Application of a single-board computer as a low cost pulse generator

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how a BeagleBone Black single-board computer can be used as a low-cost, fully programmable pulse generator with high temporal resolution and stability, suitable for precise timing applications.

Contribution

It introduces a novel implementation of a pulse generator using a single-board computer's real-time subsystem, achieving high precision at low cost.

Findings

Deterministic temporal resolution of 5 ns

RMS jitter of 290 ps

Timebase stability of 10 ppm

Abstract

A BeagleBone Black (BBB) single-board open-source computer was implemented as a low-cost fully programmable pulse generator. The pulse generator makes use of the BBB Programmable Real-Time Unit (PRU) subsystem to achieve a deterministic temporal resolution of 5 ns, an RMS jitter of 290 ps and a timebase stability on the order of 10 ppm. A python based software framework has also been developed to simplify the usage of the pulse generator.