Do not confuse the wave generators with other devices that we have already seen in this blog and that may look quite similar, such as oscilloscopes. In this article we are going to learn what a wave generator is, what it can be used for in our electronics projects, how to choose the best one, etc.
Additionally, I will also show some of the best wave generators that we recommend, so that you can buy equipment that adapts to your needs…
The best wave generators
To acquire the best wave generators, we recommend the following devices for your electronics laboratory:
RIGOL DG1062Z Waveform/Function Generator
JUNTEK Portable Programmable Signal Generator
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RIGOL DG4102 Arbitrary Function Generator
RIGOL DG1022Z Arbitrary Wave/Function Generator
Focket FY6900 Digital Signal Generator
What is a wave generator or signal generator?
Un wave generator, or signal generator, It is a device used mainly in industrial environments that produces an electrical signal in the form of a wave that can be introduced into an electronic circuit to carry out various types of tests along with other industrial test and measurement instruments. That is, while signals from a circuit are measured in the oscilloscope, in the generator they are injected into the circuit...
The signal generator can generate repetitive waveforms with common shapes such as square, pulse, sinusoidal, triangular, sawtooth, among others. Which has application in a multitude of fields, not only electronics, but also in electricity applications.
It is important to note that the wave generator It does not have the function of measuring the signal it produces, although you can indicate it. Its main function is to power or test electrical circuits or actuators in industrial environments, or electronics laboratories, both in the development and in the verification of their operation.
As I mentioned before, wave generators are used to generate periodic signals, in which the voltage varies periodically over time, allowing its period (the time of a complete oscillation) and its amplitude (the maximum value of the signal voltage) to be controlled. However, it can also play a crucial role in the generation of non-periodic waves.
It is mainly applied in design, test and repair of electronic devices. In addition, it can also have artistic applications and be used in the medical field. Nowadays, due to the constant advancement of technology, there are specific signal generators for a wide variety of tasks. These devices can be plugged directly into computers and offer functions such as logging of generated signals and the ability to program the generator to output a specific sequence of signals.
What is a wave generator used for?
The common applications Wave generators are divided into several categories, including:
- Maintenance and service of industrial equipment: They are used to perform tests and diagnoses on industrial equipment, ensuring its proper functioning.
- Research and education: They are valuable tools in research settings and educational settings, where they are used for experiments and demonstrations.
- Use in the field or in safe areas: Signal generators are portable and used in the field or in areas where safety is required, such as testing in controlled environments.
- Simple production: They are also used in simple production applications where specific signals need to be generated for testing and calibration.
En terms of use and common functions of wave generators can be summarized in three main categories:
- Signal creation: These devices can generate signals from scratch to simulate, stimulate and test various circuits and devices.
- Signal replication: They can replicate signals, whether anomalies, errors or signals acquired by oscilloscopes, in a laboratory to modify their parameters and analyze them in a controlled environment.
- Signal generation: They are used to produce ideal signals or known functions that serve as reference or input for testing.
Furthermore, signal generators have significant applications in wireless telecommunications industry and aerospace industry, where they can simulate signals such as radar or GPS, or test digital receivers and transmitters.
Importantly, wave generators play a different role compared to other industrial test and measurement instruments, such as spectrum analyzers, multimeters and oscilloscopes. While the latter measure digital or analog signals, a generator produces a signal in which the user selects the oscillation frequency of the wave...
Differences between signal generators and function generators
You may have wondered at some point if these two instruments are identical or if they have significant differences, well, both one and the other have the ability to generate a signal that is introduced into a circuit to observe its behavior, but there are several notable distinctions.
El Function generator has the ability to generate standard predefined functions, such as:
- Sine or sinusoidal waves.
- Square signs.
- Triangular shapes.
- TTL signals.
It is mainly used in the device calibration for audio, ultrasonic applications and servo systems, operating in a frequency range of 0.2 Hz to 2 MHz. With the function generator, it is possible to control the sweep function, both internally and externally. The technician has control over parameters such as DC offset level, scan cycle, range and width, as well as signal amplitude.
Although in certain aspects they may seem similar, they cannot be considered completely the same. However, thanks to advances in technology, wave generators can generate many signals that were previously associated exclusively with a function generator, which has led to a mix of concepts between both types of instruments.
Types of wave generators
You should know what can be found on the market various types of wave generators or signal generators, with specific characteristics that differentiate them, but that you should also know:
- Pulse generator: This device can generate pulses, including logic pulses with variable delays and level changes, which is useful in digital circuit testing, and occasionally in logic applications. You can send trains of pulses to activate specific parts of a circuit.
- Audio signal shape generator: Designed for audio projects, it operates in the frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz. In some cases, it can also be used to generate sine waves and other audio waveforms.
- Arbitrary waveform generator: This advanced technology allows custom waveforms to be generated and modified in sophisticated ways. However, these generators are expensive due to their complexity and require limiting their bandwidth. Before purchasing one, it is important to consider its intended use.
- RF (Radio Frequency) Signal Generator: As its name suggests, it works in the radio frequency range. It can produce modulations in the waveform, such as AM (Amplitude Modulated) or FM (Frequency Modulated), and the most advanced models can work with technologies such as CDMA and OFDM, common in mobile devices. In analog signals, they offer free oscillation and can use periodic locking techniques to improve signal stability.
- Vector signal generators: These generators are similar to RF generators, but differ in their ability to work with more complex modulation formats, such as QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) and QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying). Therefore, they are used to test advanced telecommunication systems, such as 4G, 5G, and other similar systems.
- Function generator: Although we have already talked about function generators, it is important to include them here since they are also a category of signal generators. These devices can create simple repetitive waveforms, such as sine, sawtooth, triangle, and square waves. Although the original models were analog, the current ones are digital, but can still generate waves converted to analog. They do not need to operate at high frequencies due to the type of wave they produce, although there are models that can do so.