NI PXI/PCI-5411/5431
Stepped Trigger Mode

After a Start trigger is received, the waveform defined by the first stage generates. Then, the device waits for the next trigger signal. On the next trigger, the waveform described by the second stage generates, and so on. After the staging list completes, the waveform generation returns to the first stage and continues in a cyclic fashion.

You can use the Stepped Trigger mode with both the Arbitrary Waveform Generation and Function Generation modes of waveform generation as follows:

• Arbitrary Waveform Generation mode—The following figure uses the stages to show a Stepped trigger mode of operation for the Arbitrary Waveform Generation mode. If a trigger is received while a stage is generating, the trigger is ignored. A trigger is recognized only after the stage has completely generated.

After any stage generates, the first eight samples of the next stage repeat continuously until the next trigger is received.

Note  For Stepped trigger mode, you can pre-define the state in which a stage ends by making the first eight samples of the next stage represent the state you want to settle.

• Function Generation mode—When using the Function Generation mode of waveform generation, Stepped trigger mode operates the same as Burst trigger mode.