Digital Delay Generator - Multi-trigger Digital Delay Generators

Multi-trigger Digital Delay Generators

A new development are digital delay generators that have gating and external triggering, dual or multi-trigger capabilities. The gate allows the user to enable outputs and/or triggers with an electronic signal. Some units have gate or trigger capabilities using a single or separate connectors. Dual or multi-trigger digital delay generators have several input triggers. These triggers can be selectively used to trigger any or all channels.

The multi-trigger versions have programmable logic controller type functionality for incorporating interlocks, latches, dynamic delay adjustment and trigger noise suppression. Triggers are formed by logically combining the various inputs and outputs in And, Or, Xor and Negated forms.

LIDAR applications use digital delay generators. A channel is used to trigger a laser. A second channel is used to provide a delayed gate for the data acquisition system. Gating allows regions of interest to be processed and stored while ignoring the bulk of unwanted data.

Dual-trigger digital delay generators provide two independently triggered digital delay generators in one package. Since benchtop digital delay generators are now multi-channel, it is possible to have two or more input triggers and select the channels which respond to each of the triggers. An interesting concept to provide dual-trigger capability converts an instrument that has separate trigger and gate inputs to allow the gate to operate as a second trigger.