US 2017/0023632 A1 · SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED TESTING OF AN ELECTRIC CABLE

Abstract

Briefly, a method and system is provided for testing a cable using a high performance Time Domain Reflectometry (TRD) system and method. The TDR has a timing generator that is constructed to generate a periodic launch pulse to excite a cable under test, and to generate sample signals that are time delayed from the launch pulse. The timing for the launch pulse and the sample signal may be defined by two correlated PLL circuits coupled to the same clock. In one implementation, the timing generator is constructed in a single FPGA. The invention also provides calibration circuitry to compensate for temperature, voltage, and manufacturing variations in the FPGA. In one example, a tester includes a switch system that enables one or more TDR engines to sequentially apply a TDR stimulus to substantially all the wire pairs in a cable harness, and to collect the resulting TDR waveforms. The waveforms are analyzed to determine if the cable harness meets quality standards.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A Time Domain Reflectivity (TDR) tester for characterizing the impedance over the length of a cable under test, comprising:

a TDR timing generator, further comprising:
a launch pulse generator for periodically generating a launch pulse to excite the cable under test;
a sample signal generator for generating a sample signal for each launch pulse that defines the specific time for sampling the cable under test;
and
delay timing circuitry for setting a time delay between the rising edge of each launch pulse and the sample signal, the time delay being different for each launch pulse;
and
TDR measurement circuitry.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for automated testing of an electric cable

Life of this patent

System and method for automated testing of an electric cable

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21