Signal generation control device, measuring device, signal generation control system, measuring system, signal generation control method, and measuring method

Abstract

The present invention provides a signal generation control device, a measuring device, a signal generation control system, a measuring system, a signal generation control method, and a measuring method that can reliably compensate for the synchronization of signals between user equipment having multiple channels, thereby improving the accuracy of operation control and measurement control of user equipment. [Solution] The signal generation control device 1 is configured to include a delay measurement unit 40b that measures the transmission delay for each transmission cable 15-1, 15-2, ~, 15-n between the output terminals Out#1, Out#2, ~, Out#n of each channel of the signal generation unit 10 and the input terminals In#1, In#2, ~, In#n of each channel of the user equipment 70, and a delay compensation control unit 40c that offsets the output timing of signals in multiple SGs so that the signals of each channel are synchronized between the input terminals In#1, In#2, ~, In#n according to the transmission delay.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a signal generation control device, a measurement device, a signal generation control system, a measurement system, a signal generation control method, and a measurement method, which have a function of compensating for the transmission delay of the transmission path of each channel when controlling multi-channel input signals to user equipment or measuring multi-channel output signals from user equipment.

Background Art

[0002] In fields such as automotive, aerospace, and antenna-related fields, the importance of synchronization is increasing for multi-channel control and measurement of user equipment on the order of several tens of meters. In this case, the user equipment is large in size, and the positions of the signal input terminals of each channel are often separated from each other. For this reason, for example, the connection mode for a multi-channel arbitrary waveform generator or function generator (hereinafter collectively referred to as SG (Signal Generator) for simplicity) is, for example, as shown in FIG. 15. In FIG. 15, the multi-channel SG 100 has output terminals Out#1 to #n of each channel connected to respective input terminals In#1 to In#n of the user equipment 110 via respective transmission cables 101-1 to 101-n having different lengths.

[0003] In such a connection mode, the output signals of the multi-channel SG 100 are input to the user equipment 110 connected to the ends of the transmission cables 101-1 to 101-n having different lengths (propagation times) for each channel, and it is extremely important to synchronize the signals between the channels for the normal operation of the user equipment 110.

[0004] Regarding the synchronization control of multiple signals, a conventional technique has been known in which, in a signal processing device that daisy-chains multiple signal analyzers using cables and performs measurements simultaneously and in parallel using each signal analyzer, the propagation delay time caused by the connecting cables and the internal paths of the signal processing devices is measured by an internally installed delay correction value calculation unit, thereby synchronizing trigger signals between multiple signal processing devices with high accuracy (for example, Patent Document 1, etc.).

[0005] Furthermore, in a measuring device connected to an object under test via a transmission line to measure the characteristics of that object, a technique has been conventionally known for determining the propagation delay amount of the signal transmission line by observing a reference signal reflected by a resistive load installed at the object-side end of the signal transmission line, and comparing the spectrum of the transmitted reference signal with the spectrum of the reflected reference signal, in order to accurately measure the characteristics of the object under test using a calibration process performed in advance. (For example, Patent Document 2, etc.). [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2015-64718 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2006-300688 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] Incidentally, in conventional multi-channel signal generators that supply multi-channel signals (trigger signals) to the large user equipment mentioned above (see Figure 15), the synchronization and offset settings of the trigger signals were controlled based on the output terminal.

[0008] Therefore, in conventional multi-channel signal generators, synchronization and offset at the input terminals of user equipment depended on the length of each transmission cable to each input terminal of the user equipment, making it difficult to eliminate transmission delays between channels caused by the length of each transmission cable. This inevitably led to a decrease in the accuracy of operation control or measurement control of the user equipment.

[0009] Furthermore, regarding the operation of the device that controls input signals to user equipment or measures output signals from user equipment, in addition to the operation of supplying signals from each channel of user equipment from a multi-channel signal generator (SG), it is also possible to measure the signals (waveforms) of each channel output from user equipment using multiple channels.

[0010] In the former operation, the user equipment is controlled from the sending side, and this operation will be referred to as the "sending side" device below. In contrast, in the latter operation, control is performed based on the output of the user equipment, and the device in this operation will be referred to as the "receiving side" device below.

[0011] As mentioned above, when operating as a sender, the connection method shown in Figure 15 is applied to the multi-channel SG110. On the other hand, when operating as a receiver, a connection method such as the one shown in Figure 16 is applied to the multi-channel waveform recorder 120. In Figure 16, the output terminals Mout#1, ~, and Mout#n of each channel of the user equipment 110 are connected to the input terminals Min#1, ~, and Min#n of each channel of the waveform recorder 120 via their respective transmission cables 105-1, ~, and 105-n. Here, the only difference between Figure 16(a) and Figure 16(b) is whether the user equipment 110 has an auxiliary SG115 or whether the waveform recorder 120 has an auxiliary SG125.

[0012] In the conventional device described above, for example, when operating as a sender (see Figure 15), it was difficult to eliminate the transmission delay between channels caused by the length of each transmission cable 101-1, ~, 101-n, resulting in an unavoidable decrease in the accuracy of the operation control or measurement control of the user device 110. The same problem existed when operating as a receiver (see Figure 16), where it was difficult to eliminate the transmission delay between channels caused by the length of each transmission cable 105-1, ~, 105-n, resulting in an unavoidable decrease in the measurement accuracy of the waveforms of each channel output by the user device 110.

[0013] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a signal generation control device, a measuring device, a signal generation control system, a measuring system, a signal generation control method, and a measuring method that can reliably compensate for the synchronization of signals of each channel with user equipment having multiple channels, and improve the accuracy of operation control and measurement control of user equipment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] To solve the above problems, the signal generation control device according to claim 1 of the present invention is a signal generation control device (1) that inputs signals of a plurality of channels (#1 to #n) to the input terminals (In#1 to In#n) of each channel of a user device (70), and comprises: a signal generation means (10) having a plurality of signal generators (11-1, 11-2, ~, 11-n) that generate signals for each of the channels; a transmission delay measuring means (40b) that measures the transmission delay for each of the plurality of transmission paths (15-1 to 15-n) connected between the output terminals (Out#1 to Out#n) of each channel of the signal generation means and the input terminals of each channel of the user device; and a transmission delay compensation control means (40c) that offsets the output timing of the signals of each channel in the plurality of signal generators so that the signals of each channel are synchronized between the input terminals of each channel of the user device according to the transmission delay of each transmission path.

[0015] With this configuration, the signal generation control device according to claim 1 of the present invention can reliably compensate for signal synchronization at the input terminal of the user equipment, eliminating the need for the user to be aware of the transmission path length, and improving the accuracy of operation control and measurement control of the user equipment.

[0016] Furthermore, the signal generation control device according to claim 2 of the present invention further comprises an auxiliary signal generator (12) that generates a delay measurement signal, and the transmission delay measurement means may be configured to measure the transmission delay for each transmission path by either a through-type delay measurement method based on the delay measurement signal for each channel transmitted to the far end through the transmission path of each channel, or a reflective-type delay measurement method based on the delay measurement signal for each channel that is reflected at the far end of the transmission path of each channel and transmitted back along the transmission path.

[0017] With this configuration, the signal generation control device according to claim 2 of the present invention can easily measure the transmission delay for each transmission path by applying either a transmissive delay measurement method or a reflective delay measurement method, and can smoothly carry out operation control and measurement control of user equipment.

[0018] Furthermore, the signal generation control device according to claim 3 of the present invention may be configured such that, in order to measure the transmission delay for each transmission path by applying the transparent delay measurement method, an input terminal (Test Port) to which the far end of the transmission path of each channel can be connected is provided at the input terminal of the delay measurement signal of the transmission delay measurement means.

[0019] With this configuration, the signal generation control device according to claim 3 of the present invention can easily measure the transmission delay for each transmission path by simply connecting the far end of the transmission path for each channel to an input terminal and passing the signal for each channel through the transmission path.

[0020] Further, the signal generation control device according to claim 4 of the present invention may have a configuration in which auxiliary units (16-1, 16-2, ..., 16-n) that pass the signal of each channel and reflect the delay measurement signal are provided at the far end of the transmission line of each channel, in order to measure the transmission delay for each transmission line by applying the reflection-type delay measurement method.

[0021] With this configuration, the signal generation control device according to claim 4 of the present invention can automatically perform a series of operation sequences including measurement of the transmission delay for each transmission line, transmission delay compensation control based on the measurement result, and further measurement of user equipment performed by transmitting the signal of each channel through the transmission line, without requiring manual operation by the user.

[0022] Further, in the signal generation control device according to claim 5 of the present invention, the auxiliary unit may be configured by a filter that passes the signal of each channel in the DC to 15 GHz band and reflects the band of the delay measurement signal in the 16 to 18 GHz band.

[0023] With this configuration, the signal generation control device according to claim 5 of the present invention can configure the auxiliary unit with a simple structure using a filter, and can simplify the structure of the measuring apparatus having an automatic transmission delay compensation function that includes the auxiliary unit.

[0024] Further, in the signal generation control device according to claim 6 of the present invention, the auxiliary unit may be configured using a switch that opens the transmission line when passing the signal of each channel, and short-circuits the transmission line when passing the delay measurement signal.

[0025] With this configuration, the signal generation control device according to claim 6 of the present invention can realize the auxiliary unit with a simple structure using a switch capable of switching between open and short circuit, and can achieve simplification of the signal generation control device having an automatic transmission delay compensation function that includes the auxiliary unit.

[0026] Furthermore, the signal generation control device according to claim 7 of the present invention may be configured to disconnect the connection of the far end of the transmission path of each channel to the input terminal of the user equipment in order to measure the transmission delay for each transmission path by applying the reflection-type delay measurement method.

[0027] With this configuration, the signal generation control device according to claim 7 of the present invention can measure the transmission delay for each transmission line by the simple operation of manually disconnecting the connection at the far end of the transmission line, thereby reducing the work required for transmission delay compensation control.

[0028] To solve the above problems, the measuring device according to claim 8 of the present invention is a measuring device (1A) for measuring signals (waveforms) of a plurality of channels (#1 to #n) output from each output terminal (Mout#1 to Mout#n) of each channel of a user device (70), comprising: a waveform recording means (90) having a plurality of waveform recorders (91) that receive and record the waveforms of each channel; a transmission delay measuring means (40bB) for measuring the transmission delay for each of the plurality of transmission lines (18-1 to 18-n) connected between the output terminals of each channel of the user device and the input terminals (Min#1 to #n) of each channel of the waveform recording means; and a transmission delay compensation control means (40cB) for offsetting the output timing of the signals of each channel in the plurality of waveform recorders so that the signals of each channel are synchronized between the output terminals of each channel of the user device according to the transmission delay of each transmission line.

[0029] With this configuration, the measuring device according to claim 8 of the present invention can reliably compensate for signal synchronization at the output terminal of the user equipment, eliminating the need for the user to be aware of the transmission path length, and improving the accuracy of operation control and measurement control of the user equipment.

[0030] Furthermore, the measuring device according to claim 9 of the present invention further comprises an auxiliary signal generator (95) that generates a delay measurement signal, and the transmission delay measuring means may be configured to measure the transmission delay for each transmission path by either a through-type delay measuring method based on the delay measurement signal for each channel transmitted to the far end through the transmission path of each channel, or a reflective-type delay measuring method based on the delay measurement signal for each channel that is reflected at the far end of the transmission path of each channel and transmitted back along the transmission path.

[0031] With this configuration, the measuring device according to claim 9 of the present invention can easily measure the transmission delay for each transmission path by applying either a transmission delay measurement method or a reflection delay measurement method, and can smoothly carry out operation control and measurement control of user equipment.

[0032] Furthermore, the measuring device according to claim 10 of the present invention may be configured such that, in order to measure the transmission delay for each transmission path by applying the transparent delay measurement method, an input terminal (Test Port) to which the far end of the transmission path of each channel can be connected is provided at the input terminal of the delay measurement signal of the transmission delay measuring means.

[0033] With this configuration, the measuring device according to claim 10 of the present invention can easily measure the transmission delay for each transmission line by simply connecting the far end of the transmission line for each channel to the input terminal and passing the signal for each channel through the transmission line.

[0034] Furthermore, the measuring device according to claim 11 of the present invention may be configured to measure the transmission delay for each transmission path by applying the reflection-type delay measurement method, and may be provided with auxiliary units (16-1, 16-2, ~, 16-n) at the far end of the transmission path of each channel that allow the signal of each channel to pass through and reflect the delay measurement signal.

[0035] With this configuration, the measuring device according to claim 11 of the present invention can automatically perform a series of operational operations, including measuring the transmission delay for each transmission path, performing transmission delay compensation control based on the measurement results, and measuring user equipment by transmitting the signals of each channel through the transmission path, without requiring manual operation by the user.

[0036] Furthermore, in the measuring device according to claim 12 of the present invention, the auxiliary unit may be composed of a filter that allows the signals of each channel in the DC to 15 GHz band to pass through and reflects the bandwidth of the delay measurement signal in the 16 to 18 GHz band.

[0037] This configuration allows the measuring device according to claim 12 of the present invention to have an auxiliary unit constructed with a simple structure using a filter, and simplifies the structure of a measuring device having an automatic transmission delay compensation function that includes an auxiliary unit.

[0038] Furthermore, in the measuring device according to claim 13 of the present invention, the auxiliary unit may be configured using a switch that opens the transmission path when passing the signals of each channel and short-circuits the transmission path when passing the delay measurement signal.

[0039] This configuration allows the measuring device according to claim 13 of the present invention to realize an auxiliary unit with a simple structure using a switch that can switch between open and short circuits, and simplifies the signal generation control device having an automatic transmission delay compensation function that includes the auxiliary unit. It is possible.

[0040] Furthermore, the measuring device according to claim 14 of the present invention may be configured to disconnect the connection of the far end of the transmission path of each channel to the output terminal of the user equipment in order to measure the transmission delay for each transmission path by applying the reflection-type delay measurement method.

[0041] With this configuration, the measuring device according to claim 14 of the present invention can measure the transmission delay for each transmission line by simply manually disconnecting the connection at the far end of the transmission line, thereby reducing the work required for transmission delay compensation control.

[0042] To solve the above problems, the signal generation control system according to claim 15 of the present invention is a signal generation control system (5) that inputs signals of a plurality of channels (#1 to #n) to the input terminals (In#1 to In#n) of each channel of a user device (70), and is characterized by comprising: a signal generation device (10A) having a plurality of signal generators (11-1, 11-2, ~, 11-n) that each generate signals for each channel; a transmission delay measurement unit (40bA) that measures the transmission delay for each of the plurality of transmission paths (15-1 to 15-n) connected between the output terminals (Out#1 to Out#n) of each channel of the signal generation device and the input terminals of each channel of the user device, and a control device (30A) having a transmission delay compensation control unit (40cA) that offsets the output timing of the signals of each channel in the plurality of signal generators so that the signals of each channel are synchronized between the input terminals of each channel of the user device according to the transmission delay of each transmission path.

[0043] With this configuration, the signal generation control system according to claim 15 of the present invention can reliably compensate for the synchronization of signals of each channel at the input terminal of the user equipment, thereby improving the accuracy of operation control and measurement control of the user equipment.

[0044] To solve the above problems, the measurement system according to claim 16 of the present invention is a measurement system (5A) for measuring signals (waveforms) of a plurality of channels (#1 to #n) output from each output terminal (Mout#1 to Mout#n) of each channel of a user device (70), comprising: a waveform recording device (90A) having a plurality of waveform recorders (91) that each receive the waveform of each channel; a transmission delay measurement unit (40aB) for measuring the transmission delay for each of the plurality of transmission lines (18-1 to 18-n) connected between the output terminals of each channel of the user device and the input terminals (Min#1 to #n) of each channel of the waveform recording device; and a control device (30C) having a transmission delay compensation control unit (40cB) that offsets the output timing of the signals of each channel in the plurality of waveform recorders so that the signals of each channel are synchronized between the output terminals of each channel of the user device according to the transmission delay of each transmission line.

[0045] With this configuration, the measurement system according to claim 16 of the present invention can reliably compensate for the synchronization of signals of each channel at the output terminal of the user equipment, thereby improving the accuracy of operation control and measurement control of the user equipment.

[0046] To solve the above problems, the signal generation control method according to claim 17 of the present invention is a signal generation control method that inputs signals of a plurality of channels (#1 to #n) to the input terminals (In#1 to In#n) of each channel of a user device (70), and is characterized by including: a signal generation step (S3) of a signal generation means (10) having a plurality of signal generators (11-1, 11-2, ~, 11-n) from the plurality of signal generators to generate signals for each channel; a transmission delay measurement step (S5) of a plurality of transmission paths (15-1 to 15-n) connected between the output terminals (Out#1 to Out#n) of each channel of the signal generation means and the input terminals of each channel of the user device to measure the transmission delay for each transmission path; and a transmission delay compensation control step (S12) of offsetting the output timing of the signals of each channel in the plurality of signal generators so that the signals of each channel are synchronized between the input terminals of each channel of the user device according to the transmission delay of each transmission path.

[0047] With this configuration, the signal generation control method according to claim 17 of the present invention can reliably compensate for signal synchronization at the input terminal of the user equipment, eliminating the need for the user to be aware of the transmission path length, and improving the accuracy of operation control and measurement control of the user equipment.

[0048] To solve the above problems, the measurement method according to claim 18 of the present invention is a measurement method for measuring signals (waveforms) of a plurality of channels (#1 to #n) output from each channel output terminal (Mout#1 to Mout#n) of a user device (70), and is characterized by including: a reception step (S3) in which the signals of each channel are received by a plurality of waveform recorders of a waveform recording means (90) having a plurality of waveform recorders that each receive the waveform of each channel; a transmission delay measurement step (S5) in which the transmission delay of each transmission path is measured for a plurality of transmission paths (18-1 to 18-n) connected between each channel output terminal (Min#1 to #n) of the waveform recording means; and a transmission delay compensation control step (S12) in which the output timing of the signals of each channel in the plurality of waveform recorders is offset so that the signals of each channel are synchronized between the output terminals of each channel of the user device according to the transmission delay of each transmission path.

[0049] With this configuration, the measurement method according to claim 18 of the present invention can reliably compensate for signal synchronization at the output terminal of the user equipment, eliminating the need for the user to be aware of the transmission path length, and improving the accuracy of operation control and measurement control of the user equipment. [Effects of the Invention]

[0050] The present invention provides a signal generation control device, a measuring device, a signal generation control system, a measuring system, a signal generation control method, and a measuring method that can reliably compensate for the synchronization of signals of each channel with user equipment having multiple channels, thereby improving the accuracy of operation control and measurement control of user equipment. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0051] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a signal generation control device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the signal generation unit. [Figure 3] This flowchart shows the transmission delay compensation control operation of a signal generation control device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the transmission delay compensation control function (offset setting control) based on the transmission delay compensation control shown. [Figure 5] This figure shows one embodiment of a transmission delay measurement / compensation unit based on a transparent delay measurement method for a signal generation control device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This figure shows one embodiment of a transmission delay measurement / compensation unit based on a reflective delay measurement method for a signal generation control device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This figure shows an example of the configuration of the transmission delay signal transmission / reception separation means for a device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] This figure shows another example of the configuration of the transmission delay signal transmission / reception separation means for a device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] This is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a signal generation control system using a signal generation control device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] This is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a measuring device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the transmission delay compensation control function (offset setting control) based on transmission delay compensation control of a measuring device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] This figure shows one embodiment of a transmission delay measurement / compensation unit based on a transmission delay measurement method of a measuring device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] This figure shows one embodiment of a transmission delay measurement / compensation unit based on a reflective delay measurement method in a measuring device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] This is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a measurement system using a measuring device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] This diagram shows a typical connection configuration between a multi-channel signal generator (SG) and user equipment. [Figure 16]This diagram shows typical connection configurations between a multi-channel waveform recording device and user equipment. (a) shows a configuration where the user equipment has an auxiliary signal generator (SG), and (b) shows a configuration where the waveform recording device has an auxiliary SG. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0052] The following describes embodiments of the signal generation control device, measuring device, signal generation control system, measuring system, signal generation control method, and measuring method according to the present invention.

[0053] (overview) The signal generation and control device according to the present invention is used in the development of user equipment belonging to the fields of automobiles, aerospace, and antennas, and has the function of a multi-channel signal generator (see signal generation unit 10 in Figures 1 and 2) that generates signals (multi-channel signals) to be input to multiple input terminals of the user equipment.

[0054] In this scenario, user equipment can be quite large, sometimes spanning tens of meters, and its input terminals are often spaced several meters apart. Therefore, the signals from each channel generated by a multi-channel signal generator (SG) are transmitted to the respective input terminals of the user equipment via transmission paths (e.g., cables) of different lengths for each channel.

[0055] In the signal generation and control devices described above, which measure large user equipment, there are significant differences in the length of the cables extending from the multi-channel signal generator (SG) to the input terminals of each channel of the user equipment. This results in significant differences in the transmission delay across the cables between each channel. For example, a 1m coaxial table produces a transmission delay of about 5ns (nanoseconds), but in recent large, high-speed sequence systems, delays of the order of nanoseconds that differ between channels have become significant and cannot be ignored.

[0056] For such user-controlled equipment, the synchronization of multi-channel signals that users require is not the synchronization of the output terminals of the multi-channel signal generator (SG), but rather the synchronization of the input terminals of the user-controlled equipment. This is because the timing of the multi-channel signals that users anticipate is easier to handle when it is based on the input terminals of the user-controlled equipment.

[0057] In the signal generation control device according to the present invention, in order to synchronize at the input terminal of the user equipment, the transmission delay of the cable connecting the output terminal of the multi-channel signal generator (SG) and the input terminal of the user equipment is measured for each channel, and the transmission delay is compensated for.

[0058] To achieve the above delay compensation, the signal generation control device according to the present invention measures the transmission delay of the cable for each channel and, in order to ensure signal synchronization at the far end of the cable for each channel (the input side of each channel on the user equipment), outputs a signal in the multi-channel signal generator (SG) earlier by the amount of the transmission delay for each channel, thereby compensating for synchronization at the input end of the user equipment.

[0059] While methods for measuring transmission delay are well-known, a multi-channel signal generator (SG) that measures the transmission delay of each channel of a multi-channel cable and adjusts the output timing of each channel's signal based on the measured transmission delay to compensate for the synchronization of input signals at each input terminal of a user's equipment does not currently exist. Furthermore, if a multi-channel SG had a function to measure and compensate for cable delay, offset adjustments when installing or changing cables would be made much easier, greatly improving convenience.

[0060] The development of the signal generation control device according to the present invention can be seen as addressing the issue of the boundary of responsibility between the signal generator (SG) manufacturer and the user regarding the timing synchronization of signals between multiple channels (how far the responsibility extends to each party). Conventionally, it was common to consider the entire SG, up to its output terminal, as the "SG." The cable belonged to the user, and the user was responsible for investigating the cable delay and setting the offset.

[0061] In contrast, this invention redefines the "SG" (Splitting Edge) to include the far end of the cable selected and installed by the user. This allows the user to concentrate on the operation of their equipment without being aware of cable propagation delay. While some user-built equipment is constructed with all input terminals concentrated in one location from the design stage, it has been considered essential for the designer / builder (user) to investigate the cable delay within the equipment and set the offset. The same applies when the internal cables are changed.

[0062] In the present invention, the signal generation control device described above, together with the signal generation control system, acts as a "sender" device to control multi-channel input signals to user equipment, while the measuring device and measuring system act as "receiver" devices to measure multi-channel output signals from user equipment. Establishing synchronization of multi-channel input signals to user equipment on the "sender" side and establishing synchronization of multi-channel output signals from user equipment on the "receiver" side are closely related and important technologies for improving the accuracy of operation control and measurement control of user equipment. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in the order of signal generation control device, signal generation control system, measuring device, and measuring system.

[0063] (Signal generation and control device) First, an embodiment of the signal generation control device according to the present invention, which has both transmission delay measurement and transmission delay compensation functions to alleviate the aforementioned work, will be described in detail with reference to Figures 1 to 8.

[0064] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a signal generation control device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the signal generation unit 10 in Figure 1.

[0065] As shown in Figure 1, the signal generation control device 1 according to this embodiment is configured to include a signal generation unit 10, a control unit 30, an operation unit 51, and a display unit 52.

[0066] In the signal generation control device 1 according to this embodiment, the signal generation unit 10 supplies signals for multiple channels #1, ~, and #n (signals for operating the user device 70; hereinafter sometimes referred to as normal signals) to the user device 70, and is connected to the channel #1, ~, and #n via transmission cables 15-1, 15-2, ~, and 15-n (hereinafter sometimes referred to collectively as transmission cable 15). Each of the transmission cables 15 has a difference in length that is such that the transmission delay cannot be ignored.

[0067] User equipment 70 is a large device measuring several tens of meters in size, belonging to the automotive, aerospace, and antenna-related technology fields. Examples include automotive-mounted equipment, satellite equipment, receiving antenna equipment, and quantum computers. Due to the large size of user equipment 70, the cable lengths of the transmission cables 15 from the output terminals OUT#1, ~, #n of the signal generation unit 10 to the input terminals In#1, ~, In#n of each channel are often different.

[0068] In the signal generation control device 1 according to this embodiment, the signal generation unit 10 is configured to include a plurality of SGs (signal generators) 1, SG2, ~, SGn (hereinafter referred to as reference numerals 11-1, 11-2, ~, 11-n), an auxiliary SG 12, and a path switching unit 13, as shown in Figure 2.

[0069] SG11-1, 11-2, ~, 11-n are functional units that generate signals (normal signals) for each channel under the control of the multi-channel control unit 40a. Auxiliary SG12 is a functional unit that generates a delay measurement signal and corresponds to the auxiliary signal generator of the present invention. One of the signal generators that outputs a normal signal may be used as the auxiliary signal generator.

[0070] The path switching unit 13 is a functional unit that switches the signal path between SG11-1, 11-2, ~, 11-n, or auxiliary SG12 and transmission cables 15-1 to 15-n, depending on whether it is in normal operation mode, which supplies normal signals for each channel to user equipment 70 set in the signal generation control device 1 and monitors their operating status, or in delay measurement mode, which measures the transmission delay for each transmission cable 15-1 to 15-n. In normal operation mode, the path switching unit 13 is configured to switch to output the normal signals for each channel generated from SG11-1, 11-2, ~, 11-n to transmission cables 15-1 to 15-n, and in delay measurement mode, it is configured to output the delay measurement signals generated by auxiliary SG12 to transmission cables 15-1 to 15-n, and to allow the return delay measurement signals through these transmission cables 15-1 to 15-n to be taken into the delay measurement unit 40c. The path switching unit 13 has a transmission / reception separation function (see Figures 7 and 8) described later, which is responsible for switching the signal path between the auxiliary SG 12 and the transmission cables 15-1 to 15-n.

[0071] The control unit 30 is composed of a computer device such as a personal computer (PC). This computer device includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 40 that performs overall control to realize the control functions of the signal generation control device 1 (multi-channel control, operation measurement of user equipment 70, measurement of transmission delay, transmission delay compensation, etc.), a ROM (Read Only Memory) 41 that stores the OS (Operating System) and other programs and control parameters for starting up the CPU 40, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 42 that stores the execution code and data of the OS and applications used by the CPU 40, an external interface (I / F) unit 43 that has an input interface function for receiving predetermined signals and an output interface function for outputting predetermined signals, a non-volatile storage medium such as a hard disk drive (not shown), and various input / output ports.

[0072] The external I / F unit 43 is connected to the network 3. The control unit 30 can also connect to a control device such as a PC via the network 3 and cooperate to control the user device 70.

[0073] The computer device described above functions as a control unit 30 when the CPU 40 executes a program stored in the ROM 41 using the RAM 42 as a working area. The control unit 30 includes a multi-channel control unit 40a, a measurement control unit 40b, a delay measurement unit 40c, and a delay compensation control unit 40d. The multi-channel control unit 40a, the measurement control unit 40b, the delay measurement unit 40c, and the delay compensation control unit 40d are also realized when the CPU 40 executes a predetermined program stored in the ROM 41 using the working area of ​​the RAM 42.

[0074] The multi-channel control unit 40a generates multi-channel normal signals to be sent to the user equipment 70 and performs multi-channel control to send these normal signals to the user equipment 70 via transmission cables 15-1 to 15-n, respectively.

[0075] The delay measurement unit 40c is a functional unit that causes the auxiliary SG12 to send a delay measurement signal corresponding to each channel generated to the transmission cables 15-1 to 15-n for each channel, and then receives the delay measurement signals received from the transmission cables 15-1 to 15-n, analyzes the received delay measurement signals, and processes the measurement of the transmission delay in the transmission cables 15-1 to 15-n for each channel. The delay measurement unit 40c constitutes the transmission delay measurement means of the present invention.

[0076] The delay compensation control unit 40d is a functional unit that controls (offsets) the output timing of the normal signals for each channel at the SG11-1, 11-2, ~, 11-n of the signal generation unit 10 so that the normal signals for each channel are synchronized between the input terminals In#1, In#2, ~, In#n of each channel of the user equipment 70, based on the transmission delay for each transmission cable 15-1 to 15-n corresponding to each channel measured by the delay measurement unit 40c. The delay compensation control unit 40d constitutes the transmission delay compensation control means of the present invention.

[0077] The CPU 40, which implements the control functions of the multi-channel control unit 40a, measurement control unit 40b, delay measurement unit 40c, and delay compensation control unit 40d described above, is connected to an operation unit 51 and a display unit 52. The operation unit 51 is a functional unit for inputting various information such as commands related to the measurement of the user device 70 and the measurement of transmission delay, and the display unit 52 is a functional unit for displaying various information such as the input screen for the above-mentioned various information and measurement results (operating status of the user device 70, transmission delay of each channel, etc.).

[0078] The signal generation control device 1 having the above configuration can perform the supply control of normal signals (e.g., trigger signals, etc.) for each channel from the signal generation unit 10 to the user device 70 by the multi-channel control unit 40a. The mode in which the above-mentioned control of supplying normal signals to the user device 70 and the measurement control of the operating state of the user device 70 are performed shall be called, for example, the normal operation mode.

[0079] Furthermore, in the signal generation control device 1 according to this embodiment, it is possible to selectively set a delay measurement mode instead of the normal operation mode. In the delay measurement mode, the transmission delay for each transmission cable 15-1, ~, 15-n corresponding to each channel is measured using a delay measurement signal generated by the auxiliary SG12, and based on the measured transmission delay, transmission delay compensation control can be performed to ensure synchronization between the normal signals of each channel input to the input terminals In#1, In#2, ~, In#n of the user device 70.

[0080] Next, the delay compensation control operation of the signal generation control device 1 according to this embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in Figure 3. In Figure 3, we assume a case where the system switches from the normal operation mode to the delay measurement mode to perform transmission delay measurement.

[0081] In the signal generation control device 1 according to this embodiment, when operating in normal operation mode, the transmission lines for each channel, i.e., transmission cables 15-1, ~, 15-n, are connected to the input terminals In#1, In#2, ~, In#n of each channel of the user equipment 70 (step S1).

[0082] In order to use the transmission delay compensation function from this state, the user must switch the operating mode from normal operating mode to delay measurement mode (step S2).

[0083] Before setting the delay measurement mode, it is necessary to disconnect (disconnect) the respective input terminals In#1, In#2, ~, and In#n of the user equipment 70 at the far end of the transmission cables 15-1, 15-2, ~, and 15-n corresponding to each channel (before the signal generation unit 10 starts sending the transmission delay signal).

[0084] Furthermore, when performing delay measurement using the transmissive delay measurement method (see Figure 5), which is one of the transmissive delay measurement methods described later (see Figure 5), it is also necessary to connect the far ends of the transmission cables 15-1, 15-2, ~, 15-n one by one to the input terminals (Test Ports) of the signal generation unit 10 (see Figure 5).

[0085] In contrast, when performing delay measurement using the reflection-type delay measurement method, it is possible to measure the transmission delay by leaving the far end of the transmission cables 15-1, 15-2, ~, 15-n disconnected (open). When performing delay measurement using the reflection-type delay measurement method, there are other methods such as providing an auxiliary unit (AUX Unit) (see Figure 6), but these will be described in detail later.

[0086] After setting the delay measurement mode, in order to measure the transmission delay with the far ends of transmission cables 15-1, 15-2, ~, 15-n connected to or disconnected from the input terminal (Test Port) of the signal generation unit 10, the delay measurement unit 40c generates a delay measurement signal corresponding to channel #1 from the auxiliary SG 12 and controls this delay measurement signal to be sent to transmission cable 15-1 via the path switching unit 13 (step S3).

[0087] Subsequently, the delay measurement unit 40c receives the delay measurement signal sent directly from the far end of the transmission cable 15-1 (in the case of a through-type delay measurement method), or the delay measurement signal reflected and returned due to the opening of the far end (in the case of a reflective-type delay measurement method), either directly from the far end or via the path switching unit 13 (step S4).

[0088] Furthermore, the delay measurement unit 40c measures the transmission delay of the transmission cable 15-1 of channel #1 based on the time the delay measurement signal was transmitted and the time it was acquired (step S5), and stores the measurement result (transmission delay data showing the value of the transmission delay) in a storage unit (for example, RAM 42) in association with channel #1 (step S6).

[0089] Next, the delay measurement unit 40c checks whether the transmission delay measurement has been completed for all channels (step S7). This check can be performed by the user or automatically by a computer device.

[0090] If it is determined that the transmission delay measurement for all channels has not been completed (step S8), the delay measurement unit 40c proceeds to measure the transmission delay of the next channel (in this example, channel #2).

[0091] In this case, the delay measurement unit 40c generates a delay measurement signal corresponding to channel #2 from the auxiliary SG12 and controls it to send it to the transmission cable 15-2 via the path switching unit 13 (step S9).

[0092] The delay measurement unit 40c then performs the following processes: acquiring a delay measurement signal sent directly from the far end of the transmission cable 15-2 of channel #2, or a delay measurement signal reflected at the far end and sent back (step S4); measuring the transmission delay of the transmission cable 15-2 (step S5); and storing the measured transmission delay data in association with channel #2 (step S6).

[0093] Subsequently, as long as it is determined after step S7 that the transmission delay measurement for all channels has not been completed, the delay measurement unit 40c continues to measure the transmission delay for the next channels (in this example, channels #3, #4, ~, #n) in sequence.

[0094] During this time, if it is determined that the transmission delay measurement for all channels has been completed after step S7 (step S9), the system waits for the user to switch from delay measurement mode to normal operation mode. When switching to normal operation mode, it is necessary to restore the far ends of the transmission cables 15-1, 15-2, ~, 15-n corresponding to each channel, which were in a disconnected (open) state, to the respective input terminals In#1, In#2, ~, In#n of the user equipment 70.

[0095] Subsequently, if the setting is switched to normal operation mode, the delay compensation control unit 40d performs delay compensation control for each channel based on the transmission delay data stored in step S6 (step S12).

[0096] In delay compensation control, the delay compensation control unit 40d drives and controls each of the SG11-1, 11-2, ~, 11-n shown in Figure 2 of the signal generation unit 10, and controls the transmission timing of the normal signals of each channel (offset setting control) so that the transmission delay between each channel is eliminated, that is, so that synchronization of the normal signals (however, this applies to each signal that requires synchronization) is established at the input terminals In#1, In#2, ~, In#n corresponding to each channel of the user equipment 10.

[0097] A specific example is shown in Figure 4. As shown in Figure 4, in the signal generation control device 1 according to this embodiment, as an example of channels for which signal synchronization is established, the transmission delay time of each transmission cable 15-1, ~, 15-n is measured for each transmission path from each SG11-1, 11-2, ~, 11-n of the signal generation unit 10 to the input terminals In#1, In#2, ~, In#n of the user equipment 70, for channel #1 and channel #n (at least one of channels #1 to channel #n). In particular, Figure 4 illustrates that, for example, when the transmission delay of channel #1 is Dt#1 and the transmission delay of channel #n is Dt#n, the delay compensation control unit 40d controls the signal generation unit 10 to send the normal signal of channel #n at a time (timing) earlier (Dt#n - Dt#1). This establishes synchronization between the normal signal of channel #1 and the normal signal of channel #n (the relationship between signals that require synchronization) on the input side of the user equipment 70. Here, the transmission delay time of other channels was measured relative to channel #1, but it may also be performed using other channels as the reference.

[0098] Here, we will describe a delay measurement method applicable to both the transmissive and reflective delay measurement methods in steps S3 to S5 of Figure 3. The delay measurements performed in steps S3 to S5 of Figure 3 mainly include methods for measuring group delay from the frequency band and methods for measuring group delay in the time domain.

[0099] (Group delay measurement from frequency band) When a signal of frequency f is passed through a cable with propagation time τ (corresponding to transmission cables 15-1, 15-2, ~, 15-n), a phase delay of φ = 2πfτ occurs. If the phase change when this frequency is changed by Δf is Δφ, the propagation time can be calculated as τ = Δf / (2πΔφ). By using a VNA (Vector Network Analyzer) or a phase comparator such as a variable-frequency sinusoidal signal source and a quadrature detector, the phase change in response to the frequency change can be measured, and the propagation time (group delay) can be calculated from this.

[0100] The VNA has a reflection coefficient S 11 Some systems have a Time Domain Reflectmetry (TDR) function that calculates the time distribution of reflections by performing a Fourier transform of the complex reflectivity for each frequency. If the propagation speed in the transmission path is known, the spatial distribution of reflections, i.e., the distance to the reflection point, can be determined. This method can detect not only the distance to the reflection point of the cable, but also any mismatch points such as cable connection points.

[0101] In real-world large-scale user equipment (systems), cables are often used for extension. In such cases, the phase change with respect to frequency changes is not linear, making analysis methods like TDR desirable.

[0102] For example, if the bandwidth (sweep width) of the delay measurement signal is 1 GHz, a time difference of 1 ns (approximately 0.2 m cable length) will result in a phase difference of one rotation at both ends of the bandwidth. If a phase angle of 10° can be identified, a delay time of 0.03 ns can be detected. In the case of reflection measurement (round-trip delay measurement), the delay time resolution for a one-way normal signal will be half of this.

[0103] (Measurement of group delay in the time domain) The simplest method involves using a time interval counter (TIC). A pulse is output from the signal generator (SG), and the TIC starts counting on the rising edge of the pulse branching off immediately before the SG's output terminal, and stops counting on the rising edge of the pulse that has passed through the transmission cable. The propagation delay is obtained by multiplying the count increment by the count period.

[0104] Another method involves treating the signal as a pseudo-binary random sequence, such as an M-sequence, and taking the cross-correlation between the signal branched off immediately before the output terminal and the signal that has passed through the transmission cable. The propagation delay is determined by varying the (signal processing) delay applied to the signal branched off immediately before the output terminal, and finding the delay at which the correlation with the signal that has passed through the transmission cable is highest. This is a widely used concept for symbol synchronization in digital communications (CDMA).

[0105] Next, we will describe an embodiment of the mechanism related to the measurement of transmission delay in the delay measurement mode in steps S2 to S5 of Figure 3, and the transmission delay compensation control in step S12 (for convenience, this will be referred to as the transmission delay measurement / compensation unit).

[0106] In the signal generation control device 1 according to this embodiment, the signal generation unit 10, transmission cables 15-1, 15-2, ~, 15-n, delay measurement unit 40c, and delay compensation control unit 40d can be considered as a transmission delay measurement / compensation unit. The main embodiments of this embodiment are the following Embodiment 1 (see Figure 5) and Embodiment 2 (see Figure 6). Embodiment 1 is a representative example of a transmissive delay measurement method, and Embodiment 2 is a configuration example to which a reflective delay measurement method can be applied.

[0107] (Example 1) Figure 5 shows one embodiment (Embodiment 1) of the transmission delay measurement / compensation unit 60A based on a transparent delay measurement method of the signal generation control device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0108] As shown in Figure 5, the transmission delay measurement / compensation unit 60A according to Embodiment 1 has a structure in which the far ends of the transmission cables 15-1, ~, 15-n, corresponding to each channel connected to the output terminals Out#1, ~, Out#n of the signal generation unit 10, can be connected to the input terminals In#1, ~, In#n of each channel of the user equipment 70, and can also be connected to a test port provided on the signal generation unit 10. The test port functions as an input terminal for the delay measurement signal to be taken into the delay measurement unit 40c.

[0109] In the signal generation control device 1 equipped with the transmission delay measurement / compensation unit 60A having the above configuration, in delay measurement mode, the user manually brings the far end of each transmission cable 15-1, ~, 15-n to the signal generation unit 10 and connects them one by one to the test port of the signal generation unit 10 for operation. In Figure 5, the transmission cable 15-n, which is bent due to the above manual operation, is shown with a dotted line.

[0110] In this case, the delay measurement signals corresponding to channel #n output by the auxiliary SG12 (see step S3 in Figure 3) are transmitted via the transmission cable 15-n and directly input to the test port of the signal generation unit 10 (see step S4 in Figure 3).

[0111] As a result, the delay measurement unit 40c can measure the transmission delay of channel #n based on the delay measurement signal input from the test port (see steps S5 and S6 in Figure 3). Similarly, for the other channels #1, ~, and #(n-1), the transmission delay can be measured based on the delay measurement signals that are transmitted sequentially via the transmission cables 15-1, ~, and 15-(n-1) and directly input to the test port of the signal generation unit 10.

[0112] After returning to normal operation mode (see step S11 in Figure 3), the delay compensation control unit 40d drives and controls SG11-1 to SG11-n to start sending normal signals for each channel #1, ~, #n (each transmission cable 15-1, ~, 15-n) at timings that can compensate for their respective transmission delays, based on the transmission delay data for each channel #1, ~, #n (see step S6 in Figure 3) measured by the transparent delay measurement method after the above procedure (see step S12 in Figure 3).

[0113] According to the configuration of the transmission delay measurement / compensation unit 60A in Example 1, it is necessary to bring the far end of each transmission cable 15-1, ~, 15-n to the test port and perform delay measurement each time the cable is changed or the delay is checked. In some cases, this process can be mitigated by connecting an extension cable to the test port, which would require moving the far end of the target cable.

[0114] For transmission cables 15-1, ~, and 15-n, delay compensation is necessary for lengths up to several tens of meters, but compensation for their temperature characteristics is not required. For example, even a semi-rigid cable with good phase stability with respect to temperature at around room temperature has a sensitivity of about 10 ppm / °C. Since the delay due to a 20m cable is about 100ns, a temperature fluctuation of 10°C results in a delay time variation of about 0.01ns, which can be considered negligible.

[0115] In Example 1, the transmission cables 15-1, ~, and 15-n deform before and after the transmission delay measurement, so it is necessary to minimize the change in delay time due to this deformation. In recent years, high-quality coaxial cables with small phase changes due to bending, i.e., small changes in delay time, have become available, and it is preferable to use such cables in applications where high synchronization accuracy is required.

[0116] (Example 2) Figure 6 shows one embodiment (Embodiment 2) of the transmission delay measurement / compensation unit 60B based on a reflection-type delay measurement method of the signal generation control device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 6, SG11-1, 11-2, ~, 11-n, and auxiliary SG12 in the configuration shown in Figure 1 are represented as SG#1, SG#2, ~, SG#n, and AUX SG, respectively.

[0117] In the transmission delay measurement / compensation unit 60B according to Embodiment 2, auxiliary units 16-1, ~, 16-n for delay measurement are connected between the far ends of transmission cables 15-1, ~, 15-n corresponding to each channel connected to the output terminals Out#1, ~, Out#n of the signal generation unit 10 and the input terminals In#1, ~, In#n corresponding to each channel of the user equipment 70. The auxiliary units 16-1, ~, 16-n are detachably provided between the far ends of the transmission cables 15-1, ~, 15-n and the input terminals In#1, ~, In#n of the user equipment 70 (so that they can be selected between connected and disconnected states).

[0118] Auxiliary units 16-1, ~, and 16-n have a filtering function that allows normal signals from SG11-1, 11-2, ~, and 11-n to pass through, while reflecting the delay measurement signal from auxiliary SG12. For example, auxiliary units 16-1, ~, and 16-n are composed of low-pass filters (LPFs) that allow normal signals from channels #1, ~, and #n in the DC to 15GHz band to pass through, while blocking (reflecting) the delay measurement signal in the 16 to 18GHz band. Note that auxiliary units 16-1, ~, and 16-n are not limited to LPFs; other filter structures such as band-pass filters (BPFs) may be used as long as they have the function of allowing normal signals from SG11-1, 11-2, ~, and 11-n to pass through and blocking (reflecting) the passage of the delay measurement signal.

[0119] In the signal generation control device 1 equipped with the above-described transmission delay measurement / compensation unit 60B, in delay measurement mode, the delay measurement signals for each channel sent out by the auxiliary SG12 are reflected by the auxiliary units 16-1, ~, 16-n, and transmitted (returned) through the transmission cables 15-1, ~, 15-n to the output terminals Out#1, ~, Out#n of the signal generation unit 10, and further input to the delay measurement unit 40c via the path switching unit 13 (see step S4 in Figure 3). As a result, the delay measurement unit 40c can measure the transmission delay for each channel #1, ~, #n based on the delay measurement signals (reflected signals) input from the path switching unit 13 (see steps S5 and S6 in Figure 3).

[0120] After returning to normal operation mode (see step S11 in Figure 3), the delay compensation control unit 40d drives and controls SG11-1 to SG11-n to start sending normal signals for each channel #1, ~, #n (each transmission cable 15-1, ~, 15-n) at timings that can compensate for their respective transmission delays, based on the transmission delay data for each channel #1, ~, #n (see step S6 in Figure 3) measured by the reflection-type delay measurement method after the above procedure (see step S12 in Figure 3).

[0121] According to the signal generation control device 1 employing the transmission delay measurement / compensation unit 60B of Embodiment 2, a series of delay measurements targeting each channel #1, ~, #n (transmission cables 15-1, ~, 15-n) can be performed with, for example, a single start command operation by the user while remaining connected to the user equipment 70.

[0122] Depending on the type of user equipment 70, for example, in cases where it is not possible to remove the cable inside the refrigerator, such as in a superconducting quantum computer, and where measuring the propagation delay at room temperature does not reflect the operating state, the configuration of the transmission delay measurement / compensation unit 60 according to Embodiment 2, which can be handled while remaining connected, is extremely useful.

[0123] In Example 2, when auxiliary units 16-1, ~, 16-n are configured with an LPF, high frequencies exceeding the cutoff frequency of the LPF of the normal signal supplied from SG12-1, ~, 12-n are sacrificed. However, even trigger pulses used in high-speed sequence control often have rise times of 1 ns or more, and the majority of their power (spectrum) is below approximately 10 GHz. Coaxial tables that transmit signals from DC to 18 GHz are widely available commercially, and for example, a normal signal can be transmitted at DC to 15 GHz, and the 16 GHz to 18 GHz portion can be reflected by the LPF and used for delay measurement. With this configuration, most of the spectrum of the normal signal is transmitted without reflection. LPF design methods are widely known, and as a microstrip circuit, it can be realized by a structure in which stubs are arranged at equal intervals or by a step impedance structure.

[0124] (Variation 1) As a modification of the transmission delay measurement / compensation unit 60 of the reflection-type delay measurement method according to Embodiment 2, a configuration is also conceivable in which a switchable auxiliary unit capable of switching between signal passage and short-circuiting using a switch is employed as the auxiliary unit 16-1, ~, 16-n. With the transmission delay measurement / compensation unit 60 equipped with the switchable auxiliary unit that opens the transmission path (transmission cables 15-1, ~, 15-n) when passing normal signals for each channel and short-circuits the transmission path when passing the delay measurement signal, a control line of about the same length as the transmission cables 15-1, ~, 15-n is required, but the entire transmission bandwidth of the transmission cables 15-1, ~, 15-n can be used.

[0125] (Other variations) Another approach is to use a low-coupling directional coupler (with a structure that allows DC to pass only through the main line) with a coupling degree of 20 dB or more. In this case, it will normally cause signal degradation, so measures to avoid this will be necessary. Another method is to use active elements such as isolation amplifiers. In this case, the configuration of the auxiliary unit will be more flexible, but a power supply will be required (it does not need to be supplied from the signal generator).

[0126] In addition, regarding the reflection-type delay measurement method, there is also a method in which the auxiliary unit 16 (16-1, ~, 16-n) is not used, and the measurement is performed simply by manually disconnecting the far end of the transmission cable 15 (15-1, ~, 15-n) from the input terminals In1, ~, In#n of the user equipment 70. With this method, the transmission delay is measured by receiving the delay measurement signal (reflected wave) reflected at the far end that is opened by disconnecting it.

[0127] Another method involves attaching a short-circuiting element, such as a resistor, to the far end of the transmission cable 15, and receiving the reflected wave at the far end that has been short-circuited by the short-circuiting element to measure the round-trip transmission delay.

[0128] In the reflection-type delay measurement method, during delay measurement, the output (transmission) from SG11-1, 11-2, ~, 11-n and the input to SG11-1, 11-2, ~, 11-n (reception of reflected waves) are performed on the same terminal. Therefore, proper separation of the transmitted and received signals (transmitted waves and reflected waves) is required. The method for separating transmitted and received signals (see Figures 7 and 8) will be described in detail later.

[0129] In Example 2 (see Figure 6), the configuration includes separate SG11-1, 11-2, ~, 11-n outputs for normal signals and an auxiliary SG12 outputs for delay measurement signals. However, the auxiliary SG12 may be omitted, and instead, a configuration may be provided that has the function of outputting at least one of SG11-1, 11-2, ~, 11-n for delay measurement signals.

[0130] In Example 2 (see Figure 6), it is assumed that delay measurements are taken by switching one channel at a time from time to time when connecting SG11-1, 11-2, ~, 11-n to the user equipment 70, and the normal signal is not transmitted during delay measurement. When using LPFs as auxiliary units 16-1, ~, 16-n, that is, when the normal signal and the delay measurement signal are separated by frequency, the delay measurement signal may be superimposed on the normal signal and output, and a configuration may be made that allows delay measurement and delay compensation to be performed simultaneously with normal operation. In this case, in order to perform delay measurement and delay compensation for multiple channels simultaneously, the delay measurement unit 40c must be configured to have as many delay measurement units as there are channels.

[0131] Next, the signal transmission and reception separation function for delay measurement signals in the signal generation control device 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 7 and 8.

[0132] For example, in the configuration of a transmission line (transmission cables 15-1, ~, 15-n) that corresponds to delay measurement in a reflective delay transmission method as shown in Figure 6, it is necessary to appropriately separate the output signals (transmit signals: TX) from SG11-1, 11-2, ~, 11-n that constitute the signal generation unit 10 from the reflected input signals (received signals: RX). There are mainly two methods for handling these transmitted and received signals.

[0133] One method involves using a circulator. In the signal generation control device 1 according to the above embodiment, one form of the transmit / receive separation function of the path switching unit 13 (see Figure 2) is to employ a transmit / receive separation unit 13A that uses a circulator 80, as shown in Figure 7. Many commercially available microwave circulators have a bandwidth of about 15%. If the bandwidth of the delay measurement signal is 15% or less, such as when using an LPF as an auxiliary unit 16-1, ~, 16n, then using a circulator 80, as in this example, allows for a simpler structure.

[0134] When using a wider bandwidth delay measurement signal, a second method can be employed, similar to a VNA (Vector Network Analyzer), such as the transmit / receive separation unit 13B shown in Figure 8. The transmit / receive separation unit 13B transmits the output signal from the signal source 81 through a resistor distributor 82 and a hybrid coupler (directional coupler) 83 on the transmission path (up to the far end of the DUT of the BNA in Figure 8), and reflected waves can be captured via the hybrid coupler 83. In the signal generation control device 1 according to the above embodiment, by employing the transmit / receive separation unit 13B as one form of the transmit / receive separation function in the path switching unit 13 (see Figure 2), an appropriate transmit / receive separation function for the transmitted signal and the received signal can be realized.

[0135] Alternatively, if frequency sweeping is to be performed, one could consider dividing the bandwidth and switching between corresponding circulators.

[0136] The embodiments, examples, and modifications described above are merely examples, and the present invention can be implemented in various other embodiments, modifications, and applications.

[0137] For example, in the above embodiment, we have described the synchronization of signals supplied from the signal generator (SG). A typical example where synchronization is a problem is the trigger input of sequence control. Therefore, a typical example of a device to which the delay measurement and delay compensation control according to the present invention is applied is a programmable logic controller (PLC). There is also the application of providing various waveform inputs from the SG to the user equipment 70 and observing the response (signal generation control device according to the above embodiment (see Figure 1)), but it can be inferred that its application as a PLC is the most valuable.

[0138] Furthermore, while the above embodiment described delay measurement and delay compensation assuming an electrical cable (coaxial cable) as the transmission path, the delay measurement and delay compensation control according to the present invention can also be applied to other types of transmission paths. In recent years, the transmission of analog signals using optical fibers has also become widespread. In addition, depending on the movement conditions of the user equipment 70, wireless transmission via an antenna may be preferable. In the optical transmission and wireless transmission described above, the equipment and method of the interface (electrical / optical, or electrical / antenna conversion) including the auxiliary unit for delay measurement (see reference numerals 16-1, ~, 16-n in Figure 6) will change, but the basic concept of delay measurement will remain the same.

[0139] Furthermore, while the above embodiment has described an application example assuming that the delay time is static, wireless transmission is used for multi-channel sequence control of the user device 70, and the delay time to multiple input terminals may be dynamic.

[0140] For example, when precisely controlling multiple drones in flight, synchronization is necessary, and there are cases where synchronization is difficult. In such cases, possible methods include sending a synchronization signal from high above the test site, loading each drone with pre-synchronized, accurate clocks and sequence data, or performing sequence control while constantly measuring and compensating for delays. However, as described in the above embodiment, this can be addressed by pre-synchronization, and constant compensation is not necessary.

[0141] As described above, the signal generation control device 1 according to this embodiment comprises: a signal generation unit 10 that inputs signals from multiple channels #1 to #n to the input terminals In#1 to In#n of each channel of the user device 70 and has multiple SG11-1, 11-2, ~, 11-n that generate signals for each channel; a transmission delay measurement unit 40b that measures the transmission delay for each of the multiple transmission tables 15-1 to 15-n connected between the output terminals Out#1 to Out#n of each channel of the signal generation unit 10 and the input terminals In#1 to In#n of each channel of the user device 70; and a transmission delay compensation control unit 40c that offsets the output timing of the signals for each channel at the multiple SG11-1, 11-2, ~, 11-n so that the signals of each channel are synchronized between the input terminals In#1 to In#n of each channel of the user device 70 according to the transmission delay for each of the transmission tables 15-1 to 15-n.

[0142] With this configuration, the signal generation control device 1 according to this embodiment can reliably compensate for signal synchronization at the input terminal of the user device 70, eliminating the need for the user to be aware of the transmission path length, and improving the accuracy of operation control and measurement control of the user device 70.

[0143] Furthermore, the signal generation control device 1 according to this embodiment further includes an auxiliary SG12 that generates a delay measurement signal, and the delay measurement unit 40c is configured to measure the transmission delay for each transmission cable 15-1, 15-2, ~, 15-n by either a through-type delay measurement method based on a delay measurement signal for each channel transmitted to the far end through the transmission cables 15-1, 15-2, ~, 15-n for each channel, or a reflective-type delay measurement method based on a delay measurement signal for each channel that is reflected at the far end of the transmission cables 15-1, 15-2, ~, 15-n for each channel and transmitted back.

[0144] With this configuration, the signal generation control device 1 according to this embodiment can easily measure the transmission delay for each transmission cable 15-1, 15-2, ~, 15-n by applying either a through-type delay measurement method or a reflective delay measurement method, and can smoothly carry out the operation control and measurement control of the user equipment 70.

[0145] Furthermore, the signal generation control device 1 according to this embodiment is configured to measure the transmission delay for each transmission cable 15-1, 15-2, ~, 15-n by applying a transparent delay measurement method, and is equipped with an input terminal (Test Port) at the input terminal of the delay measurement signal of the delay measurement unit 40c to which the far ends of the transmission cables 15-1, 15-2, ~, 15-n for each channel can be connected.

[0146] With this configuration, the signal generation control device 1 according to this embodiment can easily measure the transmission delay for each transmission cable 15-1, 15-2, ~, 15-n by simply connecting the far end of each channel's transmission cable 15-1, 15-2, ~, 15-n to the input terminal and passing the signal for each channel through the transmission cables 15-1, 15-2, ~, 15-n.

[0147] Furthermore, the signal generation control device 1 according to this embodiment has a configuration in which auxiliary units 16-1, 16-2, ~, 16-n are provided at the far end of each channel's transmission cable 15-1, 15-2, ~, 15-n to reflect the delay measurement signal after passing the signal for each channel through, in order to measure the transmission delay for each transmission cable 15-1, 15-2, ~, 15-n by applying a reflective delay measurement method.

[0148] With this configuration, the signal generation control device 1 according to this embodiment can automatically perform a series of operational operations without requiring manual operation by the user, including measuring the transmission delay for each transmission cable 15-1, 15-2, ~, 15-n, performing transmission delay compensation control based on the measurement results, and measuring the user equipment 70 by transmitting the signals of each channel through the transmission path.

[0149] Furthermore, in the signal generation control device 1 according to this embodiment, auxiliary units 16-1, 16-2, ~, 16-n are composed of filters that allow signals from each channel in the DC to 15 GHz band to pass through and reflect the bandwidth of the delay measurement signal in the 16 to 18 GHz band.

[0150] With this configuration, the signal generation control device 1 according to this embodiment can be configured with a simple structure using filters to form auxiliary units 16-1, 16-2, ~, 16-n, and the structure of the signal generation control device 1 having an automatic transmission delay compensation function and auxiliary units 16-1, 16-2, ~, 16-n can be simplified.

[0151] Furthermore, in the signal generation control device 1 according to this embodiment, the auxiliary units 16-1, 16-2, ~, 16-n are configured using switches that open the transmission cables 15-1, 15-2, ~, 15-n (transmission lines) when passing signals for each channel, and short-circuit the transmission lines when passing signals for delay measurement.

[0152] With this configuration, the signal generation control device 1 according to this embodiment can implement auxiliary units 16-1, 16-2, ~, 16-n with a simple structure using a switch that can switch between open and short circuits, and the signal generation control device 1 having an automatic transmission delay compensation function and auxiliary units 16-1, 16-2, ~, 16-n can be simplified.

[0153] Furthermore, the signal generation control device 1 according to this embodiment has a configuration that disconnects the connections to the input terminals In#1, In#2, ~, In#n of the user equipment 70 at the far end of the transmission path (transmission cables 15-1, 15-2, ~, 15-n) of each channel in order to measure the transmission delay for each transmission cable 15-1, 15-2, ~, 15-n by applying a reflection-type delay measurement method.

[0154] With this configuration, the signal generation control device 1 according to this embodiment can measure the transmission delay for each transmission line by simply manually disconnecting the connection at the far end of the transmission line, thereby reducing the workload for transmission delay compensation control.

[0155] (Signal generation control system) Next, the signal generation control system will be described. Figure 9 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a signal generation control system 5 according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 9, the signal generation control system 5 according to this embodiment has a signal generating device 10A and a control device 30A.

[0156] Here, the signal generator 10A has the same functional configuration as the signal generator 10 shown in Figure 1, and as shown in Figure 2, it is configured to include a plurality of SG11-1, SG11-2, ~, SG11-n, an auxiliary SG12, and a path switching unit 13.

[0157] The control device 30A has the same functional configuration as the control unit 30 shown in Figure 1, and the CPU 40 executes the respective programs to realize the functions of the multi-channel control unit 40aA, the delay measurement unit 40bA, and the delay compensation control unit 40cA.

[0158] In short, the signal generation control system 5 according to this embodiment is a system that inputs signals from multiple channels #1 to #n to the input terminals In#1 to In#n of each channel #1 to #n of the user device 70, and comprises a signal generator 10A having multiple SG11-1, 11-2, ~, 11-n that each generate signals from each channel #1 to #n, and multiple SG11-1 to Out#n of each channel #1 to #n of the signal generator 10A and input terminals In#1 to In#n of each channel #1 to #n of the user device 70, respectively. The system comprises a transmission delay measurement unit 40aA that measures the transmission delay for each transmission cable 15-1 to 15-n, and a control device 30A that offsets the output timing of the signals for each channel #1 to #n in a plurality of SG11-1, 11-2, ~, 11-n so that the signals for each channel #1 to #n are synchronized between the input terminals In#1 to In#n of each channel #1 to #n of the user equipment 70 according to the transmission delay for each transmission cable 15-1 to 15-n, and a control device 30A having a transmission delay compensation control unit 40cA that offsets the output timing of the signals for each channel #1 to #n in a plurality of SG11-1, 11-2, ~, 11-n.

[0159] With this configuration, the signal generation control system 5 according to this embodiment reliably compensates for the synchronization of the signals of channels #1 to #n at the input terminal of the user device 70, thereby improving the accuracy of operation control and measurement control of the user device 70.

[0160] (Regarding other embodiments) In the embodiments described above (shown in Figures 1 to 8), the configuration and operation of the sending device (signal generation control device 1) in which the signal generation unit 10 is located on the input terminals In#1 to In#n of the user device 70 have been described. On the other hand, as described with reference to Figure 16, the present invention can also be applied to a receiving device, i.e., a measuring device 1A, in which the waveform recording unit 90 is located on the output Mout#1 to Mout#n of the user device 70.

[0161] Hereinafter, a measuring device 1A according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 10 to 14.

[0162] Figure 10 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of measuring device 1A according to another embodiment of the present invention. In measuring device 1A according to another embodiment shown in Figure 10, the same reference numerals are used to denote parts that perform the same functions as parts of measuring device 1 according to the above embodiment shown in Figure 1.

[0163] Another embodiment of the measuring device 1A outputs waveforms of multiple channels #1 to #n from the output terminals Mout#1 to Mout#n of each channel of the user device 70, and measures the operating status of the user device 70 based on the output waveforms. The device comprises a waveform recording unit 90, transmission cables 18-1, 18-2, ~, 18-n connected between the input terminals Min#1 to Min#n of each channel of the waveform recording unit 90 and the output terminals Mout#1 to Mout#n of each channel of the user device 70, a control unit 30B, an operation unit 51, and an operation unit 52.

[0164] In the measuring device 1A, the control unit 30B, the operation unit 51, and the operation unit 52 are equivalent to the control unit 30, the operation unit 51, and the operation unit 52 in the above embodiment. However, in the control unit 30B, the multi-channel control unit 40aB, the delay measurement unit 40bB, and the delay compensation control unit 40cB each process delay measurement signals, transmission delay measurement, and delay compensation control for the transmission cables 18-1, 18-2, ~, 18-n between the output terminals Mout#1~Mout#n of the user equipment 70 and the input terminals Min#1~Min#n of the waveform recording unit 90, respectively. Thus, the processing targets differ from the multi-channel control unit 40a, the delay measurement unit 40b, and the delay compensation control unit 40c of the control unit 30 in the above embodiment.

[0165] In the measuring device 1A according to another embodiment, the waveform recording unit 90 has a plurality of waveform recorders 91 that each receive signals (waveforms) output from the output terminals Mout#1 to Mout#n of each channel of the user equipment 70. The waveform recording unit 90 also has an auxiliary SG95, which corresponds to the auxiliary SG12 in Figure 2. The auxiliary SG95 may be located outside the waveform recording unit 90. The auxiliary SG95 constitutes the auxiliary signal generator of the present invention.

[0166] A measuring device 1A according to another embodiment having the above configuration has the function of a receiving device as described with reference to Figure 16, and the multi-channel control unit 40aB performs multi-channel control, for example, by driving and controlling the auxiliary SG95 and sending delay measurement signals from input terminals Min#1 to Min#n to transmission cables 18-1, 18-2, ~, 18-n, respectively.

[0167] The delay measurement unit 40bB measures the transmission delay of each channel based on the delay measurement signals that are reflected back from the opposite end of the transmission cables 18-1, 18-2, ~, and 18-n.

[0168] The delay compensation control unit 40cB performs transmission delay compensation control by offsetting the output timing of the signals for each channel in the multiple waveform recorders 91 so that the signals are synchronized between the output terminals Mout#1 to Mout#n of each channel of the user equipment 70, according to the transmission delay of each channel detected by the delay measurement unit 40bB.

[0169] Furthermore, the delay compensation control operation in the measuring device 1A according to other embodiments can be realized by replacing "connecting the transmission path of each channel to the input terminal of the user device" in step S1 of the flowchart shown in Figure 3 with "connecting the transmission path of each channel to the output terminal of the user device," and by replacing "transmitting the delay measurement signal via the transmission path of channel #1" in step S3 with "transmitting the delay measurement signal via the transmission path of channel #1, with the auxiliary SG as the source." In addition, for the explanation of the delay compensation control operation based on the flowchart shown in Figure 3, it is necessary to replace the delay measurement unit 40b and the delay compensation control unit 40c with the delay measurement unit 40bB and the delay compensation control unit 40cB, respectively.

[0170] Here, the transmission delay compensation control function (offset setting control) based on the transmission delay compensation control of the measuring device 1A will be explained with reference to Figure 11. Under the operating environment of the measuring device 1A shown in Figure 10, if a transmission delay occurs between channels due to, for example, the cable length of transmission cables 18-1, 18-2, ~, 18-n, a timing difference will appear between the signals of each channel as shown in Figure 11(a) and (b).

[0171] Figure 11 clearly shows the difference between channel #1 (Figure 11(a)) and channel #n (Figure 11(b)). When such a difference exists between channel #1 and channel #n, the delay compensation control unit 40cB corrects (offsets) within the waveform recording unit 91 by synchronizing the timing of input terminals Min#1 and Min#n of the waveform recorder 91, thereby synchronizing the input timing and making it possible to obtain the expected waveform recording result.

[0172] In this measuring device 1A, the delay measuring unit 40bB determines a reference input and measures the difference from that reference as the delay amount using the following formula. Transmission delay: Dt#x(x=1-n) On the other hand, the delay compensation control unit 40cB offsets the timing of the signals for each channel in the waveform recorder 91 so that the delay amount is eliminated on the waveform recorder 91 side. As a result, the waveform recorder 91 can receive both at synchronized timings, making it possible to obtain the expected waveform recording results.

[0173] In a configuration where the waveform recording unit 90 does not have an auxiliary SG 95 (see Figure 16(a)), it is also possible to generate a signal from the auxiliary SG of the user device 70 and measure the propagation delay of the transmission cables 18-1, ~, 18-n connecting the output terminal of the auxiliary SG and the input terminal of the waveform recording device 90. In this case, the user device 70 has the function of an auxiliary SG and is controlled to generate a signal from the control device to the auxiliary SG.

[0174] As described above, the measuring device 1A according to the other embodiment comprises a waveform recording unit 90 having a plurality of waveform recorders 91 that each receive the waveform of each channel; a transmission delay measuring unit 40bB that measures the transmission delay for each of the plurality of transmission cables 18-1 to 18-n connected between the output terminals Mout#1 to Mout#n of each channel of the user device 70 and the input terminals Min#1 to Min#n of each channel of the waveform recording unit 90; and a transmission delay compensation control unit 40cB that offsets the output timing of the signals of each channel in the plurality of waveform recorders 91 so that the signals of each channel are synchronized between the output terminals Mout#1 to Mout#n of each channel of the user device 70 according to the transmission delay of each of the transmission cables 18-1 to 18-n.

[0175] This configuration allows the measuring device 1A according to other embodiments to reliably compensate for the synchronization of signals on each channel at the output terminal of the user device 70, thereby improving the accuracy of operation control and measurement control of the user device 70.

[0176] Next, Figure 12 shows an embodiment of the transmission delay measurement / compensation unit 61A based on the through-type delay measurement method of the measuring device 1A according to another embodiment. The transmission delay measurement / compensation unit 61A has a receiving configuration in contrast to the case where the transmission delay measurement / compensation unit 60A based on the through-type delay measurement method of the signal generation control device 1 according to the above embodiment shown in Figure 5 is configured as the sending side.

[0177] As shown in Figure 12, the transmission delay measurement / compensation unit 61A has a structure in which the far ends of the transmission cables 18-1, ~, 18-n, corresponding to each channel connected to the input terminals Min#1, ~, Min#n of the waveform recording unit 90, can be connected to the output terminals Mout#1, ~, Mout#n of each channel of the user equipment 70, and can also be connected to a test port (Test Port; corresponding to Test In shown in Figure 12) provided on the waveform recording unit 90. The test port (Test In) functions as an input terminal for the delay measurement signal to be taken into the delay measurement unit 40bB.

[0178] In the measurement device 1A having the above-described transmission delay measurement / compensation unit 61A, in delay measurement mode, the user manually brings the far end of each transmission cable 18-1, ~, 18-n to the waveform recording unit 90 and connects them one by one to the test port (Test In) of the waveform recording unit 90 for operation. In Figure 12, the transmission cable 18-n, which is bent due to the above manual operation, is shown with a dotted line.

[0179] In this case, the delay measurement signals corresponding to channel #n output by the auxiliary SG95 are transmitted via transmission cable 18-n and directly input to the test port (Test In) of the waveform recording unit 90.

[0180] As a result, the delay measurement unit 40cB can measure the transmission delay of channel #n based on the delay measurement signal input from the test port (Test In). Similarly, for the other channels #1, ~, and #(n-1), the transmission delay can be measured based on the delay measurement signals transmitted sequentially via the transmission cables 18-1, ~, and 18-(n-1) and directly input to the test port (Test In) of the waveform recording unit 90.

[0181] After returning to normal operation mode, the delay compensation control unit 40cB starts sending normal signals for each channel #1, ~, #n (each transmission cable 18-1, ~, 18-n) at a timing that can compensate for the respective transmission delays, based on the transmission delay data for each channel #1, ~, #n (each transmission cable 18-1, ~, 18-n) measured by the transparent delay measurement method after the above procedure.

[0182] According to the measuring device 1A employing this transmission delay measurement / compensation unit 61B, a series of delay measurements targeting each channel #1, ~, #n (transmission cables 18-1, ~, 18-n) can be performed with, for example, a single start command operation by the user while remaining connected to the user equipment 70.

[0183] Next, Figure 13 shows an embodiment of the transmission delay measurement / compensation unit 61B based on the reflection-type delay measurement method of the measuring device 1A according to another embodiment. The transmission delay measurement / compensation unit 61B has a configuration as the receiving side when the transmission delay measurement / compensation unit 60B based on the transmission-type delay measurement method of the signal generation control device 1 according to the above embodiment shown in Figure 6 is configured as the sending side.

[0184] As shown in Figure 13, the transmission delay measurement / compensation unit 61B has auxiliary units 16-1, ~, 16-n for delay measurement connected between the far ends of the transmission cables 18-1, ~, 18-n corresponding to each channel connected to the input terminals Min#1, ~, Min#n of the waveform recording unit 90 and the output terminals Mout#1, ~, Mout#n corresponding to each channel of the user equipment 70. The auxiliary units 16-1, ~, 16-n are detachably provided between the far ends of the transmission cables 18-1, ~, 18-n and the output terminals Mout#1, ~, Mout#n of the user equipment 70 (so that they can be selected between connected and disconnected states).

[0185] Auxiliary units 16-1, ~, and 16-n have a filtering function that allows normal signals from auxiliary SG95 to pass through while reflecting delay measurement signals from auxiliary SG95. For example, auxiliary units 16-1, ~, and 16-n are composed of low-pass filters (LPFs) that allow normal signals from channels #1, ~, and #n in the DC to 15GHz band to pass through, while blocking (reflecting) delay measurement signals in the 16 to 18GHz band. Note that auxiliary units 16-1, ~, and 16-n are not limited to LPFs; other filter structures such as band-pass filters (BPFs) may be used as long as they have the function of allowing normal signals from SG11-1, 11-2, ~, and 11-n to pass through, while blocking (reflecting) the passage of delay measurement signals.

[0186] In the measurement device 1A, which includes a transmission delay measurement / compensation unit 61B having the above configuration, in delay measurement mode, the delay measurement signals for each channel sent out by the auxiliary SG95 are reflected by auxiliary units 16-1, ~, 16-n, and transmitted (returned) through transmission cables 18-1, ~, 18-n to the input terminals Min#1, ~, Min#n of the waveform recording unit 90, and further input to the delay measurement unit 40bB via the path switching unit 13C. As a result, the delay measurement unit 40bB can measure the transmission delay for each channel #1, ~, #n based on the delay measurement signals (reflected signals) input from the path switching unit 13C.

[0187] After returning to normal operation mode, the delay compensation control unit 40cB starts sending normal signals for each channel #1, ~, #n (each transmission cable 18-1, ~, 18-n) at a timing that can compensate for the respective transmission delays, based on the transmission delay data for each channel #1, ~, #n (each transmission cable 18-1, ~, 18-n) measured by the reflection-type delay measurement method after the above procedure.

[0188] With this configuration of the transmission delay measurement / compensation unit 61B, delay measurement can be easily performed by capturing a delay measurement signal that is directly input to the test port (Test In) of the waveform recording unit 90 at the far end of the transmission cable 18-1.

[0189] As described above, the measuring device 1A according to the other embodiment measures the signals (waveforms) of multiple channels #1 to #n that are output from the output terminals Mout#1 to Mout#n of each channel of the user device 70, and comprises a waveform recording unit 90 having multiple waveform recorders 91 that receive and record the signals (or signal waveforms) of each channel; a transmission delay measuring unit 40bB that measures the transmission delay for each of the multiple transmission cables 18-1 to 18-n connected between the output terminals Mout#1 to Mout#n of each channel of the user device 70 and the input terminals Min#1 to #n of each channel of the waveform recording unit 90; and a transmission delay compensation control unit 40cB that offsets the output timing of the signals of each channel in the multiple waveform recorders 91 so that the signals of each channel are synchronized between the output terminals Mout#1 to Mout#n of each channel of the user device 70, according to the transmission delay of each transmission cable 18-1 to 18-n.

[0190] With this configuration, the measuring device 1A according to other embodiments can reliably compensate for signal synchronization at the output terminal of the user device 70, eliminating the need for the user to be aware of the transmission path length (transmission cables 18-1 to 18-n), and improving the accuracy of operation control and measurement control of the user device 70.

[0191] Furthermore, the measuring device 1A according to another embodiment further includes an auxiliary SG95 that generates a delay measurement signal, and the transmission delay measurement unit 40bB is configured to measure the transmission delay for each transmission cable 18-1 to 18-n by either a through-type delay measurement method based on a channel-specific delay measurement signal transmitted to the far end through the transmission cables 18-1 to 18-n of each channel, or a reflective-type delay measurement method based on a channel-specific delay measurement signal that is reflected at the far end of the transmission cables 18-1 to 18-n of each channel and transmitted back through the transmission cables 18-1 to 18-n.

[0192] With this configuration, the measuring device 1A according to other embodiments can easily measure the transmission delay for each transmission line (transmission cables 18-1 to 18-n) by applying either a through-type delay measurement method or a reflective delay measurement method, and the operation control and measurement control of the user equipment 70 can be carried out smoothly.

[0193] Furthermore, in another embodiment, the measuring device 1A is configured to measure the transmission delay for each transmission cable 18-1 to 18-n by applying a through-type delay measurement method, and is equipped with an input terminal (Test Port) at the input terminal of the delay measurement signal of the transmission delay measurement unit 40bB to which the far ends of the transmission cables 18-1 to 18-n for each channel can be connected.

[0194] With this configuration, the measuring device 1A according to other embodiments can easily measure the transmission delay for each transmission line by simply connecting the far end of the transmission line for each channel to the input terminal and passing the signals for each channel through the transmission cables 18-1 to 18-n.

[0195] Furthermore, in another embodiment of the measuring device 1A, in order to measure the transmission delay for each transmission cable 18-1 to 18-n by applying a reflective delay measurement method, auxiliary units 16-1, 16-2, ~, 16-n are provided at the far end of each channel's transmission cable 18-1 to 18-n to allow the signal for each channel to pass through and reflect the delay measurement signal.

[0196] With this configuration, the measuring device 1A according to other embodiments can automatically perform a series of operational operations without requiring manual operation by the user, including measuring the transmission delay for each transmission cable 18-1 to 18-n, performing transmission delay compensation control based on the measurement results, and measuring the user equipment 70 by transmitting the signals of each channel through the transmission cables 18-1 to 18-n.

[0197] Furthermore, in the measuring device 1A according to another embodiment, the auxiliary units 16-1, 16-2, ~, 16-n may be composed of filters that allow signals from each channel in the DC~15GHz band to pass through and reflect the bandwidth of the delay measurement signal in the 16~18GHz band.

[0198] This configuration allows the measuring device 1A according to other embodiments to be configured with auxiliary units 16-1, 16-2, ~, 16-n using a simple structure with filters, and simplifies the structure of the measuring device 1A having an automatic transmission delay compensation function and auxiliary units 16-1, 16-2, ~, 16-n.

[0199] Furthermore, in the measuring device 1A according to another embodiment, the auxiliary units 16-1, 16-2, ~, 16-n may be configured using switches that open the transmission cables 18-1~18-n when passing the signals of each channel, and short-circuit the transmission cables 18-1~18-n when passing the delay measurement signal.

[0200] This configuration allows the measuring device 1A according to other embodiments to implement auxiliary units 16-1, 16-2, ~, 16-n with a simple structure using a switch that can be switched between open and short circuits, and simplifies the signal generation control device having an automatic transmission delay compensation function that includes the auxiliary units.

[0201] Furthermore, in another embodiment, the measuring device 1A may be configured to apply a reflection-type delay measurement method to measure the transmission delay for each transmission cable 18-1 to 18-n by disconnecting the connections to the output terminals Mout#1 to Mout#n of the user equipment 70 at the far end of each channel's transmission cable 18-1 to 18-n.

[0202] With this configuration, the measuring device 1A according to other embodiments can measure the transmission delay for each transmission cable 18-1 to 18-n by simply manually disconnecting the far end connections of the transmission cables 18-1 to 18-n, thereby reducing the workload for transmission delay compensation control.

[0203] (Measurement system) Next, the configuration and operation of the measurement system 5A according to another embodiment will be described. Figure 14 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the measurement system 5A according to another embodiment. As shown in Figure 14, the measurement system 5A according to this embodiment has a control device 30C and a waveform recording device 90A.

[0204] Here, the control device 30C has the same functional configuration as the control unit 30B shown in Figure 10, and the CPU 40 executes the respective programs to realize the functions of the multi-channel control unit 40aB, the delay measurement unit 40bB, and the delay compensation control unit 40cB.

[0205] Furthermore, the waveform recording device 90A has the same functional configuration as the waveform recording unit 90 shown in Figure 10, and is equipped with multiple waveform recording units 91 and auxiliary SG 95.

[0206] In short, the measurement system 5A according to this embodiment outputs waveforms of multiple channels #1 to #n from the output terminals Mout#1 to Mout#n of each channel of the user device 70, and measures the operating status of the user device 70 based on the output waveforms. The system comprises a waveform recording device 90A having multiple waveform recorders 91 that each receive the waveform of each channel; a transmission delay measurement unit 40bB that measures the transmission delay for each of the multiple transmission cables 18-1 to 18-n connected between the output terminals Mout#1 to Mout#n of each channel of the user device 70 and the input terminals Min#1 to Min#n of each channel of the waveform recording device 90A; and a control device 30C having a transmission delay compensation control unit 40cB that offsets the output timing of the signals of each channel in the multiple waveform recorders 91 so that the signals of each channel are synchronized between the output terminals Mout#1 to Mout#n of each channel of the user device 70, according to the transmission delay of each transmission cable 18-1 to 18-n.

[0207] With this configuration, the measurement system 5A according to this embodiment reliably compensates for the synchronization of the signals of channels #1 to #n at the output terminal of the user device 70, thereby improving the accuracy of the operation control and measurement control of the user device 70. [Industrial applicability]

[0208] As described above, the present invention has the effect of reliably compensating for the synchronization of signals of each channel with user equipment having multiple channels, thereby improving the accuracy of operation control and measurement control of user equipment. It is useful for various signal generation control devices, measuring devices, signal generation control systems, measurement systems, signal generation control methods, and measurement methods in general, including signal generators such as arbitrary waveform generators and function generators, and waveform recorders such as oscilloscopes and digitizers. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0209] 1. Signal generation control device 1A Measuring device 3. Internet 5. Signal generation control system 5A Measurement System 8 Multi-channel measuring instrument 10. Signal generation unit (signal generation means) 10A signal generator 11-1, 11-2, ~, 11-n SG1, SG2, ~, SGn (signal generator) 12, 95, 115, 125 Auxiliary SG (Auxiliary Signal Generator) 13, 13A, 13B, 13C Route switching section 15-1, 15-2, ~, 15-n, 18-1, 18-2, ~, 18-n Transmission Cable (Transmission Line) 16-1, 16-2, ~, 16-n Auxiliary Units 30, 30B Control Unit 30A, 30C control unit 40 CPU 40a, 40aA, 40aB Multi-channel control unit 40b, 40bA, 40bB Delay measurement unit (transmission delay measurement means) 40c, 40cA, 40cB Delay Compensation Control Unit (Transmission Delay Compensation Control Means) 41 ROM 42 RAM 43 External Interface (I / F) Section 51 Operation section 52 Display section 60A, 60B, 61A, 61B Transmission Delay Measurement / Compensation Unit 70, 110 User Equipment 80 Circulator 81 Signal source 82 Resistance divider 83 Hybrid coupler (directional coupler) 90 Waveform recording section 90A Waveform Recorder 91 Waveform Recorder 95 Auxiliary SG #1, #2, ~, #n Multiple channels Out#1, Out#2, ~, Out#n: Output terminals of the signal generator and signal generation device. In#1, In#2, ~, In#n User device input terminals MOut#1, MOut#2, ~, MOut#n User device output terminals Min#1, Min#2, ~, Min#n Input terminals for waveform recording unit and waveform recording device Test Port Input Terminal

Claims

1. A signal generation control device (1) that inputs signals from multiple channels (#1 to #n) to the respective input terminals (In#1 to In#n) of each channel of a user device (70), A signal generating means (10) having a plurality of signal generators (11-1, 11-2, ..., 11-n) that generate signals for each of the aforementioned channels, A transmission delay measuring means (40b) for measuring the transmission delay for each of the multiple transmission paths (15-1 to 15-n) connected between the output terminals (Out#1 to Out#n) of each channel of the signal generating means and the input terminals of each channel of the user equipment, A transmission delay compensation control means (40c) offsets the output timing of the signals of each channel in the plurality of signal generators so that the signals of each channel are synchronized between the input terminals of each channel of the user equipment, in accordance with the transmission delay of each transmission path. A signal generation control device characterized by comprising the following:

2. The system further includes an auxiliary signal generator (12) that generates a delay measurement signal, The signal generation control device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission delay measurement means measures the transmission delay for each transmission path by either a through-type delay measurement method based on the delay measurement signal for each channel transmitted to the far end through the transmission path of each channel, or a reflective-type delay measurement method based on the delay measurement signal for each channel that is reflected at the far end of the transmission path of each channel and transmitted back along the transmission path.

3. The signal generation control device according to claim 2, characterized in that, in order to measure the transmission delay for each transmission path by applying the transparent delay measurement method, an input terminal (Test Port) to which the far end of the transmission path of each channel can be connected is provided at the input terminal of the delay measurement signal of the transmission delay measurement means.

4. The signal generation control device according to claim 2, characterized in that, in order to measure the transmission delay for each transmission path by applying the reflective delay measurement method, an auxiliary unit (16-1, 16-2, ~, 16-n) is provided at the far end of the transmission path of each channel, which allows the signal of each channel to pass through and reflects the delay measurement signal.

5. The signal generation control device according to claim 4, characterized in that the auxiliary unit is composed of a filter that allows the signals of each channel in the DC to 15 GHz band to pass through and reflects the bandwidth of the delay measurement signal in the 16 to 18 GHz band.

6. The signal generation control device according to claim 4, characterized in that the auxiliary unit is configured using a switch that opens the transmission path when passing the signals of each channel and short-circuits the transmission path when passing the delay measurement signal.

7. The signal generation control device according to claim 2, characterized in that, in order to measure the transmission delay for each transmission path by applying the reflection-type delay measurement method, the connection of the far end of the transmission path of each channel to the input terminal of the user equipment is disconnected.

8. A measuring device (1A) for measuring the signals (waveforms) of multiple channels (#1 to #n) output from each channel output terminal (Mout #1 to Mout #n) of a user device (70), Waveform recording means (90) having a plurality of waveform recorders (91) that receive and record the waveforms of each channel, A transmission delay measuring means (40bB) for measuring the transmission delay for each transmission path in a plurality of transmission paths (18-1 to 18-n) connected between the output terminals of each channel of the user equipment and the input terminals (Min#1 to #n) of each channel of the waveform recording means, A transmission delay compensation control means (40cB) offsets the output timing of the signals of each channel in the plurality of waveform recorders so that the signals of each channel are synchronized between the output terminals of each channel of the user equipment, in accordance with the transmission delay of each transmission path. A measuring device characterized by comprising the following:

9. The system further includes an auxiliary signal generator (95) that generates a delay measurement signal, The measuring device according to claim 8, wherein the transmission delay measuring means measures the transmission delay for each transmission path by either a through-type delay measuring method based on the delay measuring signal for each channel transmitted to the far end through the transmission path of each channel, or a reflected-type delay measuring method based on the delay measuring signal for each channel that is reflected at the far end of the transmission path of each channel and transmitted back along the transmission path.

10. The measuring device according to claim 9, characterized in that, in order to measure the transmission delay for each transmission path by applying the transparent delay measurement method, an input terminal (Test Port) to which the far end of the transmission path of each channel can be connected is provided at the input terminal of the delay measurement signal of the transmission delay measurement means.

11. The measuring device according to claim 9, characterized in that, in order to measure the transmission delay for each transmission path by applying the reflective delay measurement method, an auxiliary unit (16-1, 16-2, ~, 16-n) is provided at the far end of the transmission path of each channel, which allows the signal of each channel to pass through and reflects the delay measurement signal.

12. The measuring apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the auxiliary unit is composed of a filter that allows the signals of each channel in the DC to 15 GHz band to pass through and reflects the bandwidth of the delay measurement signal in the 16 to 18 GHz band.

13. The measuring device according to claim 11, characterized in that the auxiliary unit is configured using a switch that opens the transmission path when passing the signals of each channel and short-circuits the transmission path when passing the delay measurement signal.

14. The measuring device according to claim 9, characterized in that, in order to measure the transmission delay for each transmission path by applying the reflection-type delay measurement method, the connection of the far end of the transmission path of each channel to the output terminal of the user equipment is disconnected.

15. A signal generation control system (5) that inputs signals from multiple channels (#1 to #n) to the respective input terminals (In#1 to In#n) of each channel of a user device (70), A signal generating device (10A) having a plurality of signal generators (11-1, 11-2, ..., 11-n) that generate signals for each of the aforementioned channels, A control device (30A) having a transmission delay measurement unit (40bA) that measures the transmission delay for each of the multiple transmission paths (15-1 to 15-n) connected between the output terminals (Out#1 to Out#n) of each channel of the signal generator and the input terminals of each channel of the user equipment, and a transmission delay compensation control unit (40cA) that offsets the output timing of the signals of each channel in the multiple signal generators so that the signals of each channel are synchronized between the input terminals of each channel of the user equipment according to the transmission delay of each transmission path, A signal generation control system characterized by comprising the following:

16. A measurement system (5A) for measuring the signals (waveforms) of multiple channels (#1 to #n) output from each channel output terminal (Mout #1 to Mout #n) of a user device (70), A waveform recording device (90A) having a plurality of waveform recorders (91) that receive and record the waveforms of each of the aforementioned channels, A control device (30C) having a transmission delay measurement unit (40aB) that measures the transmission delay for each of the multiple transmission paths (18-1 to 18-n) connected between the output terminals of each channel of the user equipment and the input terminals (Min#1 to #n) of each channel of the waveform recorder, and a transmission delay compensation control unit (40cB) that offsets the output timing of the signals of each channel in the multiple waveform recorders so that the signals of each channel are synchronized between the output terminals of each channel of the user equipment according to the transmission delay of each transmission path, A measurement system characterized by comprising the following:

17. A signal generation control method that inputs signals from multiple channels (#1 to #n) to the respective input terminals (In#1 to In#n) of each channel of a user device (70), A signal generation step (S3) of a signal generation means (10) having a plurality of signal generators (11-1, 11-2, ..., 11-n) in which signals for each channel are generated from the plurality of signal generators, A transmission delay measurement step (S5) is performed to measure the transmission delay for each of the multiple transmission paths (15-1 to 15-n) connected between the output terminals (Out#1 to Out#n) of each channel of the signal generating means and the input terminals of each channel of the user equipment, A transmission delay compensation control step (S12) is performed to offset the output timing of the signals for each channel in the plurality of signal generators so that the signals for each channel are synchronized between the input terminals of each channel of the user equipment, in accordance with the transmission delay for each transmission path. A signal generation control method characterized by including the following:

18. A measurement method for measuring the signals (waveforms) of multiple channels (#1 to #n) output from each channel output terminal (Mout #1 to Mout #n) of a user device (70), wherein A waveform recording means (90) having a plurality of waveform recorders (91) that receive and record the waveforms of each channel, the receiving step (S3) of receiving the signals of each channel by the plurality of waveform recorders, A transmission delay measurement step (S5) is performed to measure the transmission delay for each of the multiple transmission lines (18-1 to 18-n) connected between the output terminals of each channel of the user equipment and the input terminals (Min#1 to #n) of each channel of the waveform recording means, respectively. A transmission delay compensation control step (S12) is performed to offset the output timing of the signals of each channel in the plurality of waveform recorders so that the signals of each channel are synchronized between the output terminals of each channel of the user equipment, in accordance with the transmission delay of each transmission path. A measurement method characterized by including the following.

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