NeoScan for Real-Time Waveform Probing

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A Unique Technology for Real-Time Detection of Transient Fields & Signals

EMAG Technologies Inc. utilizes a novel patented technology for real-time measurement of electric and magnetic fields. EO and MO modulation effects provide a unique means of sensing and detecting wideband RF and microwave signals in real time. Since the carrier signal is at optical frequencies, the modulating RF field can have substantial instantaneous bandwidths. NeoScan can probe and register complex temporal waveforms in real time. Since you measure fields rather than voltages or currents using a non-contact probe, NeoScan probes in effect exhibit an infinite impedance. This feature eliminates all the device loading concerns.

A high-speed digital sampling oscilloscope showing an amplitude modulated waveform detected by a NeoScan field probe and comparing it to the signal source's waveform.

Our probe systems can be used as an instrument for real-time measurement of wideband RF signals in microwave circuits and systems. They can also be utilized in a unique way for a variety of other detection and sensing applications where the presence of metallic parts is highly undesirable such as directed energy and high power microwave systems. Using a robust, patented, optical processing technology, the probes can have standoff distances up to 50 meters from the physical location of the optical mainframe system. Due to the fast response of the EO crystal, it is possible to measure extremely high-bandwidth signals with the normal SNR limitations of wideband signal detection. Using this capability, EMAG Technologies Inc. has developed the world’s first fiber-based real-time polarimetric electric field sensor system for the measurement of high-power microwave signals. The figure below shows an example of a real time measurement of a 6.6ns pulse with 10kV/m peak field strength. The upper trace shown on the oscilloscope is the received signal, and the lower trace is the detected signal.

Measuring high-power pulse waveforms using NeoScan non-invasive field probes.

Custom Multi-Channel Real-Time Field Probing Systems

NeoScan systmes can be configured in custom multi-channel architectures for simultaneous field measurements at multiple points and locations. Different channels can measure different polarizations in a totally coherent manner. Multi-axis field probes can be used to measure different field components simultaneously at the same location. Ruggedized probes can be supplied for harsh operational environments. Moreover, specially coated probes with better protection against erosion can be supplied to measure the fields inside liquid or saline environments such as biological tissues.

The NeoScan-DET system configuration provides one or more time domain output signals corresponding to each probe or each optical channel. These temporal data are monitored, recorded and plotted as a function of time in NeoScan's visual software environment. The output RF signal can be measured and further analyzed using a high-speed digital sampling oscilloscope to be supplied by the user. Depending on the instantaneous bandwidth of the detected waveform, averaging algorithms might be needed to extract the signal satisfactorily out of the background noise.

A second-generation, real-time, 3-channel NeoScan system developed by EMAG's Opteos Division.

The figures above and below show older generation 3-channel and 4-channel NeoScan system configurations, respectively, developed by EMAG Technologies' Opteos Division. You can see three or four FC/APC optical fiber connectors for the field probes along with three or four SMA connectors for the RF output signals. The latter can be directly fed into a multi-channel high speed digital sampling oscilloscope to display the detected temporal waveforms. The same time domain output signals can be down-converted to a lower IF frequency and digitized for further signal processing.


RT-20G - A 4-channel predecessor of the real-time NeoScan system developed by EMAG's Opteos Division. The four output RF channels are directly fed into a four-channel high speed digital sampling oscilloscope.




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