- Spectrum Instrumentation has announced the integration of a Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS) option into its 65xx Series Arbitrary Waveform Generators.
- This feature allows these instruments to be used both as Arbitrary Waveform Generators (AWGs) and as sources of signals based on direct digital synthesis.
The DDS option is now available across the entire range of the German manufacturer’s arbitrary waveform generators. According to the company, more than 70 instrument variants are compatible with this feature, covering various channel configurations and frequency ranges up to 3.9 GHz.
Signal Generation in DDS Mode
In DDS mode, the 65xx Series generators can produce up to 16 sine waves per channel. Each component can be individually defined in terms of frequency, amplitude, and phase. The parameters can be adjusted using software commands or via a dedicated control interface.
Parameter changes can be applied at intervals of approximately 8 nanoseconds. This architecture enables the generation of multitonal or modulated signals without requiring prior calculation of complex waveforms or significant data transfers to the instrument.
Features of the 65xx Series Arbitrary Waveform Generators
The 65xx Series arbitrary waveform generators are designed for test and measurement applications in laboratories or automated systems. They offer a sampling rate of 40 to 125 MS/s, 16-bit resolution, and a bandwidth of up to 70 MHz.
The instruments are available as PCI Express cards for installation in computers or as standalone instruments compatible with the LXI architecture and controllable via Ethernet. Individual cards can have from 1 to 8 channels, while complete systems can include up to 80 synchronized channels.
Applications and Frequency Sweep Generation
The DDS option enables the generation of frequency sweeps and modulated signals. It supports programming frequency and amplitude ramps as well as chaining command sequences.
For example, the generators can produce a progressive sinusoidal sweep from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, used in certain vibration tests for identifying resonant frequencies or studying mechanical fatigue phenomena in the automotive and aerospace industries. The ability to run up to 16 sweeps simultaneously across different frequency ranges allows for multiple tests to be performed in parallel.
Software Environment
The 65xx series arbitrary wave generators are designed for computer control. They rely on the software suite developed by Spectrum Instrumentation, which is compatible with Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems.
The software includes programming examples for various environments, including Python, Matlab, C++, and LabVIEW, as well as a high-level Python API. A graphical interface called “DDS Control” is also provided for configuration and signal generation without requiring programming.
