200MHz 16bit arbitrary waveform generator has 24 channels
- Autor:Ella Cai
- Lassen Sie auf:2017-06-13
Spectrum has introduced a 24 channel synchronised arbitrary waveform generator (AWGs), aiming at the development of parallel architecture electronic systems, such as MIMO, radar, quantum computing and multi-lane serial bus testing.
“To develop these systems, and those with similar multi-receiver/emitter or multi-sensor technology, it is helpful to have the ability to generate multiple synchronised waveforms,” said the firm.
Called DN6.662-24, the instrument offers 625Msample/s 16bit output, and has an analogue bandwidth of 200MHz. Output is up to ±5V into high impedance and ±2.5V into 50Ω.
“Importantly for most applications, all the output channels are clocked and triggered synchronously so they maintain a constant, inter-channel clock phase relationship. Maximum skew between all channels is less than 130ps,” said Spectrum.
There are seven more in the DN6.66xx series (part of the company’s generatorNETBOX line), all with fewer channels, but including some that sample at up to 1.25Gsample/s with 400MHz bandwidth (see table below).
Clocking can be internal, or externally from a reference.
To allow the generation of long and complex waveforms, the AWGs combine large on-board memories (see table) with a number of operating modes including: single-shot, loop, FIFO, gating and sequence replay – for more efficient memory use, sequence mode cuts the memory into segments of different length and combines them with a sequence of commands including loops.
Front-panel multi-purpose I/O connectors provide access to multiple marker outputs, asynchronous digital inputs, asynchronous digital outputs, the trigger output, the run and arm status and the phase-locked loop reference clock.
The unit needs a host computer (from laptop to workstation), or to be on a network.
The software also has built-in features for waveform creation, data analysis and documentation.
These include an EasyGenerator function for producing standard wave shapes such as:
sine, rectangular, triangle, saw-tooth, SINC and DC
equation based waveform creation for complex modulated waveforms
import-export capability for data transfer between other devices such as digitisers and oscilloscopes, or software programs like MATLAB or LabVIEW.
SBench6 also supports data formats including ASCII, binary and WAV.
A software development kit (SDK) is provided with drivers and support examples, allowing programming in languages including C++, Visual Basic, VB.NET, C#, J#, Delphi, Java and Python. Third party software support and examples are also available, free, for LabVIEW, LabWindows and MATLAB.
For remote operation, Spectrum offers an embedded server option, DN6.xxx-Emb, which has a CPU, solid-state drive, more memory and remote software development access. “The embedded server option creates an open platform where users can run their own software while, at the time, still being connected via LAN for remote access. It effectively allows the generatorNETBOX to operate independently or, when connected to a LAN, as part of a larger test system,” said Spectrum.
“To develop these systems, and those with similar multi-receiver/emitter or multi-sensor technology, it is helpful to have the ability to generate multiple synchronised waveforms,” said the firm.
Called DN6.662-24, the instrument offers 625Msample/s 16bit output, and has an analogue bandwidth of 200MHz. Output is up to ±5V into high impedance and ±2.5V into 50Ω.
“Importantly for most applications, all the output channels are clocked and triggered synchronously so they maintain a constant, inter-channel clock phase relationship. Maximum skew between all channels is less than 130ps,” said Spectrum.
There are seven more in the DN6.66xx series (part of the company’s generatorNETBOX line), all with fewer channels, but including some that sample at up to 1.25Gsample/s with 400MHz bandwidth (see table below).
Clocking can be internal, or externally from a reference.
To allow the generation of long and complex waveforms, the AWGs combine large on-board memories (see table) with a number of operating modes including: single-shot, loop, FIFO, gating and sequence replay – for more efficient memory use, sequence mode cuts the memory into segments of different length and combines them with a sequence of commands including loops.
Front-panel multi-purpose I/O connectors provide access to multiple marker outputs, asynchronous digital inputs, asynchronous digital outputs, the trigger output, the run and arm status and the phase-locked loop reference clock.
The unit needs a host computer (from laptop to workstation), or to be on a network.
Spectrum’s SBench6-Pro software comes as standard with every unit and lets the user control operating modes and hardware settings from one graphical user interface.
The software also has built-in features for waveform creation, data analysis and documentation.
These include an EasyGenerator function for producing standard wave shapes such as:
sine, rectangular, triangle, saw-tooth, SINC and DC
equation based waveform creation for complex modulated waveforms
import-export capability for data transfer between other devices such as digitisers and oscilloscopes, or software programs like MATLAB or LabVIEW.
SBench6 also supports data formats including ASCII, binary and WAV.
A software development kit (SDK) is provided with drivers and support examples, allowing programming in languages including C++, Visual Basic, VB.NET, C#, J#, Delphi, Java and Python. Third party software support and examples are also available, free, for LabVIEW, LabWindows and MATLAB.
For remote operation, Spectrum offers an embedded server option, DN6.xxx-Emb, which has a CPU, solid-state drive, more memory and remote software development access. “The embedded server option creates an open platform where users can run their own software while, at the time, still being connected via LAN for remote access. It effectively allows the generatorNETBOX to operate independently or, when connected to a LAN, as part of a larger test system,” said Spectrum.
