Multi-Channel Pulse Generator

This project deals with planning a pulse generator using NetFPGA SUME.

The purpose of the project is to design a system which will produce single pulses on 8 parallel channels. All channels will have the same repetition rate. The pulses produced are supposed to be with no jitter between each other. Pulse definition should be possible with a granularity of 0.25 ns.

The system needs a user interface at which start point and duration for each pulse can be defined as well as the repetition frequency. This interface is located on a host computer.

Connected to the host, preferably via UART, is a FPGA card (NetFPGA SUME), which will contains all necessary logic to output the pulses. To cope with the granularity and the required rise times, high speed serial drivers GTH will be used.

The project specifications are as follows:

  1. Variable pulse width of 0.25 ns to T (where T is the period determined by the repetition rate of the experiment).
  2. Rise time/fall time 1 ns.
  3. Variable delay to accuracy of 1ns within T.
  4. One pulse per channel per T.
  5. Programmed with a UI that is compatible with the laboratory environment (MATLAB-based) and understood by the physics students.