DST supports the Start Trigger and Script Trigger. Triggers define the action you want an instrument or instrument channel to take upon detecting a specific signal condition.

Trigger stimuli include digital edges, software functions, and digital levels.

Start Trigger

A Start Trigger initiates signal generation.

Supported signal conditions:

  • None (default)
  • Digital Edge
  • Software Edge

When the instrument receives a Start Trigger, the RF output signal begins to generate as shown in the following figure. The instrument ignores a Start Trigger received after signal generation has started.

Figure 9. DSTG Start Trigger Model


Note All devices that reside between the waveform generator and the output signal introduce a delay from the Start Trigger to waveform generation.

Configure the Start Trigger using the Start Trigger Type property. The Configure Trigger function also provides access to this property.

Tip Sending a software trigger when you set Start Trigger Type to Digital Edge also starts signal generation. You can use this approach to create a software timeout to avoid leaving the instrument in a waiting state if the digital edge is never received.

The possible sources for a Start Trigger are shown in the following figure.

Figure 10. DSTG Start Trigger Sources


Script Trigger

A Script Trigger is a general-purpose trigger with a role determined entirely by the context of the dynamic generation script.

Supported signal conditions:

  • None (default)
  • Digital Edge
  • Digital Level
  • Software Edge

Once a Digital Edge Script Trigger has been received, that trigger remains true for all subsequent instructions until the clear instruction is called or the trigger is reset after being used in the wait, repeat/end repeat, or if instructions.

A script allows you to create sophisticated dynamic generation operations. For example, the script can configure the instrument to generate waveform A, then wait for a Script trigger, then generate waveform B. You can configure up to four Script triggers for use in your application.

Figure 11. DSTG Script Trigger Sources


Note All devices that reside between the waveform generator and the output signal introduce a delay between the Script Trigger and generation of the waveform.

Configure the Script Trigger using the trigger id input from the Configure Trigger function.

Tip Sending a software trigger when you set Script Trigger Type to Digital Edge also starts signal generation. You can use this to create a software timeout to avoid leaving the instrument in a waiting state if the digital edge is never received.

Refer to Scripts for more information.