What are the necessary functions for a good signal generator?

[Junce]

What are the necessary functions for a good signal generator?

1. Signal modulation function

Signal modulation means that in a modulated signal, the amplitude, phase, or frequency is changed so that low-frequency information is embedded in a high-frequency carrier signal, and the resulting signal can transmit anything from speech, data, video. Signal modulation can be divided into analog modulation and digital modulation. Of these, analog modulations such as amplitude modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM) are most commonly used in broadcast communications, while digital modulation is based on two states, allowing the signal to represent binary data.

2. Frequency scan function

Measuring the frequency characteristics of electronic equipment requires "sweeping" a sine wave, which changes frequency over a period of time. Generally divided into linear (Lin) frequency sweep and logarithmic (Log) frequency sweep; advanced signal generator supports frequency sweep function, you can choose the start frequency, hold frequency, stop frequency and correlation time. In addition, some signal generators also provide swept-synchronized trigger signals.

3. TTL synchronization output function

The TTL synchronization signal output by the general signal source is converted into a square wave through a triode circuit, and the level is 0 (low) and 3.6~5V (high). It is mainly used to synchronize other signal sources or other types of instruments to ensure trigger synchronization, which shows the importance of this function.

4. Reference clock output function

TTL sync output only guarantees trigger sync. If the sources are fully synchronized, the clocks must be synchronized. The reference clock output is designed to synchronize the clocks of the two signal sources. Usually, the reference clock outputs a square wave signal with a relatively stable frequency.

5. Burst function

This function is similar to the OneShot function. Inputting a TTL signal can cause the signal source to generate a signal output cycle. The design method is to ground the output when there is no signal input.

I would also like to ask you, what better suggestions and ideas do you have? let's discuss

[Berni]

The necessary functions are the ones you need.

There are vastly different uses for signal generators depending on the application. Most of the time you just need basic ones tho. Just making that fixed sine or square wave to excite a circuit. Being able to generate a PWM signal is also very useful.

In most cases i would recommend getting a basic cheep dumb signal generator and later on buy another more capable one once you find something that the cheep basic one is missing.

In general the most useful extra features are modulation (mostly to impose noise on a signal), sweep (for sweeping response of devices on a scope) and occasionally burst

[RJSV]

Sorry, have to ask:
  Are you, even a real person, there ? Or some 'bot' ?
Because it's like a photo-copy, from 1982, you're reading from a teleprompter, with no idea, what a
   TRIODE CIRCUIT dinosaur is, exactly...
(That's a vacume tube, used up to maybe 1985, until 'transistors').

[armandine2]

I'm real (honestly) - and on the face of it, the question " necessary functions for a good signal generator", seems interesting enough - though perhaps a beginner's question.

My arbitrary waveform generator has the sinc function - which might be fun to explore, any pointers there  would be good for me.

[Junce]

The necessary functions are the ones you need.

There are vastly different uses for signal generators depending on the application. Most of the time you just need basic ones tho. Just making that fixed sine or square wave to excite a circuit. Being able to generate a PWM signal is also very useful.

In most cases i would recommend getting a basic cheep dumb signal generator and later on buy another more capable one once you find something that the cheep basic one is missing.

In general the most useful extra features are modulation (mostly to impose noise on a signal), sweep (for sweeping response of devices on a scope) and occasionally burst

Hello, what you said is very correct. The signal stability and signal accuracy of the signal source itself are very important, followed by additional functions, such as modulation, frequency sweep, pulse, burst and other functions.