Generate Standard Waveforms Using the Quick-Control Function Generator

This example shows how to use the Quick-Control Function Generator to generate a standard waveform. To generate an arbitrary waveform, see Generate Arbitrary Waveforms Using Quick-Control Function Generator. Quick-Control Function Generator works with any function generator using an IVI-C driver as long as the instrument and the driver support the functionality. You can follow the basic steps using your particular function generator. This example uses Keysight^® VISA, but you can use any vendor's implementation of VISA.

In this example, an electronic test engineer wants to create a simple sine waveform to test the clock operating range of a digital circuit.

Ensure all necessary software is installed. See Quick-Control Function Generator Requirements for the list.

Create an instance of the function generator.

% Instantiate an instance of the fgen.
myFGen = fgen();

Discover available resources. A resource string is an identifier to the instrument. You must set it before connecting to the instrument.
```
% Find resources.
availableResources = resources(myFGen)
```
This returns a resource string or an array of resource strings, for example:
```
ans =

ASRL::COM1
GPIB0::INTFC
GPIB0::10::INSTR
PXI0::MEMACC
TCPIP0::172.28.16.153::inst0::INSTR
TCPIP0::172.28.16.174::inst0::INSTR
```
Set the resource for the function generator you want to communicate with.
```
myFGen.Resource = 'GPIB0::10::INSTR';
```
Connect to the function generator.
```
connect(myFGen);
```
Specify the channel name from which the function generator produces the waveform.
```
selectChannel(myFGen, '1');
```

Configure the function generator.

You can configure any of the instrument’s properties that are settable. Configure the waveform to be a continuous sine wave and then configure various settings as shown.

% Set the type of waveform to a sine wave.
myFGen.Waveform = 'sine';

% Set the output mode to continuous. 
myFGen.Mode = 'continuous';

% Set the load impedance to 50 Ohms. 
myFGen.OutputImpedance = 50;

% Set the frequency to 2500 Hz. 
myFGen.Frequency = 2500;

% Set the amplitude to 1.2 volts. 
myFGen.Amplitude = 1.2;

% Set the offset to 0.4 volts. 
myFGen.Offset = 0.4;

Enable signal generation with the instrument, for example, output signals.
In this example, the enableOutput function enables the function generator to produce a signal that appears at the output connector.
```
% Enable the output of signals. 
enableOutput(myFGen);
```
When you are done, disable the output.
```
% Disable the output of signals. 
disableOutput(myFGen);
```
After configuring the instrument and generating a signal, close the session and remove it from the workspace.
```
disconnect(myFGen);
clear myFgen;
```

For a list of supported functions for use with Quick-Control Function Generator, see Quick-Control Function Generator Functions.

Generate Standard Waveforms Using the Quick-Control Function Generator

See Also

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