- ABSTRACT Project 176 : “VECTOR-SoC, a 1GHz Vectorial Network Analyzer”
High-frequency designs can be fun, but can also be real nightmares without some basic test instruments. One of the most useful ones is the RF vectorial network analyzer (VNA). A VNA applies a frequency ramp to a device under test, measures the signal at the output of the device, and plots the corresponding gain and phase transfer curves over frequency. This project, Vector’SoC, is a very low cost VNA built around a Cypress CY8C26443 chip. Here under some key specifications of the Vector’Soc design : ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
PC based instrument, with a high-speed 57.6Kbps serial connection Friendly Windows-based user interface Real-time refresh of all curves and measurements (2.5 frames/second) Full coverage from 0 to more than 1GHz in one band with a resolution of 50KHz Gains/losses measurement from +5dB to –35dB with a 0.25dB resolution (up to -45dB from 0 to 300MHz) Phase measurement from –90° to +90° with a 3° resolution 100% factory adjustment free design Prototype components cost under $200
These impressive specifications were achieved due to a very simple architecture and the use of highly integrated components : Mini-Circuits’s RF modules, Analog Devices’ AD8302 RF gain & phase measurement chip, and, last but not least, Cypress semiconductors’ CY8C26443 Programmable System-On-a-Chip device. The Vector’Soc architecture starts with an RF generator module generating the test signal from 0 to 1GHz. This module includes two VCOs. The first generates a 1160 to 2160MHz signal, while the second is set to a fixed 1160MHz. The two outputs are mixed, filtered, amplified and splitted on three 0 to 1GHz outputs. A receiver module gets the reference signal from the generator, as well as the signal that went through the device under test. It scales them, computes the gain and phase delta between the two, and gives them as two analog values read back by the PSoC micro-controller. The third module is a simple prescaler used to measure the actual frequency through the PSoC. Last the main module, built around the Cypress PSoC chip, takes care of everything else, closing the loop between the generator, the receiver, the prescaler and the host PC. The internal resources of Cypress’ PSoC are heavily used in this design.. No less than three DACs and two programmable amplifiers are used to output the VCO control signals, while two ADCs read the gain and phase. Two counters are used to generate the UART clock and a 5ms timer, and another counter is used to measure the prescaler output frequency All within the PSoC chip, using more than 90% of the PSoC’s logic and analog blocks ! The embedded firmware executes orders sent by the PC through the serial port, and require only 2KBytes out of the 16KBytes of onboard flash memory. The PC-side software is far more complex. Windows controls allow to select the frequency start and width, the gain scale and the mode. Two graphs show the gain and phase response over frequency, while a last plot give a polar or smith-diagram view. Lastly a “cursor” feature allow to display precisely the gain and phase at a given frequency. This software manages the automatic calibrations and executes in real-time the frequency scans, correcting the results using the calibration datas. The performances of the Vector’Soc device are more than good. It is able to very accurately measures and displays frequency responses as narrow as a SAW filter, and gives a very accurate and stable display thanks to the automatic calibration routines. The real-time refresh mode is extremely convenient, giving almost the look & feel of a $10K vectorial network analyzer !
1.8V +/-0.9V
0.5/20.0 V
1160 / 2160 MHz +5.1 / +6.0 dBm
1160 / 2160 MHz +4.1 / +5.0 dBm
POWER SUPPLY
HIGH PASS 800 MHz -1 dB - 12 dB/oct
1160 / 2160MHz +5dBm typ
MIXER SYM-25DLHW
21.4V/30mA 10V/26mA
VCO ROS-1500 1000 / 1500MHz +8dBm typ
LOW PASS 1 GHz -1 dB - 24 dB/oct
LO: 40 / 2500MHz +10dBm RF : 40 / 2500MHz +5dBm IF : DC / 1000MHz Loss 6.8 / 8.0 dB @ 1160/2160
1160 MHz fixed +8.7 dBm
1.8V +/-0.9V
DC / 1000 MHz +1.2/ +6.6 dBm
TIMER 16 (5ms)
Ramp frequency
5V/2x50mA
DAC8 0 Start frequency
Prescaler U666 BST Div 256 30 / 1000MHz
COUNTER 16
SPLITTER 2 way / 0° TCP-2-10 5 / 1000 MHz Loss -3.3 / -4.4dB
50Ω
5V/25mA
RF2
RECEIVER
I/Os DELSIG ADC8 POR OSC
COUNTER 8
PLL
SRAM M8C Micro controller core
FLASH V1/V2
CYPRESS CY8C26443 PSoC
SPLITTER 2 way / 0° TCP-2-10 5 / 1000 MHz Loss -3.3 / -4.4dB
DC / 1000 MHz -33.2 / -26.7 dBm typ -30dBm
Frequency, >40MHz
DAC8
HOST
5V/70mA RF3
Ramp width
FULL UART
DC / 1000 MHz +5.6 / +9.9 dBm
COUNTER
IF setting DAC8
PGA Ref
+12.7 / +10.5 dB +17.5 dBm NF 3.6
10V/60mA
1160 MHz fixed +7.7 dBm
5V/10mA
PGA Ref
DC / 1000 MHz -4.9 / -2.8 dBm MMIC MSA01104
BAND PASS 0.9 - 1.5 GHz -1 dB - 12 dB/oct
0.5/20.0 V (7.0V typ)
MAX 232
+10V @ 150mA +21.4V @ 50mA +5V @ 250mA
DC / 1160 MHz -3.9 / -1.8 dBm
VCO ROS-2160W
LEDs
Rev 4
GENERATOR
10V/30mA
SAR ADC6
AD 8307 Gain & Phase detector
-30 dB
LF-2.7GHz -60 / +0 dBm (ref -30dBm)
-6 dB
DC / 1000 MHz -53.2 / +6.3 dBm
Ref +1,8V Gain & phase 1,8V +/-0.9V
Gain & phase 0 / 1.8V
RF1 DC / 1000 MHz -3.2 / +3.3 dBm
DC / 1000 MHz -59.2 / +0.3 dBm
DEVICE UNDER TEST (-50 / +3 dB)
ups0202.UTSCH - SHEET 8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
+10V
GND
LOW PASS 1GHZ
10nH L1
GND GND GND
3
LO
IF
SYM25DLHW
C8 4.7PF
C9 4.7PF
1
IN
OUT
GND
GND
10nH L4
10 C6 4.7PF
1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 15 16
R2 10K
2
3
MAV11
BAND PASS 0.9 - 1.5 GHZ
ROS1500
GND GND GND GND GND GND POWER GND GND GND GND GND GND GND
C
GND
OUT
C 2.2PF C7
14
+10V
V2
IN
U1
2
M1
4
1 RF
4 5 6
GND
GND
(SHORT CIRCUITED ON THE PROTOTYPE)
GND GND
C11 47NF
L2 4.7nH
GND GND
470µH L7
10
GND
OUT
GND
IN
2
2
C10 47NF
VCO1500, 0V-20V
10nH L6
VCO2160, 0V-20V
1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 15 16
4 3 2 1
D
22 R4 C12 47NF
22nH L5
HDR_4
47 R3
HIGH PASS 800MHZ ROS2160W
GND GND GND GND GND GND POWER GND GND GND GND GND GND GND
V1
J3
+10V
+10V
2.2NF GND
C5 4.7PF
100NF GND
R1 10K
EACH LINE THROUGH A 4400PF FEEDTHROUGH FILTER
FROM MAIN MODULE
GND
C3
C4 4.7PF
33µF_25V
D
C2
14
C1
L3 3.3nH
GND GND
GND GND
GND C13 1.5PF
C14 1.5PF
B
3
GND HDR2
DATE:
06/06/02
VECTOR'SOC - GENERATOR MODULE
COMPANY: ADDRESS: CITY COUNTRY:
-
INITIAL
06/04/02
8
PAGE:
1
OF:
GND HDR2
4
1 2
GND
ENG: UPS0202
PROJECT:
Q2
RF1 (0DBM) TO DEVICE UNDER TEST
GND HDR2
1
S2 A
J2
47NF C19
C1
TCP2_10 GND
IN
3
100 R6
47NF C16
6
1 2 Q1
47NF C20
1
C18 1.5PF
5
C17 1.5PF
GND
B
RF3 (4DBM) TO COUNTER MODULE
GND
S1
REV:
J1
4
C2
Q2
2
Q1
TCP2_10
47NF C15
5
1 2
100 R5
IN
GND
6
C2
C1
2
B
J4
RF2 (0DBM) TO RECEIVER MODULE
1
7
6
5
4
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1
A
ups0203.UTSCH - SHEET 8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
D
D
C9
C6
GND
1NF
3
GND
GND 1NF MFLT
INPA VMAG MSET
OFSA
VREF PSET VPHS
OFSB
COMM2
INPB COMM1
6
U1
B
PFLT
AD8302 1
GND
C8
GND
C
13 12
1 2 3 4 5
PHASE, 0-1,8V REF +1,8V
11
GAIN, 0-1,8V 5
R5 47
HDR2 GND
14
10 9
J2
HDR_5
EACH LINE THROUGH A 4400PF FEEDTHROUGH FILTER
GND
8
C4
7
C7
R7 47
1NF
R8 47
1 2
R6 3.3
J3
1NF
PAD -30DB REF IN (FROM GENERATOR, RF2)
100NF GND
TO MAIN MODULE
1NF
2
10µF/10V Ta
C3
GND VPOS
HDR2 GND
R1 47
C5
R3 15 R2 47
RF IN (FROM DUT) C
R4 15
1 2
4
100PF
PAD -6DB J1
C2
C1
GND
+5V
R9 0.1
+5V
GNDGND
B
1NF GND
A
REV: A
DATE:
PROJECT:
VECTOR'SOC - RECEIVER MODULE
COMPANY: ADDRESS: CITY COUNTRY:
-
INITIAL
04/04/02
04/04/02
8
ENG: UPS0203
PAGE:
7
A
1
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1
6
5
4
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1
ups0204b.UTSCH - SHEET 8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
D
J3
+5V (FROM MAIN MODULE) THROUGH A 4400PF FEEDTHROUGH FILTER
1 2
C7
+5V
D
C8
HDR2 GND 10µF/10V Ta GND
C
C
+5V
3
IN-
6 OUT1 8 OUT2
3
F/256
C2
GND
DATE:
PROJECT:
VECTOR'SOC - COUNTER MODULE
COMPANY: ADDRESS: CITY COUNTRY:
-
INITIAL
06/06/02
03/04/02
8
OE 6
3 2 1
COUNT_HIGH (>40MHZ)
OUT+ 7 OUT-
J2
GND
B
TL712
GND
GND
REV: B
HDR_3
2
5
B
U2
4
8
U666B
4
820PF
IN+
U1
VCC
2
GND
HDR2 GND
7
1NF
1 2
GND VCC
RF IN (FROM GENERATOR, RF3)
C1
J1
TO MAIN MODULE
R2 1K
+5V +5V
A
100NF GND
ENG: UPS0204
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ups0201.UTSCH - SHEET 7
6
5
GND
GND
GND 1
GND
D
3 C7
IN+
OUT+ 4
IN-
OUT-
GND
2
1N4004 C8
3
D3
W1
100µF/25V GND
C9
LM7805CT 100µF/25V
5V1/400mW
1
GND
100nF
VOUT
U2
+10V
D5 13V/400mW
1K
2
C6
100nF
GND
DC/DC 12V/12V 1W R2
C5
GND VIN
2N2222A
150
T1
C4
100µF/25V 100nF
GND
100nF GND
GND
GND
R13 20K/1%
28
TLE2142
VCC
14
VSS
4
GND
GND 19
R10 10K/1%
XRES
9
SMP
REF +1,8V
20 8 21 7 22 6 23 5
10K/1% R23
47K/1%
8
HDR_4
GND
4 3 2 1
U5.B
5
7 6
VCO1500, 0V-20V
DATE:
06/06/02
ENG: UPS0201
PROJECT:
VECTOR'SOC - MAIN CONTROL BOARD
COMPANY: ADDRESS: CITY COUNTRY:
-
R6
8.2K/1%
R8
10K/1%
R7
TLE2142
A
GND
+10V +21.4V
R5
J8
GND
VCO2160, 0V-20V
GND
4
J3
TO BICOLOR LED
J7
+5V
VCC
6V4
C2+
V+ 2 C1+
5
U3 MAX232 C2-
SUB-D 9P FEMALE
1
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
C15 C1-
11 T1_IN 10 T2_IN
3
14 T1_OUT 7 T2_OUT
12 R1_OUT 9 R2_OUT
B
GREEN : READY ORANGE : MEASURE ON-GOING RED : CALIBRATING
10µF/16V
C16 10µF/16V
1 GND
13 R1_IN 8 R2_IN
J4
GND
GND
A
15
R3
8.2K/1%
10K/1%
R4
TLE2142 4
3
SERIAL I/O
3 2 1
COUNT_HIGH (>40MHZ)
330
R 2
10µF/16V
HDR_3 1
2
V
+5V
U5.A
3 GND
GND
HDR_3 270
C11
1K
8
GND
R16 10K/1%
C13
CY8C26443 U4
+5V
16
VCO2160, 1.8V +/- 0.9V
4
GND
R25
GND
C10
R15 15K/1%
B
VCO1500, 1.8V +/- 0.9V
TLE2142
GND
15 13 16 12 17 11 18 10
R27
1K
1 2
CRYSOUT/SDATA/P1-0 CRYSIN/SCLK/P1-1 P1-2 P1-3 P1-4 P1-5 P1-6 P1-7
R24
U6.A
3 10K/1% R18 R17 10K/1%
P0-0 P0-1 P0-2 P0-3 P0-4 P0-5 P0-6 P0-7
X1
24 4 25 3 26 2 27 1
32768HZ
GND
8
FROM COUNTER MODULE
R19 20K/1%
25PF
10NF
+5V
25PF
GND
GND
R20
B
HDR_5 GND
C
C12
TO OSCILLATOR MODULE
R21
J2
REF +0,9V
HDR_5
GAIN, 0-1,8V
REV:
10K/1% R22
REF +1,8V
C14
GND
P2-0 P2-1 P2-2 P2-3 AGND/P2-4 P2-5 VREF/P2-6 P2-7
XRES SCLK SDATA
10µF/16V
1 2 3 4 5
1K
J5
1 2 3 4 5
+5V
6 R9 15K/1%
+5V
FROM RECEIVER MODULE
7
10K/1% R12 R11 10K/1%
GND
+5V
U6.B
5 1K
R14
PHASE 1.8V +/6 0.9V GAIN 1.8V +/6 0.10V
8
PHASE, 0-1,8V
IN-CIRCUIT PROGRAMMING
1µF/63V
GND
C3
LM7805CT
2
1000µF/50V
3
VOUT GND
+5V
VIN
C2
R1
C
1
+10V
1 C1
D1
GND
2
+21.4V
1 2
14-18V DC 1A
D
3
U1
1N4004
J1
4
D4
POWER INPUT
8
47K/1%
GND GND
GND
INITIAL
26/03/02
8
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1
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