ControlsBoard

Cortex M4-based Function Generator (Hardware)

A function generator powered by STM32 G4.

Required Kicad Hardware library: https://github.com/cracked-machine/KicadLibrary

For details of the MCU configuration and firmware refer to FunctionGeneratorCortexM4_SW

Note, RevB was the final design. RevC was not built and is an untested future proposal.

System Overview

Input signals can be used as a trigger, capturing on voltage level or edge detection.

DAC1 synthesises the main output signal waveform and sends it to a voltage gain amplifier (LTC6910-3). The signal is then mixed with the DC offset signal from DAC2. The signal is then passes through a lowpass filter to remove any high frequency noise.

DAC2 is a DC signal 0-3.3V. This is sent to a buffer and inverting buffer. Either output is selected using the MCU-controlled SPDT switch IC (TS12A12511DCNR). This applies a software configurable DC offset between +3.3V and -3.3V to the main output signal.

DAC3 is an output signal synchronised to DAC1 to be used for triggering purposes.

Daughter boards

The display, controls and i/o connectors are connected via daughter boards to the main board via ribbon cable. An example of the display daughter board and its ribbon cable can be seen in the video below:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA5NSdBhmBY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Power supply

Current Consumption:

The 9V input is regulated down to 3.3V and 5V for the MCU and LCD display.

Dual supply for the VGA and opamps are provided using multiple TPS60400 charge pumps. TPS60400 are rated at 60mA output but in testing was found to be less. Therefore, multiple TPS60400 were required to provide "point-of-load" regulation.

Additional filtering is provided at the MCU supply pins with L1 and L2 ferrite beads and C1-C12 bypass capacitors.

A midpoint reference 2.5V voltage is provided to the LTC6910-3 VGA using a TL431DBZ precision programmable reference.

Limitations

The power supply limits the output to 9Vp-p. The output swing of the VGA limits this further.

The VGA output current is limited to ~25mA. This is also limited by the power supply.

Due to the settling time of the VGA, smooth sweeps between output amplitude levels using this IC was not possible. As such, the output is fixed to the maximum VGA level. Output amplitude control was handled by the firmware instead.

See LTC6910-3 datasheet for more information.