BNC 685 Series User manual

Model 685
Performance AWG
User Manual
(Active Technology MODEL 685 Series)
Rev 1.0, June 2021

2
Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation
[e-mail] | www.berkeleynucleonics.com
2955 Kerner Blvd, San Rafael, CA 94901 | 800-234-7858
Rev 1.1
Summary
CONTACTING BERKELEY NUCLEONICS................................................................ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
GENERAL SAFETY SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................. 7
TO AVOID FIRE OR PERSONAL INJURY.................................................................................................................................7
Use Proper Power Cord .........................................................................................................................................7
Ground the Product...............................................................................................................................................7
Observe All Terminal Ratings ................................................................................................................................7
Power Disconnect..................................................................................................................................................7
Do Not Operate Without Covers ...........................................................................................................................7
Do Not Operate With Suspected Failures..............................................................................................................7
Avoid Exposed Circuitry.........................................................................................................................................7
Do Not Operate in Wet/Damp Conditions. ...........................................................................................................7
Do Not Operate in an Explosive Atmosphere........................................................................................................7
Keep Product Surfaces Clean and Dry. ..................................................................................................................7
Provide Proper Ventilation....................................................................................................................................7
SAFETY REQUIREMENTS...................................................................................................................................................8
Safety Symbols ......................................................................................................................................................8
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS ................................................................................................................... 10
PRODUCT END-OF-LIFE HANDLING ..................................................................................................................................10
EQUIPMENT RECYCLING.................................................................................................................................................10
PREFACE .............................................................................................................................................................. 11
PACKAGE CONTENTS .....................................................................................................................................................11
MODELS.....................................................................................................................................................................11
RECOMMENDED OPTIONS AND ACCESSORIES.....................................................................................................................12
KEY FEATURES..............................................................................................................................................................12
MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS......................................................................................................................................13
OPERATING REQUIREMENTS...........................................................................................................................................13
ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS....................................................................................................................................14
POWER SUPPLY REQUIREMENTS ......................................................................................................................................14
CLEANING...................................................................................................................................................................15
CALIBRATION...............................................................................................................................................................15
ABNORMAL CONDITIONS...............................................................................................................................................15
INSTALLING YOUR INSTRUMENT.......................................................................................................................... 16
POWER THE INSTRUMENT ON AND OFF AND LAUNCH AFG APPLICATION................................................................................16
Power On.......................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Power Off ......................................................................................................................................................................... 16
PROTECT YOUR INSTRUMENT FROM MISUSE .....................................................................................................................16
Check Input and Output Connectors................................................................................................................................ 16
OBTAINING THE LATEST VERSION RELEASES.......................................................................................................................17
INSTALL SIMPLE AFG APPLICATION ................................................................................................17
USBPEN DRIVE AND RECOVERY PROCEDURE ..........................................................................................18
Recovery Procedure ...............................................................................................................19

3
Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation
[e-mail] | www.berkeleynucleonics.com
2955 Kerner Blvd, San Rafael, CA 94901 | 800-234-7858
Rev 1.1
INSTRUMENT OVERVIEW..................................................................................................................................... 21
FRONT PANEL 685-2C..................................................................................................................................................21
FRONT PANEL 685-4C..................................................................................................................................................22
FRONT PANEL 685-8C..................................................................................................................................................23
Analog Outputs ...................................................................................................................................................24
Marker Outputs...................................................................................................................................................24
Trigger Inputs......................................................................................................................................................24
Soft keyboard and rotary knob ...........................................................................................................................26
Numeric Keypad..................................................................................................................................................27
REAR PANEL 685-2C....................................................................................................................................................28
REAR PANEL 685-4C....................................................................................................................................................29
REAR PANEL 685-8C....................................................................................................................................................30
External Modulation Input Connector.................................................................................................................31
Reference Clock Input Connector ........................................................................................................................31
Reference Clock Output Connector .....................................................................................................................31
Digital Output connector ....................................................................................................................................31
External Clock Input Connector...........................................................................................................................31
Sync Clock Output Connector..............................................................................................................................31
Sync In / Sync Out Connectors.............................................................................................................................31
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................... 32
SIMPLE AFG SOFTWARE ....................................................................................................................................... 32
SIMPLE AFG TOUCH UI.................................................................................................................................................32
USER INTERFACE DESCRIPTION........................................................................................................................................33
Waveform Parameters Area ...............................................................................................................................35
Graph Area..........................................................................................................................................................37
Channel Information ...........................................................................................................................................38
Command Toolbar Area ......................................................................................................................................38
INPUT / OUTPUT CHANNELS ................................................................................................................................ 41
ANALOG OUTPUT CHANNEL ...........................................................................................................................................41
Main Channel Vertical Parameters .....................................................................................................................41
Amplitude......................................................................................................................................................................... 42
Offset[V]........................................................................................................................................................................... 42
High Level [V] ................................................................................................................................................................... 43
Low Level [V] .................................................................................................................................................................... 43
Main Channels Horizontal parameter.................................................................................................................44
Frequency [Hz] / Period [s]............................................................................................................................................... 44
Phase [deg]....................................................................................................................................................................... 44
Symmetry [%] ................................................................................................................................................................... 44
Width [s] / Duty Cycle [%] ................................................................................................................................................ 44
Leading – Trailing Edge [s]................................................................................................................................................ 44
AUXILIARY CHANNELS ...................................................................................................................................................45
Marker Outputs...................................................................................................................................................46
Trigger In................................................................................................................................46
External Modulation Input Connector....................................................................................47

4
Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation
[e-mail] | www.berkeleynucleonics.com
2955 Kerner Blvd, San Rafael, CA 94901 | 800-234-7858
Rev 1.1
Reference Clock Input Connector ........................................................................................................................47
Reference Clock Output Connector .....................................................................................................................47
External Clock Input Connector...........................................................................................................................48
Sync Clock Output Connector..............................................................................................................................48
Digital Output connector ....................................................................................................................................48
Sync In / Sync Out Connectors.............................................................................................................................48
PREDEFINED WAVEFORMS .................................................................................................................................. 49
List and parameters of predefined waveforms ...................................................................................................49
RUN MODE .......................................................................................................................................................... 53
CONTINUOUS ..............................................................................................................................................................54
Marker Out behaviour in Continuous Run Mode ................................................................................................54
MODULATION .............................................................................................................................................................55
Marker Out behaviour in Modulation Run Mode................................................................................................57
Modulation General Parameter..........................................................................................................................58
Modulation Types and associated parameters...................................................................................................58
SWEEP .......................................................................................................................................................................59
Sweep Mode........................................................................................................................................................60
Parameters..........................................................................................................................................................60
Sweep Trigger Mode ...........................................................................................................................................61
Marker Out behaviour in Sweep Run Mode........................................................................................................61
BURST........................................................................................................................................................................62
Burst Mode..........................................................................................................................................................63
Marker Out behaviour in Burst Run Mode..........................................................................................................65
MAIN COMMAND BUTTON DESCRIPTION............................................................................................................ 66
SAVE SETTINGS ............................................................................................................................................................66
LOAD SETTINGS............................................................................................................................................................67
REMOTE CONTROL .......................................................................................................................................................68
GPIB AND USBTMC (WITH GP-IB / USB-TMC OPTION ONLY)................................................................................ 68
GPIB control ........................................................................................................................................................69
USBTMC control ..................................................................................................................................................70
CHANNELS AND DEVICE SETTING ......................................................................................................................... 71
Channels Settings................................................................................................................................................71
Device Settings....................................................................................................................................................73
Timing Settings ...................................................................................................................................................74
Trigger In Settings ...............................................................................................................................................75
Marker Out Settings............................................................................................................................................76
IMPORT FROM FILE.............................................................................................................................................. 79
CHANNELS COUPLING.......................................................................................................................................... 82
CERTIFICATIONS............................................................................................................... 86
EMC COMPLIANCE .....................................................................................................................86

5
Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation
[e-mail] | www.berkeleynucleonics.com
2955 Kerner Blvd, San Rafael, CA 94901 | 800-234-7858
Rev 1.1
SAFETY COMPLIANCE ....................................................................................................................................................86
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE.......................................................................................................................................87

6
Operator’s Manual Simple AFG Application
Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation
[e-mail] | www.berkeleynucleonics.com
2955 Kerner Blvd, San Rafael, CA 94901 | 800-234-7858
Rev 1.1
This manual is copyright by Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation (BNC) and all rights are
reserved. No portion of this document may be reproduced, copied, transmitted,
transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated in any form or by any means such as
electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, manual or otherwise, without written
permission of Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation.
Contacting Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation
Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation
2955 Kerner Blvd, San Rafael, CA 94901
USA
For product information, sales, service, and technical support:
Call: 800-234-7858
Visit: https://www.berkeleynucleonics.com/

7
Operator’s Manual Simple AFG Application
Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation
[e-mail] | www.berkeleynucleonics.com
2955 Kerner Blvd, San Rafael, CA 94901 | 800-234-7858
Rev 1.1
General Safety Summary
Review the following safety precautions to avoid injury and prevent damage to this product or any
products connected to it.
To avoid potential hazards, use this product only as specified.
Only qualified personnel should perform service procedures.
To Avoid Fire or Personal Injury
Use Proper Power Cord
Use only the power cord specified for this product and certified for the country of use.
Ground the Product
This product is grounded through the grounding conductor of the power cord. To avoid electric shock, the
grounding conductor must be connected to earth ground. Before making connections to the input or
output terminals of the product, ensure that the product is properly grounded.
Observe All Terminal Ratings
To avoid fire or shock hazard, observe all ratings and markings on the product. Consult the product
manual for further ratings information before making connections to the product.
Power Disconnect
The power cord provides Mains disconnect.
Do Not Operate Without Covers
Do not operate this product with covers or panels removed.
Do Not Operate With Suspected Failures
If you suspect that there is damage to this product, have it inspected by qualified service personnel.
Avoid Exposed Circuitry
Do not touch exposed connections and components when power is present.
Do Not Operate in Wet/Damp Conditions.
Do Not Operate in an Explosive Atmosphere.
Keep Product Surfaces Clean and Dry.
Provide Proper Ventilation
Refer to the manual’s installation instructions for details on installing the product so it has proper
ventilation.

8
Operator’s Manual Simple AFG Application
Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation
[e-mail] | www.berkeleynucleonics.com
2955 Kerner Blvd, San Rafael, CA 94901 | 800-234-7858
Rev 1.1
Safety Requirements
This section contains information and warnings that must be observed to keep the instrument operating
in a correct and safe condition. You are required to follow generally accepted safety procedures in
addition to the safety precautions specified in this section.
Safety Symbols
Where the following symbols appear on the instrument’s front or rear panels, or in this manual, they
alert you to important safety considerations.
This symbol is used where caution is required. Refer to the accompanying information or
documents in order to protect against personal injury or damage to the instrument.
This symbol warns of a potential risk of shock hazard.
This symbol is used to denote the measurement ground connection.
This symbol is used to denote a frame or chassis connection.
This symbol is used to denote a safety ground connection.
On (Supply). This is the DC power connect/disconnect switch at the back of the
instrument.
Off (Supply). This is the DC power connect/disconnect switch at the back of the
instrument.
This symbol is used to denote Power. It is located on the front panel and denotes
Power On/Off status of the instrument.
This symbol is used to denote Direct Current.
This symbol is used to denote that the device connectors are sensitive to electrostatic
discharge

9
Operator’s Manual Simple AFG Application
Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation
[e-mail] | www.berkeleynucleonics.com
2955 Kerner Blvd, San Rafael, CA 94901 | 800-234-7858
Rev 1.1
CAUTION
The CAUTION sign indicatesapotential hazard. It calls attention to a procedure, practice or condition
which, if not followed, could possibly cause damage to equipment. If a CAUTION is indicated, do not
proceed until its conditions are fully understood and met.
WARNING
The WARNING sign indicates a potential hazard. It calls attention to a procedure, practice or condition
which, if not followed, could possibly cause bodily injury or death. If a WARNING is indicated, do not
proceed until its conditions are fully understood and met.
CAT I
Installation (Overvoltage) Category rating per EN 61010-1 safety standard and is applicable for the
instrument front panel measuring terminals. CAT I rated terminals must only be connected to source
circuits in which measures are taken to limit transient voltages to an appropriately low level.

10
Operator’s Manual Simple AFG Application
Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation
[e-mail] | www.berkeleynucleonics.com
2955 Kerner Blvd, San Rafael, CA 94901 | 800-234-7858
Rev 1.1
Environmental considerations
Product End-of-life Handling
Observe the following guidelines when recycling an instrument or component.
Equipment Recycling
Production of this equipment required the extraction and use of natural resources. The equipment may
contain substances that could be harmful to the environment or human health if improperly handled at
the product’s end of life. In order to avoid release of such substances into the environment and to
reduce the use of natural resources, we encourage you to recycle this product in an appropriate system
that will ensure that most of the materials are reused or recycled appropriately.
The symbol shown to the left indicates that this product complies with the European
Union’s requirements according to Directive 2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic
equipment (WEEE).