Quantum Composers System and Channel Modes - Manual

System and Channel Modes
Quantum Composers pulse generators have two levels of mode selection: system modes and channel modes.
Combining these two modes together allows for complex pulse trains to be generated by one unit. Most
Quantum Composers pulse generators contain both system and channel mode settings to provide the most
comprehensive pulse generation solution available.
System modes are generated by the unit and then distributed to each of the individual channels. The available
system modes are continuous, single shot, burst, and duty-cycle. Continuous mode generates a continuous
stream of pulses that begin by pressing the run/stop button (or a trigger input) and end when the run/stop
button is pressed a second time. Single shot mode will produce a single output pulse when the run/stop button is
pressed (or the unit is triggered) and the system will automatically disarm itself when the pulse is over. Burst
mode will generate a pre-determined number of pulses and then dis-arm the system when those pulses are
completed. Duty-cycle produces a number of “on” pulses followed by a number of “off” pulses, where both the
“on” and “off” pulses are set by the user. Figure 1 below shows a composite image of all of the available system
modes.
Figure 1
The channel modes are the same as the system modes with the exception of normal mode replacing
continuous mode. With the channel in normal mode the output will be whatever the system is set to. One of the
more significant changes at the channel level is that the channel will not re-arm itself. For example, with the
system set to normal and channel A set to single shot only a single pulse will be output of Channel A even though
the system is still armed and is actively generating pulses. The same behavior is exhibited when the channel
mode is set to burst. Once the number of defined bursts is reached the output will no longer generate pulses
even though the system is still armed and running. An easy way to think about the interaction between the two
modes is to think of it as the system feeds the channel. Whatever the system is set to goes to all of the channels
and the channels can then limit the output even further.