A function generator produces repeating or single electrical signals in various waveforms, including sine, square, triangle, and sawtooth. It is used for testing, troubleshooting, and quality assurance in industries such as broadcast, telecommunications, and power generation. The common parameters are frequency and output level. Special function generators are available for specific testing needs.
A function generator is a test equipment for electronic or electrical devices. Sizes range from half a shoebox to the size of several shoeboxes. When connected to power from the outlet or powered by batteries, a function generator produces a repeating electrical signal or a single electrical signal. The output signal from a function generator, usually a repetitive electrical signal also known as a periodic signal, can be generated by the electronics or in combination with software. A function generator can provide several typical waveforms, which include sine, square, triangle, and sawtooth waves.
Sine waves are natural waveform outputs from electrical power generators that supply household electricity, and these waves can be thought of as gently rising, falling, and inverting waveforms. Square waves stay in one of two states most of the time. For example, a square wave may periodically move between “plus” 1 volt (V) and “minus” 1 V. Triangle and sawtooth waves rise or increase in a similar way. Unlike triangle waveforms, which fade slowly, sawtooth waveforms fade rapidly.
The output of the function generators is usually connected to a device under test or in the study. For example, the performance of a public address system (PAS) can be measured by injecting an audio signal into the PAS input and then measuring the signal and distortion levels at the output. For this purpose a function generator is used which generates a sine wave.
The common parameters of a function generator are the frequency and the output level. Frequency is the cycle per second of the wave output. For example, if a function generator produces a sine wave that repeats 1,000 times per second, it is reported as 1,000 cycles per second, or 1,000 Hertz (Hz). The output level is typically in electrical volts or electrical power in watts (W) or milliwatts (mW). Some special function generators indicate the output level in decibels relative to 1/1,000 W (dBm).
Function generators are used for testing, troubleshooting, and quality assurance of products and systems in many industries, such as broadcast, telecommunications, manufacturing, research, and power generation. The sophisticated function generators have very precise frequency references and level settings. Special function generators are available for special testing needs. A TV Test Pattern (TV) generator, for example, is a function generator designed to make sure that a TV’s main circuitry is working even before it receives a standard TV signal. Other special function generators are used by various industries at sites and laboratories around the world.
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