Skip to main content
Industry & alumni

UW Medical Center

FPGA System for RF Power Supply Control

One of the main subsystems of the cyclotron is the RF system that is responsible for generating and regulating the RF waves that create the electric field in which the particles are accelerated. One part of the RF system, the RF power supply control (RPSC), handles command, status, and interlock signals for the many power supplies in the RF system as well as their integration into the larger cyclotron control and IO system. The RPSC is still largely original components and older style of digital logic: lots of circuit cards with bulky logic gate chips and flip-flop circuits that interface with the IO system to communicate system status and if the RF system is ready to turn the beam on. For this project, the student team worked to take all those RPSC logic circuits and replace them with an FPGA based system. A modern FPGA can easily handle the various logic circuits that govern the RPSC signals. The project had two phases: first to work to identify the best FPGA platform for this project, and second to attempt to convert all the existing digital logic circuit cards into FPGA code that will run on the selected device. The redesign with an FPGA this student team worked towards aimed to clean up the RF system complexity and provide a basis to convert more of the RF system over to an FPGA system in the future. Anticipated outcomes this student team worked towards included: - A documented state-of-the-art review on FPGA platforms along with a final recommendation on which to use for this implementation and why. - Logic maps for the signals in the RPSC that represent the programming in the FPGA for future troubleshooting needs. - Full set of circuit diagrams, schematics, signal list, and written documentation of the system designed. (if applicable) - Programmed and tested FPGA system in a 19" rack that can replace the currently 18 logic circuit cards of the RPSC.

Faculty Adviser

Payman Arabshahi, Associate Professor, UW ECE, Electrical & Computer Engineering

Students

George Beatty
Jeffery Xu
Rafael Pineda De La Rosa
Rouwei Chen

Related News

Close-up of utility poles with mounted electronic devices and cables in an outdoor setting

Fri, 09/20/2024 | UW Civil & Environmental Engineering

Smarter irrigation for a greener UW

A new project combines satellite data with ground sensors to conserve water and create a more sustainable campus environment.

One person is sitting in a hammock chair, while another person holds part of the frame structure

Mon, 09/09/2024 | UW Mechanical Engineering

Testing an in-home mobility system

Through innovative capstone projects, engineering students worked with community members on an adaptable mobility system.

Five ShockSafe team members stand next to their poster and their prototype of their device

Mon, 08/19/2024 | UW Mechanical Engineering

Students strive to ensure accurate AED shock dosage

ShockSafe, developed by students with the help of mentors from Philips and Engineering Innovation in Health (EIH), can distinguish between children and adults during cardiac arrest emergencies.

ISE Senior Capstone class

Wed, 08/07/2024 | Snohomish County News

Snohomish County, University of Washington partnership boosts efficiency in enterprise scanning center

UW Industrial and Systems Engineering Capstone Project set to save Snohomish County over $40,000 annually.