software testing journal (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} testingsoftware) wrote,@ 2007-10-28 09:09:00 |
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Test instruments and SDR
Test instruments employing SDR techniques offer several advantages to both equipment manufacturers and their customers. One is easy upgradeability to new communication standards. Signal generation and analysis are largely performed by routines programmed into the DSP. When new standards emerge, it’s easy to create new DSP programmes for the new functions and distribute them to the owner of existing instruments via firmware upgrades.
Another benefit is the improved throughput due to faster frequency switching and signal analysis. Wide bandwidth A-D converters and fast DSP devices can process large FFTs very efficiently. For example, a DSP-based analyser can provide measurement times several orders of magnitude faster than traditional spectrum analysers, under conditions of wide spans and narrow resolution bandwidths. Direct digital synthesis provides significantly faster frequency switching than traditional approaches allow. Fast frequency switching will improve the throughput of both signal generators and analysers.
Lastly, faster time to market for test instruments is improved. Test equipment manufacturers can leverage the capability of leading edge, commercially available signal processing devices and achieve instrument-level performance from them, drastically reducing the amount of development required for test instruments. Also, the basic digital design can be shared across a range of instruments, further reducing development costs.
Communications standards are likely to continue evolving. At the same time, test cost pressures from communication system and device manufacturers continue to force test equipment vendors to provide cost-effective instruments that offer continuing performance value. Together, SDR techniques and high-end signal processing devices provide test equipment manufacturers with invaluable tools to meet these requirements.
For the full article visit Component in Electronics
For software testing jobs UK
Test instruments employing SDR techniques offer several advantages to both equipment manufacturers and their customers. One is easy upgradeability to new communication standards. Signal generation and analysis are largely performed by routines programmed into the DSP. When new standards emerge, it’s easy to create new DSP programmes for the new functions and distribute them to the owner of existing instruments via firmware upgrades.
Another benefit is the improved throughput due to faster frequency switching and signal analysis. Wide bandwidth A-D converters and fast DSP devices can process large FFTs very efficiently. For example, a DSP-based analyser can provide measurement times several orders of magnitude faster than traditional spectrum analysers, under conditions of wide spans and narrow resolution bandwidths. Direct digital synthesis provides significantly faster frequency switching than traditional approaches allow. Fast frequency switching will improve the throughput of both signal generators and analysers.
Lastly, faster time to market for test instruments is improved. Test equipment manufacturers can leverage the capability of leading edge, commercially available signal processing devices and achieve instrument-level performance from them, drastically reducing the amount of development required for test instruments. Also, the basic digital design can be shared across a range of instruments, further reducing development costs.
Communications standards are likely to continue evolving. At the same time, test cost pressures from communication system and device manufacturers continue to force test equipment vendors to provide cost-effective instruments that offer continuing performance value. Together, SDR techniques and high-end signal processing devices provide test equipment manufacturers with invaluable tools to meet these requirements.
For the full article visit Component in Electronics
For software testing jobs UK
