Oscilloscope Cards Optimized for RADAR Signals

By DE Editors

A multiple-recording (MR) option has been added to the new UF2 family of 66 MHz PCI-based oscilloscope/digitizer cards from Strategic Test (Woburn, MA). Primarily intended for recording RADAR signals, the MR option can be used to record any high-speed series of waveforms, like sonar, ultrasound, or laser.

The MR option allows an engineer to acquire a fast series of waveforms with a high repetition rate without restarting the hardware during the short dead time, usually only a few milliseconds, between waveforms. Since the option is implemented in firmware, the card re-arms itself and is ready for the next trigger event within four clock cycles.

For example, an oscilloscope card sampling at 200 Msps configured to capture minimum segment sizes of 8 samples leads to a maximum pulse repetition frequency (PRF) of 16.6 MHz. Larger segments or slower sample rates reduce the PRF, as does the addition of a pre-trigger.

In addition, if the area of interest is located a specific time after the trigger event, a trigger delay can be programmed. The trigger source can be an external trigger event or one or several combined channel trigger events. Each channel has its own trigger detection with level, edge, re-arm, window, and steepness trigger.

The MR option is available for all of the UltraFast 8-bit, 12-bit, 14-bit, and 16-bit resolution Oscilloscope PCI cards.

For more information, visit strategic-test.com.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.