Test-and-Measurement Signal Generators: Current Status and Future Trends

The signal generator is a key instrument of virtually any RF/microwave system . It generates a stimulus signal on the transmitter side or is used as a local oscillator in a variety of up- and down-conversion schemes. Signal generators are also one of the fastest growing segments in the test-and-measurement market with an annual growth rate of about 7% . Demand is driven by the wireless communications, aerospace and defense, and automotive industries as well as by new technologies such as 6G . The principal driver behind the 6G technology is the ever-increasing need for more capacity and higher data rates in wireless networks. Due to the heavy use of existing frequency bands, there is a strong interest to use higher frequencies to enable more bandwidth. This is generating the interest to move to beyond 100 GHz carrier frequencies and to the Terahertz domain. Aside from the frequency coverage, phase noise remains one of the most critical parameters that impose the ultimate limit in the system’s ability to resolve signals of small amplitude. Furthermore, today the industry demands more complex waveforms to transmit more information over available frequency bands.
Signal Generator characteristics depend heavily on particular architectures that can be classified into a few main groups, namely direct analog, direct digital, and indirect schemes . As of today, traditional indirect phase-lock-loop (PLL) architectures still dominate. On the other hand, direct analog synthesis is the most advanced approach that demonstrates extremely fast switching speed and low phase noise. Future developments, however, are associated with direct digital synthesis (DDS) due to the rapid progress in solid-state technologies. The extension of usable DDS bandwidth to several tens of gigahertz with its spurious content reduction is expected. Arbitrary waveform generators (AWG) are utilized to generate more complex waveforms. Similar to DDS technologies, the extension of AWG usable bandwidth is expected. Such complex signals can be further up-converted to millimeter-wave and sub-THz frequencies targeting future communications systems such as 6G. Current architectures, new market trends and future solutions are going to be discussed.
Speaker(s): Alexander Chenakin,
Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/499679