Coarse and fine electronic ramp function generator

An electronic ramp function generator having a resolution of 2.sup.p = 2.sup.q .times. 2.sup.r comprising:

• a coarse digital function generator which provides a ramp consisting of 2.sup.q equally spaced coarse steps all of equal height, and
• a second and synchronized digital function generator which is connected to fill in each of the steps of the coarse ramp with 2.sup.r finer steps,
• said coarse function generator comprising a first counter pulsed by a high frequency oscillator, a second counter pulsed at a variable lower frequency, both counters having q bits, a comparator for comparing the counts in said two counters and arranged to emit a signal upon identity of the counts, a latch which is set each time said comparator provides a signal and reset each time said first counter returns to zero, and a modulator for converting the pulse train of varying mark/space ratio at the output of said latch to a voltage proportional to said mark/space ratio which varies in 2.sup.q steps.