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hartytp edited this page Jun 22, 2018 · 74 revisions

Booster is an eight channel RF power amplifier, providing up to 5W of RF between 40MHz and 500MHz. Mounted in a compact 2U high 19'' chassis, it is optimised for low cost and low power consumption, while providing good RF performance. It provides full interlocking and logging via a flexible ethernet-based remote interface.

Design mock up mechanical design

Overview

  • Bandwidth: 40MHz to 500MHz
  • P1db: 36dBm min
  • Max CW output power: 38dBm min
  • Gain @1dB compression: 40dB ±1dB typ (±1.5dB max)
  • IP3: 48dBm min
  • Crosstalk: -80dB max
  • Input/output VSWR: 1.5:1 max
  • Power supply: 100VAC-240VAC, 50Hz-60Hz
  • Total power efficiency: >35% at 1dB saturation from mains to RF
  • Cost: €6000

Features

  • Text-based (SCPI-like) Ethernet interface for monitoring and configuration
  • Protection circuit shuts down individual channels in case of: input power overload; reverse power overload; channel failure. Protection tripped indicator LED for each channel on the front panel, also readable via Ethernet. Protection circuit may be reset either using push-button on front panel or via Ethernet. The input power overload threshold is user-adjustable on a per-channel basis using the Ethernet interface. This allows users to ensure that the maximum power rating of sensitive loads, such as AOMs cannot be exceeded accidentally.
  • Per-channel remote monitoring of: forward and reverse power; temperature; current and voltage.
  • Remote shut down of individual channels via Ethernet, for example to avoid power dissipation from unused channels.
  • Each channel is an independent unit for easy field replacement

Interlocks

Booster uses a series of interlocks to protect both itself and the loads it drives from fault conditions. If any of these interlocks trips then the input RF is disconnected from the amplifier and redirected to an internal 50 ohm load, and the amplifier power stage is shut down. When the interlock is cleared -- either by pressing the "interlock rest" button or via the remote programming interface -- the power stage is first reenabled before reconnecting the input RF.

The input and output RF powers are interlocked using fast (ns) hardware interlocks. The threshold for the output interlock is user-adjustable via ethernet, to allow protecting sensitive loads which cannot tolerate Booster's full output power, while the input power has a fixed threshold use to protect Booster itself.

  • PA bias current bias current for each power amplifier is hard-coded threshold in software
  • Temperature each channel.The temperature of each amplifier channel is monitored by software. If it exceeds a (hard-coded) maximum value then the channel is shut down (bias current cut off and switch closed)
  • Output reverse power - The output reverse power is monitored by ADCs. There will be a software interlock used to limit it.

If any of these interlocks trip, the input switch is shut off (input disconnected) and the power FET bias current/voltage is shut off.

Firmware Update

Linux

Required libraries: dfu-util

  • Download update.dfu file from github
  • Place jumper into DFU pins on PCB and connect USB cable
  • Run dfu-util -l and mark down alt number for Internal Flash option

dfu-util 0.9

Copyright 2005-2009 Weston Schmidt, Harald Welte and OpenMoko Inc. Copyright 2010-2016 Tormod Volden and Stefan Schmidt This program is Free Software and has ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY Please report bugs to http://sourceforge.net/p/dfu-util/tickets/

Found DFU: [0483:df11] ver=2200, devnum=29, cfg=1, intf=0, path="3-5", alt=3, name="@Device Feature/0xFFFF0000/01004 e", serial="377533563436"
Found DFU: [0483:df11] ver=2200, devnum=29, cfg=1, intf=0, path="3-5", alt=2, name="@OTP Memory /0x1FFF7800/01512 e,01016 e", serial="377533563436"
Found DFU: [0483:df11] ver=2200, devnum=29, cfg=1, intf=0, path="3-5", alt=1, name="@Option Bytes /0x1FFFC000/01016 e", serial="377533563436"
Found DFU: [0483:df11] ver=2200, devnum=29, cfg=1, intf=0, path="3-5", alt=0, name="@Internal Flash /0x08000000/04016Kg,01064Kg,07*128Kg", serial="377533563436"

  • Run command dfu-util -D update.dfu -a 0, with selected memory region alt number
  • Wait for operation to complete, then remove jumper and reboot device

Windows

  • Download application DfuSe Demo
  • Download firmware update file from github
  • Place jumper into DFU pins on PCB and connect USB cable
  • Run DfuSeDemo
  • Select Internal Flash from Select target(s) menu.
  • In Upgrade or Verify Action click Choose and select firmware update file
  • Click Yes in dialog box
  • Wait for operation to complete, then remove jumper and reboot device

Booster
SCPI Interface
VCP Interface
Firmware Upgrade
RF Module Calibration
Troubleshooting

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