EE RC Project

Simple RC Project for the
Electronics Explorer Board

Revision: March 11, 2011
Note: This document applies to REV D&E of the board.
1300 NE Henley Court, Suite 3

Pullman, WA 99163
(509) 334 6306 Voice | (509) 334 6300 Fax
This project demonstrates some basic features of the Digilent Electronics Explorer Board. Using just a
resistor and a capacitor, the project introduces the Arbitrary Waveforms Generator and Scope
instruments in the WaveForms software as well as the Bode Transfer Function. To keep the project
simple for new users, only a few features of the software are used.
To generate an RC circuit step response showing the time domain:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Build the schematic above.

Connect the EE Board to the PC with a USB micro AB cable.
Connect the board power supply.
Turn the On-Off switch ON.
Launch the WaveForms software.
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page 1 of 8
Copyright Digilent, Inc. All rights reserved. Other product and company names mentioned may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Simple RC Project for the Electronics Explorer Board
1. open
Options
5. launch
Scope
4. launch
AWG
2. Erase
configuration
3. Close
options
6. When closing, WaveForms stores the last configuration (by default). To restore the factory
default settings, click Options in the WaveForms main window, then click Erase Configuration
in the Options window. Close the Options window.
7. Launch the Arbitrary Waveform Generator (AWG).
8. Launch the Scope.
9. In the AWG window, set the excitation signal for the RC circuit: Shape = rectangular,
Frequency = 1kHz, Amplitude = 5V, Offset = 5V, Symmetry = 50%, Phase = 0. Click Run All or
Run AWG1.
15. Run/Stop
1. Basic,
Standard
2. enable all
14. signal
preview
slider, drop list, type in,

mouse wheel
4. Frequency range Min and Max
5. Frequency
6. Amplitude range Min and Max
7. Amplitude
8. Offset range Min and Max
9. Offset
10. Symmetry range Min and Max
11. Symmetry
12. Phase range Min and Max
13. Phase
drop list, type in

3. rectangle
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page 2 of 8
10. Set the scope for a good view of the excitation and output signals: Trigger Mode = Auto,
Trigger Source = Channel 1, Trigger Cond. = Falling, Trigger Level = 5V, Time Position =
20us, Time Base = 5us/div, Channel and Channel 2 Offset = -6V, Range = 2V/div. Disable
unused channels 3 and 4. Click Run.
12. Run/Stop
1. trigger mode
2. trigger source
3. trigger cond.
4. trigger level
left-click and drag

left-click and drag
6. time position
5. time base
8. channel 1 offset
left-click and drag
7. channel 1 range
right-click
and drag
left-click
and drag
right-click
and drag
10. C2
offset
9. C2
range
11. disable
C3 and C4
11. Note the signals.

Channel 1:
V 10V for t 0
Vin C 0
0V for t 0
Channel 2:
VC (t ) Vin VC 0 Vin e
www.digilentinc.com
t
RC
page 3 of 8
12. Estimate RC 7 s time constant: a tangent to Vc(t) at t=0 would reach Vin at t .
www.digilentinc.com
page 4 of 8
To generate an RC circuit sine response showing the time domain:

1. Set the excitation signal: Shape = sine, Frequency = 20kHz, Amplitude = 8V, Offset = 0V,
Symmetry = 50%, Phase = 0. Click Run All or Run AWG1.
2. Set the scope for a good view of the excitation and output signals: Trigger Mode = Auto,
Trigger Source = Channel 1, Trigger Cond. = Rising, Trigger Level = 0V, Time Position = 0s,
Time Base = 10us/div, Channel and Channel 2 Offset = 0V, Range = 2V/div. Disable unused
channels 3 and 4. Click Run.
1. open Measure window
8. open Zoom menu
2. add parameter
9. select view type
15. drag left

cursor to C1 0
17. drag right

cursor to C2 0
14. C1 at left
cursor
16. C2 at
right cursor
7. repeat to
add more
parameters
10. bottom
cursor C1 units
11. drag bottom

cursor up/down
19. time at
left cursor
21. undock
measurements
window
3. select channel
4. expand category
5. select parameter
HorizontalDeltaTime
360[deg]
C1Period
6. add parameter in list
VC
C 2 Amplitude
Vin
C1 Amplitude
www.digilentinc.com
page 5 of 8
3.
4.
5.
6.
Note the signals.

Measure the signal parameters, using the Measurement window and Zoom View.
Close the Measurement and Zoom windows.
Open an XY view of Channel 2 versus Channel 1. Open a Spectrum view. Adjust the view
size. In the Spectrum View, change Zoom = 50X
1. XY view
3. Spectrum view
2. select channels
4. view size
X: channel 1
Y: channel 2
left-click and drag
5. Spectrum
view zoom
zoom
right-click and drag
50X
7. Export a View.
8. Image
7. choose view
to export
10. preview
9. format
to export
11. export to either:

clipboard
file
file name
and location
www.digilentinc.com
page 6 of 8
8. Measure the amplitudes and compute the phase shift on the XY view:
x(t ) Vin (t ) Ain sin(2ft )

y (t ) VC (t ) AC sin(2ft )
y (0) VC (0) AC sin
y ( 0)
2 y ( 0)
arcsin
AC
2 AC
arcsin
2Ain
2Ac
2y(0)
www.digilentinc.com
page 7 of 8
To generate an RC circuit sine response showing the frequency domain:

1. Launch the Bode Transfer Function.
2. Set the Bode Transfer Function for a good view of the RC circuit amplitude characteristic:
Logarithmic 10 mode, End Frequency = 230kHz. Resize the window to get frequency values
for all major grid lines. Click Run.
launch
Bode
Transfer
Function
Bode Transfer Function
3. Note the amplitude characteristic.
VC
1
Vin 1 jf
f0
1
1 jf 2
4. Run/Stop
1. mode Logarithmic 10
type in
2. end frequency
1
1
VC
3dB for f f 0
23kHz
2
Vin 1 jf
f0
3. resize the window
www.digilentinc.com
page 8 of 8

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Simple RC Project for the

Electronics Explorer Board

1300 NE Henley Court, Suite 3

Build the schematic above.

Simple RC Project for the Electronics Explorer Board

slider, drop list, type in,

4. Frequency range Min and Max

6. Amplitude range Min and Max

8. Offset range Min and Max

10. Symmetry range Min and Max

12. Phase range Min and Max

drop list, type in

Simple RC Project for the Electronics Explorer Board

left-click and drag

left-click and drag

11. Note the signals.

Simple RC Project for the Electronics Explorer Board

Simple RC Project for the Electronics Explorer Board

To generate an RC circuit sine response showing the time domain:

8. open Zoom menu

9. select view type

15. drag left

17. drag right

11. drag bottom

6. add parameter in list

Simple RC Project for the Electronics Explorer Board

Note the signals.

left-click and drag

11. export to either:

Simple RC Project for the Electronics Explorer Board

x(t ) Vin (t ) Ain sin(2ft )

Simple RC Project for the Electronics Explorer Board

To generate an RC circuit sine response showing the frequency domain:

Bode Transfer Function

3. Note the amplitude characteristic.

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