Specifications

11
Create dc power waveforms with list mode
Instead of using a DAC or arbitrary
waveform generator to drive a power
supply to create dc power waveforms,
consider using a single power product
with list mode. List mode lets you
generate complex sequences of output
changes with rapid, precise timing
which may be synchronized with
internal or external signals. They
contain up to 512 individually
programmed steps and can be
programmed to repeat themselves.
Using list mode helps you create
dc power waveforms such as:
• Pulse trains
• Ramps
• Staircases
• Low frequency sinewaves with
dc offset
• Arbitrary voltage and current
waveforms
You can create a sequence of up to
512 command steps to define voltage
or current steps and set dwell times
for each step. These waveforms can
also trigger on internal or external
events and be repeated (Figure 1).
Once the list of commands is stored
in the power supply, the entire list
is executed by a single command.
This reduces command processing
time and simplifies code. Example
applications include powering power
supply rejection ratio test, simulating
automotive crank profiles, and
generating pulse dropouts.
Power products such as the Agilent
N675xA and N676x modules in the
Agilent N6700 Modular Power System
have list mode. The maximum
frequency of the waveform is limited
by the power module and voltage
setting of the test.
In addition, the Agilent N6705A dc
Power Analyzer is a unique bench
product with list mode. You can
program arbitrary waveforms
directly from the front panel with-
out writing a single line of code.
Tip
10
Figure 1: An arbitrary voltage waveform example with a repeat count of 2.
Trigger
01 2 3 4 5
List Count = 1 List Count = 2