Waveform generator based on computer-controlled switching power supplies

This paper describes design and implementation of a waveform generator. The generator can be controlled using an embedded computer, performing many different voltage patterns up to 400 V. This feature makes it a very versatile instrument, useful in a wide range of experiments. The system is based on a switching DC power supply (flyback converter), controlled by an on-board microcontroller. The control system is a proportional feedback control with a feedforward loop. The main contribution of this paper is that using the fundamentals of PWM controlled switching power supplies, we implement a generic waveform generator. As an application example, we describe the characterization of breakdown in thin films in order to obtain dielectric parameters.