Signal Generation System Phase Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional signal generators face challenges in maintaining phase alignment between multiple generators when the frequency of the sampling clock changes, leading to potential phase misalignment and incorrect detection of trigger or event signals.
Innovation Solution
A signal generation system with a central control unit that adjusts the phase relationship between signal generators by calculating the clock number and phase adjustments, using dedicated communication cables to synchronize sampling clocks and timing signals, and incorporating phase adjustment circuits to compensate for frequency changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the frequency of the sampling clock is changed, then the signal generation system can adapt to different signal requirements, but the phase relationship between outputs of multiple signal generators becomes misaligned
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and stores the relationship between sampling clock frequencies and corresponding delay amounts in a lookup table. When the sampling clock frequency changes, the central control unit immediately retrieves the pre-calculated delay amount from the table, avoiding real-time calculation complexity and ensuring rapid phase alignment adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual phase alignment procedures with an automated digital control system. The central control unit automatically calculates required delay amounts based on sampling clock frequency changes and controls the delay means accordingly, eliminating the need for manual intervention and improving both speed and precision of phase alignment.
2Productivity
If multiple signal generators are used to provide more output channels, then the system can generate more signals simultaneously, but maintaining phase alignment between generators becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the phase alignment control functions of multiple signal generators into a single centralized control unit. This central control unit receives sampling clock signals from any generator and distributes synchronized timing information to all delay means, coordinating phase alignment across the entire multi-generator system through a unified control mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The central control unit acts as an intermediary between multiple signal generators and their respective delay means. It receives frequency information from generators, calculates appropriate delay amounts, and transmits control signals to delay means, thereby mediating the complex phase alignment requirements across multiple generators without requiring direct communication between each generator pair.
3Adaptability or versatility
If trigger or event functions are implemented to initiate or change output signals, then the system responds dynamically to external conditions, but maintaining correct timing and phase relationships becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the central control unit continuously monitors the actual timing and phase relationships of output signals. When trigger or event functions cause timing deviations, the control unit receives feedback about these deviations and automatically adjusts delay amounts to compensate, ensuring timing synchronization is maintained despite dynamic signal changes.
Data Source
AI summary
A signal generation system maintains a phase relationship between output signals of first and second signal generators even when the sampling clock frequency is changed. The signal generators are coupled via a communication means including a dedicated cable where the delay amount of the communication means is known and fixed. The first signal generator provides sampling clock, sequence clock and trigger/event signals to the second signal generator and CPUs of the generators share information via the cable. When the frequency of the sampling clock is changed, the CPU of the first or second signal generator calculates the clock number of the frequency changed sampling clock equivalent to the delay amount of the communication means. A delay circuit of the first signal generator 100 delays the waveform data by one sampling clock based on the calculated value for adjusting phase relationship between the waveform data in the signal generators 1.