Berkeley Nucleonics has released a new multi-channel digital delay/pulse generator, model 565, which allows time reference selection for each channel
Conventional digital delay generators use a time reference that is automatically pegged to its trigger.
Up to eight channels of delay and width control are available with BNC's Model 565.
Each individual channel's reference can be set either to the trigger or to any other channel.
The Model 565 offers 500 picosecond (ps) timing resolution with widths and delays out to 1000 seconds.
Setups can be stored within the instrument allowing reuse of frequently applied testing configurations.
The 565 provides USB, RS232 and GPIB programming standard with optional Ethernet communication.
To learn more about the Model 565's complete set of features and examine sample waveforms, see the product datasheet available from the company's website.
Selectable time references allow the timing of several channels to be slaved to another channel instead of the external or internal trigger.
This capability can minimize setup time and maximise efficient testing time.
Examples include laser applications such as particle image velocimetry (PIV), and laser fluorescence (LF).
These applications often use two or more lasers, flashlamps and Q-switches.
The timing between the lasers is the major variable.
To illustrate the benefits of selectable references, consider a simple two-laser setup.
Each laser has a trigger for its flashlamp followed by a trigger for its accompanying Q-switch.
The time between the flashlamp and Q-switch are set by their properties and once determined are fixed.
With conventional delay generators, changing the time between laser firings requires calculating new delays for the flashlamp and Q-switch of the second laser and programming those new numbers into the unit each time the spacing between the laser changes.
When diagnostics and/or data acquisition are slaved to the laser firings, another item to be reprogrammed is added to the things-to-do list.
With the BNC Model 565, the second laser's Q-switch is referenced to its flashlamp.
Changing the timing between lasers no longer requires changing the Q-switch's delay.
