Test & Measurement     2008-04-28

Tektronix : Arbitrary/Function Generator For Applications Requiring High Signal Amplitude

Key specifications include: Sine 10 MHz; Square/pulse/arb 5 MHz Other waveforms 100 kHz Arb sample rate 250 MS/s Waveform memory 4 x 128K Amplitude    50 Ohm load / High impedance load 20 Vpp / 40 Vpp

Tektronix Arbitrary/Function Generato AFG3011

Tektronix announces an Arbitrary/Function Generator, a new addition to the AFG3000 Series to aid design, test, and manufacturing engineers. The series enables a broad range of customers in various industries and applications to stimulate, test and evaluate devices, and teach students about electronic circuits.  Thanks to superior performance, versatility and ease of use, these units satisfy fundamental needs to minimize time spent for test setup and to evaluate devices swiftly and thoroughly.

  The new AFG3011 provides signal amplitudes up to 20 Vpp into 50 Ohm loads.  In terms of functionality and versatility, the new model is identical to the other models of the AFG3000 Series.   

“The AFG3011 will have a large appeal because it eliminates the need for a separate amplifier, simplifies the test set-up and offers cost savings over alternative solutions,” said Bob Buxton, senior marketing manager, Signal Source Product Line, Tektronix.  “Customers will also benefit from the full versatility and exceptional ease of use that has made the AFG3000 Series a popular choice with many users.”

 

While the vast majority of arbitrary/function generators including the AFG3000 Series provide a maximum of 10 Vpp amplitude into 50 Ohm loads, a fair number of applications in automotive electronics design, government and military applications require higher amplitudes.  Frequency requirements in these applications are typically low, with the majority falling into a range of several kHz to single digit MHz.  In the past, customers used expensive external amplifiers to boost the amplitude provided by standard arbitrary/function generators or improvised the required tests with other means.

The new AFG3011 includes a high amplitude output stage and delivers up to 20 Vpp into 50 Ohm loads straight out of the box.  This saves the user valuable set-up time and equipment cost.  While most amplifiers do not feature an amplitude display, the AFG3011 shows the effective output amplitude directly on the instrument screen.  This gives the user full confidence in the correct instrument settings and improves the amplitude accuracy without the need to measure the actual signal with a voltmeter.  

For further informations visit www.tektronix.com/sources.