SIGLENT SDG1000 Series User manual

© 2018 SIGLENT TECHNOLOGIES | 1
Multi generator synchronization
July 19, 2019
1. Introduction
Multi-channel function generators are useful in many situations. For example, in Radar testing the
generator needs to output several phase coherent signals and for the phase to be independently
adjustable for each signal. In 3-phase power line harmonic distortion testing, a 4 channel generator is
required to simulate the multiple voltages and currents.
1.1 Problem
A standalone multi-channel generator can be very expensive.
1.2 Solution
Siglent provides the Multi-Device Synchronization function in the SDG1000X, SDG2000X, and SDG6000X
generators. This allows synchronization among several units in order to output signals with adjustable
steady phase relationships. Thus saving on cost.
2. Setup of Synchronization
2.1 Wiring
Multi-Device Synchronization will require the use of the Aux In/Out and 10 MHz In/Out rear-panel interfaces
to implement the synchronization. First, all the generators’ Aux In/Out BNC connectors need to be
connected together. Next, connect the Master unit’s 10 MHz Out to the Slave unit’s 10 MHz In.
Please note that the SDG6000X family has separate 10 MHz In/Out outputs, so more than two units can
be synchronized. The wiring interconnection concept is shown in Figure 1.

© 2018 SIGLENT TECHNOLOGIES | 2
Figure 1. Wiring concept
However, the SDG2000X and SDG1000X series’ 10 MHz In/Out ports share one connector. Therefore, only
two units can be synchronized together or they must be the last Slave unit in a multiple units connection.
In this note, the SDG2000X and SDG6000X series models are used as our example. The SDG6000X will be
the Master device.
1) First connect two units’ Aux In/Out with BNC cable. See in Figure 2.
Figure 2. Connect SDG2000X and SDG6000X Aux In/Out
2) Next connect the SDG6000X 10 MHz Out port with the SDG2000X 10 MHz In/Out port, as shown in
Figure 3.

© 2018 SIGLENT TECHNOLOGIES | 3
Figure 3. Connect Master 10 MHz Out to Slave 10 MHz In
2.2 Parameter settings
Set the waveform parameters, such as Frequency and Amplitude, on 4 all channels. More information on
this step can found in the User Manual.
Press Utility, go to Page 2/3, choose Phase Mode, and then set both units as Phase Locked.
In this example we are setting all 4 channels as a 1 kHz, 4 Vpp square wave. CH3, CH4 signals viewed on
the SDS5000X oscilloscope are output by the Slave generator, note that the phase is drifting. Open the
Display/ Persist function to track it on the scope, as shown in Figure 4.

© 2018 SIGLENT TECHNOLOGIES | 4
Figure 4. Four signals phase drift without synchronization
2.2.1 Set Master Device
1) Press Utility button, go to Page 3/3, then press the soft key under screen to select Multi-
Device Sync. The menu will enter the Multi-Device Synchronization screen, shown in Figure 5.
Figure 5. Multi-Device Synchronization Screen
2) Press the soft key under the screen to turn on/off this function and select it as either the Master or
Slave. The Multi-Devices Synchronization menu will appear when turned on. When ”Master” appears

© 2018 SIGLENT TECHNOLOGIES | 5
shaded in light gray this means the device is designated as the Master device, as shown in Figure 6. When
this device is set to be the master, its clock source is automatically set to internal and the 10 MHz output is
enabled.
Figure 6. Turn on synchronization function
2.2.2 Set Slave Device
1) Enter into the Multi-Device Synchronization menu. Select it as Slave, Slave will be shaded in blue, as in
Figure 7. As the device is set to a slave device its clock source is automatically set to external.
Figure 7. Select the unit as Slave device

© 2018 SIGLENT TECHNOLOGIES | 6
2) Turn on the State. Then the Slave Device Delay window will occur. Press to enter delay value, as shown
in Figure 8.
Figure 8. Set the Slave Delay
2.2.3 Synchronize the Devices
Press the soft key ”Syncs Devices” in the Multi-Device Synchronization interface of the Master device, as
shown in Figure 1, to begin synchronization between the master and slave devices. Anytime a setting is
changed; for example, the Slave Device Delay, ”Sync Devices” must be pressed to activate the new
settings.
3. Measure on an Oscilloscope
3.1 Slave Device Delay measurement
1) Turn on Synchronization on both units, measure the Skew between CH1 and CH3. As in Figure 9.

© 2018 SIGLENT TECHNOLOGIES | 7
Figure 9. Measure the Skew between Master and Slave Devices
2) Enter the absolute Mean value of Skew into Slave Device Delay. This will eliminate the delay
between traces that we observed with our oscilloscope. See Figure 10.
Figure 10. Eliminate the Slave Delay
3.2 Adjust phase relationship
Set CH1 Phase as 0 degree, CH2, CH3, CH4 Phase as 180, 270, 360 degrees, respectively. The result is
shown in Figure 11.

© 2018 SIGLENT TECHNOLOGIES | 8
Figure 11. Adjust phase relationship

© 2018 SIGLENT TECHNOLOGIES | 9
North American Headquarters
SIGLENT Technologies NA
6557 Cochran Rd Solon, Ohio 44139
Tel: [phone]
Toll Free:877-515-5551
Fax: [phone]
[email protected]
www.siglentna.com
European Sales Offices
SIGLENT TECHNOLOGIES GERMANY GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20, Gebaeude 14,
22113 Hamburg Germany
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[email protected]
www.siglenteu.com
Asian Headquarters
SIGLENT TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
Blog No.4 & No.5, Antongda Industrial Zone,
3rd Liuxian Road, Bao’an District,
Shenzhen, 518101, China.
Tel:+ 86 755 3688 7876
Fax:+ 86 755 3359 1582
[email protected]
www.int.siglent.com