16. Troubleshooting Digital Circuits and Test Equipment - Part C - Digital Electronics - Vol 2
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16. Troubleshooting Digital Circuits and Test Equipment - Part C

16. Troubleshooting Digital Circuits and Test Equipment - Part C

This chapter discusses various types of counters and synthesizers used in digital electronics, focusing on their functional modes, architectures, specifications, and applications. It emphasizes the importance of accuracy, resolution, and speed in measurement systems, particularly in frequency synthesizers and arbitrary waveform generators. Additionally, it covers indispensable diagnostic tools such as logic probes and analyzers for troubleshooting digital circuits.

37 sections

Sections

Navigate through the learning materials and practice exercises.

  1. 16.14
    Universal Counters – Functional Modes

    This section covers the various functional modes of universal counters used...

  2. 16.14.1
    Functional Modes

    This section explores the various functional modes of universal counters,...

  3. 16.14.1.1
    Time Interval Measurement

    The section discusses techniques for measuring the time interval between two...

  4. 16.14.1.2
    Time Interval Average

    The Time Interval Average mode enhances measurement resolution by averaging...

  5. 16.14.1.3

    This section explains the period measurement mode of universal counters,...

  6. 16.14.1.4

    The totalize mode of universal counters allows for cumulative counting of...

  7. 16.14.1.5
    Frequency Ratio A/b

    The frequency ratio A/B measures the relative frequencies of signals fed...

  8. 16.14.1.6
    Phase A Relative To B

    This section outlines the functionality of the universal counter in...

  9. 16.14.2
    Basic Counter Architecture

    This section discusses the architecture of frequency counters, detailing how...

  10. 16.14.3
    Reciprocal Counters

    Reciprocal counters enhance measurement accuracy and resolution by computing...

  11. 16.14.4
    Continuous-Count Counters

    Continuous-count counters enhance measurement capabilities by allowing...

  12. 16.14.5
    Counter Specifications

    Counter specifications encompass the critical aspects such as sensitivity,...

  13. 16.14.5.1

    This section defines sensitivity in the context of universal counters,...

  14. 16.14.5.2

    This section discusses the significance of bandwidth in universal counters,...

  15. 16.14.5.3

    Resolution in digital counters refers to the smallest frequency or time...

  16. 16.14.5.4

    The section discusses the concept of accuracy in universal counters,...

  17. 16.14.5.5

    Throughput refers to the rate at which a universal counter can perform...

  18. 16.14.6
    Microwave Counters

    Microwave counters utilize specialized architectures for measuring RF...

  19. 16.15
    Frequency Synthesizers And Synthesized Function/signal Generators

    This section discusses frequency synthesizers and synthesized function...

  20. 16.15.1
    Direct Frequency Synthesis

    Direct Frequency Synthesis utilizes a reference oscillator and...

  21. 16.15.2
    Indirect Synthesis

    Indirect synthesis utilizes a phase-locked loop (PLL) to generate target...

  22. 16.15.3
    Sampled Sine Synthesis (Direct Digital Synthesis)

    Sampled Sine Synthesis utilizes digital methods to generate waveforms at...

  23. 16.15.4
    Important Specifications

    This section outlines the key specifications related to frequency...

  24. 16.15.4.1
    Frequency Range And Resolution

    This section explores the importance of frequency range and resolution in...

  25. 16.15.4.2
    Frequency Switching Speed

    This section discusses the frequency switching speed of synthesizers,...

  26. 16.15.4.3
    Signal Purity

    Signal purity measures how closely a generated output signal matches an...

  27. 16.15.5
    Synthesized Function Generators

    Synthesized function generators combine the precision of frequency...

  28. 16.15.6
    Arbitrary Waveform Generator

    An arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) produces custom analog waveforms based...

  29. 16.16

    The logic probe is a fundamental tool for troubleshooting digital circuits,...

  30. 16.17
    Logic Analyser

    The logic analyser is a crucial tool for diagnosing and analyzing the...

  31. 16.17.1
    Operational Modes

    This section outlines the two primary operational modes of a logic analyzer:...

  32. 16.17.1.1
    Asynchronous Timing Mode

    The Asynchronous Timing Mode in logic analyzers captures signals as logic...

  33. 16.17.1.2
    Synchronous State Mode

    The Synchronous State Mode in logic analysers captures samples of signals on...

  34. 16.17.2
    Logic Analyser Architecture

    This section discusses the architecture of a logic analyser, detailing its...

  35. 16.17.2.1

    The section discusses the function of probes in logic analyzers, focusing on...

  36. 16.17.2.2

    This section discusses the memory architecture of logic analyzers,...

  37. 16.17.2.3

    This section covers the operational modes and architecture of logic...

What we have learnt

  • Modern universal counters measure frequency, time intervals, and phase relationships, improving measurement resolution through averaging.
  • Reciprocal counters enhance frequency measurement resolution by computing both event and time counts.
  • Synthesized function generators utilize digital synthesis techniques to produce high-frequency waveforms with exceptional stability and accuracy.

Key Concepts

-- Universal Counter
A measurement device that counts events and can perform various functions like time interval measurement and frequency ratio measurement.
-- Reciprocal Counter
A type of counter that calculates frequency by measuring both the event count and the time taken, resulting in improved resolution.
-- Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS)
A method of generating waveforms by sampling and interpolating amongst digital representations of the desired outputs.
-- Logic Analyzer
A diagnostic tool for observing multiple signals in digital circuits, providing insights into operational states and timing.
-- Arbitrary Waveform Generator
A device capable of creating user-defined waveforms to test and characterize electronic systems.

Additional Learning Materials

Supplementary resources to enhance your learning experience.