Test Bench DAC Module

Project Info:

Main Project:
Inverter Testbench Project
Client:
Ario MetaPower
Design Completion Date:
2022-02-23
Design Complexity:
Interesting Stats: The design comprised 50 unique components and a total of 567 components.

Project Description:

The Digital to Analogue Conversion (DAC) Module comprised of 32 channels and was designed to inject accurate voltages with 16 bit resolution, into the inputs of the inverter control stack. The DAC module has a built in ADC to measure the output of each DAC channel of the module to verify the output voltage as it can be negatively affected by unexpected loads on the inputs of the Device Under Test. The output of each channel of the DAC can be scaled for 0-5V, 0-15V or 0-24V operation.

Main Project:

Electron Artz was tasked by Ario MetaPower to design a flexible large scale test bench to rigorously test all inputs, outputs and subsystems of the control stack of the inverter for production. To meet the requirements of the project, the architecture of the test bench was designed to be flexible in order to cater for any possible changes to the design of the inverter stack. This resulted in a design architecture of a "Master Controller / motherboard" with multiple modules. To test the control stack of the inverter, the Test Bench was configured to comprise:

• Two modules consisting of 32 Digital to Analogue Converters (DACs) each

• One module consisting of 32 Analogue to Digital Converters (ADCs)

• Two modules consisting of 16 power supply load testers (VRail Module)

• One communications module

• One module consisting of 40 general purpose digital inputs and outputs (GPIO module)

The Test Bench also had a built in variable power supply and current measurement interface, along with a infrared camera interface that could be used to slowly power up the control stack and check current draw or for any thermal issues. This was helpful to determine whether all components were placed correctly during population of the boards.

Gallery:

No photos available for this project.