25 Common Things You Can Do With

an Arbitrary/Function Generator
Embedded and Semiconductor Test Applications
Clock Source

Digital Circuit

 What for
– Frequency margining: Test clock frequency operating range of circuit boards. Substitute
unavailable clock source for function test of device.
 Benefit of using AFG325x
– Cost savings over dedicated pulse generators.
– Ease of use, compact form factor
 Target company
– Companies that develop embedded and digital communication circuitry.
 Target customer
– Electronic Test and Design Engineers.
Characterization of Logic Devices - Timing Margin Test

 What for
– Stimulate logic device with data and clock signal to characterize set-up and hold time.
 Why for AFG
– Synchronized, dual channels.
– Ease of use and compact form factor.
 In what place
– Companies designing and using logic circuits.
 Who is Target customer
– Electronic Design and Test Engineers
Characterize Phase Locked Loop (PLL) Circuits
Spectrum Analyzer
Jitter
Analyzer

Aux. Clock
PLL
Circuit
Main Clock

 What for
– Measure Bandwidth and Jitter transfer of Phase Locked Loop (PLL) Circuit .
 Benefit of using AFG3252
– Dual channels.
– Ease of use.
– Compact form factor.
 Target company
– Semiconductor companies that develop PLLs.
– Datacommunication equipment manufacturers.
 Target customer
– Electronic design and test engineers
Characterizing Operational Amplifiers

 What for
– Measure phase shift, gain, overshoot, slew rate performance of operational amplifiers and
buffer circuits.
 Benefit of using AFG3xxx
– Dual channels to generate differential signal.
– Ease of use, compact form factor.
 Target company
– Semiconductor manufacturers who develop operational amplifiers.
 Target customer
– Electronics Design and Test Engineers.
Timing Margin Test of AFE for CCD Sensor

 What for
– Determine sensitivity of AFE to falling edge time of input signal.
 Benefit of using AFG3252
– Pulse frequency up to 120 MHz. Falling edge time is adjustable conveniently and
independently from rising edge time.
 Target company
– Semiconductor and electronics companies that develop digital imaging products.
 Target customer
– Electronic Design Engineer.
Characterizing CCD Sensor – Delay Margin Test

 What for
– Test delay margins of the clock input of the CCD circuit.
 Benefit of using AFG3252
– Square wave up to 120 MHz, dual channels, convenient short-cut keys and fine adjustability of
delay between channels 1 and 2.
 Target company
– Semiconductor and electronics companies that develop digital imaging technology.
 Target customer
– Electronic Design Engineer.
Testing Audio DAC

Control Signal
Clock
Audio DAC
Analyzer

 What for
– Functional test of audio ADC and DAC.
– Evaluate clock frequency operating range of audio ADC and DAC.
 Benefit of using AFG3252
– Dual channels. Good noise and jitter specifications.
 Target company
– Semiconductor companies that design audio ADCs and DACs.
 Target customer
– Electronic Design Engineer
DC Power Supply Test

DC
+ Electronic
Power
System
Supply –

 What for
– Determine response of electronic system (PC motherboard, automotive electronic device, etc.)
to transients and disturbances in power supply.
 Benefit of using AFG3xxx
– Powerful waveform creation and editing capability of ArbExpress.
– Ease of use and compact form factor of instrument.
 Target company
– Companies that design computers, peripherals, embedded systems, automotive electronics
 Target customer
– Electronic design engineers.
RF Related Applications
Measure Frequency Response of Bandpass Filter

Spectrum Analyzer

Bandpass Filter
 What for
– Stimulate filter with swept sinewave and measure filter’s frequency response with spectrum
analyzer.
 Benefit of using AFG3xxx
– Ease of use.
– Compact form factor.
 Target company
– Filter vendors.
– Wireless communication equipment vendors.
– Student labs in universities.
 Target customer
– Electronic design engineers.
– Professors, lab managers.
Measure Intermodulation Distortion of RF Components

Dual tone RF
Component
 What for
– Stimulate RF components with dual tone to measure second and third order intermodulation
distortion with a spectrum analyzer.
 Benefit of using AFG3252
– Create dual tone conveniently via waveform math in ArbExpress.
– Ease of use reduces set-up time
– Compact form factor saves room on the bench.
 Target company
– Companies that design or use RF amplifiers, gain blocks, mixers, modulators, connectors,
splitters, couplers, relays, attenuators, PIN diodes, carbon resistors, coaxial cable, and others.
 Target customer
– Electronic design engineers.
Pulsed Noise-Figure Measurement

 What for
– AFG3252 generates two synchronous pulse signals to power up RF amplifier and trigger noise
figure measurement on spectrum analyzer.
 Benefit of using AFG3252
– Dual channels. Ease of use.
– Saves cost and bench space compared to dedicated pulse generators.
 Target company
– Companies that develop components and systems for wireless communications for burst-type
standards (TDMA, GSM, …), as well as radar and electronic warfare.
 Target customer
– RF design and test engineers
Functional Test of RFID Receiver ICs

Trigger

Transformer RFID Receiver IC

 What for
– AFG simulates 4 bit RFID pattern and provides trigger signal for functional test of 134.2 kHz
RFID receiver ICs.
 Benefit of using AFG3022B
– Dual channels to generate RFID signal and synchronous trigger signal.
ArbExpress to define RFID pulses via mathematical formulas.
 Target company
– Semiconductor companies that design RFID ICs. Designers of RFID readers.
 Target customer
– Electronic design engineer.
EMC Radiation Testing

Ext. Modulation
Audio
Signal

Aircraft
Spectrum
Comms
Modulated RF System Analyzer

 What for
– Measure radiation of ATIS* audio signal inside aircraft. AFG3252 feeds 130 MHz carrier
modulated with audio signal from into communication system of aircraft .
 Benefit of using AFG3xxx
– Dual channels, sine wave frequency range, external modulation capability, compact form
factor. AFG3252 replaced PC playing audio file, audio amplifier and RF generator.
 Target company
– Aircraft manufacturers. Companies that test aircraft communication systems.
 Target customer
– EMC test engineers.

*Automated Terminal Information System

Characterizing I/Q Modulators

 What for
– Measure quadrature error, frequency response, up-converter losses.
 Benefit of using AFG3xxx
– Synchronized dual channels.
– Phase delay between channels adjustable on the fly.
– 240 MHz sine .
 Target company
– Semiconductor and wireless communication equipment manufacturers.
 Target customer
– Electronic Design and Test Engineers.
Education Related Applications
Measure Frequency Response of Bandpass Filter

Spectrum Analyzer

Bandpass Filter
 What for
– Stimulate filter with swept sinewave and measure filter’s frequency response with spectrum
analyzer.
 Benefit of using AFG3xxx
– Ease of use.
– Compact form factor.
 Target company
– Filter vendors.
– Wireless communication equipment vendors.
– Student labs in universities.
 Target customer
– Electronic design engineers.
– Professors, lab managers.
AM/FM Radio Test and Alignment

 What for
– Measure IF bandwidth, align RF stage, measure audio bandwidth of FM receiver.
 Benefit of using AFG3xxx
– Ease of use.
– Compact form factor.
 Target company
– AM/FM radio manufacturers.
– Student labs in universities.
 Target customer
– Professors, lab managers.
Automotive and Transportation Applications
Test & Optimization of Engine Control Units

cam shaft

DSP Platform Engine

ignition
(ECU Emulator) Ignition
timing control analog
fuel injection
 What for
– Simulate various automotive sensor signals, such as pressure, temperature, speed, rotation
and angular position for functional test and optimization of engine control units (ECU) for
automotive applications.
 Benefit of using AFG302xB, AFG3011
– Large display confirms all settings at a single glance. Amplitude can be entered as Vpp/Offset
or as High/Low values. ArbExpress to create sensor signals. Amplitude up to 20 Vpp
eliminates need for external amplifier.
 Target company
– Automotive electronics companies
 Target customer
– Electronic Design Engineer
Simulation of Automotive Sensor Signals

Camshaft Signal Power Train

Control Module
Crankshaft Signal

 What for
– Simulate crankshaft, camshaft, wheel, knock and other automotive engine sensor signals.
 Benefit of using AFG3xx2
– Dual channels
– Powerful waveform creation and editing capability of ArbExpress.
– Ease of use and compact form factor of instrument.
 Target company
– Companies who design electronic engine control systems for automobiles.
 Target customer
– Electronic Design Engineers
Characterize and optimize Power MOSFET circuitry in
Automotive Electronics

 What for
– Stimulate Power MOSFET circuitry with pulse signal to measure turn-on and turn-off delay, as
well as rise and fall time.
 Benefit of using AFG3011
– 20 Vpp output level eliminates need for external amplifier.
– Ease of use reduces set-up time
– Compact form factor saves room on the bench.
 Target company
– Companies that design motion control, power management, climate control, electronic stability
systems, or integrated starter/alternators for automobils.
 Target customer
– Electronic Design Engineers.
Analyzing Switching Waveforms of IGBT circuitry

 What for
– Measure on and off switching characteristics of IGBT circuitry for ignition coil drives, motor
controllers, safety related systems in automobiles, and various industrial applications.
 Benefit of using AFG3011
– 20 Vpp output level eliminates need for external amplifier.
– Ease of use reduces set-up time
– Compact form factor saves room on the bench.
 Target company
– Automotive electronics vendors who design motion control, power management, climate
control, electronic stability systems, or integrated starter/alternators for automobiles.
– Manufacturers of induction heating and welding equipments
 Target customer
– Electronic Design Engineers.
Testing of Train Speed Control Systems

Axis 2

Train Speed
Control System

Axis 1

 What for
– Test and service of train speed control systems.
 Benefit of using AFG3022B / AFG3011
– Generate dual synchronous or independent signals (AFG3022B)
– >10 Vpp amplitude (AFG3011)
 Target company
– Designers of train speed control systems
– Companies that service and repair locomotives and trains
 Target customer
– Design engineer, service & test engineer
Medical Applications
Testing Pacemakers, Cardioverter Defibrillators, and
other Implantable Medical Devices

µV Level

Isolation
Circuit
Medical
Device

 What for
– The AFG3022B simulates normal and irregular biomedical signals (e.g. heart fibrillation) for the
functional test of medical devices .
 Benefit of using AFG3xxx
– Tightly synchronized dual channels, floating output to generate differential signals.
– Instrument’s ease of use and compact form factor.
 Target company
– Companies that design medical devices.
 Target customer
– Electronic design and test engineers.
Testing Medical Ultrasound Equipment

Trigger

Power
Amplifier
Ultrasound
Ultrasound
Detector Imaging
Transducer
System
 What for
– Drive ultrasound transducer with sine wave bursts to test medical imaging system.
 Benefit of using AFG310x
– Ease of use.
– Compact form factor.
 Target company
– Companies developing medical ultrasound equipment.
– Universities engaged in ultrasound research.
 Target customer
– Electronic design engineers, researchers.
Testing Detector Circuit of Medical Ultrasound
Equipment

Ultrasound
Arbitrary
Diagnostic
waveform
System

 What for
– Simulate ultrasound detector signal to characterize input circuit of medical ultrasound system.
 Benefit of using AFG310x
– Ability to add noise and jitter internally.
– Ease of use.
– Compact form factor.
 Target company
– Medical diagnostic equipment manufacturers.
– Universities engaged in ultrasound research.
 Target customer
– Electronic design engineers, researchers.
Industrial Applications
Characterizing Dynamic Performance of Hydraulic
Servo Valves
Dynamic
Signal
Analyzer

Hydraulic
Servo Valve

Process
 What for
– AFG stimulates servo valve with square wave to determine actuating time (step response),
frequency response (Bode plot) and other specifications for datasheet.
 Benefit of using AFG3xxx
– Versatility (square, ramp, sine, arb)
– >10 Vpp to determine valve characteristics in overdrive.
– Ease of use
 Target company
– Companies that design and manufacture hydraulic servo valves.
 Target customer
– Electromechanical design engineers
Analyzing Switching Waveforms of IGBT circuitry

 What for
– Measure on and off switching characteristics of IGBT circuitry for ignition coil drives, motor
controllers, safety related systems in automobiles, and various industrial applications.
 Benefit of using AFG3011
– 20 Vpp output level eliminates need for external amplifier.
– Ease of use reduces set-up time
– Compact form factor saves room on the bench.
 Target company
– Automotive electronics vendors who design motion control, power management, climate
control, electronic stability systems, or integrated starter/alternators for automobiles.
– Manufacturers of induction heating and welding equipments
 Target customer
– Electronic Design Engineers.
Research Applications
 Driving and Modulating Laser Diodes
Waveform

AM PM
PC with MatLab
Electro Electro
Photo
Laser Diode Optical Optical
Diode
Modulator Modulator

 What for
– Drive laser diodes and electro-optical modulators for laser based communication
systems.
 Benefit of using AFG3252
– Dual channels, arbitrary waveforms up to 125 MHz, versatility, ease of use.
 Target companies
– Universities, research institutes who are involved with optical communication
 Target customers
– Researchers