An automated fault detection program for multichannel bandwidth-limited system

This paper develops a real-time automated fault detection interface and set-up for a multichannel bandwidth-limited system. This interface integrates both time domain reflectometry (TDR) and time domain transform (TDT) gating techniques which are combined with a signal analysis algorithm. Using a database of signal responses, the interface software can identify, locate and visualize positions of open, short and mismatched faults on a multiple-output system. In other words, the interface can simultaneously check the fault in the multichannel system with one step. Automated measurements were performed for a prototype of antenna system, which operates from 720 MHz to 960 MHz with one input channel and six output channels. Thus, it is possible that the testing solution can be replicated for similar multiple port systems.