11-2012

Test & Measurement
Agilent Technologies Introduces New Family of Waveform
Generators with Unrivaled Signal Accuracy
Agilent Technologies Inc. introduced
the 33500B Series waveform
generators. The eight new
one- and two-channel models,
which generate waveforms up
to 30 MHz, incorporate exclusive
Trueform signal-generation
technology. Trueform enables
these models to offer unmatched
capabilities for generating
a full range of signals for the
most demanding measurements
required when designing electronic
devices.
The 33500B waveform generators
provide the lowest jitter and
lowest total harmonic distortion
in their class, giving engineers
the ability to generate the exact
signals they need. With better
jitter performance, engineers
can place edges more accurately,
helping them reduce timing
errors in their circuit designs.
With total harmonic distortion
less than 0.04 percent and nonharmonic
spurs less than 75
dBc, the 33500B Series offers
clean signals that don‘t introduce
noise, enabling users to
get more accurate results.
The 33500B Series‘ 8.4-ns
rise and fall times and low jitter
allow engineers to set trigger
points more accurately as
well. The instruments‘ 16 bits
of resolution allows engineers
to make output changes down
to 1 µV - giving them the ability
to test today‘s low-voltage
circuits and designs.
With the 33500B Series, engineers
can take advantage of easy
software upgrades to expand the
instruments‘ capabilities when
they need to increase bandwidth
and add true point-by-point arbitrary
waveforms and deeper
waveform memory.
Trueform Technology
Over the past two decades, direct
digital synthesis has been the
waveform-generation technology
of choice in function generators
and economical arbitrary
waveform generators. Waveform
generators built with DDS offer
good frequency resolution, convenient
custom waveforms and
a low price. However, DDS has
intrinsic limitations as well.
Engineers with exacting requirements
have had to either work
around the compromised performance
or spend up to 10 times
more for a high-end, point-bypoint
waveform generator.
Unique Capabilities
In addition to point-by-point
arbitrary waveforms, the
33500B Series offers features
not normally found on waveform
generators in this class:
Waveform summing and combining
capability: Allows engineers
to easily add noise to signals
for margin and distortion
testing using only a single channel.
On a two-channel model,
engineers can sum and combine
up to four signals.
Variable-bandwidth noise:
Allows engineers to adjust the
bandwidth of the built-in noise
generator to control the frequency
content of their signals.
AWR Design Forum
(ADF)/German Users
Group Meeting
Scheduled for Nov.
28, 2012 in Munich
The AWR Design Forum/German
User Group Meeting is
set for Wednesday, November
28, 2012 in Munich, Germany
at the Holiday Inn City Centre
Hotel.
The ADF/German User Group
Meeting is a one-day FREE
event for designers of microwave
and RF circuits and systems
to come together to learn
News
Waveform sequencing: Allows
engineers to create multiple configured
waveforms with several
common segments. Users can
also build long, complex waveforms
using minimal instrument
memory.
Pseudo-random binary sequence
pattern generation: Allows engineers
to test digital serial buses
by streaming standard PRBS
patterns - like PN7 and PN19 -
without the need for a separate
pulse generator.
Optional baseband IQ player:
Allows wireless communication
engineers to economically
play IQ signals without the need
for an expensive signal generator.
The IQ player provides the
ability to make adjustments to
the signal, including amplitude
gain, channel offset and channel
skew as needed for a more
accurate representation.
■ Agilent Technologies
www.agilent.com
about AWR‘s latest products
and technologies. The event
also showcases presentations
from customers and partners
working in the microwave &
RF industry, as well as offers
all the opportunity to network
and collaborate on industry
issues and trends. Registration
is now open: http://www.
awrdesignforum.com.
Where: Holiday Inn City Centre,
Hochstrasse 3, Munich,
81669
When: November 28, 2012
from 9:00 to 16:00.
■ AWR Corporation
54 hf-praxis 11/2012