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High-Frequency Technology High School Senior Project at Ginzinger
Pia, a 12th-grade student at HTL Braunau, demonstrates just how much technical expertise and initiative can go into a senior project. She successfully completed a challenging project in the field of high-frequency measurement technology.
Pia Humer, a 5th-year student in the AHET program (specializing in electrical engineering) at HTL Braunau, successfully completed a challenging project in the field of high-frequency measurement technology during the 2025–2026 school year as part of her thesis in electronics development at Ginzinger electronic systems.
High-Frequency Probe Project
The focus of Pia’s work was the development of a high-frequency probe. This specialized measurement tool makes it possible to capture electrical signals directly from a circuit and transmit them to an oscilloscope with minimal distortion.
What sounds simple is highly complex in practice: While conventional probes work reliably at low frequencies, they quickly reach their limits at high frequencies, as signals become blurred or distorted. This is where the high-frequency probe comes in. Through targeted adjustments, such as very low capacitance and precise impedance matching, even extremely fast signals can be measured accurately.
Pia’s goal: a clean measurement up into the gigahertz range. A milestone in her project was ultimately the successful capture of signals up to 1.5 GHz.
When passion meets practice
Pia is also deeply involved with electronics in her free time and designs her own circuit boards. In early 2025, she reached out to Ginzinger to carry out her high school graduation project in collaboration with a company. She received several project proposals from the development department, and ultimately chose the topic of high-frequency probes. From the start of the project, she maintained close communication with Ginzinger’s electronics development team for coordination and technical inquiries.
For Pia, collaboration was a key factor in the project’s success: straightforward, supportive, and practical. “It was very relaxed. I could ask questions at any time and always received help,” she says, describing the project process. In addition to technical support, there are also benefits that extend beyond the project itself. For example, Pia was given the opportunity to participate in competitions—something that isn’t always a given at many companies due to data protection concerns.
Working with Professional Equipment
A particular highlight for Pia was working with professional measurement equipment. She especially remembers the high-end oscilloscope at Ginzinger, which she jokingly refers to as the “Ferrari of measurement instruments.”
While many high school graduation projects are carried out in teams, Pia completed hers independently. This independence, combined with technical interest and perseverance, is also reflected in the result. When asked if she would recommend such a project, her answer is clear: “Absolutely! My most important tip: Make sure there’s a good personal connection and that you can work well together.”
Pia’s diploma project demonstrates the value of collaboration between the HTL Braunau as an educational institution and companies. Practical assignments, access to professional infrastructure, and direct interaction with experienced developers create ideal conditions for sustainable learning.