High Fidelity Radar Signal Generation for Effective EW Receiver Testing
Dave Savage
Modular Sales Specialist
Texas, United States July 15th, 2015
Thomas Dippon
Product Manager
Boeblingen, Germany
Page
Agenda
Introduction – 15 min
The need for generating Realistic Single/Multi-Emitter Radar and Communications Test Signals for
testing Electronic Warfare(EW) receivers and Communications Jammers
Technical Requirements for Signal Generation
Using Arbitrary Waveform Generators – 25 min
Arbitrary Waveform Generator techniques
Live Demo (Low Spur and Broadband, Phase Coherence, Multi-emitter)
Keysight Solution – 10 min
2
© Keysight
Technologies 2015
Page
Need to Test With Realistic Signal Scenarios
Testing Electronic Warfare(EW) receivers and Comms
Jammers
4
• Spectrum is becoming
increasingly crowded
• Signals are more complex and
dynamic
• Challenging operating
environment for systems
This Highlights the Need to Test Hardware Under Realistic Signal Scenarios…
Today’s Cluttered Spectral Environment
© Keysight
Technologies 2015
Page
Typical EW Test Setup
5
RF Source
Radar Signal
Generator
Out1
Jammer Output
Radar Emitter/s Signal
Receiver Input
Electronic Warfare
Receiver/ System Under Test
Analyzer
Digitizer/Scope
In1
In2
Do
wn
co
nve
rte
r
In1
In2 FPGA
Out1
Out2
Input Trig
WaveForm
Memory
System Vue Models
PDW bus
Avionics Bus
RADAR/COMMS SIGNAL
GENERATOR
PDW out
Real time
Real-time
© Keysight
Technologies 2015
Page
EW Receiver/Jammer Test Primary objectives:
6
1. Ensure that the EW receiver recognizes key threats. (Receiver
processing algorithm development and hardware design test)
2. Ensure that the EW receiver recognizes key threats under dense
threat environment. (Receiver processing algorithm development and
hardware design test)
3. Test Direction Finding of the EW receiver (Amplitude, Phase, Time)
4. Ensure that Jamming system responds correctly (ECM)
5. Electronic Counter Counter Measure Testing (ECCM)
6. Generate Outputs:
Effectiveness metrics, Reports, IQ history of test
© Keysight
Technologies 2015
Page
Technical Requirements for Signal Generation
– Ability to create unique radar or communications signals
– High Spur Free Dynamic Range Source - very low spurious products
– High Density of Signals – Multi-emitter signals
– Phase Coherent outputs for Direction Finding Testing
– Frequency Range covers threats – 0.1-18GHz legacy – up to 50GHz
– Scenario Repeatability
– Scenario Length
7
© Keysight
Technologies 2015
Page
Technical Requirements for Analysis
– Correlate Jammer Responses with Stimulus
– Real-time processing (FPGA)
8
© Keysight
Technologies 2015
Page
Arbitrary waveform generation techniques
– Frequency and phase response calibration
• Mathematically correct for frequency-dependent behavior of your
setup
– Sequencing & Digital Up-conversion
• Increase playtime, improve signal performance and gain flexibility
– Memory Ping Pong and Streaming
• Load one set of threats while playing another set with seamless
switching to generate scenarios without a time limit
– Multi-Channel support
• Generate up to 12 phase-coherent IF stimulus signals (same
equipment can be leveraged to test AoA in a narrow field-of-view)
– Up-conversion up to 40 GHz
• get the AWG signal performance to the target frequency range
© Keysight
Technologies 2015 9
Page
Frequency and phase response correction
– Wideband transmission systems typically have frequency-dependent
losses and non-linear phase behavior
– With an AWG, signals can easily be digitally pre-distorted to
generate a flat magnitude and phase response at the device under
test
© Keysight
Technologies 2015 10
AWG
Up-converter,
Amplifier, Filter,
Cables, etc.
Device under
test
Software
Spectrum
Analyzer /
Oscilloscope
Operation
Calibration
Page
Frequency and phase response correction
© Keysight
Technologies 2015 11
Original Signal With digital pre-distortion
Depending on the bandwidth and carrier frequency, the flatness can be
calibrated to around 0.1 dB flatness
Page
Arbitrary waveform generation techniques
– Frequency and phase response calibration
• Mathematically correct for frequency-dependent behaviour of your setup
– Sequencing & Digital Up-conversion
• Increase playtime, improve signal performance and gain flexibility
– Memory Ping Pong and Streaming
• Load one set of threats while playing another set with seamless
switching to generate scenarios without a time limit
– Multi-Channel support
• Generate up to 12 phase-coherent IF stimulus signals (same equipment
can be leveraged to test AoA in a narrow field-of-view)
– Up-conversion up to 40 GHz
• get the AWG signal performance to the target frequency range
© Keysight
Technologies 2015 12
Page
Sequencing
– Even with several GSamples of memory in modern AWGs,
the unique playtime is only a few hundred milliseconds
(e.g. 2 GSamples @ 12 GSa/s = 166 ms)
– However, in a typical radar signals, there are a lot of “pauses”
(e.g. 1 us PW, 100 us PRI playtime can be extended by a factor
of 100 if pauses do not need to be stored in memory)
– Multi-level sequencing can help to extend playtime even further if
there are repeating patterns
© Keysight
Technologies 2015 13
Loop 45 times Loop 3300 times
Infinite loop
Page
Dynamic sequencing
– With dynamic sequencing, the next waveform (i.e. next pulse or
series of pulses) is determined by a signal applied to a dynamic
sequence control port on the AWG
© Keysight
Technologies 2015 14
Pulse scenario #1
Pulse scenario #2
Pulse scenario #3
Pulse scenario #4
Pulse scenario #5
Pulse scenario #6
Pulse scenario #N
…
#4, 500 times
#1, 100 times
#6, 5 times
Pulse scenario #1
Pulse scenario #2
Pulse scenario #3
Pulse scenario #4
Pulse scenario #5
Pulse scenario #6
Pulse scenario #N
…
Static Sequencing Dynamic Sequencing
Sequence table Waveform memory Waveform memory Dynamic Sequence
Control Connector
Page
Example: Simulate 5 Radar stations at once
© Keysight
Technologies 2015 16
Measurement results: (click to play movie)
Page
Comparison Analog vs. Digital Up-conversion
Digital signal Analog signal
Analog I/Q modulation – Analog I and Q
signals are generated using an AWG.
An signal generator performs I/Q modulation
and up-conversion
Digital up-conversion – I/Q modulation is
performed digitally in real-time – eliminating the
typical distortions (LO feedthrough, images)
Analog I/Q up conversion
causes distortions Best signal quality
with digital Upconversion
I
Q IF
© Keysight
Technologies 2015 17
Page
ASIC or FPGA
What is Digital Up-conversion?
Frequency
Phase
Parameters
Amplitude
– With Digital Up-conversion, the
waveform and its parameters
(frequency, phase, amplitude)
are stored independently
– Hardware DSP inside the AWG
generates the actual signal in
real-time
Benefit:
– Longer playtime, more flexibility Parameter
changes in
real-time!
Click here for animation
Waveform
memory
Parameter
memory
(freq., phase,
amplitude)
Inter-
polation
Numerical
Oscillator
(DDS engine)
I
Q
DAC
Frequency
Phase
Amplitude
Example: Generating an
antenna scan pattern
© Keysight
Technologies 2015 18
Page
Arbitrary waveform generation techniques
– Frequency and phase response calibration
• Mathematically correct for frequency-dependent behaviour of your setup
– Sequencing & Digital Up-conversion
• Increase playtime, improve signal performance and gain flexibility
– Memory Ping Pong and Streaming
• Load one set of threats while playing another set with seamless
switching to generate scenarios without a time limit
– Multi-Channel support
• Generate up to 12 phase-coherent IF stimulus signals (same equipment
can be leveraged to test AoA in a narrow field-of-view)
– Up-conversion up to 40 GHz
• get the AWG signal performance to the target frequency range
© Keysight
Technologies 2015 19
Page
Streaming from various data sources
21
RAID
Algorithmic data
generation
Digitizer
Playtime
Throughput
HDD
SSD
DRAM of
PC
Infinite
Typical
~3 Gbytes/s
Typical
~1 Gbytes/s
Typical
~80 Mbytes/s
Performance depends on
HW and SW algorithm
© Keysight
Technologies 2015
Page
Arbitrary waveform generation techniques
– Frequency and phase response calibration
• Mathematically correct for frequency-dependent behaviour of your setup
– Sequencing & Digital Up-conversion
• Increase playtime, improve signal performance and gain flexibility
– Memory Ping Pong and Streaming
• Load one set of threats while playing another set with seamless
switching to generate scenarios without a time limit
– Multi-Channel support
• Generate up to 12 phase-coherent IF stimulus signals (same
equipment can be leveraged to test AoA in a narrow field-of-view)
– Up-conversion up to 40 GHz
• get the AWG signal performance to the target frequency range
© Keysight
Technologies 2015 22
Page
Multi-Channel Phase Coherent signal generation Example setup with Keysight M8190A
12
© Keysight
Technologies 2015 23
Page
Example: DOA simulation with moving target
© Keysight
Technologies 2015
Simulation: (click to play movie)
Result: (click to play movie)
24
Page
Arbitrary waveform generation techniques
– Frequency and phase response calibration
• Mathematically correct for frequency-dependent behaviour of your setup
– Sequencing & Digital Up-conversion
• Increase playtime, improve signal performance and gain flexibility
– Memory Ping Pong and Streaming
• Load one set of threats while playing another set with seamless
switching to generate scenarios without a time limit
– Multi-Channel support
• Generate up to 12 phase-coherent IF stimulus signals (same equipment
can be leveraged to test AoA in a narrow field-of-view)
– Up-conversion up to 44 GHz
• get the AWG signal performance to the target frequency range
© Keysight
Technologies 2015 25
Page
Signal Generation Setups
© Keysight
Technologies 2015 26
Differential I/Q signals
RF/IF out
RF/IF out
Marker output
Pulse mod. input
PCIe
PCIe
M8190A E8267D,
Opt. 016
M8190A /
M8195A
Modulation BW up to 2(4) GHz
RF up to 44 GHz
IF/RF up to
5 GHz on 2 channels with M8190A resp.
20 GHz on up to 4 channels with M8195A
IQ Modulation
Direct IF/RF
Page
28
Custom waveform creation for Keysight AWGs
Generate custom RADAR pulses, multi-tone
and digitally modulated signal, serial data and
other signals on Keysight AWGs
Hardware/Software:
Keysight M8190A & M8195A arbitrary
waveform generators
N6171A MATLAB software
Demonstration:
Generation of custom RADAR and
UWB signals using MATLAB
IQTools - MATLAB App for creating
signals on Keysight AWGs and signal
generators
28
IQTools source code +
MATLAB available with
Keysight instruments!
Page
M933xA
81180B
M8190A
M8195A
Proprietary Technology - Unique Performance
M9330A / N8241A
15 bit, 1.2 Gsa/s
Best signal quality in PXI
and LXI from factor
81180B
12 Bit, 4.6 GSa/s 1 GHz analog bw
Economic version
M8190A
14 bit 8 GSa/s / 12 bit 12 GSa/s
5 GHz analog BW
Highest Dynamic Range
SFDR: -90 dBc .
10 dB more than the closest competitor
M8195A
65 GSa/s
20 GHz analog bw
Highest bandwidth and port
density in a 1U AXIe module
Jitter 5 ps pp @ 16Gb/s
SFDR: up to -80 dBc
Integrated FIR filter,
Hardware-encoding +
real-time impairments
Keysight High-Speed Arbitrary Waveform Generators
Choose the performance you need
High Resolution
Wide Bandwidth
© Keysight
Technologies 2015 29
Page
M8190A Arbitrary Waveform Generator
• Precision AWG with DAC resolution of:
• 14 bit up to 8 GSa/s
• 12 bit up to 12 GSa/s
• Up to 2 GSa Arbitrary Waveform Memory
per channel
• Up to 5 GHz bandwidth per channel
• 3 selectable output paths: direct DAC, DC
and AC
• SFDR: up to -90 dBc typ. (fout = 100 MHz, DC to 3
GHz)
• Harmonic distortion: -72 dBc typ. (fout = 100
MHz, balun)
• Advanced sequencing scenarios
sequences*)
• 2 markers per channel
© Keysight
Technologies 2015 30
Page
M8195A Arbitrary Waveform Generator - Overview
• 65 GSa/s on 1, 2 or 4 channels per module
• 20 GHz analog bandwidth
• 8 bit vertical resolution
• Up to 16 GSamples memory per module
• Sequencing capability
• Asynchronous trigger
• FIR filter per channel in hardware
• S-Parameter de-embedding
31
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
SFDR(dBc) vs. Tone freq. (MHz)
Example: 100 tones from 10 to 15 GHz
with a notch @ 12.5 GHz
© Keysight
Technologies 2015
Page 32
Agilent M9703A High-Speed Digitizer
Key Features
• 12 bit Resolution
• 8 channels @ 1.6 GS/s
• Interleaving option to get 4 ch @ 3.2 GS/s
• DC to 2 GHz analog 3dB bandwidth
• Optional real-time digital downconversion
(DDC) on 8 phase-coherent channels
• Up to 256 MS/ch memory and segmented
acquisition
• > 650 MB/s data transfer
• Keysight 89600 Software support
Reduce the test time of your DUT with the new M9703A! Higher number of synchronous acquisition channels, wider signal capture with the
best accuracy and flexibility, and optimized throughput
M9703A OS support
• Windows
• XP (32-bit)
• Vista (32/64-bit)
• 7 (32/64-bit)
• Linux
Drivers – MD1 software
• IVI-C, IVI-COM
• LabVIEW
• Matlab (through IVI-COM)
OTS application software
• MD1 soft front panel
• AcqirisMAQS U1092A-S01/S02/S03
• 89600 VSA software
© Keysight
Technologies 2015
Page
M9703A – DDC Block Diagram Built-in FPGAs – for processing on module
LO
LPF
LPF
Mag Trig
Signal Channel (I/Q Paths)
• Agility to tune/zoom, trigger,
and analyze only the signal of
interest.
• Independent IF tuning
(0.01Hz) over the full digitizer
bandwidth
• Transfer only the data that
you want reduce the
workload on post-
processing algorithms
2x DDC per FPGA = 8 channels
© Keysight
Technologies 2015 34
Page Questions
For more information, please visit:
www.keysight.com/find/M8190A and
www.keysight.com/find/M8195A
35
© Keysight
Technologies 2015
Top Related