The 33600A Series, which includes four different single- and dual-channel models, is capable of generating waveforms up to 120 MHz at a sampling rate of 1 Gsample/s. These waveform generators deliver the lowest total harmonic distortion and jitter in their class (less than 1 ps of jitter, equivalent to a 200-fold improvement over previous-generation direct digital synthesis generators), enabling engineers to generate precisely the signals they need. The improved jitter performance means technicians and engineers can position edges more accurately, helping to reduce timing errors in their circuit designs. With total harmonic distortion below 0.03% and non-harmonic spurious noise below -75 dBc, the 33600A Series provides pristine signals that introduce no noise, allowing users to achieve more precise results.
Thanks to the extremely low jitter and 3 ns rise and fall times of the 33600A Series, users can also set trigger points more precisely. The low 1 mVpp voltage range allows them to make output changes as small as 1 µV, a critical capability when testing today's low-voltage designs and circuits.
As an added benefit, users of the 33600A Series can take advantage of simple software updates to expand the capabilities of their instruments, for example, if they need to increase the memory to 64 Msample/s or the bandwidth to 120 MHz. They can even update their instruments to have NISPOM file security.
Trueform Technology:
While direct digital synthesis (DDS) has traditionally been the preferred technology for waveform generation, it has inherent limitations that often force users to seek alternatives to the lack of features or spend up to five times more money on a high-end waveform generator. Trueform technology eliminates these difficulties by combining the best of DDS with a point-per-clock (PPC) architecture. When used in the 33600A Series, it provides a range of capabilities not typically available in waveform generators of this category, such as:
Summing and combining waveforms to easily add noise to signals for margin and distortion testing using a single channel. With the two-channel model of the 33600A Series, users can sum and combine up to four signals.
or Variable bandwidth noise to adjust the bandwidth of the integrated noise generator and thus control the frequency content of a signal.
o Waveform sequencing to create multiple waveforms configured with several shared segments and long, complex waveforms, all using very little instrument memory.
or Generation of PRBS (pseudo-random binary sequence) patterns to test digital serial buses by transmitting standard PRBS patterns (from PN3 to PN32) without the need to use a separate pulse generator.
or Optional Baseband IQ Player for mobile communications engineers who wish to reproduce IQ signals economically without the need for an expensive signal generator or making the necessary adjustments (e.g., amplitude gain, channel offset and skew between channels) to the signal for a more accurate representation.
“Trueform technology represents a revolutionary shift in waveform generation compared to previous techniques like DDS,” said Huei Sin Ee, Vice President and General Manager of Agilent’s General Purpose Electronic Measurement Division. “By employing a unique digital sampling technique, it delivers unprecedented performance and superior signal fidelity at the same affordable price customers expect from DDS. With these capabilities, our new Trueform 33600A Series waveform generators are now enabling technicians and engineers to dramatically accelerate the development of even their most complex waveforms.”
