4.2 The Configuration Sweep/List Tab
Figure 7 The Sweep configuration window
This tab window is used to configure the device to automatically change the frequencies based on
a list or “sweep frequency parameters”. In this window we configure the sweep list of frequencies
using 3 parameters: the start and stop frequencies, and the step frequency size. These parameters
are inside the “Sweep Freq Parameter” sub-window, see Figure 7. The dwell period sets the time
that the signal spends at a frequency before changing to the next. The sweep/list cycles value sets
the number of cycles the sweep goes through from beginning to end before stopping. If its value is
set to zero, the sweep will cycle indefinitely. The number of sweep points is calculated from the 3
sweep frequency parameters.
4.2.1 List Mode Configuration Sub-Window
This sub-window sets the behavior of the sweep, and its parameters are discussed below.
4.2.1.1 Sweep/List
The parameter instructs the device to either use the frequency points calculated by the 3 sweep
parameters mentioned above, namely the start, stop, and step frequencies, or from a user input
list of frequencies. User input list will be discussed in the next tab section.
4.2.1.2 Sweep Direction
The sweep can be chosen to start at the beginning of a list and incrementally step to the end or
vice versa.
4.2.1.3 Sweep Waveform
The list of frequency points may be swept in a saw-tooth or triangular manner. If sawtooth is
selected, the device will return to the starting point upon reaching the last frequency point.
Plotting frequency versus time reveals a sawtooth pattern. If triangular is selected, the device will
sweep linearly from the starting point, then reverse its direction after the last (highest or lowest)
frequency and sweeps backward toward the start point, mapping out a triangular waveform on a
frequency versus time graph.
