FPGA-based measurement device with picosecond resolution
Hello everyone,
My colleagues and I created a high-resolution digital measurement system using a Cyclone V FPGA [1, 2]. The device has hybrid time-to-digital converter (TDC) / binary digital storage oscilloscope (DSO) functionality, and I developed and patented it during my physics PhD research in order to precisely study ultrafast signals at low cost.
Others have contacted me saying that they found the publication useful (it contains many low-level FPGA details), so I wanted to share it here. Moreover, I'm developing a PCB version (FPGA + SMA connectors etc. in a handheld form factor) as a replacement for existing time-taggers / digital oscilloscopes. My question to this community is:
Would you potentially be interested in purchasing such a device?
The goal is to significantly reduce cost compared to leading time-taggers / oscilloscopes while offering similar capabilities. I'm in talks with a leading metrology lab for independent certification, but would not go through all the trouble if only I would end up using it. So, let me know if you might be interested in a digital measurement device with the specs below, printed in the next 6-12 months (16-level analog bandwidth is possible but would likely double the price and development time).
Happy to answer any questions, and thank you for any feedback!
- Dr. Noeloikeau Charlot
Spec sheet (TBD):
Target Price: $250 - $750
Architecture: FPGA carry-chain
Digital Resolution (Bin Size): 5 - 15 ps
RMS Jitter (Single-Shot Precision): 1 - 30 ps RMS
Number of Channels: 1 - 8 channels
Dead Time (Min Inter-Event): 5 ps - 1.5 ns
Readout Rate (Data Transfer): ~3 Gbit/s
Memory / Buffer Size: 1024 Kbit + ~1 GB DDR
Input Bandwidth (Max Input Freq): 200 MHz
Edge Capture Per Channel: Simultaneous rise & fall
Trigger / Threshold: Fixed comparator
Input Impedance: 50 Ohm (SMA)
Host Interface: USB 3.0
Form Factor: Thumbstick
Software Ecosystem: Python
References: