，以表征差分微波电路。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操作，以进行高达6GHz的测量。多千兆逻辑电路将成为英国未来所有电信基础设施（包括5G移动和无线网络）的核心，并将在生产和开发过程中对具有成本效益的工具产生巨大需求，用于测量其性能。该项目将侧重于确定生产手持式低成本探针的可行性。关键目标将是生产一个工作原型，对其进行表征，并开发一种与LA technologies现有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针。现有的技术既繁琐又昂贵，要么采用连接到多端口矢量网络分析仪的复杂探测装置，要么使用实时低频时域反射仪，导致低频（1ghz或更少）测量。我们的愿景是生产市场上独一无二的探针和VNA封装；提供低成本和非常易于使用的6GHz差分测量能力。”

"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."