Case Studies
Hyper-Remote Laser Sensor
THE PROBLEM
The customer is at the prototype stage for building a hyper remote sensor which will fly over the ocean and be able to see 100 to 200 feet below the surface. The sensor is being designed in order to determine the composition of the ocean and the ocean floor.
This remote sensor will be extremely useful in the detection of pollution and studying the way pollution is being distributed by ocean currents. It will also be useful to the military (navy) for creating mine-finding systems.
A deep blue laser will be used to excite the sensor. The light which bounces back off the water to the sensor will be broken down into 16 bands of laser light, which will be sampled on 16 channels. With this information, the system will create a "map" of the ocean's composition by correlating the sampled light spectra to ocean density and hence pollution levels.
The customer's system requires a 200 MHz sample rate, with 128 samples per acquisition, with a Pulse Repeat Frequency of 30 ms (33 Hz), and External Clock Input.
GAGE'S SOLUTION
The CompuScope 2125 samples at a maximum external clock rate of 250 MHz. Eight bits of vertical resolution are sufficient for this application. Sixteen CompuScope 2125 cards will be required in order to sample 16 bands of laser light at 200 MHz.
In order to have 16 CompuScope 2125 cards operating in one system, Gage will provide a custom 20-slot ISA backplane. A special two-level chassis is used, in which the 20-slot backplane is on the upper level, and the drive bays and power supply are housed on the lower level.
The two groups of eight CompuScope cards are internally linked via a custom signal conditioner, to ensure synchronization of the clocks and triggering. A special power supply is is also required to ensure the added power required by 16 CompuScope cards.
The custom chassis is illustrated below:
PRODUCT RECOMMENDED
2 x 8 board CompuScope 2125 Multi-Card system - 8 bit, 250 MSPS A/D cards for ISA bus
GagePC in custom chassis
Internal Clock In to Clock Out Modification
Internal Trigger In to Trigger Out Modification
Custom Power Supply
This application note is provided "as is" without any warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Gage Applied Technologies further does not warrant the accuracy and completeness of the material contained herein. Gage Applied Technologies may make changes to this material, or to the products described in it, at any time without notice.
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