Oscilloscopes with Built-In Function/Arbitrary Waveform Generator

11 April 2012 - B&K Precision announced new models 2540B-GEN and 2542B-GEN for its 2540B series of digital storage oscilloscopes. The integration of function/arbitrary waveform generation capability into these 60 MHz and 100 MHz, 1 GSa/s DSOs provides engineers with a low-cost, space-saving solution, and a 2-in-1 high performance test instrument for signal analysis and stimulus response testing.

With the integrated 20 MHz AWG in the 2540B-GEN and 40 MHz AWG in the 2542B-GEN, users can generate sine, square, and arbitrary waveforms from the oscilloscope's generator output terminal. The unique combination of a DSO and AWG allows users to easily capture and store signals directly from the oscilloscope's channels to the generator's internal memory. User-defined arbitrary waveforms can also be edited through Comsoft PC software and then uploaded to the instrument. Other features of the built-in AWG include frequency sweep, burst mode, and a wide variety of modulation schemes such as AM, FM, FSK, PSK, and PWM.

The 2540B-GEN and 2542B-GEN retain the significant highlights of the 2540B and 2542B DSOs, whose features include an impressive deep memory up to 2.4 Mpts and built-in LAN interface. Both models also maintain the lightweight and portable form factor of their non-hybrid counterparts, and continue to include valuable tools such as pulse width, video and slope triggering, digital filtering, waveform recorder, pass/fail testing, FFT, and math functions.

Now accessible through the LAN interface is complete front panel emulation of the oscilloscope and built-in AWG allowing the DSOs to be fully web-enabled. Screenshots can also be captured from a web browser at a user-configurable refresh rate.

For educators, a graphical AWG help feature supplements the existing context-sensitive help feature, to explain parameters of built-in arbitrary waveforms and modulation schemes to students. The Auto Set button can still be disabled for training.

Available immediately, B&K Precision's 2540B-GEN (60 MHz DSO with 20 MHz AWG) and 2542B-GEN (100 MHz DSO with 40 MHz AWG) are listed at $1,195 and $1,395, respectively.

For a limited time, customers who purchase a new 2540B-GEN or 2542B-GEN DSO can receive a free deluxe adapter kit per oscilloscope after registering each unit no later than July 15, 2012.