Measurement hardware emulator: synthetic instrumentation and CASS

Synthetic Instrumentation is a class of test devices, including measurers and stimulators, implemented primarily with software and supported with minimal hardware conditioning for the test signals. This philosophy permits frequent reuse of the hardware elements (processors, A/Ds, D/As, signal conditioners and switches) when commanding different instrument functions. Substantially lower purchase cost and life cycle cost per function are therefore achieved. The paper describes the results of the development of the CASS Measurement Hardware Emulator (MHE) using synthetic instruments. The functions developed included: spectrum analyzer, microwave transition analyzer, frequency/time interval counter, waveform digitizer and digital multimeter. Commercial-off-the-shelf elements included a VXI chassis, Slot-0 controller (PC), RF downconverter, two digitizers, and a wideband synthesizer used as the local oscillator. Performance results were largely competitive with existing standalone instruments. AlliedSignal's previous development work and the current MHE results show that Synthetic Instrumentation is sufficiently mature (1) to be included in service life extension programs of legacy ATE, (2) to be inserted in current ATE such as CASS, and (3) to become the basis of next generation ATE architecture, such as NxTest.