Signal Generator: What are They? Circuit & Block Diagram

What is a Signal Generator?

Signal generators are electronic devices that generate electronic signals and waveform. These electronic signals are either repeating or non-repeating as per the requirements and field of applications. There are different types of signal generators with different level of capability and functionality. All the signal generators have different designs, different dimensions, and parameters. So, the variety of generators serves different purposes and covers a range of applications. The signal generators are used in designing, repairing of electronic devices, and in troubleshooting. Every versatile signal generator can create unlimited number of signals to meet the debug challenges. You can vary the output of the signal generator by setting the amplitude and frequency of the output signal while a simulation is in the process.

Types of Signal Generators

Functional Signal Generators

A function generator contains an electronic device called electronic oscillator which generates simple repetitive wave forms such as sine waves, square waves, triangular wave forms, and sawtooth wave forms. In modern devices, these wave forms are created by digital signal processing technique followed by analogous signals of lower frequencies so they are often required.
A variety of function generators are black boxes with USB interfaces, used in instrumentation bus, and some are in the form of software. Their common uses are in the field of education, repairing electrical and electronic equipment and stimulus testing.

Arbitrary Waveform Generators

Arbitrary generators are a device that generates arbitrary streams of digital information. These waveforms do not have any fixed shape, and can be entered in a variety of waveforms. This is a generator with two independent output channels, which can stimulate two systems simultaneously. A common use of an arbitrary waveform generator is to stimulate a system with a complex waveform. It has a display screen that shows an exact picture of the arbitrary waveforms that helps in avoiding the chance of mistake while selecting waveform from memory. These types of generators have limited bandwidth and costlier than function generators. It is used in the semiconductor component, communication, and system tests.

RF Signal Generators

The radio frequency signal generator uses the variety of method to produce the signal like phase locked loop and direct digital synthesis etc. But most of the generators use frequency locked loop techniques to provide the stability and accuracy required by the system. It produces continuous wave tones of output frequency within their frequency range. The features of RF and microwave generators are almost same except they have different frequency range. Microwave signal generators have much wider frequency range as compared to RF signal generators. These type of generators are used for the testing system, audio and video broadcasting, satellite communications, radar and electronic warfare. Radio frequency generators are categorized in basically in three forms:

Analog Signal Generators

It is based on sine wave oscillator with a sharp distinction in design of radio frequency and audio frequency signal generators. But now it is outdated and digital electronics are in use.

Vector Signal Generators

Vector signal generators also called digital signal generators are capable of generating digitally modulated radio signals with complex modulation formats such as QPSK< QAM, etc.

Logical Signal Generators

Logical signal generators produce logic pulses in the form of conventional voltage levels. These generators are often called digital pattern generators. Pulse generators are able to generate pulses with variable delays and some even offer variable rise and fall times. It is used for functional validation and testing.

Audio Signal Generators

Audio signal generators generate signals in the range of audible i.e. typically in the range of 20 Hz to 20 KHz. It is used in checking frequency response in an audio system and the distortion measurements. Even a very low distortion could be measured with a relatively simple circuit by an audio signal generator. They have very low levels of harmonic distortion. These generators have a wide variety of application in electronic laboratories. Those generators which use intricate methods to generate audio signals for music are termed as the synthesizer.

Video Signal Generators

A video signal generator is a device which produces video waveforms. Along with that, some other signals are also used to stimulate faults. The important factor which effects video image on television is synchronization. That is why the output waveform of video generators normally contains synchronization signals, which includes vertical and horizontal sync. It has the variety of applications and digital formats.

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