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Trigge r
burst trigger. In this application, we can set the Periodic Timer to a 20.00 ms period and adjust the offset
from that timer to position our trigger just where we want it. If we find that the 20.00 ms is not exactly
right, we can adjust the period slightly to minimize the drift between the period timer and the signal to be
measured.
A second way to use this feature would be to use Sync Source temporarily, instead of Offset. In this
case, we might tune to the signal in a narrow span and use the RF Burst trigger to synchronize the
periodic timer. Then we would turn the sync source off so that it would not mis-trigger. Mis-triggering
can occur when we are tuned so far away from the RF burst trigger that it is no longer reliable.
A third example would be to synchronize to a signal that has a reference time element of much longer
period than the period of interest. In some CDMA applications, it is useful to look at signals with a short
periodicity, by synchronizing that periodicity to the "even-second clock" edge that happens every two
seconds. Thus, we could connect the even-second clock trigger to Ext1 and use then Ext1 as the sync
source for the periodic timer.
The figure below illustrates this third example. The top trace represents the even-second clock. It causes
the periodic timer to synchronize with the leading edge shown. The analyzer trigger occurs at a time
delayed by the accumulated offset from the period trigger event. The periodic timer continues to run, and
triggers continue to occur, with a periodicity determined by the analyzer time base. The timer output
(labeled "late event") will drift away from its ideal time due to imperfect matching between the time base
of the signal being measured and the time base of the analyzer, and also because of imperfect setting of
the period parameter. But the synchronization is restored on the next even-second clock event.
("Accumulated offset" is described in the in the Offset function section.)
Period
Sets the period of the internal periodic timer clock. For digital communications signals, this is usually set
to the frame period of your current input signal. In the case that sync source is not set to OFF, and the
external sync source rate is changed for some reason, the periodic timer is synchronized at the every
external synchronization pulse by resetting the internal state of the timer circuit.
Key Path: Trigger, Periodic Timer
Remote Command: :TRIGger[:SEQuence]:FRAMe:PERiod <time>
:TRIGger[:SEQuence]:FRAMe:PERiod?
Period
Trigger
Accumulated Offset vsd45
Period
Timer
Ext 1
Even-second Clock Late Event