DiAna, a software Distortion Analyzer

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What I'm not sure about is if the signal is low pass filtered can higher harmonics be reconstructed past the low pass filter? I can see how the nonlinear curve could be used to predict harmonics above the passband but it may be illusory.
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Hi Demian,

If the signal has been low pass filtered, these higher harmonics must be just noise. What else it could be?

Cheers, E.
 
A full-featured control support integrated with the device is always better, of course.

Arduino has 12bit ADC, perhaps it could interface at some point - the same your MCU taps the input signal.

On the other hand - the analyzer already knows dbFS value. If it also knew status of attenuator relays -> easy calculation.

Arduino MKR Zero supports fft
 
Since it uses a form of synchronous detection and is phase sensitive it should be difficult to even detect a spur that is not in sync. However Edmond should be able to confirm.
Basically, that's correct.
Is there a way to know the BW resolution, IE how close a spur has to be to a harmonic in order for it to fool DiAna?
It depends to which spectrum you are looking at.
The so called 'THD spectrum' is based on the residual, which in turn is phase locked on the fundamental. Since these residuals are summed together, noise and spurious signals are averaged out. The longer the measurement time, the more they are suppressed.
The same applies more or less to the so called 'coherent raw spectrum', because also in this case the averaging process takes the phase of the fundamental into account. However, not so in case of the 'incoherent raw spectrum'. Then DiAna might be fooled by spurious signals if the resolution of the FHT is too small. The resolution of the 'raw' spectra is the sampling rate divided by 2*record length.

Cheers, E.

BTW, a new version is coming soon that automatically detect the notch frequency and attenuation of a band-stop filter, as well as simulation of a standard passive twin T filter.
 
arms race / ultra low distortion measurements

I like this arms race! Bringing out the best in ingenuity!
Jan
Yes, a battle between the 'analogues' and the 'digitals', but the 'digitals' still need two (simple) analogue parts: a band-pass filter and a band-stop (notch) filter, both passive and not tunable. I don't trust tunable filters because the necessity of active components that will inevitably increase the distortion. LC passive band-pass filters without any magnetic core material are easy to build for frequencies of say 1kHz and higher, but how about 20Hz or so?. Then one need some magnetic core material, otherwise the dimensions of the inductors get way too large. But then things like saturation and hysteresis come into play and will (most likely) increase distortion.
Any ideas?

Regarding tunability (to compensate for frequency drift) I think a tunable oscillator is the way to go, that is, a digital one (because easy to tune). But they are not as clean as high-end analogue oscillators. That's why I need a band-pass filter in order to remove the last traces of harmonics.

Regarding FFT's with a variable test frequency? Preliminary trials showed that DiAna can handle that.

Any thoughts about above approach?

Cheers,
E.
 
Band-pass filters

I don't see any problems with Epcos EE48 ferrite cores, esp. if they have an air gap.
Not exactly SMD parts, but still useable size.
Something that can transport > 200 Watts as a push-pull flowthrough converter is
not easily impressed by 5V 10 mA wrt saturation.

cheers, Gerhard

Hi Gerhard,

I'm not sure that this kind of core is most appropriate for filters, as it is primary intended for high power applications. I was more thinking about a ferrite pot core because of its self-shielding geometry. Regarding low hysteresis losses, some MnZn composition seems the material of choice, right?

Cheers,
E.
 
I'm no specialist in ferrites, but I have used EE48 or EE54? cores once in
a generator for geophysical measurements. I think the material was N48
or a more modern successor.

Lepaisant e.a. use N48 material in pot core form for their ultra-low-voltage noise
amplifier:
< https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/49b5/63335faea2836e65c6dee411d5c8b04d5a3e.pdf >

EE cores are probably cheaper and more common. I don't think that stray fields
are a problem because the air gap, if any, is in the middle of the core. If you want
maximum Q, stay away with the copper from the air gap by upholstering with some
isolation tape. (eddy currents)
 
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