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Azur Electronics

OPERATING HP 8175A
ARBITARY WAVEFORM  GENERATOR
This is part of the HP 8175A Digital Signal Generator when fitted with Option 002 Arbitary Waveform Generator. This provides 2 analogue outputs from front panel BNC connectors.

Specification is: 
Analog Channels: 2 (Front Panel BNCs A and B) 
Sample Update Rate: 50MHz 
Amplitude: 200mV to 16V into 50Ω 
Amplitude Resolution: 10 Bit and up to 1024 data points
Trigger Output A: Front Panel TTL or ECL 50Ω
Trigger Output B: Rear Panel TTL or ECL 50Ω

Programmable output as 2 independent but synchronous analogue signals with 10 bit amplitude resolution and sample update rate of up to 50MHz. Programmable peak to peak output voltages and separately programmable offset voltages. Simultaneous analogue and digital signals, either 1 analogue arbitary plus 14 independent digital signals, or 2 analogue arbitary plus their 10 bit equivalents

The big difference with the Arbitary Waveform Generator is that it enables at each address, instead of a data pattern with a fixed TTL or ECL amplitude, a variable amplitude to be set based on the analogue equivalent of a 10 bit binary word.

A separate Option 002 Operating and Programming Manual 08175-90016 of May 1986 is available for download.

The 8175A is a complex and versatile beast, so these are my working notes.  
 
[With acknowledgement and thanks to HP for reproducing some text from their Manuals]

April 2023

Press the SYSTEM key and move the Cursor down to Arbitary Generator.

There are 3 types of waveforms accessed from the DATA page. This shows the processing power of this generator, impressive for circa 1986.

STEP FUNCTIONS
This example sets up a staircase waveform from -2.5V to +2.5V in 0.5V steps.

Press CNTRL key for [Clock] page.
Move Cursor to Mode field and set to [Auto Cycle].

Press OUTPUT key, then NEXT to to [ARB A] page.
Move Cursor to Level into field and set to [50 Ohm], alternative is [Open].
Move Cursor to Amplitude Range field and set to [5V], alternative range is 200mV to 16V, or 400mV to 32V for open circuit.
Move Cursor to Offset field and set to [+] [000] V.
Move Cursor to Output field and set to [enabled].
Move Cursor to Output Mode and set to [normal].

Press DATA key, then NEXT to to Data [Format] Allocation page.
Move Cursor to Duration field and set to [fixed], alternative is variable.
Move Cursor to Period field and set to [1.0] [µs].
If variable had been selected, the period field is removed and the required period(s) can be set individually for each address.

Press DATA key, then NEXT to to Data [Pattern/Level] Setup page.
Move Cursor to Used Format Allocation field and set to [ARB A] to simplify display. Alternatives are ARB B, TRG A, TRG B, DUAL.
Move Cursor to ARB A column. Set field to [ABS. LEVEL] for absolute levels. Alternatives are REL. LEVEL for relative, BIN for binary, OCT for octal, DEC for decimal, HEX for hexadecimal.
Move Cursor to address 0000 START then cursor right to set initial value as required, in this case +0.000V. Note: If variable had been selected, the required period can be set individually for each address.
Press ROLL and Cursor to set the remaining addresses, in this case 0002 to 0011 for -2.5V to +2.5V in 0.5V steps.

Press PRGM key, then NEXT to to [Module] Assignment page.
Move Cursor to PROG1 field and then right to set end address to [0011].

Press UPDATE then START to output the staircase waveform.

There is a lot more that can be programmed including: voltage levels, offsets and periods. Read the Manual and check out all the options!

... more to follow ...