06 | Keysight | M9336A I/Q Arbitrary Waveform Generator - Data Sheet
Module memory
The AWG has up to 4 GB of memory which is managed as a single shared storage
space for waveforms, markers, and sequencer programs. The memory segments for the
data that shares this storage space are dynamically allocated. This generally results in
>500 MSa of waveform storage (depending on memory option).
Triggers and markers
The AWG can accept hardware or software triggers which are primarily used to:
– Control the starting of waveform segments/sequences
– Control internal operation of waveform sequences, e.g. loop until trigger and wait for
trigger
Triggers sources include the front panel Ext 1/2 connectors and PXI backplane. Software
triggers are also allowed.
Output markers are used to identify points in time that are correlated to a waveform as it
is played. Each marker is typically aligned with a particular sample of the waveform. The
marker can be output on:
– An analog channel. A marker being output on an analog channel goes through the
same DSP signal chain as other channels and results in the most accurate place-
ment relative to another analog channel.
– Through the front panel Ext 1/2 connectors
– Through the PXI trigger lines
Keysight Trueform signal generation
The AWG includes Keysight’s exclusive Trueform technology that allows waveforms to
be expressed with the same shape, regardless if the signal is 1 Sa/s or the maximum
rate of 1.28 GSa/s. Waveforms are always anti-aliased for exceptional accuracy, and can
be played at the selectable sample rate, without the chance of missing short-duration
anomalies that are critical for testing device reliability. Digital waveforms with transients
and pulses can be reproduced with the same characteristics every time.
Many arbitrary waveform generators store points in memory and then read those points
out one after another and clock them into a DAC. This requires a low-noise variable-fre-
quency clock which adds to complexity and cost. Trueform technology instead uses a
patented virtual variable clock with advanced filtering techniques that track the sample
rate of the arbitrary waveform. This exclusive digital sampling technique results in overall
better signal integrity with more efficient memory use. It also enables the waveform
segment to be scaled in time to produce different frequency shifted versions of the same
waveform simply by changing the waveform sample rate.
KEYSIGHT [ Keysight Technologies ]
