A Simple Time–Distance Measurement System Using a Field-Programmable Gate Array

Author(s):

John Schill, Patrick Sykes, Naghmeh Karimi, Hasin I. Reefat, Toufiq H. Anik, and Hossein Pourmehrani

Abstract:

We describe a time and distance measurement system that is based on a Xilinx KCU105 field-programmable gate array (FPGA) evaluation board using a MicroBlaze processor on the FPGA’s fabric. All input/output is handled by the evaluation board. External to the evaluation board, we used a 1550-nm distributed-feedback laser with a Mach–Zehnder modulator and a seven-fiber bundle used for transmitting and receiving the modulated light. The bundle was designed in-house and is described in this report. After a discussion of the basic block diagram of the system, we describe each component in more detail. We have two different phase measurement schemes that are analyzed and discussed. Finally, we present some of the initial testing and results we have achieved.