Signal generators –we’ve heard about them a lot. They are used in many different fields of engineering. But what exactly are these devices and what do they do?
This blog takes a quick look with an easy to understand approach.
What are signal generators?
Put simply, signal generators are devices that produce electrical signals in the form of waves. Remember waves from your electronics class? Sinusoidal waves, square waves, triangular waves, etc.?
Okay, but why do we do even need these electrical signals?
We need these electrical signals to test the electronic, audio and radio equipment that we design and manufacture.
You see, equipment can always develop failures, or it may not work properly after it is built. To ensure that the equipment is working fine, and working as per the required standards, we test it with various testing signals generated by signal generators.
Signal generators use case
Let’s say you are developing a mobile communication device. As a manufacturer, you’re responsible for making sure that your mobile device complies with the different wireless standards before launching it in the market.
How do you that?
Simple; by using signal generators.
Through signal generators, you can accurately generate the required signals that represent each wireless standard and study the response of the device to these input signals for compliance testing.
Types of signal generators
There are primarily four types of signal generators:
- Function generators:They are the most basic types of signal generators. They produce simple repetitive waveforms—sinusoidal, saw tooth, square, step and triangular—using an electronic oscillator.
- Arbitrary waveform generators: They are the more sophisticated versions of function generators. You can use them to generate almost any type of waveforms, customized to your desired specifications.
- RF and microwave signal generators: They are used to produce signals in the radio frequency range. In addition, they also offer the convenience to add modulation to the generated signals. These generators come in two configurations;analogue and vector.
- Audio signal generators:They produce waveforms typically in the range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz. They are often used to make audio and distortion measurements.
And well, that’s basically it. We hope you found this introductory explanation to signal generators helpful and easy to understand. If you have any questions about signal generators that you’d like to ask, feel free to reach out to us.
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At ADSANTEC, we stock the best quality testing equipment—including high performance signal generators—for your specialty system design needs. View our product catalogue for more details.