Agilent Technologies 1670G Series User manual

User’s Guide
Agilent Technologies 1670G
Series Logic Analyzers
Publication Number 01670-97014
January 2000
For Safety information, Warranties, and Regulatory information, see
the pages behind the index.
©Copyright Agilent Technologies 1994-2000
All Rights Reserved
Advanced Test Equipment Rentals
www.atecorp.com 800-404-ATEC (2832)
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Agilent Technologies 1670G-Series Logic Analyzers
The Agilent Technologies 1670G-Series is a 150-MHz State/500-MHz
Timing Logic Analyzer with a VGA resolution color display. The 1670G-
Series logic analyzer has two options available. One option is to add a
2 GSa/s digitizing oscilloscope. Another option is to add a 32 channel
pattern generator.
Logic Analyzer Features
• 130 data channels and 6 clock/data channels in the 1670G
• 96 data channels and 6 clock/data channels in the 1671G
• 64 data channels and 4 clock/data channels in the 1672G
• 32 data channels and 2 clock/data channels in the 1673G
• 3.5-inch flexible disk drive
• 2 GB hard disk drive
• GPIB, RS-232-C, parallel printer, and LAN interfaces
• BNC and TP LAN ports
• Variable setup/hold time
• 64k memory on all channels with 256k and 2M options
•Markermeasurements
• 12 levels of trigger sequencing for state and 10 levels of trigger sequencing
for timing
• Time tagging and number-of-states tagging
• Full programmability
• DIN mouse and keyboard support

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Oscilloscope Features (Option)
•500 MHz bandwidth
•2 Gigasample per second max sampling rate
•32768 samples per channel
•Marker measurements
displays time between markers, acquires until specified time between
markers in captured, performs statistical analysis on time between
markers
•Lightweight miniprobes
Pattern Generator Features (Option)
•16 output channels at 200 MHz
•32 output channels at 100 MHz
•258,048 vectors
Documentation Options
•Programmer's Guide
•Service Guide
•Training Kit

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In This Book
This User’s Guide has three sections. Section 1 covers how to use the
1670G-series logic analyzers. Section 2 covers how to connect, use, and
troubleshoot the logic analyzer via a Local Area Network (LAN)
connection. Section 3 covers the features of the Agilent Technologies
Symbol Utility software.
Section 1. Chapters 1 through 4 cover general product information
you need to use the logic analyzer. Chapter 5 and 6 contains detailed
examples to help you use your analyzer in performing complex
measurements. Chapter 7 covers how to use the oscilloscope (Option).
Chapter 8 covers how to use the pattern generator (Option). Chapters
9 through 11 contains reference information on the hardware and
software, including the analyzer menus and how they are used.
Chapters 12 through 14 provides a basic service guide.
Section 2. Chapters 15 through 16 provides information about
connecting the logic analyzer to the network. Chapter 17 shows you
how to access the logic analyzer’s file system. Chapter 18 shows you
how to display the analyzer interface on an X Window server. Chapter
19 shows you how to retrieve measurement data, screen images, and
status information from you logic analyzer on the LAN, and how to
copy and restore configurations. Chapter 20 shows you methods for
programming the logic analyzer via the network connection. Chapter
21 contains additional information on the logic analyzer’s directory
structure and dynamic files. Chapter 22 describes what to do if you
have a problem using the logic analyzer on your network.
Section 3. Chapters 23 through 24 describe how to locate the menus
associated with the Symbol Utility. Chapter 25 describes how to use the
Symbol Utility to perform common tasks. Chapter 26 describes the
features and functions of the Symbol Utility.

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Contents
Agilent Technologies 1670G-Series Logic Analyzers
In This Book
1 Logic Analyzer Overview
Agilent Technologies 1670G-Series Logic Analyzer 26
To make a measurement 29
2 Connecting Peripherals
Connecting Peripherals 36
To connect a mouse 37
To connect a keyboard 38
To connect to an GPIB printer 39
To connect to an RS-232-C printer 41
To connect to a parallel printer 43
To connect to a controller 44
3 Using the Logic Analyzer
Using the Logic Analyzer 46
Accessing the Menus 47
To access the System menus 48
To access the Analyzer menus 50

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Contents
Using the Analyzer Menus 52
To label channel groups 52
To create a symbol 56
To examine an analyzer waveform 58
To examine an analyzer listing 61
To compare two listings 64
The Inverse Assembler 66
To use an inverse assembler 66
4 Using the Trigger Menu
Using the Trigger Menu 70
Specifying a Basic Trigger 71
To assign terms to an analyzer 72
To define a term 74
To change the trigger specification 75
Changing the Trigger Sequence 77
To add sequence levels 78
To change trigger functions 80
Setting Up Time Correlation between Analyzers 81
To set up time correlation between two state analyzers 82
To set up time correlation between a timing and a state analyzer 83
Arming and Additional Instruments 84
To arm another instrument 84
To arm the oscilloscope with the analyzer (1670G-series logic analyzers with
the oscilloscope option) 85
To receive an arm signal from another instrument 87

Contents
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Managing Memory 89
To selectively store branch conditions (state only) 90
To set the memory length 91
To place the trigger in memory 93
To set the sampling rates (Timing only) 94
5 Triggering Examples
Triggering Examples 96
Single-Machine Trigger Examples 97
To store and time the execution of a subroutine 98
To trigger on the nth iteration of a loop 100
To trigger on the nth recursive call of a recursive function 102
To trigger on entry to a function 104
To capture a write of known bad data to a particular variable 106
To trigger on a loop that occasionally runs too long 107
To verify correct return from a function call 108
To trigger after all status bus lines finish transitioning 109
To find the nth assertion of a chip select line 110
To verify that the chip select line is strobed after the address is stable 111
To trigger when expected data does not appear when requested 112
To test minimum and maximum pulse limits 114
To detect a handshake violation 116
To detect bus contention 117
Cross-Arming Trigger Examples 118
To examine software execution when a timing violation occurs 119
To look at control and status signals during execution of a routine 121
To detect a glitch 122
To capture the waveform of a glitch using the oscilloscope (oscilloscope option
only) 123
To view your target system processing an interrupt (oscilloscope option

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Contents
only) 124
To trigger timing analysis of a count-down on a set of data lines 125
To monitor two coprocessors in a target system 126
Special Displays 128
To interleave trace lists 129
To view trace lists and waveforms on the same display 131
6 File Management
File Management 134
Transferring Files Using the Flexible Disk Drive 135
To save a configuration 136
To load a configuration 138
To save a trace list in ASCII format 140
To save a screen’s image 141
To load additional software 142
Transferring Files Using the LAN 143
To transfer files using ftp 144
7 Using the Oscilloscope
Using the Oscilloscope 146
Calibrating the oscilloscope 147
Calibration PROTECT/UNPROTECT switch 147
Set up the equipment 147
Load the default calibration factors 148
Self Cal menu calibrations 149
Protect the operational accuracy calibration factors 151

Contents
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Oscilloscope Common Menus 152
Run/Stop options 152
Autoscale 154
Time base 156
The Scope Channel Menu 157
Offset field 157
Probe field 158
Coupling field 158
Preset field 159
The Scope Display Menu 160
Mode field 160
Connect Dots field 162
Grid field 162
Display Options field 163
The Scope Trigger Menu 164
Trigger marker 164
Mode/Arm menu 164
Level field 167
Source field 169
Slope field 169
Count field 170
Auto-Trig field 171
When field 172
Count field 175
The Scope Marker Menu 176
Manual time markers options 176
Automatic time markers options 179
Manual/Automatic Time Markers option 184
Voltage Markers options 185
Channel Label field 187

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Contents
The Scope Auto Measure Menu 188
Input field 188
Automatic measurements display 189
Automatic measurement algorithms 191
8 Using the Pattern Generator
Using the Pattern Generator 196
Setting Up the Proper Configurations 197
To set up the configuration 197
To build a label 199
Building Test Vectors and Functions 200
To build a main vector sequence 201
To build an initialization sequence 202
To edit a main or initialization sequence 203
To include hardware instructions in a sequence 204
To include software instructions in a sequence 205
To include a user macro in a sequence 206
To build a user macro 207
To modify a function name 208
To edit a function 208
To add, delete, or rename parameters 209
To place parameters in a vector 210
To enter or modify parameters 211
To build a User Symbol Table 212
To include symbols in a sequence 213
To include symbols in a function 214
To store a configuration 215
To load a configuration 216
To use Autoroll 217
The Format Menu 218
The Sequence Menu 222
The User Macros Menu 231

Contents
11
Loading ASCII Files 233
ASCII File Commands 234
ASCDown Command 234
LABel 235
VECTor 236
FORMat:xxx 239
Loading an ASCII file over a bus (example) 240
Pattern Generator Probing System 242
9 Logic Analyzer Reference
1670G-Series Logic Analyzer Description 244
1670G-Series Configuration Capabilities 246
Probing 248
General-purpose probing system description 251
Assembling the probing system 255
Oscilloscope probes (oscilloscope option only) 259
Connecting the pattern generator pods directly to a PC board (pattern gener-
ator option only) 260
Pattern generator output pod characteristics (pattern generator option
only) 261
Keyboard Shortcuts 267
Moving the cursor 267
Entering data into a menu 268
Using the keyboard overlays 269
Common Menu Fields 270
Print field 271
Run/Stop field 273
Roll fields 274

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Contents
Disk Drive Operations 275
Disk operations 275
Autoload 278
Format 278
Pack 279
Load and Store 280
The RS-232-C, GPIB, and Centronics Interfaces 282
The GPIB interface 283
The RS-232-C interface 284
The Centronics interface 285
The Ethernet LAN interface 286
System Utilities 289
Real Time Clock Adjustments field 289
Update FLASH ROM field 290
Display Color Selection 292
Setting the Color, Hue, Saturation, and Luminosity Fields 294
Returning to the Default Colors 294
The Analyzer Configuration Menu 295
Type field 295
Illegal configuration 296
The Analyzer Format Menu 297
Pod threshold field 297
State acquisition modes 298
Timing acquisition modes 299
Acquisition modes 300
Clock Inputs Display 301
Pod clock field (State only) 302
Master and Slave Clock fields (State only) 305
Symbols field 308
Label fields 310
Label polarity fields 311

Contents
13
The Analyzer Trigger Menu 312
Trigger sequence levels 312
Modify Trigger field 313
Timing trigger function library 314
State trigger function library 316
Modifying the user function 319
Resource terms 323
Arming Control field 327
Acquisition Control field 329
Count field (State only) 331
The Listing Menu 332
Markers 332
The Waveform Menu 334
sec/Div field 334
Accumulate field 334
Delay field 335
Waveform label field 335
Waveform display 337
The Mixed Display Menu 338
Interleaving state listings 338
Time-correlated displays 339
Markers 339
The Chart Menu 340
Min and Max scaling fields 341
Markers/Range field 341
Axis Control field 342
Rescale field 343

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Contents
The Compare Menu 344
Reference Listing field 345
Difference Listing field 345
Copy Listing to Reference field 346
Find Error field 347
Compare Full/Compare Partial field 347
10 System Performance Analysis (SPA) Software
System Performance Analysis Software 350
What is System Performance Analysis? 352
Getting started 355
SPA measurement processes 357
Using State Overview, State Histogram, and Time Interval 373
Using SPA with other features 383
11 Logic Analyzer Concepts
Logic Analyzer Concepts 386
The File System 387
Directories 388
File types 389
The Trigger Sequence 391
Trigger sequence specification 392
Analyzer resources 395
Timing analyzer 400
State analyzer 400
Configuration Translation Between Agilent Logic Analyzers 401

Contents
15
The Analyzer Hardware 403
1670G-series analyzer theory 404
Logic acquisition board theory 408
Oscilloscope board theory 412
Pattern Generator board theory 417
Self-tests description 420
12 Troubleshooting the Logic Analyzer
Troubleshooting the Logic Analyzer 422
Analyzer Problems 423
Intermittent data errors 423
Unwanted triggers 424
No activity on activity indicators 424
Capacitive loading 425
No trace list display 425
Analysis Probe Problems 426
Target system will not boot up 426
Slow clock 427
Erratic trace measurements 428
Inverse Assembler Problems 429
No inverse assembly or incorrect inverse assembly 429
Inverse assembler will not load or run 431

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Contents
Error Messages 432
". . . Inverse Assembler Not Found" 432
"No Configuration File Loaded" 432
"Selected File is Incompatible" 433
"Slow or Missing Clock" 433
"Waiting for Trigger" 433
"Must have at least 1 edge specified" 434
"Time correlation of data is not possible" 434
"Maximum of 32 channels per label" 434
"Timer is off in sequence level n where it is used" 435
"Timer is specified in sequence, but never started" 435
"Inverse assembler not loaded - bad object code." 435
"Measurement Initialization Error" 436
"Warning: Run HALTED due to variable change" 436
13 Specifications
General Information 438
Accessories 438
Specifications (logic analyzer) 440
Specifications (oscilloscope option) 441
Characteristics (logic analyzer) 442
Characteristics (oscilloscope) 443
Characteristics (pattern generator) 443
Supplemental characteristics (logic analyzer) 445
Supplemental characteristics (oscilloscope) 450
Operating environment 452
14 Operator’s Service
Operator’s Service 454
!

Contents
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Preparing For Use 455
To inspect the logic analyzer 456
To apply power 456
To clean the logic analyzer 457
To test the logic analyzer 457
Troubleshooting 458
To use the flowcharts 459
To check the power-up tests 461
To run the self-tests 462
To test the auxiliary power 471
15 Introducing the LAN Interface
Introducing the LAN Interface 476
LAN section overview 478
16 Connecting and Configuring the LAN
Connecting and Configuring the LAN 480
To connect to your network 481
To configure the network addresses 482
To verify connectivity with the ping utility 485
To mount the logic analyzer 486
17 Accessing the Logic Analyzer File System Using the LAN
Accessing the Logic Analyzer File System Using the LAN 490
Control User vs. Data User 490
To mount the file system via NFS 491
To access the file system via ftp 496

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Contents
18 Using the LAN’s X Window Interface
Using the LAN’s X Window Interface 498
To start the interface from the front panel 499
To start the interface from the computer 501
To close the interface 504
To load the custom fonts 505
Additional Information 508
19 Retrieving and Restoring Data Using the LAN
Retrieving and Restoring Data Using the LAN 510
To copy ASCII measurement data 511
To copy raw measurement data 512
To restore raw measurement data 513
To strip LIF structure from raw measurement data 514
To copy screen images from \system\graphics 516
To copy status information from \status 517
To copy configurations from setup.raw 519
To restore configurations 520
20 Programming the Logic Analyzer Using the LAN
Programming the Logic Analyzer Using the LAN 522
To set up for Ethernet LAN programming 523
To enter commands directly using telnet 524
To write programs that open the command parser socket 526

Contents
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21 LAN Concepts
LAN Concepts 530
Directory structure of the logic analyzer’s file system 531
Dynamic files 534
LAN-related fields in the logic analyzer’s menus 535
22 Troubleshooting the LAN Connection
Troubleshooting the LAN Connection 538
Troubleshooting the Initial Connection 539
Assess the problem 539
Troubleshooting in a workstation environment 542
Troubleshooting in an MS-DOS environment 544
Troubleshooting in an MS Windows environment 546
Verify the logic analyzer performance 548
Status Number 550
Network Status Information 553
Solutions to Common Problems 555
If you cannot connect to the logic analyzer 555
If you cannot mount the logic analyzer file system 556
If you cannot access the file system via ftp 556
If you cannot start the XWindow interface 557
If your X Window looks odd 557
If you cannot copy files from the logic analyzer 558
If you cannot restore raw files 558
If you get an "operation timed-out" message 559
If the logic analyzer begins to operate slowly 559
If the logic analyzer does not respond 559
If all else fails 560
Getting Service Support 561
Return to Agilent service 561

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Contents
23 Symbol Utility Introduction
Symbol Utility Introduction 566
Equipment Required 566
Supported Symbol File Formats 567
Symbol Utility section overview 569
24 Getting Started with the Symbol Utility
Getting Started with the Symbol Utility 572
To Access the Symbol File Load Menu 573
Method 1: Using the Module Field 573
Method 2: Using the Symbol Field in the Format Menu 575
To Access the Symbol Browser 577
25 Using the Symbol Utility
To generate a symbol file 580
To Load a Symbol File 581
To Display Symbols in the Trace List 584
To Trigger on a Symbol 586
To View a List of Symbol Files Currently Loaded into the System 589
To Remove a Symbol File From the System 590
26 Symbol Utility Features and Functions
Symbol Utility Features and Functions 592