Built-in test for high speed electrical networks
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorDaniel Harres
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Abstract
An apparatus for providing auxiliary signals on a high speed electrical signal network is provided such that the auxiliary signals may be used for independent monitoring or communication of monitored information without affecting data or bit error rates for the primary high speed data signals. The auxiliary signals may be used as part of a built-in testing of a network, including electrical time-domain reflectometry measurements to determine fault locations in a network.
Claims24
An apparatus for providing auxiliary channel communication on an electrical signal-based network, the apparatus comprising:
- an electrical signal source adapted to provide a high-speed data signal extending over a high frequency range and having a first maximum peak-to-peak value, the signal source adapted to provide an auxiliary data signal extending over a low frequency range below the high frequency range and having a second maximum peak-to-peak value smaller than the first maximum peak-to-peak value, where the second maximum peak-to-peak value is at least two orders of magnitude smaller than the first maximum peak-to-peak value;
- and
- a controller coupled to the signal source for controlling the signal source to produce the high-speed data signal and for modulating the high-speed data signal with the auxiliary data signal.
An apparatus for testing an electrical signal-based network capable of transmitting a high-speed data signal extending over a high frequency range and having a first maximum peak-to-peak value, the apparatus comprising:
- a transmitter having a signal source adapted to modulate the high-speed data signal with an auxiliary data signal extending over a low frequency range below the high frequency range and having a second maximum peak-to-peak value, where the second maximum peak-to-peak value is at least two orders of magnitude smaller than the first maximum peak-to-peak value, the auxiliary data signal comprising operational data of the transmitter;
- and
- an analyzing circuit coupled to receive the modulated high-speed data signal from the signal source and adapted to separately analyze the auxiliary data signal from the modulated high-speed data signal for assessing the operational data.
An apparatus for performing electrical time-domain reflectometry on an electrical network having a transmission line, the apparatus comprising:
- an output stage comprising an electrical signal source adapted to provide a high-speed data signal extending over a high frequency range and having a first maximum peak-to-peak value, the signal source adapted to provide an auxiliary data signal extending over a low frequency range below the high frequency range and having a second maximum peak-to-peak value smaller than the first maximum peak-to-peak value, where the second maximum peak-to-peak value is at least two orders of magnitude smaller the first maximum peak-to-peak value, and comprising a controller coupled to the signal source for controlling the signal source to produce the high-speed data signal and for modulating the high-speed data signal with the auxiliary data signal;
- and
- a testing stage for sending a test signal on the transmission line and comprising a receiver coupled to receive a reflected portion of the test signal, the receiver comprising, a sample-and-hold device adapted to store the reflected portion, and a variable delay device coupled to the sample-and-hold device for controlling a timing interval of said storage.
A method for testing an electrical signal-based network capable of transmitting a high-speed data signal extending over a high frequency range and having a first maximum peak-to-peak value, the method comprising:
- adapting a signal source to modulate the high-speed data signal with an auxiliary data signal extending over a low frequency range below the high frequency range and having a second maximum peak-to-peak value, where the second maximum peak-to-peak value is at least two orders of magnitude smaller than the first maximum peak-to-peak value, the auxiliary data signal comprising operational data of the transmitter;
- and
- providing an analyzing circuit adapted to separately analyze the auxiliary data signal from the modulated high-speed data signal for assessing the operational data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.