One year after launching its flagship 63xx series of Arbitrary Waveform Generators (AWGs), Spectrum Instrumentation now introduces a new Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS) option, significantly expanding the functionality of these already powerful instruments. In AWG mode, the products generate waveforms at up to 10 Gigasamples per second (GS/s) with 16-bit resolution and bandwidths reaching 3.9 GHz. In the new DDS-Mode, the 63xx series AWGs offer 64 individual sine waves on one generator channel, each changing frequency, amplitude and phase in steps of only 3.2 ns. This is an easy way to produce trains of waveforms, frequency sweeps or finely-tunable references for industrial, medical and imaging systems, as well as in quantum research, semiconductor testing and communications.
The new DDS option allows each AWG channel to generate up to 64 programmable sinewave cores – also known as carriers or tones. Each core can be independently set for frequency, amplitude, phase, as well as frequency and amplitude slopes. All changes are controlled by simple commands that can be executed in real time or as part of preloaded sequences. This makes the DDS-enabled devices ideal for applications requiring agile, high-purity signal sources.
Oliver Rovini, CTO at Spectrum Instrumentation, reports: “A major advantage of the DDS upgrade is its efficiency. Rather than streaming large waveform datasets, users can control signal characteristics through compact command sequences stored in the device’s memory. Millions of commands can be saved and executed with precise timing resolution as low as 3.2 ns, without jitter or glitches. Settings can be triggered externally, by internal timers, or on command – enabling complex pulse trains, frequency sweeps, AM/FM modulation, and custom-shaped transitions”.
The 63xx series of Arbitrary Waveform Generators consists of 22 variants in two hardware formats:
• The PCIe-based M5i.63xx models are designed for direct installation into PCs and are ideal where space and high-speed data transfer are critical. These cards support one or two channels, with output rates of 3.2 to 10 GS/s (5 GS/s for dual-channel mode). Up to eight cards can be synchronized using Spectrum’s Star-Hub system, enabling up to 16 synchronous channels and as many as 512 DDS cores.
• The NETBOX instruments (DN2.63x and DN6.63x models) are LXI compliant standalone devices optimized for benchtop or rack-mounted use. They connect to PCs or networks via Ethernet. Available in configurations from 1 to 12 synchronous channels, they support output rates of 3.2 or 5 GS/s, or up to 6 channels at 10 GS/s, with the ability to program up to 384 DDS cores.
Importantly, the addition of DDS does not compromise any of the AWG’s original capabilities. Users still have full access to arbitrary waveform playback with advanced operating modes including single shot, loop, gated, streaming, and more. This effectively gives users two instruments in one.
All Spectrum products come with software support for Windows and Linux, programming examples for popular languages including Python, MATLAB, C++, and LabVIEW, and a high-level Python API. The 63xx Series DDS option is available now and backed by lifetime technical support directly from Spectrum’s engineers, and free software and firmware updates.
More information about Spectrum can be found at www.spectrum-instrumentation.com
