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Spectrum 96xx series DDS Generators for Extremely Fast Parameter Changes

As part of the debut of a new product category, Spectrum Instrumentation introduces the 96xx series DDS Generators. One output channel on the new DDS Instruments offers up to 50 sine wave carriers. With the help of this feature, scientists and engineers can now produce and independently control multi-tone sine signals.

Spectrum 96xx series DDS Generators for Extremely Fast Parameter Changes TVP
The brand new 96xx-series contains 12 different DDS Generators that are able to produce up to 50 sinewave cores on one single output channel.
The diagram shows these 50 cores in frequency domain.

“Direct Digital Synthesis,”  or DDS for short, is a powerful method that produces high-purity signals with ultrafast output frequency switching and fine frequency resolution. Usually, sinewave cores—also referred to as carriers or tones—make up these signals.

Up to 200 MHz is the vast range of operational frequencies throughout which the devices can produce different tones. They become exceptionally agile signal sources as a result, making them appropriate for demanding uses in sectors including quantum science, healthcare, communications, and semiconductors.

Twelve versions in three distinct form factors—PCIe cards, PXIe modules, and Ethernet instruments—are included in the 96xxs series DDS Generators. Up to 50 different low-phase-noise variable-frequency tones can be produced using a single PCIe or PXIe card, which comes with up to 4 channels.

The Ethernet instruments, which stand alone provide 2 to 24 channels. The larger NETBOX devices handle up to 300 tones for applications requiring more than 50 tones, or systems with up to 400 tones can be created by connecting multiple cards together with the Star Hub synchronization module.

Integrated output amplifiers are available in all versions, offering adjustable signal amplitudes of up to ±2.5 V for 50 Ohm loads or ±5 V for high-impedance loads.

Extremely Fast Parameter Changes

What sets these products apart from conventional signal generators is how quickly they can change a tone’s characteristics. Fully programmed, changes can be performed quickly and easily using simple commands.

Runtime or preloaded DDS command sequences can be used to start new tone parameters, including frequency, amplitude, and phase, as well as amplitude and frequency slopes. The on-board memory has the capacity to store millions of DDS commands.

A timer within the system, an external trigger, or an immediate command can all be used to initiate setting changes. There are no transition jitters or glitches, and sequencing command timing resolution can be as low as 6.4 nanoseconds.

DDS controls waveforms in Test and Measurement, Communications and Quantum

Users can easily and programmably create waveforms, frequency sweeps, or finely-tuned references of different frequencies and profiles with the 96xx series DDS generators.

Applications exist in network analysis, industrial, medical, and imaging systems, as well as communication technologies, where data is encoded on a carrier utilizing phase and frequency modulation.

Another application is the control of lasers through AODs and AOMs, as typically utilized in quantum experiments. Unlike the more processing-intensive method that requires big data array calculations and uses an Arbitrary Waveform Generator (AWG), laser control can be made at very high rates with just a few simple commands.

Spectrum 96xx series DDS Generators for Extremely Fast Parameter Changes TVp
In DDS-mode, only a few commands are needed to, for example, generate a sine wave (orange block), accelerate the frequency (blue block) and lower the amplitude (green block).

Easy System Integration

The 96xx series DDS generators, which run on Windows or Linux operating systems, can be programmed utilizing high-level Python APIs that offer a simple approach to operate the devices, as well as programming examples for C++, Python, C#, JAVA, LabVIEW, and MATLAB.

Two Instruments in One

In the unlikely event that producing more complex waveforms becomes necessary, the 96xx series may also be transformed into an fully functional AWG that is ready to use. The DDS Generator can be configured to function as an AWG by using a firmware option that enables the simultaneous replay of any waveform on all active channels. Supported operating modes include Streaming (FIFO), Sequence Replay, Multiple Replay, Loop, Single Restart, Single Shot, and Gated Replay.

Availability

The 96xx series DDS generators are now in stock and available for customers. The product come with a free software and firmware upgrade for the duration of the product’s life, a 5-year product warranty, and direct customer assistance from the technical team.

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