Keysight Technologies

81100 Family of Pulse/Pattern Generators

Simulation of Jittering Synchronization
Signals for Video Interfaces

Technical Overview
Version 2.0
Introduction

This product note describes how R&D engineers in the communication industry use Keysight
Technologies, Inc. pulse generators for the development of video interfaces for projection units.

Several data communication companies develop interfaces between Local Clock Oscillators (LCOs)
and video, TV, or computers for overhead projection units. It is very important for them to stay
up-to-date with the rapidly changing video interfaces in computers, and to have test equipment that
can simulate these different interfaces (such as HDTV interfaces). These interfaces vary from 33
MHz to 80 MHz.

A critical indicator of the quality of their design is its sensitivity to a jittering distributed clock signal,
both in frequency and amplitude.
03 | Keysight | 81100 Family of Pulse/Pattern Generators - Technical Overview

Required equipment for

Lab 2
–– 1 x pulse/pattern generator
(81150A or 81160A)
–– 1 x Infiniium oscilloscope 4
–– 4 x BNC cables

How to hook up the 2

instruments
3
–– Connect strobe out 2 (pulse/pattern
generator) to channel 3 (scope).
–– Connect output 1 (pulse/
pattern generator) to channel 1
(scope). 1
–– Connect output 2 (pulse/
pattern generator) to channel 2
(scope). Figure 1. The setup of a Keysight pulse generator and Infiniium oscilloscope
–– Connect trigger out 2 (pulse/pattern
generator) to channel 4 (scope).

Ideal H-sync

Distorted
H-sync

Jittering pulse

Figure 2. Jittering distributed clock signal

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04 | Keysight | 81100 Family of Pulse/Pattern Generators - Technical Overview

To simulate jittering synchronization

signals with a pulse generator,
we need: Distorted
H-sync
–– Two output channels with channel
addition
Channel 1

Channel 2

Figure 3.

–– Programmable bit patterns up to 90

MHz frequency
Distorted
H-sync

90 MHz

Channel 1
1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0

+
0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
Channel 2

Figure 4.

–– Variable delay and variable level

Follow the steps on the next pages to set Distorted

up the correct parameter values on the H-sync
front panel. Then review the pulses on the
oscilloscope.

Channel 1 Level 1

+
Level 2
Channel 2
Delay

Figure 5.

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05 | Keysight | 81100 Family of Pulse/Pattern Generators - Technical Overview

STEP 1. First, reset the instrument by

pushing Store/Recall and selecting ‘Set to
default”.

STEP 2. Enable ‘Continuous trigger mode’

(select ‘cont’) and select ‘Pulse Waveform’
(‘Pulse’) for channel 1 and channel 2.

STEP 3. Set channel 1, as shown in

Figure 6.

Frequency: 90 MHz
Duty cycle: 50%
LeadE: 5 ns
High: 1 V
Low: 0 V
Figure 6. Step 3.

STEP 4. Set channel 2, as shown in

Figure 7.
Frequency: 90 MHz
Duty cycle: 50%
LeadE: 5 ns
High: 950 mV
Low: 0 V

Figure 7. Step 4.

STEP 5. Choose channel 1; select ‘pattern

mode,’ and push ‘Edit Pattern’ to create a
new channel.

Figure 8. Step 5.

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06 | Keysight | 81100 Family of Pulse/Pattern Generators - Technical Overview

STEP 6. The number of bits are 8. Set the

bits by starting with the last bit.

Note: Pattern is 10100010.

Figure 9. Step 6.

STEP 7. Perform steps 5 and 6 for

channel 2.

Note: Pattern is 00001000.

Figure 10. Step 7.

STEP 8. Review the signals on channels 1

and 2.

Figure 11. Step 8.

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07 | Keysight | 81100 Family of Pulse/Pattern Generators - Technical Overview

STEP 9. Press ‘Coupling,’ so that both

pulses begin at the same time. Add
channels by choosing channel 1, push
‘utility’ and select ‘Output Setup’.

View the pulse on a Keysight MSO9404A

Infiniium oscilloscope.

Figure 12. Step 9.

STEP 10. Vary the channel 2 delay and

level to jitter the pulse.

STEP 11. View the jittered pulses on a Key-

sight MSO9404A Infiniium oscilloscope.

Figure 13. Steps 10 and 11.

Related Literature Publication Number

81100 Family of Pulse/Pattern Generators – Brochure 5980-0489E
81150A and 81160A Pulse Function Arbitrary 5989-6433E
Noise Generators – Data Sheet Version 1.1
81100 Family of Pulse Pattern Generators Data Sheet – 5980-1215E
Version 1.3 – Data Sheet
Radar Distance Test to Airborne Planes – Application Note 5968-5843E
Dual Clock Gbit Chip Test – Application Note 5968-5844E
Magneto-Optical Disk Drive Research – Application Note 5968-5845E
Simulation of Jittering Synchronization Signals 5968-5846E
for Video Interfaces – Application Note
Radar Distance Test to Airborne Planes – Technical Overview 5991-2184EN
Version 2
Dual Clock Gbit Chip Test – Technical Overview 5991-2247EN

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08 | Keysight | 81100 Family of Pulse/Pattern Generators - Technical Overview

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© Keysight Technologies, 2013 - 2018
Published in USA, March 2, 2018
5991-2257EN
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