agilent n7509a waveform generation toolbox application...

Agilent N7509A Waveform Generation Toolbox Application Program

User’s GuideSecond edition, April 2005

Agilent Technologies

Notices© Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2005

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Manual Part Number

N7509-90001

Edition

Second edition, April 2005

Printed in USA

Agilent Technologies, Inc.1400 Fountaingrove Pkwy Santa Rosa, CA 95403

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Contents

N7509A User’s Guide

1 INTRODUCTION 6

2 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 6

3 INSTALLATION 6

4 LICENSING 7

5 SYSTEM STATE FILES 7

6 STARTUP 8

7 MENU BAR 9

7.1 File Menu 97.2 Settings Menu 97.3 Help Menu 10

8 BUTTON BAR 11

9 GENERAL CONTROLS BOX 12

10 GRAPH CONTROLS 13

11 WAVEFORM GENERATION CONTROLS 13

11.1 AM Generator Form 1311.2 FM Generation Form 1411.3 PM Generator Form 1511.4 Multi-Tone Generator Form 1711.5 Pulse Generator Form 1811.5.1 Simple Pulse 1911.5.2 Linear Chirp 1911.5.3 Barker Code 2011.5.4 Frank Code 2111.5.5 Doppler 2211.6 Chirp Generator Form 2311.7 Custom Download 2411.8 IF Mode 2611.9 Creating and Playing a Sequence 26

12 RF SOURCE CONTROL 28

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Agilent N7509A Waveform Generation Tool Application ProgramUser’s Guide

1General Information

5Agilent Technologies

1 General Information

1 INTRODUCTION

6

The N7509A WGT Application program provides a user-friendly interface to the waveform generation toolbox library, and to the E8267C/D PSG Vector Signal Generator (VSG) and the N6030A Arbitrary Waveform Generator (AWG). The WGT library is a set of routines that use math techniques to generate waveforms as I/Q arrays for use in the AWG.

The application allows a user to generate the following waveform types:

• AM

• FM

• PM

• Multi-tone

• Various types of Pulse waveforms

• Chirp

Whenever a waveform types is generated, it is automatically downloaded to the AWG if one is connected and the application is not in simulation mode (more on simulation mode later).

Users may download custom waveform data to the AWG. This may be either data that was generated by this or another application.

Users may generate waveform sequences and have the AWG play them.

The application provides a means to control the output of the VSG.

2 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

This application must be installed on a PC running the Microsoft Windows® XP Professional operating system, or Microsoft Windows 2000 with the .NET Framework installed. The application requires that the MATLAB® run-time libraries be installed (included). There should be at least 240 MB of disk space available to accommodate both the application and the MATLAB run-time libraries.

This application is capable of generating large waveforms. For this reason it is recommended that the host computer have a 2.4 GHz (or higher) Pentium 4 processor, and at least 512 MB of RAM.

3 INSTALLATION

Insert the installation CD into the CD-ROM drive. If the installation utility program does not start automatically, start it by running WgtInstall.exe. The installation window illustrated in Figure 1 will be displayed. To install the N7509A WGT application, click the button labeled "Install Agilent N7509A Waveform Generation Toolbox Application". If the MATLAB run-time libraries


General Information 1


are not already installed, do so by clicking the button labeled "Install MATLAB 7.0 Run-Time Libraries". Click the Exit button when done. Note that the installation window contains the host ID to be used when the Software Entitlement Certificate is redeemed in order to obtain a license.

Figure 1 Installation Form

4 LICENSING

This software must be licensed in order for it to be fully functional. To obtain a license, follow the instructions listed on the Software Entitlement Certificate that came with your software.

The software may still be used without a license but it will be restricted to simulation mode. It will be able to generate waveforms and display them on the graph, but it will not be able to talk to instruments. It will also not be able to generate binary waveform files.

5 SYSTEM STATE FILES

At any time, the system state can be saved to and restored from "system state" files. The system state is a snapshot of the values of all the variables in the application. These variables include the waveform generator parameters and application settings. The default extension for system state files is wgt.

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There are three types of system state files as described in Table 1.

Table 1 System State File Types

System State File Type

File Name File Location Description

Default _DefaultState_.wgt Agilent\N7509A WGT in the user's Application Data folder.

Contains system defaults as defined by the user or organization. There is only one Default system state file per user.

Current _CurrentState_.wgt Agilent\N7509A WGT in the user's Application Data folder.

The Current system state file is automatically created/updated whenever the application is exited. When the application is restarted, the system state is initialized from the Current state file so that the user may continue from where s/he left off. There is only one Current system state file per user.

Custom < defined by user > Defined by the user. The default location is Agilent\N7509A WGT in the user's My Documents folder.

Contains the user's custom system state. Whenever the user opens or saves to a custom system state file, that file becomes the "established" custom system state file. There may be many custom system state files.

6 STARTUP

When the application is started, it reads the system state from a "current" system state file (see Table 1). The current system state file is created the first time the application is exited. After that it is updated each time the application is exited. This ensures that the user will be able to continue from where she or he left off the last time the application was used.

If there is no current system state file, the application will initialize the system state using the default system state file (see Table 1). If there is no default system state file, the application creates one using the "default default" values, that is, the values encoded in the software itself. This happens the very first time a user runs the application.




An alternative way to start the application and to immediately load a custom system state file is to double-click the name of a custom system state file in Windows Explorer. Also, the full path to a custom system state file may be used as the only parameter (unquoted) in a command line that starts the application.

The instruments are also initialized at startup if they are present.

7 MENU BAR

The menu bar at the top of the N7509A WGT application form contains three drop-down menus - File, Settings and Help.

7.1 File Menu

The File menu contains eight items. They are described in Table 2.

7.2 Settings Menu

The Settings menu contains eight items They are described in Table 3.

Table 2 File Menu Items

File Menu Item

Shortcut Key

Description

New Ctrl+N Initializes the system state from the defaults system state file.

Save Ctrl+S Allows the user to save the current system state to a user's custom system state file. If the user has not yet established a custom system state file, Save will behave as Save As.

Save As Ctrl+A Allows the user to save the current system state to a specific file. This will establish the file as the user's custom system state file.

Open Ctrl+O Allows the user to open a system state file and thereby update the current system state to the values found in the file. This will establish the file as the user's custom system state file.

Save As Default

Allows the user to establish the current system state as the default.

Restore Default

Sets the system state to the default. This is functionally equivalent to the New menu item.

Preset A sub-menu that provides various items for presetting hardware.

Exit Ctrl+X Closes the application.

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7.3 Help Menu

The Help menu contains one item. It is described in Table 4.

Table 3 Settings Menu Items

Settings Menu Item Description Default Setting

Save I/Q Binary Data If checked, I and Q data for generated waveforms are stored to binary files in the user's current working directory.

Checked

IF Mode If checked, the application will operate in IF mode

Unchecked

Enable Arb Corrections If checked, the application will apply correction to the I/Q or IF data before downloading the AWG.

Checked

RF Power Off on Exit If checked and if the application is not in simulation mode, the instruments are reset when the application exits.

Checked

External Reference Clock When checked, the AWG is instructed to use the external reference clock.

Unchecked

External Sample Clock When checked, the AWG is instructed to use the external sample clock.

Unchecked

RF Source Config Allows the user to edit the configuration string that is sent to the VSG when it is initialized.

"GPIB0::19::INSTR"

Q Arb Config Allows the user to edit the configuration string that is sent to the AWG when it is initialized.

"PXI4::12::0::INSTR"

Table 4 Help Menu Items

Help Menu Item Description

About When selected, a form window is displayed that provides information about the application.




When the About item is selected, the About window illustrated in Figure 2 is displayed. Note that it contains the host ID to be used when the Software Entitlement Certificate is redeemed in order to obtain a license.

Figure 2 About Window

8 BUTTON BAR

The button bar contains three buttons - New, Open and Save. They are described in Table 5.

Table 5 Button Bar

Button Name

Icon Description

New This button behaves exactly like the New item in the File menu.

Open This button behaves exactly like the Open item in the File menu.

Save This button behaves exactly like the Save item in the File menu.

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9 GENERAL CONTROLS BOX

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The General Controls group box is a rectangle near the top of the GUI that contains five controls. They are described in Table 6.

Table 6 General Controls

General Control Name Description Default

Waveform Type This control allows the user to select the type of waveform to be generated. Custom downloading and RF source control are also selected here.

AM Generator

Simulation Mode When this is checked, the application doesn't attempt to talk to either the VSG or the AWG.

Unchecked

Generate Scenario Enables the Generate Scenario mode where users may create waveform sequences and have the AWG play them.

Unchecked

Loop Count This control is visible only when the Generate Scenario box is checked. It provides a way for the user to set the loop count for a waveform when sequencing.

---

Calibrate When pressed, this button causes a calibration of the VSG.

---



10 GRAPH CONTROLS


There are four controls under the graph that control graph-related settings. They are described in Table 7.

Table 7 Graph Controls

Graph Control Name

Description Default

Log 10 Scale When checked, waveforms are graphed in base 10 logarithmic scaling.

Checked

Auto Scale When checked, the graph auto scales the full waveform. Unchecked

Clear When pressed, this button clears the graph. 1

Expand/Contract If the graph is in its normal, contracted mode, this button is labeled "Expand". When the graph is in the expanded mode it is labeled "Contract". Pressing this button toggles the graph between the expanded and contracted mode.

---

11 WAVEFORM GENERATION CONTROLS

The Waveform Type selector allows the user to select from the following list of waveform generators, custom download and the RF source controller:

• AM Generator

• FM Generator

• PM Generator

• Multi-Tone Generator

• Pulse Generator

• Chirp Generator

• Custom Download

• RF Source Control

NOTE The default values listed in the generator forms tables below are "default default" values, that is, the values encoded in the program code. The user may redefine the default system state at any time by selecting Save As Default in the File menu.

11.1 AM Generator Form

When the AM Generator is selected, the following parameter list is displayed:

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Figure 3 shows the AM Generator form.

When the Generate Signal button is pressed the application uses the parameter values to generate an AM waveform. The number of points in the waveform is displayed and the waveform is graphed. If the application is connected to an AWG, and if the application has the proper license, and if the Simulation Mode box is not checked, the waveform is downloaded to the AWG.

11.2 FM Generation Form

When the FM Generator is selected, the following parameter list is displayed:

Table 8 AM Generation Form Parameter List

Parameter Name Description Units Default Value

AM Rate The frequency of the modulation Hertz 10 MHz

AM Depth The power of the sidebands Decibels 23 dB

Sample Clock The frequency of the sampling clock Hertz 1.25 Ghz

Number of Points The number of points in each vector (read only) --- ---

Figure 3 AM Waveform Generation Form




Figure 4 shows the FM Generator form.

When the Generate Signal button is pressed the application uses the parameter values to generate a FM waveform. The size of the waveform is displayed and the waveform is graphed. If the application is connected to an AWG, and if the application has the proper license, and if the Simulation Mode box is not checked, the waveform is downloaded to the AWG.

11.3 PM Generator Form

When the PM Generator is selected, the following parameter list is displayed:

Table 9 FM Generation Form Parameter List


FM Rate The frequency of the modulated signal Hertz 1 MHz

FM Deviation The deviation of the modulated signal Hertz 2.4 MHz

Sample Clock The frequency of the sampling clock Hertz 1.25 GHz

Data Size The size of the waveform (read only) --- ---

Figure 4 FM Waveform Generation Form

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Figure 5 shows the PM Generator form.

When the Generate Signal button is pressed the application uses the parameter values to generate a PM waveform. The size of the waveform is displayed and the waveform is graphed. If the application is connected to an AWG, and if the application has the proper license, and if the Simulation Mode box is not checked, the waveform is downloaded to the AWG.

Table 10 PM Generator Form parameter list


PM Rate The frequency of the modulating signal

Hertz 1 MHz

PM Deviation The deviation of the modulating signal

Radians 3.1416 Rad

Sample Size The frequency of the sampling clock

Hertz 1.25 GHz

Data Size The size of the waveform (read only)

--- ---

Figure 5 PM Waveform Generator Form




11.4 Multi-Tone Generator Form

When the Multi-Tone Generator is selected, the following parameter list is displayed:

Figure 6 shows the Multi-Tone Generator form.

Table 11 Multi-Tone Generator Form Parameter List


Start Frequency The frequency of the first tone Hertz -400 MHz

Number of Tones The number of tones in the waveform --- 8000

Fbin The resolution frequency Hertz 10 KHz

Tone Spacing The tone spacing Hertz 100 KHz

Fs The frequency of the sampling clock Hertz 1.25 GHz

Notch Width The width, if any, of the notch (for NPR) Hertz 50 MHz

Notch Offset The frequency of the center of the notch, if any, relative to the carrier frequency

Hertz 100 MHz

Random Seed The seed for the random number generator as a prime integer

--- 99991

IQ Backoff From Full Scale Power

(Unavailable in this revision) Decibels 0 dB

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When the Generate Signal button is pressed the application uses the parameter values to generate a multi-tone waveform. The size of the waveform is displayed and the waveform is graphed. If the application is connected to an AWG, and if the application has the proper license, and if the Simulation Mode box is not checked, the waveform is downloaded to the AWG.

11.5 Pulse Generator Form

When the Pulse Generator is selected, the following parameter list is displayed:

Figure 6 Multi-Tone Waveform Generator form

Table 12 Pulse Generator Form Parameter List


Pulse Width The pulse width Seconds 50 ns

PRI The pulse repetition interval Seconds 0.5 µs

Rise Time The pulse rise time interval, in multiples of 10 ns Seconds 10 ns

Fall Time The pulse fall time interval, in multiples of 10 ns Seconds 10 ns

Sample Clock The frequency of the sampling clock Hertz 1.25 Ghz

Mod on Pulse The pulse type --- Barker Code

Frequency Offset The frequency offset Hertz 0




11.5.1 Simple Pulse Figure 7 shows the Pulse Generator form when the pulse type is simple pulse.

When the Generate Signal button is pressed the application uses the parameter values to generate a simple pulse waveform. The waveform is graphed. If the application is connected to an AWG, and if the application has the proper license, and if the Simulation Mode box is not checked, the waveform is downloaded to the AWG.

11.5.2 Linear Chirp In the Pulse Generator form, when the selected pulse type is Linear Chirp the following additional parameter is displayed:

Figure 8 shows the Pulse Generator form when the pulse type is Linear Chirp.

Figure 7 Pulse Waveform Generator form - Simple Pulse

Table 13 Linear Chirp additional parameter


Linear Chirp Deviation Frequency range over which the chirp moves during the pulse width period.

Hertz 60 MHz

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When the Generate Signal button is pressed the application uses the parameter values to generate a linear chirp pulse waveform. The waveform is graphed. If the application is connected to an AWG, and if the application has the proper license, and if the Simulation Mode box is not checked, the waveform is downloaded to the AWG.

11.5.3 Barker Code In the Pulse Generator form, when the selected pulse type is Barker Code the following additional parameter is displayed:

Figure 9 shows the Pulse Generator form when the pulse type is Barker Code.

Figure 8 Pulse Waveform Generator form - Linear Chirp

Table 14 Barker Code additional parameter


Barker Code Length Number of phase sub-pulses in the pulse --- 13 - bit Barker




When the Generate Signal button is pressed the application uses the parameter values to generate a Barker code pulse waveform. The waveform is graphed. If the application is connected to an AWG, and if the application has the proper license, and if the Simulation Mode box is not checked, the waveform is downloaded to the AWG.

11.5.4 Frank Code In the Pulse Generator form, when the selected pulse type is Frank Code the following additional parameter is displayed:

Figure 10 shows the Pulse Generator form when the pulse type is Frank Code.

Figure 9 Pulse Waveform Generator form -Barker Code

Table 15 Frank Code additional parameter


Order for Polyphase Code Square root of the number of phase sub-pulses in the pulse

--- 3

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When the Generate Signal button is pressed the application uses the parameter values to generate a Frank code pulse waveform. The waveform is graphed. If the application is connected to an AWG, and if the application has the proper license, and if the Simulation Mode box is not checked, the waveform is downloaded to the AWG.

11.5.5 Doppler In the Pulse Generator form, when the selected pulse type is Doppler the following additional parameter is displayed:

Figure 11 shows the Pulse Generator form when the pulse type is Doppler:

Figure 10 Pulse Generator Form When Pulse Type is Frank Code

Table 16 Doppler additional parameter


Doppler Frequency Value of the frequency shift of the pulse Hertz 100 Hz




When the Generate Signal button is pressed the application uses the parameter values to generate a Doppler pulse waveform. The waveform is graphed. If the application is connected to an AWG, and if the application has the proper license, and if the Simulation Mode box is not checked, the waveform is downloaded to the AWG.

11.6 Chirp Generator Form

When the Chirp Generator is selected, the following parameter list is displayed:

Figure 11 Pulse Waveform Generator Form - Doppler

Table 17 Chirp Generator parameter list


Pulse Width The pulse width Seconds 1 µs

Sample Clock The frequency of the sampling clock Hertz 1.25 GHz

PRI The pulse repetition interval Seconds 10 µs

Chirp Frequency Deviation

Frequency range over which the chirp moves during the pulse width period

Hertz 1 Ghz

Rise Time The rise time interval, in multiples of 10 ns Seconds 40 ns

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Figure 12 shows the Chirp Generator form.

When the Generate Signal button is pressed the application uses the parameter values to generate a chirp waveform. The waveform is graphed. If the application is connected to an AWG, and if the application has the proper license, and if the Simulation Mode box is not checked, the waveform is downloaded to the AWG.

11.7 Custom Download

When Custom Download is selected, the following parameter list is displayed:

Fall Time The fall time interval, in multiples of 10 ns Seconds 40 ns

Chirp Type The chirp type --- Inverted V-chirp

Frequency Offset The frequency offset Hertz 0

Figure 12 Chirp Waveform Generator Form

Table 17 Chirp Generator parameter list





Figure 13 shows the Custom Download form.

Click in the Channel 1 box to open a file containing I data for channel 1. Click in the Channel 2 box to open a file containing Q data for channel 2. The boxes will then be populated with the full path and file name of the respective files. When both boxes are populated, the Play button will be enabled. When the Play button is pressed the application loads the I and Q data from the specified files. The waveform associated with the data is graphed. If the application is connected to an AWG, and if the application has the proper license, and if the Simulation Mode box is not checked, the waveform is downloaded to the AWG.

Table 18 Custom Download parameter list


Channel 1 Path and name of the file containing I data --- (blank)

Channel 2 Path and name of the file containing Q data --- (blank)

Figure 13 Custom Download Form

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11.8 IF Mode

When the IF Mode item in the Settings menu is checked, the application operates in IF Mode. The following additional parameter is displayed for all waveform types.

Figure 14 shows the GUI in IF mode with the AM Generator selected.

11.9 Creating and Playing a Sequence

When the Generate Scenario box is checked, the application enters the Generate Scenario mode. In this mode the user can create and play a sequence of waveforms. Figure 15 shows the GUI in Generate Scenario mode with the AM Generator selected. Note that any waveform type may be used in the generation of sequences.

Table 19 IF Mode Additional Parameter


IF Freq The intermediate frequency Hertz 300 MHz

Figure 14 AM Generator form in IF Mode




When the Load Waveform button is pressed, a waveform is generated for the selected waveform type and is downloaded to the AWG. The waveform's information is listed in the Sequence List box on the right side of the form. A user will typically generate multiple waveforms, each of which will appear in the list. Once the user has generated all the necessary waveforms, the Load Sequence and Play button is pressed to tell the AWG to load and play the sequence.

Figure 15 Generate Scenario Mode

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12 RF SOURCE CONTROL

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When the RF Source Control is selected in the Waveform Type control, the following parameter list is displayed:

Figure 16 shows the RF Source Control form.

When the GO button is pressed the application sends the parameter values to the VSG. If the application is not connected to a VSG, or if the Simulation Mode box is checked, the parameter controls and the GO button are disabled.

Table 20 RF source control parameter list


Frequency The frequency of the output signal Hertz 10 GHz

Power The power of the output signal dBm -5 dBm

RF Out On or Off --- Off

WB IQ Modulator On or Off --- Off

Figure 16 RF Source Control Form
