Gemini Analog Output A Now Dithers

In the Gemini Operating System 2.12, an addition was made. The release notes show...

Analog outputs (GT/GT6/GV/GV6): Analog monitor 'A' now uses dithering to increase the output resolution by up to 2 bits if the equipment reading the output has low input bandwidth. 'B' output is still 8-bit resolution with no dithering for backward compatibility. A new DMONAV/DMONBV option (25) has also been added which will reflect the value in VARI99 on the analog output. The range for VARI99 should be -32768 to 32767, corresponding to -10 to +10V. Values outside this range will be clamped to these limits.

For example, in order to get half a count instead of a one or a zero, the Analog Output A now "dithers" between a 1 and a 0 at a 16 kHz rate. If the product reading that output can read the 16 kHz (like an o-scope), then it will see the dithering. If, however, the product reads at a slower rate (1 kHz for example), then it will just see an average between the 1 and 0...therefore getting a higher resolution output.