Automated test and evaluation center for waveform digitizer systems and components

The author discusses instrumentation development efforts in which it is necessary to evaluate the performance of waveform digitizing systems with sampling rates from a few kilohertz to more than a gigahertz. The goal has been to develop an integrated system which can provide quantitative results on the performance of systems and subsystems. The author describes a system which is controlled by a Microvax II with instrumentation control through the IEEE-488 bus. The evaluation procedure is delineated in reference to a trial waveform digitizer standard generated by the Waveform Measurements and Analysis Committee appointed by the IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society. Special emphasis is placed on the accurate measurement of effective-bit performance and differential nonlinearity.<
>