1.6 KiB
TRIDENT BASE
TRIDENT BASE – Open‑Source High‑Precision Suspension Platform for the TRIDENT Probe
The TRIDENT BASE is a hand‑formable SMA‑connector cable assembly that simultaneously suspends the TRIDENT spring‑loaded UHF probe and provides a robust mechanical interface to the device under test. Its design, fabricated at the current limits of modern high‑frequency manufacturing, incorporates a continuous copper chassis that is directly connected to the board and tied to ground.
The copper enclosure serves a dual purpose: it furnishes a low‑impedance return path that preserves signal integrity up to multi‑gigahertz frequencies, it acts as an electromagnetic‑shielding cage that isolates the probe from ambient interference. The copper chassis of the base mirrors the probe’s shielding strategy, ensuring that both ground references share a common, low‑inductance plane, thereby minimizing parasitic coupling and enhancing measurement repeatability.
The neodymium magnets affixed to the base generate a constant attractive force that clamps the assembly to a metal surface, thereby suppressing both translational and vibrational motion of the probe during testing.
All design files are released under the CERN Open Hardware Licence (CERN‑OHL‑S), permitting unrestricted modification, redistribution, and collaborative improvement, fostering a transparent ecosystem for researchers and engineers who require reproducible, high‑performance test instrumentation.