Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | P11016 |
| Journal | Journal of Instrumentation |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| Publication status | Published - 15 Nov 2021 |
Abstract
Keywords
- physics.ins-det, Space instrumentation, Trigger concepts and systems (hardware and software), VLSI circuits
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
- Instrumentation
- Mathematics(all)
- Mathematical Physics
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In: Journal of Instrumentation, Vol. 16, No. 11, P11016, 15.11.2021.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - FPGA-based low-cost synchronized fiber network for experimental setups in space
AU - Oberschulte, Tim
AU - Wendrich, Thijs
AU - Blume, Holger
PY - 2021/11/15
Y1 - 2021/11/15
N2 - Custom experiment setups in physics often require control electronics to execute actions and measurements on a small time scale. When further constraints limit the experiment's environment, for example when the experiment is inside a sounding rocket, conventional network systems will not suffice those constraints because of weight, heat or budget limitations. This paper proposes a network architecture with a time resolution of less than 1 ns over a pair of plastic fibers while using low-cost commercial hardware. The plastic fibers in comparison to copper fibers have a low weight and additionally can isolate parts of the setup galvanically. Data rates of 40 Mbit/s enable the network to transfer large amounts of measurements and configuration data over the network. Proof-of-concept implementations of network endpoints and switches on small FPGAs are analyzed in terms of synchronicity, data rate and resource usage. Using commercial parts the resolution of 1 ns is reached with a standard deviation of less than 100 ps. Compared to a copper wire implementation the weight is reduced by about one order of magnitude. With its low weight at a low cost, the network is useful in space or laboratory setups which require high time resolution.
AB - Custom experiment setups in physics often require control electronics to execute actions and measurements on a small time scale. When further constraints limit the experiment's environment, for example when the experiment is inside a sounding rocket, conventional network systems will not suffice those constraints because of weight, heat or budget limitations. This paper proposes a network architecture with a time resolution of less than 1 ns over a pair of plastic fibers while using low-cost commercial hardware. The plastic fibers in comparison to copper fibers have a low weight and additionally can isolate parts of the setup galvanically. Data rates of 40 Mbit/s enable the network to transfer large amounts of measurements and configuration data over the network. Proof-of-concept implementations of network endpoints and switches on small FPGAs are analyzed in terms of synchronicity, data rate and resource usage. Using commercial parts the resolution of 1 ns is reached with a standard deviation of less than 100 ps. Compared to a copper wire implementation the weight is reduced by about one order of magnitude. With its low weight at a low cost, the network is useful in space or laboratory setups which require high time resolution.
KW - physics.ins-det
KW - Space instrumentation
KW - Trigger concepts and systems (hardware and software)
KW - VLSI circuits
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85119669204&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1088/1748-0221/16/11/p11016
DO - 10.1088/1748-0221/16/11/p11016
M3 - Article
VL - 16
JO - Journal of Instrumentation
JF - Journal of Instrumentation
SN - 1748-0221
IS - 11
M1 - P11016
ER -