Understanding synthetic instruments
Martin Rowe, Senior Technical Editor -- Test & Measurement World, 6/1/2007 2:00:00 AM
Synthetic instrumentation (the concept of using a common set of hardware for many test applications) is starting to see implementation in military test applications. The potential gain comes from reducing the risk of test-equipment obsolescence by implementing test functions in software rather than in measurement-specific instruments.
| Download a copy of "The Case for Synthetic Instruments." Synthetic instruments figure |
Mike Granieri of Phase Matrix and Wade Lowdermilk of BAE Systems have written a paper called “The Case for Synthetic Instruments” in which they explain three basic implementations of synthetic instruments:
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Class A: Modular/loosely coupled open architecture. A “spin your own” architecture based on modular instruments (ADCs, DACs, and up/downconverters) where test engineers develop their own measurement functions such as rise time, fall time, and frequency entirely in software. This implementation is the most flexible but requires the most effort.
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Class B: Integrated synthetic instruments. Here, a manufacturer purchases a test system’s hardware and the software that implements measurement functions. A test engineer then develops tests by stringing together measurements. Class B requires less investment in software development than the modular approach, with some limitations.
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Class C: Application-specific synthetic instruments. This implementation results in measurements specifically tailored for a specific device under test, but it limits flexibility should a new device require testing.
Granieri and Lowdermilk claim that using synthetic instruments “increases measurement speed and testing efficiency” because synthetic instrumentation “is primarily a signal based stimulus & measurement paradigm.” They go on to argue that a signal-based method can process a data set faster than a traditional instrumentation setup can and that use of synthetic instrumentation fosters test and measurement interoperability and can reduce training costs.
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Synthetic instruments use signal conditioners, up/downconverters, and ADCs to convert incoming signals to digital for processing, while DACs convert processed digital signals back to analog. |
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While I''m not a Labview guy, this "synthetic instruments'' concept seems
like one big NI advertisement. No wonder Mr. Yohan at Agilent doesn''t
like it.
G. Knebel - 2007-19-7 23:25:00 EDT -
Synthetic Instruments formalizes a concept that is already in use to a certain extent. It will probably be more effective in certain areas of test than in others. At least at the beginning, it will require significantly more engineering effort than less, and cost savings may be illusory. It may be a goal worth pursuing, hopefully with less hype (one can always hope!) and more serious engineering.
Sandip K. Sengupta - 2007-12-6 10:06:00 EDT -
Synthetic instruments, while workable for simple basic applications and measurements, are totally unrealistic for traditional mainstream ATE. I am also pretty sure that hardware data processing is faster than software-transfered-then-crunched data any day. Sorry to be the wet blanket on the new buzz word parade. Not buying into the hype.
S. Yohan - 2007-11-6 20:02:00 EDT -
T&M World,
You left out Fig.2!Please use the PDF version I sent Martin.
Mike Granieri - 2007-4-6 16:15:00 EDT
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