Agilent
33600A Series Trueform
Waveform Generators
Data Sheet
33600A Series waveform generators with exclusive Trueform signal generation technology offer more capability, fidelity and flexibility than previous generation Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS) generators. Use them to accelerate your development process from start to finish.
•1 GSa/s sampling rate and up to 120 MHz bandwidth
•Arbs with sequencing and up to 64 MSa memory
•1 ps jitter, 200x better than DDS generators
•5x lower harmonic distortion than DDS
•Compatible with Agilent BenchVue software
With
TECHNOLOGY
R E V O L U T I O N A R Y S I G N A L F I D E L I T Y W I T H U N M A T C H E D C A P A B I L I T I E S
trueform technology
Generate trueform arbitrary waveforms
with less jitter, more idelity and greater resolution
Revolutionary advances over previous generation DDS
trueform
Better
Signal
Integrity
DDS
Reduced
Jitter
<1 ps |
<200 ps |
trueform technology |
DDS technology |
Lower 0.03%
Distortion THD
Over the past two decades, DDS has been the waveform generation technology of choice in function generators and economical arbitrary waveform generators. DDS enables waveform generators with great frequency resolution, convenient custom waveforms, and a low price.
As with any technology, DDS has its limitations. Engineers with exacting requirements have had to either work around the compromised performance or spend up to 5 times more for a high-end, point-per-clock waveform generator.
Agilent’s Trueform technology offers an alternative that blends
the best of DDS and point-per-clock architectures, giving you the benefits of both without the limitations of either. Trueform technology uses an exclusive digital sampling technique that delivers unmatched performance at the same low price you are accustomed to with DDS.
The table below highlights the revolutionary capabilities of Trueform technology.
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DDS: |
Trueform: |
Improvement |
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Traditional |
Agilent 80 |
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100 MHz |
and 120 MHz |
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waveform |
waveform |
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generator |
generator |
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Edge jitter |
<200 ps |
<1 ps |
200x better |
Custom |
Skips |
100% point |
Exact |
waveform |
waveform |
coverage |
waveform |
replication |
points |
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replication |
Total |
0.2% |
0.03% |
5x better |
harmonic |
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distortion |
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Anti-alias |
Must provide |
Always |
No anti-aliasing |
filtering |
externally |
anti-aliased |
artifacts |
Sequenced |
Not possible |
Standard |
Easily create |
arb |
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complex wave- |
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form sequences |
For more information about Agilent Trueform technology please visit:
www.agilent.com/find/trueform
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R E V O L U T I O N A R Y S I G N A L F I D E L I T Y W I T H U N M A T C H E D C A P A B I L I T I E S
► Easily generate the full range of signals you need for the most demanding measurements
► Test your devices with confidence that the waveform generator is outputting the signals you expect
► Select just the capabilities you need now, then upgrade easily when your needs change
Unique features of the 33600a Series waveform generators
100 MHz PULSE
High-bandwidth pulse, 100 MHz, DDS pulse limited to 50 MHz
Set leading and trailing edge times independently
PRBS PATTERNS
Provides standard PRBS patterns, PN3 through PN32
Select PN type, set bit rate, set edge times
2-CHANNEL COUPLING
Dual-channel coupling, frequency and amplitude, and tracking
Set start phase for each channel, phase shift between channels
COMBINING SIGNALS
Sum two signals together, frequency and amplitude independent 2-tone (4-tone on 2-ch), square-sine, noise on pulse, and others
TRUEFORM ARBS
Create up to 4 million samples standard, 64 million optional
Connect arb segments together, with up to 512 segments
LOW VOLTAGE SETTINGS
Lower voltage range at 1 mVpp, DDS is only 10 mVpp
Set high and low voltage limits to prevent overload on DUT
BAND-LIMITED NOISE
Adjust bandwidth to concentrate the energy of the noise
Noise source goes to full 120 MHz bandwidth
Key attributes
200 |
<200 ps |
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150 |
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100 |
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50 |
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<1 ps |
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0 |
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Agilent |
Typical |
TrueFORM |
DDS |
Jitter |
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5 ns
5 |
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4 |
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3 |
2.9 ns |
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2 |
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1 |
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0 |
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Agilent |
Typical |
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TrueFORM |
DDS |
Risetime |
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0.25 |
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0.20 |
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0.20% |
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0.15 |
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0.10 |
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0.05 |
0.03% |
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0 |
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Agilent |
Typical |
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TrueFORM |
DDS |
Total harmonic distortion
4 M |
4000 |
3000 |
2000 |
1000 |
128 k |
0 |
Agilent Older 33600A Series generators
Standard memory
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R E V O L U T I O N A R Y S I G N A L F I D E L I T Y W I T H U N M A T C H E D C A P A B I L I T I E S
trueform technology
Unmatched capabilities for generating a full range of signals for the most demanding requirements
The 33600A Series waveform generators offer the common signals and features you expect, such as modulation, sweep and burst. However, it also offers features that give you the capabilities and flexibility you need to get your job done quickly, no matter how complex. An intuitive front-panel user interface, for example, can be quickly and easily relearned when your attention has been focused elsewhere. Built-in LAN, USB and optional GPIB interfaces allow you to easily control your instruments or transfer waveforms to your instrument. And that’s just the beginning.
The 33600A Series waveform generators offer a variety of capabilities you can’t find anywhere else—capabilities designed to help you accelerate your testing and get your project wrapped up faster:
Waveform summing and combining capability
Easily add noise to your signal for margin and distortion testing using only a single channel. You can create dual-tone multifrequency signals without a dual-channel generator, which means you can preserve your budget for other test needs. On a two-channel model, you can sum and combine up to four signals.
Variable-bandwidth noise
You can adjust the bandwidth of the built-in noise generator to control the frequency content of your signal. Apply just the frequency stimulus you need so you concentrate the energy of your waveform in frequency bands-of-interest.
The images at right show
an approximate 10 dB increase in amplitude at 50 kHz when the bandwidth is reduced 10x. Note how the signal energy is increased in the frequen- cies-of-interest when the bandwidth is reduced, instead of being spread over a very wide bandwidth with lower amplitude at all frequencies.
Dual-tone signal created by summing waveforms using the modulation type “Sum.”
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R E V O L U T I O N A R Y S I G N A L F I D E L I T Y W I T H U N M A T C H E D C A P A B I L I T I E S
DDS skips points at higher bandwidths
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While DDS technology may skip points at higher |
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frequencies, trueform never skips points, and is always |
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trueform |
DDS misses details |
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anti-aliased |
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Waveform sequencing |
trueform |
DDS |
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Waveform generator display with downloaded waveform.
▼
Scope display of waveform.
◄
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R E V O L U T I O N A R Y S I G N A L F I D E L I T Y W I T H U N M A T C H E D C A P A B I L I T I E S
trueform technology
Capabilities continued
Easily generate PRBS waveforms on the 33600A Series waveform generators.
Pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS) pattern generation
Test your digital serial buses by streaming standard PRBS patterns— PN3 through PN32—without the need for a separate pulse generator. With fewer instruments, setting up your tests has never been easier. You won’t find these built-in PRBS patterns in competitive waveform generators.
You can select multiple sequence lengths (such as PN15) and bit rates up to 200 Mbit/sec to create PRBS signals.
Smart phone and tablet access to full documentation
Need a quick answer? Get instant access to instrument documentation in seven different languages in smart-phone-friendly WebHelp format. You can access all user documentation in the palm of your hand— no PC or hardcopy manuals required. Another feature you won’t find in competitive function/arb generators.
Flexibility in creating and playing waveforms
Scan this QR code to access instrument documentation.
There are five ways to create arbitrary waveforms for use with the 33600A generator.
1.Use the included Waveform Builder Basic software to edit and download a waveform file to the generator.
2.Use 33503A Waveform Builder Pro software to create more complex waveforms and sequencing.
3.Capture a waveform from an oscilloscope and download it to the generator.
4.Create a waveform in MATLAB, Excel, etc. and download it to the generator.
5.Use the generator’s front panel to edit a waveform once it is in the generator.
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Waveform |
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Builder |
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BUILT-IN |
Basic |
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Waveforms |
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Direct link |
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from |
USB |
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or USB |
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Oscilloscopes |
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drive |
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drive, |
COMPATIBLE |
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CSV |
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FILES |
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CSV or ARB |
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Waveforms |
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file |
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file |
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from |
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Embedded |
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MATLAB & Excel |
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Waveform |
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waveform editor |
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Builder |
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Pro |
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You have lots of flexibility to choose the way you want to work.
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R E V O L U T I O N A R Y S I G N A L F I D E L I T Y W I T H U N M A T C H E D C A P A B I L I T I E S
Built-in Web browser
Easily set up and control your 33600A Series generator remotely over a LAN connection using the built-in LXI Web browser. You can monitor your tests and adjust settings from another office or room, or even from home.
Standard deep memory
If you want to test your design with long, complex waveforms with a variety of anomalies, you need to make sure your waveform generator has sufficient memory. The 33600A Series’ standard memory is 4 MSamples deep.
Typical DDS generators |
4000 |
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4 M |
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offer only a fraction of that |
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amount but with the |
3000 |
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33600A Series there is even |
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a 64 MSample memory |
2000 |
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option available. |
1000 |
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128 k |
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0 |
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Agilent |
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Older |
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33600A Series |
generators |
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Use the optional high-stability timebase for even better accuracy
Get improved timebase stability and frequency accuracy using the optional high-stability timebase. The optional timebase offers 0.1 ppm stability, which is 20x more stable than the standard timebase over one year.
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R E V O L U T I O N A R Y S I G N A L F I D E L I T Y W I T H U N M A T C H E D C A P A B I L I T I E S
trueform technology
Signal integrity: test your devices with conidence that your signal generator is outputting
the signals you expect
If your generator is introducing spurious signals or harmonics, you’ll have a hard time producing reliable designs. To be successful, you need to test with clean, precise, low-noise signals. Agilent 33600A Series waveform generators offer the highest signal fidelity so you can generate the exact waveforms you need for your most challenging measurements. You can be confident you are seeing your design’s characteristics, and not that of your waveform generator, in your measurements.
33600a Series waveform generators offer the following advantages:
Lowest jitter
With 1 ps jitter, 200x better than DDS generators, 33600A Series waveform generators offer unparalleled edge stability. You can even use them as a system clock for timing and triggering your other instruments. With better jitter performance, you can place edges more accurately, helping you reduce timing errors in your circuit design.
Trueform technology significantly improves jitter performance.
Lowest harmonic distortion
With total harmonic distortion of just 0.03%, the 33600A Series offers 5x better fidelity than other generators. Clean, spurious-free signals don’t introduce noise or artifacts. See your design’s characteristics, not the waveform generator’s, in your measurements.
<1 ps |
<200 ps |
trueform technology |
Traditional DDS technology |
Faster edge times
The 33600A Series’ 2.9-ns rise and fall times are more than twice as fast as you’ll find in typical waveform generators. You can place edges with more confidence and more accurately set trigger points. Because of the faster transition, higher harmonic content is created, which helps you expand your understanding of your circuit.
Agilent 33600A Series waveform generators offer the lowest total harmonic distortion (THD) in its class.
Typical DDS generator has a higher noise floor and greater harmonics.
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