A signal generator, also known variously as a test signal generator, tone generator (in audio only), waveform generator, or frequency generator is an electronic instrument that generates repeating electronic signals (in either the analog or digital domains). They are generally used in designing, testing, troubleshooting, and repairing electronic devices; though they often have artistic uses as well. Sound reproduction is the electrical or mechanical re-creation and/or amplification of sound, often as music. ... The field of electronics is the study and use of systems that operate by controlling the flow of electrons (or other charge carriers) in devices such as thermionic valves and semiconductors. ... u know me e u got ebe e u know me e u got ebe e. ...

There are many different types of signal generators, with different purposes and applications (and at varying levels of expense); in general, no device is suitable for all possible applications.

General purpose signal generators

Function generators

Leader Instruments LSG-15 signal generator

Main article: Function generator

A function generator is a device which produces simple repetative waveforms. Such devices contain an electronic oscillator, a circuit that is capable of creating a repetitive waveform. (Modern devices may use digital signal processing to synthesize waveforms, followed by an digital to analog converter, or DAC, to produce an analog output). The most common waveform is a sine wave, but sawtooth, step (pulse), square, and triangular waveform oscillators are commonly available as are arbitrary waveform generators (AWGs). If the oscillator operates above the audio frequency range (>20 kHz), the generator will often include some sort of modulation function such as amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM), or phase modulation (PM) as well as a second oscillator that provides an audio frequency modulation waveform. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (846x552, 115 KB)A Leader Instruments LSG-15 signal generator. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (846x552, 115 KB)A Leader Instruments LSG-15 signal generator. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with signal generator. ... Waveform quite literally means the shape and form of a signal, such as a wave moving across the surface of water, or the vibration of a plucked string. ... An electronic oscillator is an electronic circuit that produces a repetitive electronic signal, often a sine wave or a square wave. ... An electrical network is an interconnection of electrical elements such as resistors, inductors, capacitors, and switches. ... Waveform quite literally means the shape and form of a signal, such as a wave moving across the surface of water, or the vibration of a plucked string. ... Digital signal processing (DSP) is the study of signals in a digital representation and the processing methods of these signals. ... In electronics, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC or D-to-A) is a device for converting a digital (usually binary) code to an analogue signal (current, voltage or charges). ... In trigonometry, an ideal sine wave is a waveform whose graph is identical to the generalized sine function y = Asin[ω(x − α)] + C, where A is the amplitude, ω is the angular frequency (2π/P where P is the wavelength), α is the phase shift, and C is the... The sawtooth wave (or saw wave) is a kind of basic non-sinusoidal waveform. ... In signal processing, the term pulse has the following meanings: A rapid, transient change in the amplitude of a signal from a baseline value to a higher or lower value, followed by a rapid return to the baseline value. ... A square wave is a kind of basic waveform. ... A triangle wave is a waveform named for its triangular shape. ... An audio frequency (abbreviation: AF) is any frequency from about 20 hertz to about 20 kilohertz, which is the approximate range of sound frequencies that is audible to humans. ... A kilohertz (kHz) is a unit of frequency equal to 1,000 hertz (1,000 cycles per second). ... Modulation is the process of varying a carrier signal, typically a sinusoidal signal, in order to use that signal to convey information. ... Amplitude modulation (AM) is a form of modulation in which the amplitude of a carrier wave is varied in direct proportion to that of a modulating signal. ... Frequency modulation (FM) is a form of modulation which represents information as variations in the instantaneous frequency of a carrier wave. ... Phase modulation (PM) is a form of modulation which represents information as variations in the instantaneous phase of a carrier wave. ... An audio frequency (abbreviation: AF) is any frequency from about 20 hertz to about 20 kilohertz, which is the approximate range of sound frequencies that is audible to humans. ...

Function generators are typically used in simple electronics repair and design; where they are used to stimulate a circuit under test. A device such as an oscilloscope is then used to measure the circuit's output. Function generators vary in the number of outputs they feature, frequency range, frequency accuracy and stability, and several other paramters. A Tektronix model 475A portable analogue oscilloscope, a very typical instrument of the late 1970s. ...

Arbitrary waveform generators

Main article: Arbitrary waveform generator

Arbitrary waveform generators, or AWGs, are sophisticated signal generators which allow the user to generate arbitrary waveforms, within published limits of frequency range, accuracy, and output level. Unlike function generators, which are limited to a simple set of waveforms; an AWG allows the user to specify a source waveform in a variety of different ways. AWGs are generally more expensive than function generators, and are often more highly limited in available bandwidth; as a result, they are generally limited to higher-end design and test applications. A arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) is a piece of electronic test equipment used to generate electrical waveforms. ... Sine waves of various frequencies; the lower waves have higher frequencies than those above. ...

Special purpose signal generators

In addition to the above general-purpose devices, there are several classes of signal generators designed for specific applications.

Tone generators and audio generators

A tone generator is a type of signal generator optimized for use in audio and acoustics applications. Tone generators typically include sine waves over the audio frequency range (20 Hz–20 kHz). Sophisticated tone generators will also include sweep generators (a function which varies the output frequency over a range, in order to make frequency-domain measurements), multitone generators (which output several tones simultaneously, and are used to check for intermodulation distortion and other non-linear effects), and tone bursts (used to measure response to transients). Tone generators are typically used in conjunction with sound level meters, when measuring the acoustics of a room or a sound reproduction system, and/or with oscilloscopes or specialized audio analyzers. Sound reproduction is the electrical or mechanical re-creation and/or amplification of sound, often as music. ... Acoustics is a branch of physics and is the study of sound, mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids. ... An audio frequency (abbreviation: AF) is any frequency from about 20 hertz to about 20 kilohertz, which is the approximate range of sound frequencies that is audible to humans. ... The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the SI unit of frequency. ... Intermodulation distortion: Nonlinear distortion characterized by the appearance, in the output of a device, of frequencies that are linear combinations of the fundamental frequencies and all harmonics present in the input signals. ... Integrating sound level meter in dB(A) A sound level meter is used to measure sound levels, usually in terms of subjective loudness. ...

Many tone generators operate in the digital domain, producing output in various digital audio formats such as AES-3, or SPDIF. Such generators may include special signals to stimulate various digital effects and problems, such as clipping, jitter, bit errors; they also often provide ways to manipulate the metadata associated with digital audio formats. A digital system is one that uses discrete numbers, especially binary numbers, or non-numeric symbols such as letters or icons, for input, processing, transmission, storage, or display, rather than a continuous spectrum of values (an analog system). ... S/PDIF or S/P-DIF, for Sony/Philips Digital Interconnect Format (also IEC 958 type II, part of IEC-60958), is a system for carrying stereo digital audio signals between various devices and stereo components. ... Clipping has several meanings: Coin clipping, the act of shaving off a small portion of the precious metal for profit Clipping (computer graphics), to the task of making sure that only the visible part is actually drawn Clipping (gardening), or pruning, the practice of removing diseases, overmature or otherwise unwanted... In Telecommunication, jitter is an abrupt and unwanted variation of one or more signal characteristics, such as the interval between successive pulses, the amplitude of successive cycles, or the frequency or phase of successive cycles. ... Bit error indicates the number of bits of a data stream over a communication channel that have been altered by noise. ... Metadata (Greek meta over and Latin data information, literally data about data), are data that describe other data. ...

Video signal generators

Main article: Video signal generator

A video signal generator is a device which outputs predetermined video and/or television waveforms, and other signals used to stimulate faults in, or aid in parametric measurements of, television and video systems. There are several different types of video signal generators in widespread use. Regardless of the specific type, the output of a video generator will generally contain synchronization signals appropriate for television, including horizontal and vertical sync pulses (in analog) or sync words (in digital). Generators of composite video signals (such as NTSC and PAL) will also include a colorburst signal as part of the output. Video signal generators are available for a wide variety of applications, and for a wide variety of digital formats; many of these also include audio generation capability (as the audio track is an important part of any video or television program or motion picture). A video signal generator is a type of signal generator which outputs predetermined video and/or television waveforms, and other signals used to stimulate faults in, or aid in parametric measurements of, television and video systems. ... Look up Video in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... NTSC is the analog television system in use in Korea, Japan, United States, Canada and certain other places, mostly in the Americas (see map). ... PAL, short for phase-alternating line, phase alternation by line or phase alternation line, is a colour encoding system used in broadcast television systems in large parts of the world. ... Colorburst is a signal used to keep the chrominance subcarrier synchronized in a color television signal. ...