UPC8178TB-EV09

The UPC8178TB-EV09, or Ultra-Wideband Low Noise Amplifier Evaluation Board, is an RF evaluation and development kit that caters to designers looking to develop and evaluate performance of various different types of ultra-wideband (UWB) amplifier systems. The board is powered by a Texas Instruments TMS320C6748 or TMS320C6745 Digital Signal Processor (DSP) and is equipped with an integral ground plane that allows for lower circuit power levels. Additionally, the board has been designed with power conservation in mind, with the goal of offering a low-noise environment with minimal phase delay.

The UPC8178TB-EV09 is designed to provide detailed performance measurements of a variety of UWB amplifiers with its in-built evaluation software and associated GUI. Its wideband support ranges from DC up to 3GHz, covering the majority of modern commercial and military applications. Onboard noise figure measurements can be made at any frequency and the UPC8178TB-EV09 provides a Noise Figure Calibration feature to ensure accuracy of results.

In terms of gain control and flexibility, the UPC8178TB-EV09 features a 10dB fixed attenuator for both the transmit and receive paths, as well as an input attenuator that has a range of up to 90dB. It also includes a four-port active switch integrated with a TMS320C6748 processor, which provides high dynamic range and fast switching times of up to 5 milliseconds, enabling designers to easily change the TX/RX path routing. The evaluation board also includes an SMA Jack for the antenna power supply, multiple SMA switching ports and control ports for external peripheral control.

In terms of working principle, the UPC8178TB-EV09 relies on a series of distinct computational stages in order to comprehensively evaluate and optimise the performance of an amplifier system. The first stage involves the measurement of the Noise Figure (NF), which is calculated by feeding a maximal noise signal into the device under test and measuring the power of the signal returning from the device. This is followed by measurements of the Small-Signal Gain (G) and Input Return Loss (RL), which are useful indicators of the linearity of the transistor under test. Finally, the Ultimate Gain (UG) is measured by feeding a maximum RF signal into the device under test and measuring the power of the signal returned from the device.

Overall, the UPC8178TB-EV09 offers a powerful evaluation board for designers looking to develop and evaluate the performance of UWB amplifier systems. Its wideband support and flexible routing options, combined with its low-noise environment and in-built evaluation software, make the UPC8178TB-EV09 an ideal choice for designers seeking to quickly and accurately evaluate UWB amplifier performance.