High-speed real-time multi-channel data-acquisition unit: Challenges and results

In this paper, we describe the design of a 3 Giga-samples per second real-time multi-channel data-acquisition unit. We first introduce the technical challenges including synchronization, data transmission and printed circuit board design. Then we analyze the cause of issues in multi-channel synchronization, and develop a novel method to synchronize the channels and correctly save the data into RAM. We later discuss issues surrounding the unit's signal integrity and routing. We provide techniques and design procedures to properly mitigate these issues and guarantee the correct performance of the system. The DAU has been fabricated, and its performance is evaluated in this paper by sampling ultra-wide-band signals.