SEPIA Analogue Development Tool Guide
SEPIA Analogue Development Tool Guide
Tool Guide
The SEPIA analogue development tool is designed to replicate the functionality of the SCEs
in SEPIA hosts as closely as possible for development of modules utilizing this hardware. To
make this board practical for development, the programmable PSU is not included, but a
SEPIA programmable PSU EVK will become available.
All the SCE level routing options are included in this board, but after an initial test it may be
easier to develop directly connecting to the SCE peripherals – these are INSSEND ->
INSRET for the insert SCE block, and CHNOUT -> CHNXPS/EXTOUT for the Chain SCE
block with and without the balanced line transmitter respectively.
The high pass filter on the analogue development tool is the same design as is present on
the main board. However, the development tool has X7R MLCCs in lieu of either approved
variant capacitors as neither are ready for volume production with our board assembly
partner. This filter therefore obviously has poor distortion performance, but has an identical
frequency response with the same topology.
Both chain and insert attenuators have higher attenuation on the development tool than is
stated in the on boarding guide. These attenuators are in place to enable creative signal
routing between modules of differing signal levels (though if for some reason a module
needs to use this we will support that in software). The values of these are therefore
constrained by the signal levels of modules, and pre-launch is subject to change with
different launch partners. Whilst there is currently no such change required, the values are
increased here to support these modules if this becomes required before launch.
We may include a phase inversion here, but it is not yet decided, and so is not included
here. The op amps after the second half blocks are configured as inverting for performance
making the SCEs inverting as a whole, though the input polarity will be switched if this is
omitted in the final product to compensate.
The analogue development tool has one key difference from the SCEs found on the hosts
for evaluation purposes, in that there is an attenuator fitted at the output of the chain
crosspoint send (and input of the balanced line transmitter) for compatibility with the multi-
module test system. This does also have the effect of lowering the BLT output level. If you
wish to have the BLT output at the full normal range then R34 must be shorted out, and R38
removed.
GND Common Ground – due to the nature of the single module slot SCE, this is a common
ground with no star point. The power supply ground should be connected to the
power supply header, with signal returns connected to the signal return headers
VDD3V3 +3.3V Digital Supply (Note the 5V VBUS from the USB is not used)
All rails with the exception of VPHANT must be connected for the board to operate. The board does
not draw digital power from the USB port.
INSSEND+/- Differential signal Differential signal sent from module at insert point. Note
Mod. Out/SCE In bias current path and AC coupling (if required) must be
provided by the module.
INSXPR Single ended Insert crosspoint return – signal from internal solid state
SCE In routing into SCE block 2nd half if creative signal flow relay
engaged
INSXPSEND Single ended Insert crosspoint send – signal from insert SCE block first
SCE Out half to internal solid state crosspoint routing
INSRET Single ended Return from Insert SCE block (end of 2nd half)
Mod. IN/SCE Out
CHNXPS Single ended Chain crosspoint send – signal from chain SCE block first
SCE Out half to internal solid state crosspoint routing
CHNXPR Single ended Chain crosspoint return – signal from internal solid state
SCE In routing into SCE block 2nd half if creative signal flow relay
engaged