User`s guide

5-26 Agilent E6432A Microwave Synthesizer User’s Guide

Applications and Example Programs

Timing Example - Putting It All Together

The above figure shows many of the events that occur while the

synthesizer is running a list. In this example, trigger inputs and

outputs are connected using the hardware front panel connectors. The

list is set to run with the following values: Sync Input Mode =

Automatic, Trigger Input Mode = Stepped, Repeat Mode = On, and

Interrupt Mode = Off.

The synthesizer is at some frequency and power initially; the green

band in the above figure illustrates this. A Sync In trigger is received

from the hardware front panel input and the list is ready to run. A

Trig In trigger into the hardware front panel connector causes the

synthesizer to step to the first point in the list. Because

Switch/Blanking is off, the actual change is visible at the RF output; the

change may or may not be “well behaved”. At the end of the

Switch/Blanking time (150 us or 350 us), the Settling Time starts. The

point in the list (purple band) has been reached and becomes more

stable during the Settling Time. At the end of the Settling Time, the

synthesizer outputs a Trig Out trigger to the Trig Out connector and a

Sync Out trigger to the Sync Out connector.

The purple frequency and power are held for the Dwell Time. During

the Dwell Time, the synthesizer is ready to receive another Trig In

trigger. In this case, a trigger is not received until after the Dwell Time.

Upon receiving the Trig In trigger, the synthesizer immediately steps to

the next point in the list. Here, the Switch/Blanking is on, the RF

output is blanked and the actual change is not visible at the RF output.

After the Switch/Blanking time, the Settling Time starts. The new

point in the list (light blue band) is visible at the RF output during the

Settling Time. At the end of the Settling Time, the synthesizer

generates a Trig Out trigger. A Sync Out trigger is not generated

because the trigger bit was not set for this point in the list. The

synthesizer starts the Dwell Time and is ready for another Trig In

trigger. Here, the trigger is received during the Dwell Time; this is

perfectly legal. However, the synthesizer will not act on this trigger

until the Dwell Time is complete. At the end of the Dwell Time, the

synthesizer steps to the next point in the list.