Using your Arbitrary Waveform Generator

Updated 20 October 2016

sinusoidal-square-waveforms

By now you are aware that when it comes to measuring electronic signals, oscilloscopes are what you are going to be using. However, if you were providing a circuit with a particular signal, a function generator is the perfect tool for that job!

If you aren't familiar with the concept of functions or waveforms, check out this article which gives you a quick run down of the basics of waveform lingo

If you are familiar with waveforms, you probably have an idea of the two basic waveforms we deal with in electronics. I'm referring to the sinusoidal waveform and the square waveform, usually representing AC and DC signals (see screenshot A). Our signal generators come with the ability to produce these waveforms, a few extra waveform types (using the front panel controls) and then 48 additional built-in arbitrary ramp-pulse-waveform-exampleswaveforms. Additional waveforms included are ramp functions and pulse functions (see screenshot B). 

Arbitrary? What do we mean by Arbitrary? Well, it’s a function generator that allows for the creation and generation of completely customized waveforms. Our RIGOL DG1022 comes with 48 built-in waveforms that you can load up and edit using the front panel controls. More advanced signal generation can also be done via Rigols Ultra Wave software (free software that comes with your Signal Generator), you can upload this signal to the signal generator via the USB port on the front or back panel.

There are a bunch of menu options and specifications that we have cleared up down below, take a look at anything you aren't sure of to get a better idea of it.

Attenuation - The reduction in signal amplitude through a device, measured in decibels (dB). You should note that the measurement of decibels corresponds to the function property being measured. This means a dB loss in current is different to the dB loss in power etc.

Distortion - A measurement of the signal generators deviation from the 'perfect' signal. Also expressed in decibels (dB).

Offset - A value affecting the position of a signal without changing its shape. The voltage level the signal oscillates around will be shifted up or down by this amount.

Rise-time - The period of time it takes a signal to rise from 10% to 90% of its total rising edge height. Falling time is similar but from the higher to lower level.

Duty Cycle - The percentage of time a signal is displayed high as opposed to low.

To actually get started using your signal generator, the first thing you are going to do is connect up your BNC connector to one of your channels on the front panel and switch it on! From here you have full control of the signal that is set to be generated, either by the direct entry keypad on the front panel or using the wheel/blue menu select buttons. When you have set the frequency, amplitude etc on your signal and your probes are connected up, select the output button beside the channel you are connected to. That's all there is to it!

You are now generating your specified signal to your circuit if you would like to change any settings you can do so on the fly using the controls outlined above. On the Rigol DG1022, more advanced options can be found above the direct entry keypad. Some of that include:

Sweep - This is a function generator ability to vary the frequency of a signal over a period of time. You set a start frequency, end frequency and time period and your signal will be periodically swept between those frequencies. The options that for sweep type are logarithmic or linear.

Burst - The burst function allows you to specify how many repetitions of a signal will be generated. You get options such as cycles, phase, period, delay and trigger in the burst submenu. 

Modulation - The method by which you can use the properties of one signal type to modify the output of the signal generator.

In addition to their relevant properties, all of the methods outlined above also allow you to set an internal, external or manual trigger.

This was our rundown on Signal Generators, getting you to a functional point in your journey into testing and measuring equipment. It was a bit of a broad article, so if you have any questions or ideas for improvement, feel free to let us know. Just start the discussion below!

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