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Article: Ruling the waves: although Arbs eventually may become the ultimate RF generators, today many RF applications can be addressed using the latest instruments.(Wireless Test)
- Article from:
- EE-Evaluation Engineering
- Article date:
- July 1, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Nelson Publishing. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Arbitrary waveform generators (Arbs) are among the most powerful and flexible tools available to any test engineer. Their unique capability to generate any signal within the reach of their basic specifications makes them the instrument of choice when real-life signals are required.
The basic architecture of any Arb is very similar to an inverted version of a digital storage oscilloscope. The samples defining the waveform are stored in a waveform memory, this memory feeds a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) at a rate defined by its time base, and finally the signal is amplified, filtered, or otherwise processed to meet the application requirements.
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