Model 5200 PXIBus Arbitrary Waveform Generator - Tabor Electronics - #1

Model 5200 is a Single-Channel PXI-based Arbitrary Waveform Generator. It is a high performance waveform generator that combines many powerful functions in one small package. Supplied free with the instrument is ArbConnection software, which is used for controlling the 5200 and for generating, editing and downloading waveforms from a remote computer.

The 5200 is a sensible alternative to aGPIB-based waveform generator when developing a PXI-based test system. The 5200 provides a synergistic combination of a function generator, arbitrary waveform synthesizer, programmable sequencer, pulse generator, and modulation generator in one instrument. The 5200 delivers all this at a lower cost than comparable bench-type, or VXI-based instruments. This versatility ensures that the Model 5200 will adapt to future testing needs as well as current ones.

New technology requirements are driving communications systems to use increasingly

narrow channel width. A high sample rate of 50 MS/s makes the 5200 an ideal modulation source for troubleshooting new encoding schemes. The 5200 also provides high-speed waveforms to simulate signal distortion, power line cycle dropouts, video signals, component failures and power supply transients.

The 14-bit resolution provides 16,384 output levels. This means that even audio waveforms can be generated with excellent fidelity. It also allows video - and other complex waveforms -to be generated with small details superimposed on large signals, in order to test the response of receiving systems.

The 5200 provides 2Meg of waveform memory as standard, far more than competitive models. This waveform memory is accessible via a high-speed interface. Also, waveform memory is segmentable, allowing the storage of up to 4096 different waveforms of variable size. This allows test software to switch between many different waveforms rapidly and without having

to download multiple times, enhancing test throughput in a way that cannot be duplicated by other competing products.

Powerful sequencing capability allows linkage of up to 4096 waveform segments and/or bursts (repeated segments) into strings. A segment can be repeated up to 128K times in burst mode. Sequenced functions run continuously or are initiated by a trigger. It is also possible to mix continuous and triggered segments within one sequence. These sequencing features permit the creation of complex waveform or pulse patterns using minimal amounts of memory. Sequences are created by writing a sequence table. Sequence table download is extremely fast because ArbConnection writes to registers and does not require the overhead of an embedded controller.