Introduction
USB Signal Generator System
Setting Up - Installation
Setting Up - Test Probe Connections
Sample Generate Session
Software Menus
More Help
Signal Generator Specifications
The USBee is a complete digital test bench in one compact and easy to use pod. Combined with powerful Windows® software, the USBee performs the following functions:
· Data Logger
· Remote Controller
· Signal Generator
· Signal/Pattern Generator
· I2C Controller
· Async Serial Controller
· Frequency Counter
· And many more to come&ldots;
This manual details the USBee Signal Generator.
The USBee Signal Generator System consists of the USBee pod connected to your Windows PC through the USB cable, and to your digital circuit using the multicolored test leads and clips. Once connected and installed, the USBee Signal Generator can provide the following functions:
· Generate up to 8 digital signals
· Up to 1.5MHz sample rate per sample
· Generate waves with 2048 samples
· 2 measurement cursors show time and state
· Print current screen or waveform data
· Easy setup and use through Windows interface
1. Download the Signal Generator Software for FREE from here..
2. Unzip the file into a new directory.
2. Choose "Start|Run" from the Windows Start Menu
3. Press Browse and select the file "SETUP.EXE" in the new unzipped directory
4. Click OK
5. Follow the instructions on the screen to install the rest of the USBee Signal Generator software on your hard drive.
6. Now, plug the USBee cable into a free USB port on your computer.
7. You should see a dialog box indicating that it found new hardware and is installing the software for it. Please wait while this finishes.
8. The Signal Generator Software is now installed.
Setting Up - Test Probe connections
The following table shows the use of the 12 USBee test probes while using the Signal Generator Software.
|
Pod Signal Name |
Lead Color |
Data Logger Function |
Where to connect |
|
0 |
BLACK |
Output Signal 0 |
To a test signal |
|
1 |
BROWN |
Output Signal 1 |
To a test signal |
|
2 |
RED |
Output Signal 2 |
To a test signal |
|
3 |
ORANGE |
Output Signal 3 |
To a test signal |
|
4 |
YELLOW |
Output Signal 4 |
To a test signal |
|
5 |
GREEN |
Output Signal 5 |
To a test signal |
|
6 |
BLUE |
Output Signal 6 |
To a test signal |
|
7 |
PURPLE |
Output Signal 7 |
To a test signal |
|
CLK |
GRAY |
OUTPUT ONLY: provides the sample clock |
You may use this in your circuit. |
|
+5V |
RED |
+5V power supply Output from USB cable (up to 300mA) |
To your circuits +5V supply line if you need the USBee to supply +5V (do NOT connect if you already have +5V on your board) |
|
+3.3V |
WHITE |
+3.3V regulated power supply Output (up to 300mA) |
To your circuits +3.3V supply line if you need the USBee to supply +3.3V (do NOT connect if you already have +3.3V on your board) |
|
GND |
BLACK |
Pod and power supply ground |
To you circuit ground |
The following is a step by step description of a sample signal generation session. Follow along to get a quick understanding of the Signal Generator software.
Choose "Start|Programs|USBee Digital Workbench|USBee Signal Generator" to start the Signal Generator program.
You will see the following screen
Since the Signal Generator application actively drives the USBee Pod signals, this warnig allows you to disconnect the signals from anything that may also be driving.
Click OK to proceed to this screen.
Notice the 8 signal lines that include the bit number (0-7) and the Signal Name of each signal lead. Each of the 8 signals has an associated waveform in the waveform window. This window is where you build the digital signals that you want to generate. You can change the signal name by clicking on the signal label and entering in a new name.
Once you build the signals you want to generate in the waveform window, you can generate them on the USBee pod signals simply by pressing the Generate button.
The USBee will generate the waveform at the sample rate selected in the "Sample Rate" dropdown menu. The available sample rates go from 1.5Msps to 10ksps.
To move around the waveform window to see all of the 2048 samples, press the Zoom IN and Zoom Out buttons to scale the screen to your liking. You can then use the scroll bar to scroll forward or backward in the sample buffer.
To edit the waveform, simple click and drag to select a portion of the waveform you want to change as below.
Then select the buttons "Set to HI" or "Set To LOW". This will change the levels of all selected signals to that level. You can also use the "Invert Levels" to invert the entire selection.
After selecting a set of waveforms, you can press "Repeat Pattern" to copy the selection immediately after it. Below shows the selection and the waveform resulting after pressing "Repeat Waveform".
You can also double click a single sample to toggle the level of that sample.
There are 2 cursors available to help position the waveforms. These cursors are labeled X and O.
To place the cursors, select a section of waves and press the "Place X Coursor" or "Place O Cursor" buttons to put the cursors in the selected position. The header will then show the details of the sample number, value of the 8 signals at that position and the time of that sample from the beginning of the sample buffer.
Once you have placed the X Cursor, you can copy a portion of your waves to that location by selecting the waveform to copy and then pressing the "Copy" button. This will copy the selection to the location starting at the X cursor.
If at any time you make a change to the waves that you do not want, you can press the Undo button to go back a single level.
File - New Signal File - Starts a new Signal Generator file. Old data is lost unless it is saved to a file.
File - Open Signal File - Prompts for a filename of an existing signal file. Then loads and displays the data
File - Save As - Prompts for a new filename and saves the data to the file including the labels of the signal names
File - Print Current Window - Prints the current window to the default printer. To change printers, use the Windows Printer Settings
File - Print Capture Data - Prints all or part of the captured data in a listing format
File - Exit - Exits the program
View - Search for Pattern - Searches the sample data for a pattern and places the found data at the cursor
View - Color Waveforms - Colors the waveforms and list data for easier reading
View - Black and White Waveforms - Changes data to black and white (for printing on some printers)
Generate - Generates the signals on the USBee Pod as described in the waveform window and sample rate selection
Help - Display this help screen
You can find more information at www.usbee.com including Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). If you can not find your answers on the web site, you can contact CWAV technical support at support@usbee.com. Please provide a detailed description of your problem and steps needed to reproduce the problem and our support staff will promptly suggest solutions.
Signal Generator Specifications
-
8 Digital Output Signals
-
Output sample clock (CLK)
-
Vil = 0.6V Vih = 1.4V
-
Variable sample rates in discrete steps from 666.7ns to 100us per sample. Sample Rate is +/- 100ppm.
-
Signal Generator sample capability is up to 2048 samples.
-
+5V Output Voltage depends on your PC. Typically this level is +5V +/- 5% but can vary if there are many USB devices connected to the USB bus.
-
+5V Max Current: 300mA
-
+3.3V Output Voltage: +3.3V +/- 1%
-
+3.3V Max Current: 300mA
Copyright(c) 2004 CWAV. All rights reserved.
support@usbee.com
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