Generating a multiple carrier testing scenario requires the use of multiple generators and a mixing system to combine them. This can make the set-up very complex and un-reliable. Using an AWG such as the High Definition (16- bit) T3AWG3K-series and the Waveform Editor SW Utility can make the task simple, flexible and affordable. This LAB Brief describes how to create a signal with 5 carrier tones that are chirped with LFM (Linear Frequency Modulation).

Equipment Requirements

This LAB Brief uses the T3AWG3K-series with 2, 4 or 8 analog channels and a Teledyne LeCroy digital oscilloscope with the Spectrum Analyzer option installed. To create the arbitrary waveform, we use the Waveform Editor SW Utility, the source SW can be downloaded from the T3AWG3K- series product page.

  • Double-click on the icon
  • Once the editor is open, drag ad size the windows according to the waveform requirement and then set
    • (1-fig.1) Samples/Time= 20 µs as we want to create a 20 µs burst
    • (2-fig.1) Sampling Rate=1 GS/s
  • Rename your "component" by right-clicking on the component tab. Here we re-mane "Carrier (Tone) at 150 MHz".
    Figure 1: Creation of the "Carrier (Tone) at 150 MHz"
  • (1- fig.2) Click on "Edit Waveform" menu and (2- fig.2) select "Sine". Set Frequency [Hz] = 150 MHz and Amplitude [V] = 300 mV and then press "OK"
  • Rename your "Segment" by right-clicking on the mouse. Here we rename "Multiple Carriers".
    Figure 2: Edit Waveform and Select Sine
  • (1-fig.3) Right click on Component tab, select "Add Component" then (2-fig.3) rename the new component as "Chirped Carrier (Tone) at 159-160 MHz"
    Figure 3: Adding Components
  • (1-fig.4) Click on "Edit Waveform" menu and select "Sweep", (2-fig.4) Select "Add": (3-fig. 4) Start Frequency [Hz] = 159 MHz, Stop Frequency [Hz] = 160 MHz, Amplitude [V] = 300 mV and then press "OK"
    Figure 4: Adding the sweep
  • Now repeat previous points (b to g) to create another component and rename it "Chirped Carrier (Tone) at 170-169 MHz"; then repeat again previous points (b to g) to create another component and rename it "Chirped Carrier (Tone) at 145-146 MHz" and again create another component and rename it "Chirped Carrier (Tone) at 135-137 MHz".
    Figure 5: Adding the 5 different carriers created to the "Multiple Carriers" Waveform
  • (1-fig.5) The five different carriers can be superimposed into the segment named (2-fig. 5) "Multiple Carriers".
  • Save the file clicking on the "Save Selected Waveform" select a file name you want and possibly add comments useful to remind the signal details.
  • Close the Waveform Editor SW Utility

Generate the Arbitrary Waveform just created

  • Run on the T3AWG3K-series platform the AWG operational mode
  • Push "DEFAULT" to start from a factory default set-up
  • User Interface of the T3AWG3K will appears as:
    Figure 6: Arbitrary Operational Mode User interface default set-up
  • Import from the folder where you stored the waveform file created using the Waveform Editor SW Utility and load it to Entry 1 of the Waveform Sequencer.
  • Set a DC component equal 0 V (Entry 2 of waveform sequencer) defined as 20K samples that repeats 10 time to create a blank interval between consecutive bursts.
  • Select the "Sampling Clock" to 1GS/s clicking on "Setting" from the main menu.
  • Press Run the T3AWG3K- platform

Capture and Analyze the signal using a Teledyne LeCroy Digital Oscilloscope.

  • Connect the CH1 output of the T3AWG3K to one of the Digital Oscilloscope.
  • Set the oscilloscope to analyze the power spectral density of the signal acquired. (fig. 8)

Most of the Teledyne LeCroy oscilloscopes can filter the acquired signal; here below the signal created with the Waveform Editor Utility and generated with T3AWG3K platform, finally acquired using the oscilloscope has been filtered in order to divide the five carriers (tones) and to analyze separately them to measure the chirp embedded for each carrier. Screenshot of the LFM chirp demodulation in fig below.

Conclusion

The T3AWG3k-series High-Definition (HD) Arbitrary Waveform Generator with the Waveform Editor SW Utility combined with the High-Definition (HD) Teledyne LeCroy Oscilloscopes provides a far superior insightful HighDefinition stimulus-response measurements set-up.

ability to generate a multiple carrier testing scenario with 16-bits vertical resolution (HD), Output Voltage swing up to ±12 Vpp (into 50Ω) and waveform memory up to 1 GPts. points can be an invaluable tool in troubleshooting complex signal transmission systems.