Keithley DDA-08 User manual

Artisan Technology Group is your source for quality
new and certied-used/pre-owned equipment
• FAST SHIPPING AND
DELIVERY
• TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
IN-STOCK ITEMS
• EQUIPMENT DEMOS
• HUNDREDS OF
MANUFACTURERS
SUPPORTED
• LEASING/MONTHLY
RENTALS
• ITAR CERTIFIED
SECURE ASSET SOLUTIONS
SERVICE CENTER REPAIRS
Experienced engineers and technicians on staff
at our full-service, in-house repair center
WE BUY USED EQUIPMENT
Sell your excess, underutilized, and idle used equipment
We also offer credit for buy-backs and trade-ins
www.artisantg.com/WeBuyEquipment
REMOTE INSPECTION
Remotely inspect equipment before purchasing with
our interactive website at www.instraview.com
LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION?
Visit us on the web at www.artisantg.com for more
information on price quotations, drivers, technical
specications, manuals, and documentation
Contact us: (888) 88-SOURCE | [e-mail] | www.artisantg.com
SM
View
Instra

DDA-08/16
User’s Guide
A GREATER MEASURE OF CONFIDENCE
Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com

WARRANTY
Hardware
Keithley Instruments, Inc. warrants that, for a period of one (1) year from the date of shipment (3 years for Models 2000,
2001, 2002, 2010 and 2700), the Keithley Hardware product will be free from defects in materials or workmanship. This
warranty will be honored provided the defect has not been caused by use of the Keithley Hardware not in accordance with
the instructions for the product. This warranty shall be null and void upon: (1) any modification of Keithley Hardware that
is made by other than Keithley and not approved in writing by Keithley or (2) operation of the Keithley Hardware outside
of the environmental specifications therefore.
Upon receiving notification of a defect in the Keithley Hardware during the warranty period, Keithley will, at its option,
either repair or replace such Keithley Hardware. During the first ninety days of the warranty period, Keithley will, at its
option, supply the necessary on site labor to return the product to the condition prior to the notification of a defect. Failure
to notify Keithley of a defect during the warranty shall relieve Keithley of its obligations and liabilities under this
warranty.
Other Hardware
The portion of the product that is not manufactured by Keithley (Other Hardware) shall not be covered by this warranty,
and Keithley shall have no duty of obligation to enforce any manufacturers' warranties on behalf of the customer. On those
other manufacturers’ products that Keithley purchases for resale, Keithley shall have no duty of obligation to enforce any
manufacturers’ warranties on behalf of the customer.
Software
Keithley warrants that for a period of one (1) year from date of shipment, the Keithley produced portion of the software or
firmware (Keithley Software) will conform in all material respects with the published specifications provided such Keithley
Software is used on the product for which it is intended and otherwise in accordance with the instructions therefore.
Keithley does not warrant that operation of the Keithley Software will be uninterrupted or error-free and/or that the Keithley
Software will be adequate for the customer's intended application and/or use. This warranty shall be null and void upon any
modification of the Keithley Software that is made by other than Keithley and not approved in writing by Keithley.
If Keithley receives notification of a Keithley Software nonconformity that is covered by this warranty during the warranty
period, Keithley will review the conditions described in such notice. Such notice must state the published specification(s)
to which the Keithley Software fails to conform and the manner in which the Keithley Software fails to conform to such
published specification(s) with sufficient specificity to permit Keithley to correct such nonconformity. If Keithley deter-
mines that the Keithley Software does not conform with the published specifications, Keithley will, at its option, provide
either the programming services necessary to correct such nonconformity or develop a program change to bypass such
nonconformity in the Keithley Software. Failure to notify Keithley of a nonconformity during the warranty shall relieve
Keithley of its obligations and liabilities under this warranty.
Other Software
OEM software that is not produced by Keithley (Other Software) shall not be covered by this warranty, and Keithley shall
have no duty or obligation to enforce any OEM's warranties on behalf of the customer.
Other Items
Keithley warrants the following items for 90 days from the date of shipment: probes, cables, rechargeable batteries, diskettes,
and documentation.
Items not Covered under Warranty
This warranty does not apply to fuses, non-rechargeable batteries, damage from battery leakage, or problems arising from
normal wear or failure to follow instructions.
Limitation of Warranty
This warranty does not apply to defects resulting from product modification made by Purchaser without Keithley's express
written consent, or by misuse of any product or part.
Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com

Disclaimer of Warranties
EXCEPT FOR THE EXPRESS WARRANTIES ABOVE KEITHLEY DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER WARRANTIES,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANT-
ABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. KEITHLEY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH
RESPECT TO THE OTHER HARDWARE AND OTHER SOFTWARE.
Limitation of Liability
KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS SHALL IN NO EVENT, REGARDLESS OF CAUSE, ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR
OR BE LIABLE FOR: (1) ECONOMICAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE OR
EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, WHETHER CLAIMED UNDER CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY,
(2) LOSS OF OR DAMAGE TO THE CUSTOMER'S DATA OR PROGRAMMING, OR (3) PENALTIES OR PENALTY
CLAUSES OF ANY DESCRIPTION OR INDEMNIFICATION OF THE CUSTOMER OR OTHERS FOR COSTS, DAM-
AGES, OR EXPENSES RELATED TO THE GOODS OR SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THIS WARRANTY.
Keithley Instruments, Inc. 28775 Aurora Road • Cleveland, Ohio 44139 • 440-248-0400 • Fax: [phone]
1-888-KEITHLEY (534-8453) • www.keithley.com
Sales Offices: BELGIUM: Bergensesteenweg 709 • B-1600 Sint-Pieters-Leeuw • 02-363 00 40 • Fax: [phone]
CHINA: Yuan Chen Xin Building, Room 705 • 12Yumin Road, Dewai, Madian • Beijing 100029 • 8610-6202-2886 • Fax: [phone]
FINLAND: Tietäjäntie 2 • 02130 Espoo • Phone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
FRANCE: 3, allée des Garays • 91127 Palaiseau Cédex • 01-64 53 20 20 • Fax: [phone]
GERMANY: Landsberger Strasse 65 • 82110 Germering • 089/84 93 07-40 • Fax: [phone]
GREAT BRITAIN: Unit 2 Commerce Park, Brunel Road • Theale • Berkshire RG7 4AB • 0118 929 7500 • Fax: [phone]
INDIA: Flat 2B, Willocrissa • 14, Rest House Crescent • Bangalore 560 001 • 91-80-509-1320/21 • Fax: [phone]
ITALY: Viale San Gimignano, 38 • 20146 Milano • 02-48 39 16 01 • Fax: [phone]
JAPAN: New Pier Takeshiba North Tower 13F • 11-1, Kaigan 1-chome • Minato-ku,Tokyo 105-0022 • 81-3-5733-7555 • Fax: [phone]
KOREA: 2FL., URI Building • 2-14Yangjae-Dong • Seocho-Gu, Seoul 137-888 • 82-2-574-7778 • Fax: [phone]
NETHERLANDS: Postbus 559 • 4200 AN Gorinchem • 0183-635333 • Fax: [phone]
SWEDEN: c/o Regus Business Centre • Frosundaviks Allé 15, 4tr • 169 70 Solna • 08-509 04 679 • Fax: [phone]
SWITZERLAND: Kriesbachstrasse 4 • 8600 Dübendorf • 01-821 94 44 • Fax: [phone]
TAIWAN: 1FL., 85 Po Ai Street • Hsinchu, Taiwan, R.O.C. • 886-3-572-9077• Fax: [phone]
4/02
Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com

DDA-08/16
User’s Guide
Revision B - March 1999
Part Number: 78340
Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com

The following safety precautions should be observed before using this product and any associated instrumentation.
Although some instruments and accessories would normally be used with non-hazardous voltages, there are situations
where hazardous conditions may be present.
This product is intended for use by qualified personnel who recognize shock hazards and are familiar with the safety
precautions required to avoid possible injury. Read and follow all installation, operation, and maintenance information
carefully before using the product. Refer to the manual for complete product specifications.
If the product is used in a manner not specified, the protection provided by the product may be impaired.
The types of product users are:
Responsible body is the individual or group responsible for the use and maintenance of equipment, for ensuring that
the equipment is operated within its specifications and operating limits, and for ensuring that operators are adequately
trained.
Operators use the product for its intended function. They must be trained in electrical safety procedures and proper use
of the instrument. They must be protected from electric shock and contact with hazardous live circuits.
Maintenance personnel perform routine procedures on the product to keep it operating properly, for example, setting
the line voltage or replacing consumable materials. Maintenance procedures are described in the manual. The proce-
dures explicitly state if the operator may perform them. Otherwise, they should be performed only by service personnel.
Service personnel are trained to work on live circuits, and perform safe installations and repairs of products. Only
properly trained service personnel may perform installation and service procedures.
Keithley products are designed for use with electrical signals that are rated Installation Category I and Installation
Category II, as described in the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Standard IEC 60664. Most mea-
surement, control, and data I/O signals are Installation Category I and must not be directly connected to mains voltage
or to voltage sources with high transient over-voltages. Installation Category II connections require protection for high
transient over-voltages often associated with local AC mains connections. Assume all measurement, control, and data
I/O connections are for connection to Category I sources unless otherwise marked or described in the Manual.
Exercise extreme caution when a shock hazard is present. Lethal voltage may be present on cable connector jacks or
test fixtures. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) states that a shock hazard exists when voltage levels
greater than 30V RMS, 42.4V peak, or 60VDC are present. A good safety practice is to expect that hazardous volt-
age is present in any unknown circuit before measuring.
Operators of this product must be protected from electric shock at all times. The responsible body must ensure that
operators are prevented access and/or insulated from every connection point. In some cases, connections must be ex-
posed to potential human contact. Product operators in these circumstances must be trained to protect themselves from
the risk of electric shock. If the circuit is capable of operating at or above 1000 volts, no conductive part of the circuit
may be exposed.
Do not connect switching cards directly to unlimited power circuits. They are intended to be used with impedance
limited sources. NEVER connect switching cards directly to AC mains. When connecting sources to switching cards,
install protective devices to limit fault current and voltage to the card.
Before operating an instrument, make sure the line cord is connected to a properly grounded power receptacle. Inspect
the connecting cables, test leads, and jumpers for possible wear, cracks, or breaks before each use.
S
afety Precautions
5/02
Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com

When installing equipment where access to the main power cord is restricted, such as rack mounting, a separate main
input power disconnect device must be provided, in close proximity to the equipment and within easy reach of the
operator.
For maximum safety, do not touch the product, test cables, or any other instruments while power is applied to the cir-
cuit under test. ALWAYS remove power from the entire test system and discharge any capacitors before: connecting
or disconnecting cables or jumpers, installing or removing switching cards, or making internal changes, such as in-
stalling or removing jumpers.
Do not touch any object that could provide a current path to the common side of the circuit under test or power line (earth)
ground. Always make measurements with dry hands while standing on a dry, insulated surface capable of withstanding the
voltage being measured.
The instrument and accessories must be used in accordance with its specifications and operating instructions or the
safety of the equipment may be impaired.
Do not exceed the maximum signal levels of the instruments and accessories, as defined in the specifications and op-
erating information, and as shown on the instrument or test fixture panels, or switching card.
When fuses are used in a product, replace with same type and rating for continued protection against fire hazard.
Chassis connections must only be used as shield connections for measuring circuits, NOT as safety earth ground con-
nections.
If you are using a test fixture, keep the lid closed while power is applied to the device under test. Safe operation re-
quires the use of a lid interlock.
If or is present, connect it to safety earth ground using the wire recommended in the user documentation.
The symbol on an instrument indicates that the user should refer to the operating instructions located in the manual.
The symbol on an instrument shows that it can source or measure 1000 volts or more, including the combined
effect of normal and common mode voltages. Use standard safety precautions to avoid personal contact with these
voltages.
The WARNING heading in a manual explains dangers that might result in personal injury or death. Always read the
associated information very carefully before performing the indicated procedure.
The CAUTION heading in a manual explains hazards that could damage the instrument. Such damage may invalidate
the warranty.
Instrumentation and accessories shall not be connected to humans.
Before performing any maintenance, disconnect the line cord and all test cables.
To maintain protection from electric shock and fire, replacement components in mains circuits, including the power
transformer, test leads, and input jacks, must be purchased from Keithley Instruments. Standard fuses, with applicable
national safety approvals, may be used if the rating and type are the same. Other components that are not safety related
may be purchased from other suppliers as long as they are equivalent to the original component. (Note that selected parts
should be purchased only through Keithley Instruments to maintain accuracy and functionality of the product.) If you
are unsure about the applicability of a replacement component, call a Keithley Instruments office for information.
To clean an instrument, use a damp cloth or mild, water based cleaner. Clean the exterior of the instrument only. Do
not apply cleaner directly to the instrument or allow liquids to enter or spill on the instrument. Products that consist
of a circuit board with no case or chassis (e.g., data acquisition board for installation into a computer) should never
require cleaning if handled according to instructions. If the board becomes contaminated and operation is affected,
the board should be returned to the factory for proper cleaning/servicing.
!
Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com

The information contained in this manual is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, the
manufacturer assumes no responsibility for its use; nor for any infringements of patents or other rights
of third parties that may result from its use. No license is granted by implication or otherwise under any
patent rights of the manufacturer.
THE MANUFACTURER SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RELATED TO THE USE OFTHIS PRODUCT. THIS PRODUCT IS
NOT DESIGNED WITH COMPONENTS OFA LEVEL OF RELIABILITY THAT IS SUITED FOR
USE IN LIFE SUPPORT OR CRITICAL APPLICATIONS.
DriverLINX, SSTNET, and LabOBJX are registered trademarks and DriverLINX/VB is a trademark of
Scientific Software Tools, Inc.
Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks and Visual C++ and Visual Basic are trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation.
Borland is a registered trademark and Borland C++, Delphi, and Turbo Pascal are trademarks of
Borland International, Inc.
IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
Acrobat is a registered trademark ofAdobe Systems Incorporated.
All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
companies.
© Copyright Keithley Instruments, Inc., 1999, 1994.
All rights reserved. Reproduction or adaptation of any part of this documentation beyond that permitted
by Section 117 of the 1979 United States Copyright Act without permission of the Copyright owner is
unlawful.
Keithley Instruments, Inc.
28775 Aurora Road, Cleveland, OH 44139
Telephone: [phone] • FAX: [phone]
http://www.keithley.com
Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com

Table of Contents
iii
Preface
1
Overview
Supporting Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
2
Functional Description
Analog Output Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Output Ranges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Clocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
Pacer Clocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
Output Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Time Delay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Pulse Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Hardware Trigger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Hardware Gate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Interrupts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
3
Setup and Installation
Unpacking the Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Installing the Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Installing and Configuring DriverLINX
for DDA-08/16 Boards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Installing the DDA-08/16 Standard Software Package . . . . 3-4
Before Installing DriverLINX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Selecting the DriverLINX Components to Install . . . . . . 3-4
Installing DriverLINX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Configuration with DriverLINX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
Configuring the Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
Setting Switches on the Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Setting the Base Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Setting the Analog Output Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
Setting the Output Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
Setting the Output Range Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15
Setting the Output Span . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
Installing the Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18
Configuring DriverLINX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com

iv
4
Cabling andWiring
Attaching Accessory Boards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Attaching an STC-37 Screw Terminal Connector . . . . . . . . 4-3
Attaching an STA-U Screw Terminal Accessory . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Attaching an STP-37 Screw Terminal Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Connecting Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
5
Subsystems and Analog I/O
Digital Input Subsystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
Digital Input Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
Digital Input Timing Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
Counter/Timer Subsystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Analog Output Subsystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Analog I/O Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
Test Panel Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
6 DriverLINX Calibration andTest Utilities
Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Equipment Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Potentiometers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Converting Voltage to Raw Counts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Converting Current to Raw Counts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
7
Troubleshooting
Problem Isolation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Using the DriverLINX Event Viewer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Device initialization error messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2
Identifying Symptoms and Possible Causes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
Testing Board and Host Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
Testing Accessory Slot and I/O Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6
Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6
A
Specifications
B
Connector Pin Assignments
Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com

v
List of Illustrations
Figure 2-1. DDA-08/16 Functional Block Diagram . . . . . . . 2-2
Figure 2-2. Using a Pacer Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Figure 2-3. Generating an Output Clock Pulse . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Figure 2-4. Using a Hardware Trigger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Figure 2-5. Using a Hardware Gate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Figure 3-1. DDA-16 Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Figure 3-2. Setting the Base Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Figure 3-3. Setting the Output Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15
Figure 3-4. Setting the Output Range Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16
Figure 3-5. Setting the Output Span . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18
Figure 4-1. Main I/O Connector on a DDA-16 Board . . . . . 4-2
Figure 4-2. Attaching an STC-37 Screw Terminal Connector 4-3
Figure 4-3. Attaching an STA-U Screw Terminal Accessory 4-4
Figure 4-4. Attaching an STP-37 Screw Terminal Panel . . . 4-5
Figure 4-5. Voltage Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
Figure 4-6. Current Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7
Figure 6-1. Potentiometers (DDA-16) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Figure B-1. Main I/O Connector (DDA-16) . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2
List ofTables
Table 2-1. Voltage Output Ranges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Table 3-1. Configuring DDA-08/16 Boards . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Table 3-2. Base Address Switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Table 3-3. Summary of Analog Output Range Switches . . 3-13
Table 3-4. Output Signal Switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
Table 3-5. Output Range Type Switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16
Table 3-6. Output Span Switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
Table 6-1. Potentiometers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Table 7-1. Troubleshooting Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
Table A-1. DDA-08/16 Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1
Table B-1. Main I/O Connector Pin Assignments for the
DDA-16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-3
Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com

Preface
The DDA-08/16 User’s Guide provides the information needed to set up,
install, and use DDA-08 and DDA-16 boards.
The manual is intended for data acquisition system designers, engineers,
technicians, scientists, and other users responsible for setting up, cabling,
and wiring signals to DDA-08 and DDA-16 boards. It is assumed that
users are familiar with data acquisition principles and with their particular
application.
The DDA-08/16 User’s Guide is organized as follows:
●
Section 1 provides an overview of the features of DDA-08 and
DDA-16 boards, including a description of supporting software and
accessories.
●
Section 2 provides a detailed description of the features of DDA-08
and DDA-16 boards.
●
Section 3 describes how to unpack, configure, and install DDA-08
and DDA-16 boards.
●
Section 4 describes how to attach accessory boards and how to wire
signals to DDA-08 and DDA-16 boards.
●
Section 5 describes how to use the Control Panel to test the functions
of DDA-08 and DDA-16 boards under Windows

.
●
Section 6 describes how to calibrate and test the functions of DDA-08
and DDA-16 boards under DOS.
●
Section 7 provides troubleshooting information.
Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com

●
Appendix A lists the specifications for DDA-08 and DDA-16 boards.
●
Appendix B lists the connector pin assignments.
An index completes this manual.
Throughout the manual, references to DDA-08/16 boards apply to both
DDA-08 and DDA-16 boards. When a feature applies to a particular
board, that board’s name is used.
Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com

1-1
1
Overview
DDA-08 and DDA-16 boards are analog output boards. The DDA-08/16
board with DriverLINX software requires:
●
An IBM PC or compatible AT (386 or Pentium CPU) with minimum
of 16 MB of memory.
●
At least one floppy disk drive and one fixed disk drive.
●
MS-DOS/PCDOS 3.1 or high.
● Microsoft Windows 3.x, Windows 95/98, or Windows NT 4.0 or
higher.
●
A compiler supporting Microsoft Windows development.
●
A mouse is highly recommended.
The major features of DDA-08/16 boards are as follows:
●
Two 4-channel digital-to-analog converters (quad DACs) on the
DDA-08 provide eight analog output channels; four quad DACs on
the DDA-16 provide 16 analog output channels.
●
Multiple analog output channels can be included in an update group
and updated simultaneously.
●
A switch-selectable output signal (voltage output or current output) is
supported for each quad DAC.
●
Five unipolar and bipolar, switch-selectable voltage output ranges are
supported; a current output range of 4 to 20 mA is supported.
●
All onboard switches can be read by software.
●
An onboard internal pacer clock is provided; you select the update
rate through software.
●
An external pacer clock is supported.
Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com

1-2 Overview
●
An onboard output clock is provided; you can use the output clock to
synchronize other devices to the pacer clock.
●
An external digital trigger is supported.
●
An external gate is supported.
●
An interrupt can be generated when analog output channels are
updated.
Supporting Software
The following software is available for operating DDA-08/16 boards:
●
DDA-08/16 standard software package — Shipped with
DDA-08/16 boards. Includes DriverLINX for Microsoft Windows
and function libraries for writing application programs under
Windows in a high-level language such as Microsoft Visual Basic,
Microsoft Visual C++, Delphi, utility programs, and
language-specific example programs.
●
DriverLINX — The high-performance real-time data-acquisition
device drivers for Windows application development including:
●
DriverLINX API DLLs and drivers supporting the DDA-08/16
hardware.
●
Analog I/O Panel — a DriverLINX program that verifies the
installation and configuration of DriverLINX to your DDA-08/16
board and demonstrates several virtual bench-top instruments.
●
Learn DriverLINX — an interactive learning and demonstration
program for DriverLINX that includes a Digital Storage
Oscilloscope.
●
Source Code — for the sample programs.
●
DriverLINX Application Programming Interface Files — for the
DDA-08/16 compiler.
● DriverLINX On-line Help System — provides immediate help as
you operate DriverLINX.
●
Supplemental Documentation — on DriverLINX installation and
configuration; analog and digital I/O programming; counter/timer
programming; technical reference; and information specific to the
DDA-08/16 hardware.
Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com

1-3
●
DDA-08/16 Utilities — The following utilities are provided as part of
the DDA-08/16 standard software package:
●
Calibrate and Test Utility — allows you to select a device to test
and calibrate.
●
DriverLINX Test Panel — allows you to perform a limited
number of tests.
Note:
The DDA-08/16 board is calibrated at the factory for voltage
mode . If the board is to be used in current mode , it needs to be
recalibrated.
Accessories
The following accessories are available for use with DDA-08/16 boards:
●
STC-37 screw terminal connector — Provides 37 screw terminals
that allow you to access the functions of the board; connects directly
to the DDA-08/16 board without a cable.
●
STA-U screw terminal accessory — Provides 37 screw terminals
that allow you to access the functions of the board; provides a
breadboard area with power and additional screw terminals to access
the user-designed circuitry.
●
STP-37 screw terminal panel — Provides 37 screw terminals that
allow you to access the functions of the board; available with a plastic
case (STP-37/C) that you can mount in a standard DIN rail.
●
C-1800 cable — Unshielded, 18-inch cable with a 37-pin connector
on each end; allows you to connect a DDA-08/16 board to an STA-U
or STP-37. (Note that the C-1800 cable is also available in longer
lengths, if required.)
●
S-1800 cable — Shielded, 18-inch cable with a 37-pin connector on
each end; allows you to connect a DDA-08/16 board to an STA-U or
STP-37. (Note that the S-1800 cable is also available in longer
lengths, if required.)
Refer to Keithley’s Products catalog or contact your local sales office for
information on obtaining these accessories.
Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com

2-1
2
Functional Description
This section describes the analog output features of DDA-08/16 boards.A
functional block diagram of a DDA-08/16 board is shown in Figure 2-1.
Note that quad DAC2 and quad DAC3 are available on DDA-16 boards
only.
Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com

2-2 Functional Description
Figure 2-1. DDA-08/16 Functional Block Diagram
Quad
DAC0
Quad
DAC1
Quad
DAC2
Quad
DAC3
Data
Buffers
Address
Decoder
Interrupt
Generator
Field-Programmable
Gate Array
(FPGA)
GATE IN
TRIGGER IN
CLOCK OUT
CLOCK IN
PC Bus
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Input
Buffers
Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com

2-3
Analog Output Channels
DDA-08 boards contain two quad DACs (quad DAC0 and quad DAC1),
which provide eight analog output channels. DDA-16 boards contain four
quad DACs (quad DAC0, quad DAC1, quad DAC2, and quad DAC3),
which provide 16 analog output channels. Quad DAC0 contains channels
0 through 3; quad DAC1 contains channels 4 through 7; quad DAC2
contains channels 8 through 11; quad DAC3 contains channels 12 through
15.
Each analog output channel contains an input buffer for storing data.
Through software, the host computer loads a single value into the input
buffer of a single channel or loads multiple values into the input buffers of
a sequence of consecutive channels. The analog output values are held in
the input buffers until the channels are updated. At that point, the values
currently held in the input buffers are written to the channels, updating
their output values.
You can update a single analog output channel immediately when the
input buffer is loaded, or you can update several analog output channels
simultaneously using a pacer clock. Refer to page 2-6 for more
information about pacer clocks.
If you want to update several analog output channels simultaneously, you
use software to include one or more quad DACs in the update group. All
channels on the quad DACs in the update group are updated
simultaneously at each pulse of the pacer clock.
Note:
In multi-channel mode, the DDA-08/16 writes all data to a
consecutive range of analog channels.
●
If the Start Channel is greater than the Stop Channel, the channel
sequence is [Start Channel, ..., Last Channel, 0, ..., Stop Channel],
where Last Channel is the highest numbered channel for the
DDA-08/16 model the application is using.
●
The DDA-08/16 can optionally output to all DACs in the range
simultaneously, or write to one DAC in the range at each timing
event.
Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com

2-4 Functional Description
In multi-channel list mode, the DDA-08/16 writes all data to a random list
of analog channels.
●
The channel-gain list may contain channels in any order but only with
unity gain. In simultaneous mode, the list may not repeat the same
channel.
●
The DDA-08/16 can optionally output to all DACs in the list
simultaneously, or write to one DAC in the list at each timing event.
Refer to the Using DriverLINX withYour Hardware, Keithley DDA-08/16
manual that accompanies your DriverLINX software.
Output Ranges
DDA-08/16 boards support both voltage output and current output.You
select the output signal for each quad DAC using the output signal
switches on the board. Refer to page 3-14 for more information.
Voltage output and current output ranges are described as follows:
●
Voltage output — For voltage output, you can select one of five
ranges (0 to 10V, 0 to 5V, ±10V, ±5V, or ±2.5V) for each quad DAC.
You select the voltage output range using two switches on the board.
The output span switch determines the span (5V, 10V, or 20V); the
output range type switch determines the output range type (unipolar
or bipolar). Refer to page 3-15 and page 3-17 for more information.
Table 2-1 shows the voltage output ranges provided by each span and
output range type.
Table 2-1. Voltage Output Ranges
Span
Output RangeType
Unipolar Bipolar
5V 0 to 5V ±2.5V
10V 0 to 10V ±5V
20V Not applicable
1
1
Do not select a 20V span with a unipolar output range
type. If you do, the output will saturate at about 10V with
approximately a half scale input to the quad DAC.
±10V
Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com