Digital Delay/Pulse Generator Provides Ultimate Test Flexibility

April 18, 2008
When testing your digital system design, you often need a unique test signal input of a specific pulse rate and width. Or, you need some kind of special trigger, sync, or delay feature. You often have to build this special test setup yourself, but now

When testing your digital system design, you often need a unique test signal input of a specific pulse rate and width. Or, you need some kind of special trigger, sync, or delay feature. You often have to build this special test setup yourself, but now you don’t have to.

Berkeley Nucleonics’ Model 575 digital delay/pulse generator has a huge number of inputs/outputs and pulse/delay features that should meet your special needs now and for years to come. It also will save you an enormous amount of time in the setup and test process.

The Model 575 is really two generators in one. The pulse-generator section provides independent control of pulse rate, delay, and width. It also includes an external trigger input. It’s available with two, four, or eight output channels, each individually settable to different pulse conditions.

The frequency range is 0.0002 Hz to 20 MHz, with a 40-MHz option available. The resolution is 5 ns and jitter is less than 200 ps. The standard output is transistor-transistor logic (TTL) or adjustable from 0 to 4 V with a 3-ns rise time typical. An adjustable high-voltage output option is also available. Each channel may have its own input trigger, or all channels can be triggered simultaneously.

The 575 includes a separate delay generator, which is something most pulse generators don’t offer. It also offers fine resolution and accuracy of delays and widths. The basic resolution is 250 ps with 1-ppm accuracy. Selected by period, the rate is set to a resolution of 10 ns. Separate delay channel triggering inputs are available, or triggering may be done on all channels at the same time.

Additionally, the 575 includes optical outputs with ST connectors. The output LEDs operate at 820 and 1310 nm with a rate to 5 Mbaud. The resolution is 500 ps. Maximum optical link distance is 1.5 km. Up to two optical inputs are also available.

The generator offers external programmability through standard RS-232 or USB ports. An option provides for General-Purpose Interface Bus (GPIB) or Ethernet programming interfaces. Onboard storage is provided to save setting profiles. National Instruments LabVIEW drivers are available as well.

Berkeley Nucleonics Corp.

www.berkeleynucleonics.com

www.digitaldelaygenerators.com

About the Author

Lou Frenzel | Technical Contributing Editor

Lou Frenzel is a Contributing Technology Editor for Electronic Design Magazine where he writes articles and the blog Communique and other online material on the wireless, networking, and communications sectors.  Lou interviews executives and engineers, attends conferences, and researches multiple areas. Lou has been writing in some capacity for ED since 2000.  

Lou has 25+ years experience in the electronics industry as an engineer and manager. He has held VP level positions with Heathkit, McGraw Hill, and has 9 years of college teaching experience. Lou holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston and a master’s degree from the University of Maryland.  He is author of 28 books on computer and electronic subjects and lives in Bulverde, TX with his wife Joan. His website is www.loufrenzel.com

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