User manual

5-8 Return to Section Topics 3390-900-01 Rev. C / January 2009
Section 5: Waveform Output Operations Model 3390 Arbitrary Waveform Generator User’s Manual
The following commands are point specific:
•DATA:DAC VOLATILE, {<binary block>|<value>, <value>, …}
Enter this command to download binary or decimal integer values from -8191 to +8191 into
volatile memory. The values -8191 and +8191 correspond to the peak values of the
waveform with the offset set at zero volts.
You can download from 1 to 65,536 (64K) points per waveform in IEEE-488.2 binary block
format, or as a list of values. The range of values corresponds to the values available using
internal 14-bit DAC codes.
•DATA VOLATILE, <value>, <value>, …
Enter this command to download floating-point values from -1 to +1 into volatile memory.
The values -1 and +1 correspond to the peak values of the waveform with the offset set at
zero volts. You can download from 1 to 65,536 points per waveform.
To generate a built-in arbitrary waveform:
1. Press the Arb key.
2. Press the soft key under Select Wform (Figure 5-8), and then the soft key under Built In
(Figure 5-9).
Figure 5-8:
Press the soft key under Select Wform
Figure 5-9:
Press the soft key under Built In
3. Choose the desired waveform from the five built-in choices by pressing the corresponding
soft key (Figure 5-10). The instrument will automatically update to the chosen waveform.
Figure 5-10:
Press the soft key corresponding with the desired waveform
4. Refer to Section 4, Setup Basics for configuring common parameters including frequency/
period, amplitude, and DC offset voltage.
5. Press the Graph key to view the waveform parameters in the graph mode.
NOTE If the data points do not span the full range of the output digital-to-analog
converter (DAC), the maximum amplitude will be limited. Also, the Model 3390
expands the number of points to fill the waveform memory; less than 16,384
(16K) points will automatically generate a waveform with 16,384 points. More
than 16,384 points will automatically generate a waveform with 65,536 points.