Oscillator circuits are in use everywhere. Starting from mobile phones to military radio communication devices – these are simple circuits that catch a wave and oscillate AC current at that particular frequency. Complications begin when the receiving waves get contaminated by noises which result in a loss of data. Now, in the case of low-end consumer products, loss of information is not that fatal, but such a scenario is simply not acceptable in case high-profile applications. Hence, a real time spectrum analyzer finds use in the circuit design stage.
But the question remains, why to record data in real time and then analyze. In the design stage, one can simply send a signal, let the circuit respond and then capture the result. This was indeed applied previously but was soon done away with due to a major fallacy. Find out next.
Real time testing a necessity –
Consider a circuit that is tested for a particular time span and is later integrated into a device. The definition of Noise goes as – sudden signals of very high frequency. So, it may happen that this noise did not show itself during the set testing time span. Hence, no electronic countermeasures could have been taken in the initial stage.
Plus, in the end-product itself, the whole circuit will work in real time. In view of this, it simply doesn’t make sense to judge the functioning of a circuit with time slotted test signals. Hence, the concept of real time analyzing was thought of and applied.
Understand the working principle with the help of an example. Consider the circuit of a radio frequency (RF) transmitter or receiver circuit. Here, an RF Signal Generator is used to send input signals accordingly and capture the output, in real time, in an analyzer. What happens in this instrument is that the continuous output in time domain in converted into frequency domain and displayed on the screen. This way, every behavior of the circuit is captured as the whole testing process is now a continuous one.
Industry Applications –
Every communication circuitry designing industry makes use of real time analyzers now. Noise Monitoring is one of the principle aspects to check while fabricating a circuit board. Another major application of such analyzers is in the manufacturing of semiconductor devices.
Be it a thyristor or a MOSFET, all work and activate with pulse signals. Hence, Pulse Generator Testing is one of the most important applications of real time circuit analyzers. A noise here will send erroneous signals to every semiconductor element on a circuit board, and the whole electronic device will malfunction.
Even signal sources are checked from time to time with Signal Source Analyzers for possible defects in chipset which may result in noise or disturbances in signals. The thing about noises is – it will travel throughout the whole electronic path and remains undetected until caught by an end plant.
Final Words –
Imagine a noise interrupting communication in air-traffic control. Or may be in submarine sonar detection? Hence, while testing any circuitry, a real time spectrum analyzer is a must. Get hold of one from authentic suppliers as a single mistake can lead to fatal end results.