DSTA supports the Start Trigger, Reference Trigger, and Advance Trigger. Triggers define the action you want an instrument to take upon detecting a specific signal condition.

Start Trigger

A Start Trigger transitions an instrument into a state where the instrument can respond to sample clocks. This trigger transitions the instrument from a non-sampling state into a sampling state—the instrument starts sampling and storing data.

Supported signal conditions:

  • None (default)
  • Digital Edge
  • Software Edge

Reference Trigger

A Reference Trigger establishes the reference point that separates pre-trigger and post-trigger samples; transitions an instrument from the Wait for Reference Trigger while Sampling state into the Post-Reference Trigger Sampling state. In the Post-Reference Trigger Sampling state, a counter begins counting sample clock cycles. When the configured number of samples is acquired, the device transitions into a Done state.

Supported signal conditions:

  • None (default)
  • Digital Edge
  • I/Q Power Edge
  • Software Edge

Advance Trigger

An Advance Trigger initiates the acquisition of the additional records in a multi-record acquisition.

Supported signal conditions:

  • None (default)
  • Digital Edge
  • Software Edge