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VT DSO-2A20 Manual Rev. 1.1
Virtins Technology
the DAC device is capable. One drawback is that not all functions supported by the streaming
mode are supported by the DDS mode.
The following table compares these two modes.
Streaming Mode
DDS Mode
Max. Sampling Frequency
Medium
High
Load to computer CPU
High
Very Low, only when Start/Stop
button is pressed
Functionality
Virtually no limit, fully determined
by the computer software
Limited by the hardware and the
nature of DDS
Discontinuity in output signal
Normally no
Absolutely no
Sweep speed accuracy
High
Medium
Usage
To generate those waveforms that
cannot be generated by DDS
Generally DDS mode should be
used in order to utilize high
sampling frequency and reduce the
computer CPU load
Tick / Untick the DDS checkbox on the signal generator panel to select the DDS / Streaming
mode.
Unlike the DDS function provided by some DDS IC chips, which has only a few fixed
waveform options, the DDS function here is fully user-configurable. Beside some pre-
configured waveforms (sine, rectangle, triangle, etc.), you can configure your own waveform
via a waveform library file. This file will be downloaded to the DDS buffer when you choose
“WFLibrary” in the waveform combo box on the signal generator panel. Please refer to the
Multi-Instrument software manual for details.
1.8.8 Signal Generator DDS Interpolation
A DDS DAC device uses a lookup table (i.e. DDS buffer) to hold the shape of the signal to
be generated. The DDS output suffers from the limited number of entries in the lookup table.
The output value “jumps” when going from one entry to the next, introducing unwanted high
frequencies in the output signal. This adverse effect may not be discernible when the output
signal frequency is high, but becomes sensible as the output signal frequency goes down.
DDS interpolation can be used to fix or alleviate this problem. Instead of using the value
stored in the lookup table directly, it dynamically computes the output value through linear
interpolation between two successive lookup table values. This effectively enlarges many
times the DDS lookup table.
To enable the DDS interpolation, go to [Setting]>[DAC Device] and tick the “DDS
Interpolation” checkbox.
1.8.9 Simultaneous Data Acquisition and Data Output
The oscilloscope and signal generator of the second-generation VT DSOs can work
simultaneously. You can generate a stimulus to the Device Under Test (DUT) and acquire
the response from that device at the same time. You can even configure a sequence of steps
to generate different stimuli to the DUT and analyze the different responses from it. Please
refer to the chapter for Device Test Plan in the Multi-Instrument software manual for details.
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