Keysight B1530A Waveform Generator

The Keysight B1530A Waveform Generator/Fast Measurement Unit (WGFMU) integrates arbitrary linear waveform generation with high-speed current-voltage measurement in a single module. It enables simultaneous stimulus and characterization of semiconductor devices and materials without resource switching. The unit generates complex waveforms - including DC, AC, pulses, and staircase patterns - while capturing transient behavior at nanosecond resolution across approximately 4 M data points per channel.

Technical Specifications

• Arbitrary Linear Waveform Generation (ALWG) with 10 ns timing resolution


• Output voltage range: ±10 V peak-to-peak


• Output impedance: 50 Ω (Pulse Generator mode)


• Sampling rate: Up to 200 MSa/s


• Waveform memory: 1 GB per channel (2 GB total)


• Vector length: 10 ns to 10,000 s (10 ns resolution per vector)


• Maximum vectors: 2,048


• Maximum sequences: 512


• Maximum loop counts: 10¹² Measurement Capabilities


• Sampling speed: 5 ns minimum


• Current resolution: 1 nA


• Voltage resolution: 16-bit


• Measurement interval: 5 ns, or 10 ns to 1 s (10 ns resolution)


• Averaging per point: 10 ns to 20 ms (10 ns resolution)


• Bandwidth: DC to 16 MHz


• Noise floor: <0.1 mV (rms)


• Approximate measurement capacity: 4 M data points per channel

Key Features

• Fast IV measurement and Pulse Generator (PG) modes


• Random Telegraph Signal (RTS) noise measurement without external equipment


• Dynamic current ranging for arbitrary waveform output


• Embedded measurement events synchronized to waveform points


• Support for AM, FM, PM, ASK, FSK, PSK, and QAM modulation


• Synchronization terminals for WGFMU-to-WGFMU and external equipment coordination

Typical Applications

• Semiconductor device characterization


• Materials research and analysis


• Transient and time-domain phenomenon analysis


• Device reliability and noise characterization

Compatibility & Integration The B1530A operates as a module within Keysight test systems, with synchronization capability for multi-unit configurations and external instrument coordination.