Overview

The EX1200-3608 and EX1200-3604 provide eight or four independent channels of a digital to analog converter (DAC) with 16 bits of resolution. Two on-board DACs allow these modules to achieve fine resolution at very low output range settings. Along with static output operation, the DAC modules provide an arbitrary waveform generation (AWG) mode, which supports sophisticated looping and branching to build complex waveforms without the system controller’s intervention. The data may be paced out of the instrument with output rates up to 400 kSa/s.

Each channel is isolated, true-differential and has sense lines that can be used to compensate for voltage drops that occur over the length of the lead wire between the DAC output and the device under test. Channels can be connected in series to produce outputs in excess of 20 V.

When using the EX1200 scanning measurement feature, the DAC levels can be programmed at the beginning of each scan step. This powerful feature provides the basis for test sequencing completely independent of the host controller, where analog outputs are synchronized with measurement inputs.