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Quick Start Guide
Understanding Basic Pulse Parameters

Setting your pulse parameters is a simple three step 

process:

1.

Choose your high level configuration with the menu keys.

2.

Select the desired parameter with the Soft Keys.

3.

Enter the desired value with the control knob or numerical 
keypad.

Front Panel Setup Example

The following information demonstrates how to properly connect a 
Keithley Instruments Model 340x Pulse Pattern Generator to an 
oscilloscope

1

 and how to navigate the front panel menu. The 

information depicts how to adjust the most common pulse 
parameters, including pulse amplitude, offset, width, period, and 
leading and trailing edges.  

Power On the Model 340x Pulse Pattern Generator:

1.

Enable rear panel power switch (“ON” position).

2.

Press front panel on/off switch.

Make Connections Between Pulse Generator & 

Oscilloscope:

Connect a BNC-BNC cable between CH 1 output and CH 1 input of 
the oscilloscope. 

Configure Oscilloscope:

1.

In trigger menu of scope: 
a.

Configure scope to trigger on rising edge of CH 1.  

b.

Set trigger level to +0.25V.  

2.

In vertical menu of scope: 
a.

Set input impedance to 50 or use a 50 feed through, such 
as the Keithley Instruments Model 7755.

b.

Set voltage scale to 500mV/division.

3.

In Horizontal menu of scope, adjust the time scale to  400ns.

Turn on output Channel 1 of the pulse generator by pressing the CH 
1 Enable button and verify that you have the following signal:

Adjust Output Pulse:

Unit should power up in “Mode” display window. 
1.

Press “Pulse” soft key.

2.

Press VOLTS menu key.

3.

Verify Channel 1 is selected. (NOTE: The dark gray area 
should appear on left side of display and a “1” should appear in 
the top left corner of display.)

4.

Set amplitude to 1.50Vpp:
a.

Press “Ampl” soft key.  If “Ampl” soft key is not visible, first 
press the “More” soft key.  

b.

Use knob to adjust amplitude value to “1.50 Vpp.”

NOTE:

Field “HiLvl” should read “750mV” and “LoLvl” should read 
“-750mV.”

5.

Set offset to 750mV:
a.

Press “Offset” soft key. 

b.

Use numeric keys to enter “0.75.”  NOTE: Units appear 
above the soft keys.

c.

Press soft key that corresponds to “V.”

NOTE:

Field “HiLvl” should read “1.5V” and “LoLvl” should read 
“0mV.”

6.

Press TIME menu key.

7.

Change pulse width to 500ns: 
a.

Press “Width” soft key. 

b.

Use knob to scroll to 500ns.

8.

Adjust leading and trailing edges:
a.

Press “More” soft key.

b.

Press “LeadE” soft key. 

c.

Use numeric keys to enter “100.”

d.

Press “ns” soft key.

e.

Press “TrailE” soft key.

f.

Use numeric keys to enter “250” then press the “ns” soft 
key.

9.

Change period to 2µs:
a.

Press “More” soft key.

b.

Press “Per” soft key.

c.

Use knob to change the period to 2µs.

Oscilloscope should now display the following waveform:

Other Notes:

-

These steps can be repeated using CH 2. Use the “Channel” 
soft key in TIME and VOLTS menus to select CH 2 and adjust 
its parameters. To enable CH 2 output, press the CH 2 Enable 
key.

-

The TRIG OUT terminal of the Model 340x may be used to 
trigger the scope.  The Trig Out signal is a TTL signal at 50% 
duty cycle this has the same pulse repetition frequency as the 
output channel(s).  Please refer to section 5 of the User’s 
manual for details on triggering.

Reset Model 340x to Factory Defaults:

1.

Press UTILITY menu key.

2.

Press “Recall” soft key

3.

Press “Default” soft key. (Instrument will now reset to factory 
defaults.) 

For additional help, please review the Model 340x User’s Manual. 
You may also view FAQs or submit a request for a consult with an 
Applications Engineer on the Keithley Instruments website at 
www.keithley.com.

Step 2

2 Width

Delay

LeadE

TrailE

3.00 ns

0 ps

2.5 ns

2.5 ns

Pulse Mode

CH 1 Ampl

1.00 Vpp

Trigger  =  ExtIn

1 Width

Delay

LeadE

TrailE

3.04 ns

0 ps

2.5 ns

2.5 ns

Freq     165.0 MHz      Per             6.06 ns

Channel       Freq            Per          Width         Delay          More

Step 3

Step 1

Channel    Ampl    Offset     HiLvl     LoLvl     More

1 Ampl

Offset

HiLvl

LoLvl

Pol

1.00 Vpp

0m V

500 mV

-500 mV

Norm

2 Ampl

Offset

HiLvl

LoLvl

Pol

1.00 Vpp

0m V

500 mV

-500 mV

Norm

Pulse Mode

Ch 1 Ampl

1.00 Vpp

Trigger = ExtIn

Freq

1 Width

Delay

LeadE

TrailE

1.000 MHz

500.0 ns

250.0 ns

2.5 ns

2.5 ns

Per

2 Width

Delay

LeadE

TrailE

1.000 µs

100.0 ns

250.0 ns

2.5 ns

2.5 ns

Pulse Mode

Ch 1 Width

500.0ns

Trigger = ExtIn

Channel    Freq       Per      Width    Delay     More

1. In order to observe the fastest rise times of the Model 340x Pulse Pattern 

Generator, an oscilloscope with 500MHz bandwidth is recommended.

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