Low Cost Adaptive/Programmable Waveform Generator

During Phase I and the Phase I Option of this SBIR, Phase IV System will build a two-channel prototype arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) capable of playing scripted waveforms with an operational bandwidth design goal of 500 MHz. The AWG that will be delivered at the end of the Phase I Option will be a single digital board that will reside in a 6U x 160mm VME chassis. During Phase II, two two-channel prototype AWGs will be integrated with a vector modulator to achieve an output operational bandwidth approaching 1 GHz (double the operational bandwidth of a single AWG). The prototype will be based on previous AWG work performed by Phase IV Systems for the U. S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command under the Radar Component Technology Contract. The AWG operated at a maximum clock speed of 1.5 GHz, with an operational bandwidth of over 1 GHz. During the development of the Waveform Generator, Phase IV Systems gained valuable experience in the area of high-speed logic design, such as the time alignment of the bits and lay-out issues such as equalizing trace lengths. Phase IV will use the expertise gained in building the AWG for SMDC in developing a smaller, low-cost AWG for the Army.