Open topic with navigation

Complex Test Example

The Complex Test example demonstrates using the Pulse Building GUI to create a signal using several pattern item types. The pattern, from which the signal is derived, uses different pulse types and different patterns. You will copy pulses from other pulse building projects into the Complex Test project. This example demonstrates how to:

• Build a pattern of pulses

• Build a pattern of patterns

• Copy pulses from one pulse building project to another Pulse Building project

• Use the Import function for file input

• Use pattern jitter

Creating the Pulses

The following procedure will guide you through the steps necessary to create the pulses used in this example. The technique for copying pulses is demonstrated in the Sensitivity project. The same method is used when copying pulses from the Frequency Agile project.

1. Run the Pulse Building application.

2. Save the project. Use the File - Save As menu selection to save the project as Complex Test.pbp

3. Run a second instance of the Pulse Building application and then open the Sensitivity project created in the Sensitivity Example section. We will copy the pulses from this project into the Complex Test project.

4. Place the mouse pointer on the BarkerA pulse in the Sensitivity project, click the right mouse button and select Copy from the menu.

5. Place the mouse pointer on the New Pulse 1 pulse in the Complex Test project, click the right mouse button and select Paste from the menu selections. The BarkerA pulse parameters are pasted into the New Pulse 1 Pulse Details form.

6. Change the New Pulse 1 name to BarkerA. Place the mouse pointer on New Pulse 1, right mouse click, and select Rename.

7. Click the New Pulse button in the Complex Test project.

8. Repeat steps 4 through 6 for the BarkerB pulse.

9. Close the Sensitivity Pulse Building application.

10. Run a second instance of the Pulse Building application and then open the Frequency Agile project created in the Frequency Agile Example section. We will copy the pulses in this project into the Complex Test project.

11. Copy the CW1, CW2, and CW3 pulses in the Frequency Agile project and paste them into the Complex Test project. Use the technique outlined in steps 4 through 6 to copy the pulses from one project to another.

The Pulse Library form below shows the pulses used in the Complex Test project.  

Creating the Pattern

There are now five pulses BarkerA, BarkerB, CW1, CW2, and CW3 stored in the Complex Test Pulse Library. This section details the steps needed to create the patterns using these pulses.

1. Click the Pattern Library tab at the lower left corner of the Pulse Library form.

2. Click the icon.

3. Rename New Pattern 1 to Frequency Agile.

   • Click the mouse pointer on New Pattern 1 in the patterns section of the form

   • Click the right mouse button

   • Select Rename from the menu and type in Frequency Agile

4. Run a second instance of the Pulse Building application and then open the Frequency Agile project   

5. Copy the Frequency Agile pattern from the Frequency Agile Example project.

   • Click the mouse pointer on the Frequency Agile pattern in the Frequency Agile Example project then click the right mouse button and select Copy.

   • Click the mouse pointer on the Frequency Agile pattern in the Complex Test pattern then click the right mouse button and select Paste.   

6. Close the Frequency Agile Pulse Building application.

The Complex Test project now has the Frequency Agile pattern in its Pattern Library. There are two other patterns that need to be copied into the project: the Doublet and Sensitivity patterns from the Sensitivity Example project. The Pulse Building application cannot copy patterns of patterns. So the Scan pattern will need to be created in the Complex Test project.

1. Click the icon in the Complex Test project

2. Rename New Pattern 1 to Doublet:

   • Click New Pattern 1 in the Patterns section of the form

   • Click the right mouse button

   • Select Rename from the menu and type in Doublet

3. Run a second instance of the Pulse Building application and then open the Sensitivity project and copy the Doublet pattern:

   • Place the mouse pointer on the Doublet pattern in the Sensitivity Example project, click the right mouse button, and select Copy.

   • Place the mouse pointer on the Doublet pattern in the Complex Test pattern, click the right mouse button, and select Paste.   

4. Click the icon in the Complex Test project

5. Rename the New Pattern 1 to Sensitivity.

6. Copy the pattern parameters from the Pattern Details section of the form shown below and use them in the Complex Test pattern.

   

   • Index 1 - 10: Object Type: Pattern, Object Name: Doublet, Repetition Interval: 50 us, Repeat: 1, Edge Jitter Type: No Jitter, Power Scale: Use the data from the form above.

The last pattern to create, Complex Test, uses a combination of patterns, patterns within a pattern, and pulses. This section details the steps needed to create this pattern.  

1. Click the icon.

2. Rename New Pattern 1 to Complex Test:

   • Place the mouse pointer on New Pattern 1 in the patterns section of the form

   • Click the right mouse button, select Rename and type in Complex Text

3. Add pattern items to the Complex pattern. Click the icon nine times.

4. Click the mouse pointer in the cell located at Index 1 and Object Name.

5. Select CW1 from the pull-down menu selections.

6. Click the mouse pointer in the cell located at Index 1 and Repetition Interval. Enter 5 us in this cell

7. Copy the pattern parameters for the Complex Test pattern from the pattern details form shown below.

   

Download and Play

1. Click the Connect to Instrument button .

2. Enter TCP/IP or GPIB interface parameters for the instrument in the System Configuration wizard.

3. Click the Test I/O command button. The Status text box in the I/O Connection form should display: Connected

   If errors or a timeout occurs refer to the troubleshooting section in the Help documentation.

4. Click OK.

If you are using a spectrum/signal analyzer, perform the following steps:

1. Click the Connect to Instrument button .

2. Enter TCP/IP or GPIB interface parameters for the instrument in the System Configuration wizard.

3. Click the Test I/Ocommand button. The Status text box in the I/O Connection form should display: Connected

   If an error or a timeout occurs, refer to the troubleshooting section in this Help document or VISA documentation.

4. Click OK.

Click the Download menu item at the top of the form and select Download & Play. The lower section of the form, labeled VerifySignal Result: indicates the result of the signal creation and download process. 

At this point the signal is loaded in the signal generator's volatile waveform memory and the signal generator is playing the signal. You can use the analyzer to view this signal. Use the following analyzer settings:

• Center Frequency - 15 GHz.

• Span - 200 MHz 

• Amplitude - Ref Level - Set the reference level to 10 dBm

• Trace View - select the Max Hold softkey to view the signal 

You can save this waveform file in the signal generator's non-volatile waveform memory. When you save the waveform file, instrument state parameters configured in the Advanced settings section such as frequency and amplitude are not included. Use the signal generator's Save/Recall registers to save the signal generator's instrument state. When you want to re-load the signal and play it back:

1. Load the signal into volatile waveform memory.

2. Recall the register with the signal generator's instrument state associated with the waveform file.

Related Topics

Complex Test API Program Example