Programmable Pulse/Pattern Generator

Specifications

All specifications are typical unless noted otherwise.

Output signal

The following notes apply to the output signal characteristics:

• The output characteristics apply to the Ch1 and Ch2 outputs.
• Ch1 and Ch2 are independent.
• True and complement outputs share the same settings. Differential values (true minus complement) are double those stated.
• The output is designed to drive into a 50 Ohm load terminated to a user-provided voltage. The termination voltage must be in the range specified. For the generator to display accurate levels, the user must enter the actual termination voltage.
• Each channel has independent delay and duration settings.

Amplitude

Range

50 mV to 2.5 V, within level window

Resolution

3 digits (1 mV best case)

Accuracy

±(50 mV + 1%), 50 Ω to 0 V termination

Level window

Range

-2.0 V to +3.3 V

Resolution

3 digits (1 mV best case)

Offset

Range

-1.975 V to +3.275 V, within level window

Resolution

3 digits (1 mV best case)

Accuracy

±(50 mV +2%), 50 Ω to 0 V termination

Termination voltage

Range

-2.0 V to +3.3 V

Resolution

3 digits (1 mV best case)

Baseline noise, RMS

1 mV

Overshoot/Preshoot/RInging

±(5% + 50 mV), at 25 °C

Signal rise/fall time

150 ps, 10 - 90 %

Width/Duration

Range

250 ps to (period-250 ps), May be set as duration or duty cycle

Resolution

4 digits, 1 ps best case

Accuracy

±(100 ps + 1%)

Jitter RMS (trigger out to trailing edge)

Delay

Range

0 ps to period

Resolution

4 digits, 1 ps best case

Accuracy

±(50 ps + 1%), Relative to 0 delay setting

Jitter RMS (trigger out to leading edge)

Output impedance

50 Ω

Internal clock

The following notes apply to the internal clock characteristics:

• The clock source is shared between both channels.
• Some modes of operation (burst, pulse with external trigger, RZ/R1 patterns) are only specified to 800 MHz. However, over-programming is allowed for these modes, and some will work to frequencies higher than 800 MHz.
• Spread spectrum clocking and internal clock modulation sinusoidal jitter cannot be used at the same time.

Frequency

Range

15 MHz - 1.6 GHz, Can be set as frequency or period

Resolution

1 Hz

Accuracy

±100 ppm

RMS Jitter (int ref, int clock, cycle-to-cycle)

Pulse/Pattern clock source

Internal Clock or “Clk In”

Spread spectrum clocking

1 kHz - 100 kHz, 0% to 2%; Triangular wave frequency modulation of the clock at a specified frequency and % amplitude below nominal selected clock frequency

Pattern mode

Pattern

Types

Data, PRBS

PRBS length

2ⁿ - 1 with n = 5, 6…15, 23, 31 

Pattern length resolution

8 bits

Memory depth

16 Mbit, per channel

Data formats

NRZ

Yes, programmable crossing point

RZ, R1

Yes, programmable duration/duty cycle

RZ, R1 max repetition rate

800 MHz, up to 1.6 GHz for NRZ data and 800 MHz for RZ, R1 data

Crossing point adjustment

For NRZ format only. Calibrated for 50% duty cycle data signals.

Range

30 - 70%

Resolution

1%

Burst mode

The following notes apply to the Burst mode characteristics

• Each channel has independent number of pulses and common burst period.
• See the Burst mode screen under Typical performance.

Burst count

2 - 1,048,576 pulses, number of pulses in burst

Burst period

Range

8 - 1,048,576 clocks, number of clock cycles in a burst. Must be ≥ number of pulses.

Resolution

8 clocks, clock cycles

Maximum repetition rate in Burst mode

800 MHz

Jitter insertion

The following notes apply to the Jitter insertion specifications:

• The pulse generators are capable of generating jitter from two different mechanisms, modulation of the internal clock source or output channel delay modulation.
• Delay modulation sources can be either internal or external. External delay modulation is applied via an analog signal on the delay inputs (separate for each channel).
• Modulation of the internal clock is applied to both channels of a two-channel instrument.
• Delay modulation jitter may be applied to each channel independently with the ability to apply different jitter functions to each channel.
• Internal clock and delay modulation jitter can be applied in any combination. The combined peak-to-peak amplitude of delay modulation jitter (deterministic waveforms, random, and external) is limited to 0.5 UI.
• The trigger output is also subject to the internal clock modulation jitter but not delay modulation jitter.
• The bandwidth of the delay modulation jitter depends on the clock frequency. Below 300 MHz clock frequency, the delay modulation jitter insertion bandwidth will be reduced. Jitter insertion signal frequencies approaching ½ of the clock frequency or higher are not recommended and can result in unexpected behavior (due to in-band mix products / undersampling).
• Spread spectrum clocking and internal clock modulation sinusoidal jitter cannot be used at the same time.
• The following figure shows a plot of the limit points (linearly interpolated on a log-log scale between stated frequency points) for internal clock modulation sinusoidal jitter:
  
  
  
  
  

Internal clock modulation sinusoidal jitter (peak-to-peak)

Jitter amplitude range is from 0 ns to the values at the specified frequencies. Between the frequencies, the limit points are interpolated linearly on log-log scale plot. Please refer to the Clock Modulation plot.

10 kHz & 30 kHz

40 ns

3 MHz & 10 MHz

0.6 ns

Delay Modulation Jitter

See the bandwidth note above.

Deterministic waveforms

Square (peak-to-peak), 1 Hz to 20 MHz: 0 to 0.4 UI

Triangle (peak-to-peak), 1 Hz to 4 MHz: 0 to 0.5 UI

Sine (peak-to-peak), 1 Hz to 20 MHz: 0 to 0.5 UI (See Sine Delay Modulation Jitter Insertion figure above for an example.)

Random jitter Gausian noise (RMS)

80 MHz BW: 0 to 0.08 UI (See Random Delay Modulation Jitter Insertion figure above for an example.)

External input (peak-to-peak)

80 MHz BW: 0 to 0.5 UI (±1 V maximum useable input with 2 V peak-to-peak input corresponding to peak-to-peak jitter of 0.5 UI. See the bandwidth note above.)

Trigger types

When in Pulse mode

Continuous

One pulse per period of the internal clock or Clk In

Ext In, Edge

One pulse per valid edge on the Ext In input. The latency between the Ext In signal and the output signal is repeatable (deterministic) and is adjustable with the delay control. The Ext In signal can vary from single shot to 800 MHz. Clk In is not used.

Ext In, Level

The active Ext In level enables continuous pulses. The Pulse period is set by internal clock or Clk In. The clock frequency is limited to 800 MHz. The latency between trigger source and signal output is not fixed or deterministic.

Remote/Manual

A trigger command from the remote interface or front panel generates a single pulse. Clk In is not used.

When in Burst or Pattern mode

Continuous

Trigger circuitry is always armed. Clock can be internal or Clk In. Bursts or Patterns are continuously generated.

Ext In, Edge

The active transition on Ext In generates one burst or pattern. The Burst or Pattern pulse period is set by internal clock or Clk In. There is no fixed latency between trigger source and signal output.

Ext In, Level

The active Ext In level enables continuous bursts or patterns. On an inactive input level, a burst or pattern in progress will finish before halting. The Burst or Pattern pulse period is set by internal clock or Clk In. The latency between trigger source and signal output is not fixed or determinant.

Remote/Manual

A trigger command from the remote interface or front panel generates a single burst or pattern. The Burst or Pattern pulse period is set by internal clock or Clk In.

When in External width mode

No triggering

Outputs follow the Ext In signal. The trigger output is not active.

Inputs

Front panel inputs

SMA jacks, 50 Ω impedance

Rear panel input

BNC jack, 50 Ω impedance

Clk In

Accepts external clock to set the pulse period. AC coupled signal with selectable AC or DC coupling of the termination.

Termination voltage

-2 V to +3 V (active only for DC coupled termination)

Input absolute limits

2.6 V maximum AC peak-to-peak, -2 V to +3 V DC

Input frequency

15 MHz - 800 MHz except for NRZ Pattern, then 15 MHz - 1.6 GHz

Ext In

Accepts external signal to start or gate the burst/pattern or the trigger pulse, DC coupled.

Termination voltage

-2 V to +3 V

Input threshold

-2 V to +3 V

Input absolute limits

-3 V to +4 V

Input frequency

DC to 800 MHz

Delay In (1 and 2)

Accepts external signal for jitter insertion on channels 1 & 2. 50 Ω, DC coupled.

Voltage range

-1 V to +1 V

Input absolute limits

±5 V

REF IN (rear panel)

Reference oscillator input accepts external 10 MHz signal for timebase reference.

Termination voltage

AC Coupled, 50 Ω

Input amplitude

0 dBm

Input absolute limits

4 V maximum AC peak-to-peak, ±10 V DC

Outputs

Front panel outputs

SMA jacks, 50 Ω impedance

Rear panel output

BNC jack, 50 Ω impedance

OUT 1 and /OUT 1 

Output 1 is the Channel 1 signal output; /Output 1 is the Channel 1 complement signal output.

OUT 2 and /OUT 2 

Output 2 is the Channel 2 signal output; /Output 2 is the Channel 2 complement signal output.

Trig Out

Generates trigger pulse corresponding to each output pulse or start of burst or pattern, DC coupled.

Adjustable amplitude range

50 mV to 2.5 V

Adjustable offset range

-2 V to +3.3 V window

Output modes

Pulse mode

Pulse mode delivers a single pulse per trigger event. The pulse timing is programmable in repetition rate, duration, and delay.

Pattern mode

Pattern mode delivers a defined pattern per trigger event. The pattern may be presented in either NRZ, RZ, or R1 formats. In NRZ mode the crossing point is programmable. In RZ and R1 mode the duration of the pattern pulse is programmable.

Burst mode

Burst mode delivers a ‘burst’ of n pulses per trigger event.

External width mode

External width mode delivers pulse levels that follow the edges of the “Ext In” input. A rising edge causes the output to go high, while a falling edge causes the output to go low.

General characteristics

REF OUT (rear panel)

Reference oscillator output, generates 10 MHz signal phase locked to instrument timebase.

Signal amplitude (peak-to-peak)

1.4 V

Ref Osc output impedance

AC coupled, 50 Ω

Interfaces

The PSPL1P601 and PSPL1P602 generators can be controlled by either the front panel GUI interface, a GPIB interface, or a USB interface. IEEE 488.2, SCPI compliant.

Mechanical dimensions

Size: 439 mm (17.3 in) wide x 87 mm (3.4 in) high x 421 mm (16.6 in) deep

Temperature

Operating Ambient Temperature: 0 to 50 °C

Specifications apply from 0 to 50 °C unless otherwise noted.

All ventilation openings must allow unobstructed flow of ambient air.

Warranty

One year

Ordering information

Models

PSPL1P601

1.6 GHz PULSE/PAT GEN, 1 CH

PSPL1P602

1.6 GHz PULSE/PAT GEN, 2 CH

Options

PSPL1P601 JIT

1.6 GHz PULSE/PAT GEN, 1 CH, JITTER

PSPL1P602 JIT

1.6 GHz PULSE/PAT GEN, 2 CH, JITTER