Timing Reference Switch for OSF to AOS Test Interferometer

During interferometry tests between \ac{OSF} and \ac{AOS}, where the hypothesis of performing long baseline observations using antennas from both places was being confirmed, there was an increasing need to reconnect timing signals between the test experiment and the production signals. Since this action requires constant technical support on site for performing cable replacement, a new hardware device was conceived to provide the appropriate switching without the need of human intervention, allowing to switch from testing to production environments at any time. The signals involved in this project were the 125MHz signal and the \ac{LVDS} \ac{TE}, those signals were integrated into switching devices able to process \ac{VHF} band for the 125MHz clock, and an \ac{LVDS} driver to switch between two different \ac{TE} references. The switching was implemented separately due to the nature of the signals. However, they are controlled by a single \acs{AMBSI} board that is remotely commanded by serial and \ac{CAN} bus protocols, this control board is programmed in C language for running ST10R167 micro-controller. Boards were made for the \ac{LVDS} driver and the voltage regulators (+5V and +3.3V) for supplying power to the \ac{LVDS} driver, \acs{AMBSI} board, and the \ac{VHF} switcher. A particular chassis was built to hold all processing stages, including the power supply. The user is able to connect signals to this switch and open a serial link \ac{CAN} bus link to specify which input should be used remotely; the \acp{LED} at the front of the chassis indicate which input is active at the output.

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