Pulse Generator Design & Prototype
Budget: $250 – $750 USD
I’m starting from a purely conceptual sketch and need a complete design-through-prototype of a programmable pulse generator that sweeps from 1 Hz up to 4.4 GHz. The unit will be used to test a variety of electronic components, so a clean output and reliable triggering are more important to me than laboratory-grade metrology; medium frequency precision is acceptable as long as the generator stays stable and repeatable across the range.
Request for Proposal – Design and Prototyping of a Programmable Pulse Generator (1 Hz–4.4 GHz)
We seek a Polish engineering partner to design and prototype a portable, battery-powered programmable pulse generator (electronics + firmware + mechanics) for lab/service use (non-medical).
Key functional requirements
- Frequency ranges:
- LF/MF: 1 Hz–10 MHz; waveforms: sine, triangle, square; amplitude 1–20 Vpp (Hi-Z); output current limit 1–20 mA.
- RF: 10 MHz–4.4 GHz; sine; output level presets 0 / +10 / +15 dBm into 50 Ω, maintained by per-output closed-loop control.
- Outputs:
- Electrodes E1 and E2: active across the full band; simultaneous operation allowed.
- Inductive loop (Loop): enabled up to 200 MHz (hardware + firmware block above 200 MHz); routing at ≤200 MHz selectable per program: Loop only / Electrodes + Loop / Electrodes only.
- Connectors: 3× LEMO 1S coax 50 Ω (E1, E2, Loop).
- UI and control:
- 4.3" TFT (non-touch, BT817/EVE), keypad 2×4 (Up, Down, “=”, “−”, OK, ESC, Play, Pause) + MUTE (6×6 mm).
- Audio: speaker 4 Ω / 3 W, WAV playback at 16 kHz.
- USB‑C (data): CDC/command interface + DFU firmware updates.
- Power:
- LiPo 2S ~10,000 mAh with BMS; 8–16 h operation; eFuse/hot‑swap; external balanced charger (e.g., iMAX B6).
- Safety and diagnostics:
- Accessory detection via ID resistors (electrodes 10 kΩ, loop 2.2 kΩ); LF impedance “ping”.
- RF: directional couplers and FWD/REF power measurement (RL/VSWR) with power foldback/shutoff on mismatch.
- ESD protection on ports; RF 50 Ω controlled impedance; RF shielding; thermal monitoring and foldback.
- Frequency accuracy:
- 10 MHz TCXO ±0.5 ppm; seamless AWG↔PLL crossover in ~10–23.5 MHz overlap.
Scope of work (deliverables)
- Electronics: full schematics, 4‑layer PCB (controlled impedance, RF shielding, domain separation), manufacturing files (Gerber/Drill/IPC), complete BOM, assembly drawings.
- Firmware (STM32): UI (program editor, step sequencing with fA→fB ramps), RF per-branch closed‑loop power (0/+10/+15 dBm), LF current limiting (1–20 mA), USB‑CDC/DFU, WAV playback, safety interlocks; command/API documentation.
- Mechanics: front panel design (TFT, keypad 2×4, MUTE, 3× LEMO), side I/O (USB‑C, XT, JST‑XH), 3D STEP models, recommendations for enclosure/printing.
- Test and calibration: bring-up procedures, LF Vpp calibration, RF level calibration (0/+10/+15 dBm) and RL/VSWR thresholds; service instructions.
- Prototypes: quotation for 2–5 fully assembled, calibrated units.
Commercials (please provide)
- Itemized NRE (electronics/PCB, firmware, mechanics, validation) + BOM/assembly cost for 2–5 pcs.
- Timeline with milestones and lead‑times.
- EMC pre‑compliance approach and identified technical risks.
- NDA and IP transfer terms (exclusive ownership by the client).
Notes
- Application is non-medical.
- Additional technical materials (block diagrams, signal lists) can be shared under NDA.
- Please confirm capability, indicative pricing, and schedule.
I welcome suggestions on component choices, enclosure design, and optional extras such as an LCD or web UI, provided they don’t compromise the core performance goal. If you have prior high-frequency RF or mixed-signal experience, please highlight it along with any relevant links or screenshots of past work.
Request for Proposal – Design and Prototyping of a Programmable Pulse Generator (1 Hz–4.4 GHz)
We seek a Polish engineering partner to design and prototype a portable, battery-powered programmable pulse generator (electronics + firmware + mechanics) for lab/service use (non-medical).
Key functional requirements
- Frequency ranges:
- LF/MF: 1 Hz–10 MHz; waveforms: sine, triangle, square; amplitude 1–20 Vpp (Hi-Z); output current limit 1–20 mA.
- RF: 10 MHz–4.4 GHz; sine; output level presets 0 / +10 / +15 dBm into 50 Ω, maintained by per-output closed-loop control.
- Outputs:
- Electrodes E1 and E2: active across the full band; simultaneous operation allowed.
- Inductive loop (Loop): enabled up to 200 MHz (hardware + firmware block above 200 MHz); routing at ≤200 MHz selectable per program: Loop only / Electrodes + Loop / Electrodes only.
- Connectors: 3× LEMO 1S coax 50 Ω (E1, E2, Loop).
- UI and control:
- 4.3" TFT (non-touch, BT817/EVE), keypad 2×4 (Up, Down, “=”, “−”, OK, ESC, Play, Pause) + MUTE (6×6 mm).
- Audio: speaker 4 Ω / 3 W, WAV playback at 16 kHz.
- USB‑C (data): CDC/command interface + DFU firmware updates.
- Power:
- LiPo 2S ~10,000 mAh with BMS; 8–16 h operation; eFuse/hot‑swap; external balanced charger (e.g., iMAX B6).
- Safety and diagnostics:
- Accessory detection via ID resistors (electrodes 10 kΩ, loop 2.2 kΩ); LF impedance “ping”.
- RF: directional couplers and FWD/REF power measurement (RL/VSWR) with power foldback/shutoff on mismatch.
- ESD protection on ports; RF 50 Ω controlled impedance; RF shielding; thermal monitoring and foldback.
- Frequency accuracy:
- 10 MHz TCXO ±0.5 ppm; seamless AWG↔PLL crossover in ~10–23.5 MHz overlap.
Scope of work (deliverables)
- Electronics: full schematics, 4‑layer PCB (controlled impedance, RF shielding, domain separation), manufacturing files (Gerber/Drill/IPC), complete BOM, assembly drawings.
- Firmware (STM32): UI (program editor, step sequencing with fA→fB ramps), RF per-branch closed‑loop power (0/+10/+15 dBm), LF current limiting (1–20 mA), USB‑CDC/DFU, WAV playback, safety interlocks; command/API documentation.
- Mechanics: front panel design (TFT, keypad 2×4, MUTE, 3× LEMO), side I/O (USB‑C, XT, JST‑XH), 3D STEP models, recommendations for enclosure/printing.
- Test and calibration: bring-up procedures, LF Vpp calibration, RF level calibration (0/+10/+15 dBm) and RL/VSWR thresholds; service instructions.
- Prototypes: quotation for 2–5 fully assembled, calibrated units.
Commercials (please provide)
- Itemized NRE (electronics/PCB, firmware, mechanics, validation) + BOM/assembly cost for 2–5 pcs.
- Timeline with milestones and lead‑times.
- EMC pre‑compliance approach and identified technical risks.
- NDA and IP transfer terms (exclusive ownership by the client).
Notes
- Application is non-medical.
- Additional technical materials (block diagrams, signal lists) can be shared under NDA.
- Please confirm capability, indicative pricing, and schedule.
I welcome suggestions on component choices, enclosure design, and optional extras such as an LCD or web UI, provided they don’t compromise the core performance goal. If you have prior high-frequency RF or mixed-signal experience, please highlight it along with any relevant links or screenshots of past work.