Product Overview of Programmable Delay Line (PDL) Instruments

Colby Instruments' Programmable Delay Line (PDL) Series instruments offer precision programmable electrical delay for RF/microwave frequency signals in one easy to setup and use instrument.  Our newest PDL-100A Series of instruments utilize our patented Electro-Mechanical Trombone structure and can be configured in different models to offer total delay up to 100 ns or more.  Delay precision accuracy and resolution to 0.50 ps lead the industry in performance. 

All programmable delay line instruments are suitable for use in high frequency RF signal applications as phase shifters or where an extremely high precision and accurate amount of delay is required. 

The CPDL-100A Series offers a customizable instrument with custom programmable fixed delays utilizing Aerospace grade microwave relays and precision-cut semi-rigid coaxial cable. The CPDL-100A is fully customizable based on customer specifications for delay resolution (to the smallest step size of 10 ps) and total delay range up to a maximum of 200 ns. It is best suited for applications where total range of delay is a higher priority than delay step (or phase shift) resolution.

The new value priced HPDL-100A offers a delay range from 0 to 10.23 ns with a fixed minimum resolution or step to 10 ps.

Each unit includes GPIB (IEEE488.2), Ethernet TCP/IP LAN and RS-232 Serial interfaces for remote programmable control.  An optional MT-100A Microterminal (LCD display and numeric keypad) offers manual entry of desired delay.  A Rack Mount Option (RMO-1) is available for mounting any one of our entire line of instrument models into a standard 19" rack.

All units can be used as delay lines or phase shifters suitable for both analog and digital applications and free from all noise sources, including no Phase Noise and no Jitter. For analog applications, bandwidth is from DC to 18 GHz. For digital applications, DC to 40gb/s NRZ.  Phase shift resolution is to 0.18 degrees per 1GHz frequency of signal input.

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Key Features of Electro-Mechanical Delay Lines

• Free from ALL noise sources, including no phase noise and no jitter.
• Fully programmable via GPIB (IEEE488.2), Ethernet TCP/IP, and RS-232 Serial interfaces.
• All systems can be used as DELAY LINES or PHASE SHIFTERS.
• Phase shifter applications where high precision phase resolution is required
• Convenient Manual Control with Microterminal MT-100A
• Suitable for both ANALOG and DIGITAL applications.
• Very wide analog bandwidth from DC to 18.0 GHz.
• Digital applications from DC to 40 Gb/s NRZ.
• Resolution to 0.50 ps. Excellent Repeatability to 0.1 ps.
• Extremely Linear Phase Characteristics (see specific insertion/return (S11 & S21 reports) per instrument model.
• Excellent Power Handling Capability to 50 W peak.