Function Generator
ECE202 - Electrical Circuits I
Electrical and Computer Engineering - University of Alberta
video 1. Function Generators
Figure 1: Function Generator
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Basic Features
The function generator is essentially the AC equivalent of a DC power supply, it is used to generate periodic signals of a given frequency and amplitude.
The Output
The function generators in our lab are equipped with three terminals, but we are only going to use the one labelled “OUTPUT”. This can be connected to the circuit board using the BNC cables with banana connectors on the other end.
These function generators support three different types of signals: square waves, triangle waves and sine waves. These can be selected using the buttons in the top right corner of the front panel.
Frequency
The frequency of the signal being output by the function generator is displayed on the red LED screen. It can be changed using the “FINE” and “COARSE” knobs, and the general range for the frequency can be selected using the buttons to the right of the power button. When selecting a range, choose the smallest range that is larger than your desired frequency.
Amplitude
The amplitude of the signal can be adjusted using the AMPL or OUTPUT LEVEL knob. The function generator will not tell you what the amplitude is, you must check that by connecting it to a DMM or an oscilloscope.