Function generator displays that display the waveform being generated

[xrunner]

Attached are three pics of a BK Precision 4013b, a BK Precision BK4055, and an EM1656 I fond on Ebay

The one I found on Ebay is this one -

EM1656

The question is, are all these displays acting like substitute el-cheapo oscilloscopes for the internal signal, or are they just eye candy? All three have clearly labelled buttons that indicate what type of signal is being generated, so do they really have to show it again on the display? Does the BK display actually change the waveform as you change parameters. Is this just marketing candy to set them apart?

However, the EM1656 (of Chinese origin I think) is actually acting like a scope display. It says in the description -

It provides frequency sweep function and displays the output frequency, amplitude and waveform with a large screen LCD. It also can be used as a 10MHz frequency counter and a simple oscilloscope.

Is it really necessary to build-in a simple scope? Seems like a waste of money that just adds to the cost with little benefit. The scope in that thing can't be very useful.   

[rf-loop]

AFAIK BK4055  is designed and manufactured by Siglent and Siglent model is SDG1050

It is also same as Teledyne LeCroy WaveStation 2052

(different colrs in menu and case)

[nctnico]

I agree with rf-loop. The BK4055 looks identical to the Siglent SDG1000 series. I have a Siglent SDG1010. The waveform on the display changes with the settings (offsets, period, pulse width) but it is not an oscilloscope. However it does give a good grasp on what the generator is doing. I certainly wouldn't call it eyecandy.

[Mechatrommer]

The question is, are all these displays acting like substitute el-cheapo oscilloscopes for the internal signal, or are they just eye candy? All three have clearly labelled buttons that indicate what type of signal is being generated, so do they really have to show it again on the display? Does the BK display actually change the waveform as you change parameters. Is this just marketing candy to set them apart?

yes its for eye candy. why to show it? because human visualize in graphics better they just look at their unit and they saw sine wave plot, in less than 1us, they know their unit generating sine. buttons they have to walk through them one by one to see which one is glowing, workable but a little bit harder, its ergonomics thing.

[commongrounder]

I  notice the EM1656 has a special control labeled "AMPLITITUDE" 

[xrunner]

I  notice the EM1656 has a special control labeled "AMPLITITUDE" 

Ah hahahaha! I didn't even notice that! 

[economist]

It's not really a "scope" as much as just a visual indicator of what's going on. I have an Agilent 33511B and it does change the graphic as you edit the waveform (e.g., shows pulses with width relative to the period, modulation if any, etc.). It's not in any way essential, but maybe just a little helpful.

http://www.keysight.com/en/pd-2155031-pn-33511B/waveform-generator-20-mhz-1-channel-with-arb?nid=-33134.1026947&cc=US&lc=eng

[MatthewEveritt]

At least one of them seems to have measurements marked, which is very intuitive and easy to read. It's also possible that they allow multiple saved arbitrary waveforms, in which case a visual indication of what's loaded is useful. The tek  arbgens I've used have done this, and updated the images to shoe things like symmetry and duty cycle.

[xrunner]

It's also possible that they allow multiple saved arbitrary waveforms, in which case a visual indication of what's loaded is useful. The tek  arbgens I've used have done this, and updated the images to shoe things like symmetry and duty cycle.

If some do that, then I would agree it's a good use of the screen. But if they simply show a sine wave, when a button is already pressed that has a sine wave symbol on the button which is illuminated, then it seems to me it's just eye candy. 

[sorenkir]

Stange: on the EM1656, the square wave seems to have some imperfections on the screen !?
Michel.

[mikerj]

Stange: on the EM1656, the square wave seems to have some imperfections on the screen !?
Michel.

The waveform generator appears to be running with none of the outputs terminated, so some ringing on the edges is very likely.  If the display really is a simple scope, then it's probably seeing part of these edge artefacts.

[Fraser]

I am 'old school' but have now become used to manufacturers fitting large flashy displays that are designed to provide lots of information and look pretty. I am not against such displays if they make the unit easier to use and such technology is cheap and easy to design into a product. Flashy lights and displays likely do no harm to sales either !

I still like physical controls though. Some equipment is moving over to touch screens and mimicking the tablet technology that so many are addicted to these days. So long as major controls remain physical, I have no issue with this, but when a piece of serious test equipment becomes some blinged up 'toy' with style over substance I walk away.

I like the idea of nice large, easily readable displays that clearly show what a unit is doing , but displays need to be designed with some common sense. Over filling it with information is just as bad as over populating a Powerpoint slide...... poor tradecraft on the part of the designer.

When I was younger, large LCD displays were a real luxury and very expensive. From what I have seen these days, large displays are very reasonably priced and provide decent image quality. Why not take advantage of such in the test equipment field ?

BUT, and its is a big but..... I have used at least one piece of test equipment that radiated significant RFI from its display drivers and this was detectable on the receiver that was under test. With modern manufacturing EMC checks this should not have occurred, but it is something to be aware of. Test equipment should NOT generate spurious signals that interfere with the DUT.

Aurora

[Galenbo]

my cheapie:


never realised it's indeed not necessary

[tautech]

I am 'old school' but have now become used to manufacturers fitting large flashy displays that are designed to provide lots of information and look pretty. I am not against such displays if they make the unit easier to use and such technology is cheap and easy to design into a product. Flashy lights and displays likely do no harm to sales either !

I still like physical controls though. Some equipment is moving over to touch screens and mimicking the tablet technology that so many are addicted to these days. So long as major controls remain physical, I have no issue with this, but when a piece of serious test equipment becomes some blinged up 'toy' with style over substance I walk away.

I like the idea of nice large, easily readable displays that clearly show what a unit is doing , but displays need to be designed with some common sense. Over filling it with information is just as bad as over populating a Powerpoint slide...... poor tradecraft on the part of the designer.

When I was younger, large LCD displays were a real luxury and very expensive. From what I have seen these days, large displays are very reasonably priced and provide decent image quality. Why not take advantage of such in the test equipment field ?

BUT, and its is a big but..... I have used at least one piece of test equipment that radiated significant RFI from its display drivers and this was detectable on the receiver that was under test. With modern manufacturing EMC checks this should not have occurred, but it is something to be aware of. Test equipment should NOT generate spurious signals that interfere with the DUT.

Aurora

+1 

never realised it's indeed not necessary

When we had ONLY push button FG's with knobs, buttons and dials, while we thought they were the "ducks nuts", what a PITA they were to use.
Noisey pots
Noisey switches
Malfunctioning switches

And a moments in-attention and you had to walk your mind through the settings you had made, again and again. 
At least with modern equipment a glance is all that is needed to check that output is set to parameters that the DUT can withstand.

IMO it's a pretty good "space" we find ourselves in ATM, gear is easier to use and understand, UI's are mostly intuitive and features offered are extremely useful.

The worry IMO is the ongoing "one-upmanship" between manufacturers, all trying to out-do each other by adding additional functionality and multi-purpose addons to their TE.
While that might be nice for those that are bench space "challenged", I do wonder about reliability ......... PSU dies, multipurpose unit is throw away.