HP 81200 User manual

Revision 2.1
HP 81200 Data Generator/Analyzer Platform
User Guide

2HP 81200 Data Generator/Analyzer Platform User Guide, Revision 2.1
Important Notice
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The information in this manual is subject to change without
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Brand or product names are trademarks or registered
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Author: Jörg Bürkle, t3 medien GmbH

Contents
HP 81200 Data Generator/Analyzer Platform User Guide, Revision 2.1
Contents
What’s New in This Release? 9
Major Changes from Rev. 2. to 2.1 11
Frontends E4838A and E4837A 11
Enhanced Frontend Support 12
External Clock Multiplier 12
Quick Frequency Overview and Change 13
Introduction to the System 15
System Capabilities 17
Verify and Characterize Digital Devices 17
Key Features 18
System Components 19
Mainframes and Controllers 19
Modules 21
Frontends 22
Trigger Pod 22
Identification of Hardware Resources 23
Open VXI Configurations 24
Summary of Hardware-Related Terms 25
Operating Principles 26
Virtual Instruments/Systems 26
Hardware and Setup Models 27
Software Structure 28
Summary of Setup-Related Terms 30
Timing Principles 31
Choice of Clock Sources 31
FMR and Blocklength Granularity 31
Clock Setup Example 32
Testing up to 1.3 Gbit/s with Two 66 Mbit/s Outputs 33
Synchronization of Signals 34
Trigger-Controlled Start and Stop 34
Summary of Timing-Related Terms 36
Data Generation Principles 37
Emulate Real Pattern and Waveform Conditions 37
Data Sequences 38
Data Blocks 38
Data Segments 38

Contents
4HP 81200 Data Generator/Analyzer Platform User Guide, Revision 2.1
Segment Properties 39
Loops 40
Hardware Dependencies 41
Summary of Data-Related Terms 42
Data Analysis Principles 43
Functional Tests 43
Error Analysis and Marginal Tests 44
Display of Test Results 44
Summary of Analysis-Related Terms 44
Event Handling Principles 45
Usage of Events 45
What is an Event? 46
Actions Upon an Event 47
Summary of Event-Related Terms 47
Test Development Overview 49
Procedure for Setting Up the Test 51
Procedure for Running the Test 53
Procedure for Viewing Test Results 54
Procedure for Saving the Test Setting 55
Structure of the User Interface 57
How to Start the System 59
How to Set the Kind of Display 59
How to Set the Resolution of a CRT Display 61
How to Start the HP 812 Software 62
Overview of the Windows 66
Overview of Test Setup Windows 66
Overview of Test Result Windows 67
Operating the User Interface 68
How to Use the Mouse or Touchpad 68
How to Navigate With the Keyboard 68
How to Change Units and/or Vernier Steps 69
Items of the Main Menu 70
File Menu 70
Edit Menu 74
Tools Menu 77
View Menu 77
Go Menu 79

Contents
HP 81200 Data Generator/Analyzer Platform User Guide, Revision 2.1 5
Control Menu 80
System Menu 81
Window Menu 81
Help Menu 82
Setting Global System Parameters 83
How to Start the Parameter Editor for Global Parameters 85
How to Set the Clock Characteristics 87
How to Choose the Clock Source 87
How to Set the System Clock Parameters 88
How to Set the Characteristics of the External Input 90
How to Set the Characteristics of the Trigger Output 92
Connecting the DUT 93
How to Start the Connection Editor 95
Contents of the Connection Editor Window 95
How to Create a Port 97
How to Change the Characteristics of a Port 99
How to Delete a Port 99
How to Rename a Port 99
How to Add a Terminal to a Port 99
How to Change the Characteristics of a Terminal 101
How to Delete a Terminal 101
How to Rename a Terminal 101
How to Move a Terminal 101
How to Connect a Terminal 102
How to Disconnect a Terminal 103
Setting Up Ports and Channels 105
How to Start the Parameter Editor for Ports/Channels 107
How to Start the Parameter Editor for Setting Port Parameters 107
How to Start the Parameter Editor for Setting Channel Parameters 108
How to Set Up a Port or Channel for Generated Signals 110
How to Set Generator Timing Parameters 110
How to Set Additional Generator Parameters 112
How to Add Channels in Analog Mode 115
How to View and Change All Frequency Settings 117
How to Set Up a Port Or Channel for Signals To Be Analyzed120
How to Set Analyzer Timing Parameters 120

Contents
6HP 81200 Data Generator/Analyzer Platform User Guide, Revision 2.1
How to Set Additional Analyzer Parameters 121
How to Combine Generator Channels 124
How to Start the Channel Configuration Editor 124
How to Use the Channel Configuration Editor 125
Choosing the Kind of Measurement 127
How to Access the Measurement Configuration Window 129
How to Set the Measurement Configuration 130
Capture Data 130
Error Rate Measurement 130
Compare and Acquire Around Error 131
Compare and Capture 131
Creating the Stream of Generated and Expected Data 133
How to Start the Sequence Editor 135
Contents of the Sequence Editor Window 135
How to Add, Move or Delete Blocks 137
How to Change Block Characteristics 138
How to Replace a Current Segment 140
How to Replace a Current Segment by a New Segment 140
How to Replace a Current Segment by a Stored Segment 140
How to Insert a Different Pseudo Segment 142
How to Create and Change Loops 143
How to Create a Loop 143
How to Change a Loop 144
How to Specify Events and Reactions to Events 146
Before You Start Using Events 146
How to Define Events 149
How to Specify the Reactions To Events 151
Creating and Editing Segments 155
How to Create a New Segment 157
How to Start Creating a New Segment 157
How to Create a Memory Segment 158
How to Create a PRBS/PRWS Segment 165
How to Save a New or Changed Segment 166
How to Edit a Stored Segment 167
How to Select a Segment 167
How to Edit a Memory Segment 168

Contents
HP 81200 Data Generator/Analyzer Platform User Guide, Revision 2.1 7
How to Edit a PRBS/PRWS Segment 168
Using the Data/Sequence Editor 171
How to Start the Data/Sequence Editor 173
Contents of the Data/Sequence Editor Window 173
How to Change the Data/Sequence Display 175
How to Change the Width of the Columns 175
How to Change the Height of a Block 175
How to Change the Format of Displayed Addresses 176
How to Change the Labels of Displayed Traces 177
How to Change the Sequence or Edit Segments 178
How to Change the Sequence Characteristics 178
How to Replace a Segment 179
How to Edit the Contents of a Segment 179
Running the Test 181
How to Download the Test Sequence 183
How to View BER Test Results 184
How to Start/Stop the Test 185
Viewing Generated and Captured Data 187
How to View Captured Test Results 189
How to Start the Error State Display 189
How to Operate the Error State Display 189
How to Transfer Captured Data Into a Segment 190
How to View Waveforms 193
How to Start the Waveform Viewer 193
Description of the Waveform Viewer Display 194
How to Operate the Waveform Viewer 195
Using Auxiliary Functions 199
How to Compensate for Internal and External Delays 201
How to Start the Deskew Editor 202
How to Adjust the Instrument Connectors 202
How to Compensate for Cable Delays 203
How to Compensate for Cable and DUT Board Delays 205
How to Export/Import Settings or Segments 207
Export/Import of a Setting 207
Export/Import of Segments 209

Contents
8HP 81200 Data Generator/Analyzer Platform User Guide, Revision 2.1
How to Execute Firmware Commands 211
How to Start the Command Line Editor 211
How to Use the Command Line Editor 212
How Do I ... ? 215
How Can I Generate a Clock Signal With an E4841A Module? 217
How Can I Generate a Clock Signal of up to 1.3 GHz? 219
How Do I Use Events? 222
How Do I Select Between Two Different Tests? 222
How Do I Set a Trigger on Error? 223
How Do I Wait for Synchronization of the DUT? 224
How Can I Communicate With a Test System? 225
How Can I Execute Different Tests Embedded in One Sequence? 226
How Can I Change all Traces of a Port to Don’t Care? 227
How Do I Set Up a Multiplexer BER Test? 230
How Can I Create and Capture a Double-Speed PRWS? 233

HP 81200 Data Generator/Analyzer Platform User Guide, Revision 2.1 9
What’s New in This
Release?

What s New in This Release?
10 HP 81200 Data Generator/Analyzer Platform User Guide, Revision 2.1
This chapter gives an overview of the most important changes and
enhancements of the HP 81200 Data Generator/Analyzer Platform. It starts
with revision 2.1, which builds up on revision 2.0.
The information is organized as follows:
“Major Changes from Rev. 2.0 to 2.1” on page 11