Keithley KUSB-3116 Parts list manual

www.keithley.com
A GREATER MEASURE OF CONFIDENCE
KUSB-3116
Getting Started Manual
KUSB3116-903-01 Rev. A / January 2005

WARRANTY
Keithley Instruments, Inc. warrants this product to be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of 3 years from
date of shipment.
Keithley Instruments, Inc. warrants the following items for 90 days from the date of shipment: probes, cables, rechargeable batteries,
diskettes, and documentation.
During the warranty period, we will, at our option, either repair or replace any product that proves to be defective.
To exercise this warranty, write or call your local Keithley representative, or contact Keithley headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio.
You will be given prompt assistance and return instructions. Send the product, transportation prepaid, to the indicated service facil-
ity. Repairs will be made and the product returned, transportation prepaid. Repaired or replaced products are warranted for the bal-
ance of the original warranty period, or at least 90 days.
LIMITATION OF WARRANTY
This warranty does not apply to defects resulting from product modification without Keithley’s express written consent, or misuse
of any product or part. This warranty also does not apply to fuses, software, non-rechargeable batteries, damage from battery leak-
age, or problems arising from normal wear or failure to follow instructions.
THIS WARRANTY IS IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED
WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR USE. THE REMEDIES PROVIDED HEREIN
ARE BUYER’S SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDIES.
NEITHER KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC. NOR ANY OF ITS EMPLOYEES SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT,
INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF ITS INSTRU-
MENTS AND SOFTWARE EVEN IF KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC., HAS BEEN ADVISED IN ADVANCE OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SUCH EXCLUDED DAMAGES SHALL INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
COSTS OF REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION, LOSSES SUSTAINED AS THE RESULT OF INJURY TO ANY PERSON,
OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.
A G R E A T E R M E A S U R E O F C O N F I D E N C E
Keithley Instruments, Inc.
Corporate Headquarters • 28775 Aurora Road • Cleveland, Ohio 44139
440-248-0400 • Fax: [phone] • 1-888-KEITHLEY (534-8453) • www.keithley.com
12/04

KUSB-3116
Getting Started Manual
©2005, Keithley Instruments, Inc.
All rights reserved.
First Printing, January 2005
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A.
Document Number: KUSB3116-903-01A Rev. A

Manual Print History
The print history shown below lists the printing dates of all Revisions and Addenda created for this manual. The Revi-
sion Level letter increases alphabetically as the manual undergoes subsequent updates. Addenda, which are released
between Revisions, contain important change information that the user should incorporate immediately into the manual.
Addenda are numbered sequentially. When a new Revision is created, all Addenda associated with the previous Revision
of the manual are incorporated into the new Revision of the manual. Each new Revision includes a revised copy of this
print history page.
Revision A (Document Number KUSB3116-903-01A)...................................................................... January 2005
All Keithley product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of Keithley Instruments, Inc.
Other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Safety Precautions
The following safety precautions should be observed before using
this product and any associated instrumentation. Although some in-
struments and accessories would normally be used with non-haz-
ardous voltages, there are situations where hazardous conditions
may be present.
This product is intended for use by qualified personnel who recog-
nize shock hazards and are familiar with the safety precautions re-
quired 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 pro-
vided 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 en-
suring 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 instru-
ment. They must be protected from electric shock and contact with
hazardous live circuits.
Maintenance personnel perform routine procedures on the prod-
uct to keep it operating properly, for example, setting the line volt-
age or replacing consumable materials. Maintenance procedures
are described in the manual. The procedures 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 ser-
vice personnel may perform installation and service procedures.
Keithley products are designed for use with electrical signals that
are rated Measurement Category I and Measurement Category II, as
described in the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
Standard IEC 60664. Most measurement, control, and data I/O sig-
nals are Measurement Category I and must not be directly connect-
ed to mains voltage or to voltage sources with high transient over-
voltages. Measurement 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 other-
wise 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 ex-
pect that hazardous voltage 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 pre-
vented access and/or insulated from every connection point. In
some cases, connections must be exposed to potential human con-
tact. 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 con-
necting 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 connect-
ed to a properly grounded power receptacle. Inspect the connecting
cables, test leads, and jumpers for possible wear, cracks, or breaks
before each use.
When installing equipment where access to the main power cord is
restricted, such as rack mounting, a separate main input power dis-
connect device must be provided, in close proximity to the equip-
ment 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 circuit under test.
ALWAYS remove power from the entire test system and discharge
any capacitors before: connecting or disconnecting cables or jump-
ers, installing or removing switching cards, or making internal
changes, such as installing or removing jumpers.
Do not touch any object that could provide a current path to the com-
mon 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 equip-
ment may be impaired.
Do not exceed the maximum signal levels of the instruments and ac-
cessories, as defined in the specifications and operating informa-
tion, 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 connections.
If you are using a test fixture, keep the lid closed while power is ap-
plied to the device under test. Safe operation requires the use of a
lid interlock.
5/03

If a screw 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 re-
fer to the operating instructions located in the manual.
The symbol on an instrument shows that it can source or mea-
sure 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 symbol indicates a connection terminal to the equipment
frame.
The WARNING heading in a manual explains dangers that might
result in personal injury or death. Always read the associated infor-
mation 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 Instru-
ments. 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 se-
lected 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 com-
puter) should never require cleaning if handled according to instruc-
tions. If the board becomes contaminated and operation is affected,
the board should be returned to the factory for proper cleaning/ser-
vicing.
!

vii
Table of Contents
About this Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi
Intended Audience. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi
How this Manual is Organized . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi
Conventions Used in this Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xii
Related Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xii
Where To Get Help. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiii
Chapter 1: Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Hardware Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Supported Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Getting Started Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Chapter 2: Preparing to Use a Module. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Unpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Checking the System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Installing the Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Chapter 3: Setting Up and Installing a Module . . . . . . . . . . 13
Applying Power to the Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Configuring the Device Driver. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Attaching Modules to the Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Connecting One or Two Modules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Connecting Multiple Modules Using an Expansion Hub. . 20
Chapter 4: Wiring Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Preparing to Wire Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Wiring Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Contents
viii
Wiring Methods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Wiring Signals to the BNC Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Wiring Signals to the D-Sub Connectors on the BNC
Connection Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Analog Input Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Digital In/Out Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
C/T, DAC, Clk, Trig Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Connecting Analog Input Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Connecting Single-Ended Voltage Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Connecting Pseudo-Differential Voltage Inputs . . . . . . . . . . 35
Connecting Differential Voltage Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Connecting Current Loop Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Connecting Analog Output Signals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Connecting Digital I/O Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Connecting Counter/Timer Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Connecting Signals for Event Counting Operations . . . . . . 43
Connecting Signals for Up/Down Counting Operations . . 45
Connecting Signals for Frequency Measurement
Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Connecting Signals for Period/Pulse Width Measurement
Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Connecting Signals for Edge-to-Edge Measurement
Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Connecting Signals for Pulse Output Operations . . . . . . . . 49
Chapter 5: Verifying the Operation of a Module . . . . . . . . . 51
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Running the Quick Data Acq Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Performing a Single-Value Analog Input Operation . . . . . . 54
Performing a Single-Value Analog Output Operation . . . . 55
Performing a Continuous Analog Input Operation. . . . . . . 56

Contents
ix
Performing a Single-Value Digital Input Operation . . . . . . 57
Performing a Single-Value Digital Output Operation . . . . . 58
Performing a Frequency Measurement Operation. . . . . . . . 59
Performing a Pulse Output Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Appendix A: Ground, Power, and Isolation Connections . 61
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Contents
x

xi
About this Manual
This manual describes how to install and set up your KUSB-3116
module and device driver, and verify that your module is working
properly.
Intended Audience
This document is intended for engineers, scientists, technicians, or
others responsible for installing and setting up a KUSB-3116 module
to perform data acquisition operations. It is assumed that you are
familiar with the requirements of your application. It is also assumed
that you are familiar with the Microsoft®Windows®2000 or
Windows XP operating system.
How this Manual is Organized
This manual is organized as follows:
•Chapter 1, “Overview,” describes the key features of the
KUSB-3116 hardware and software, and provides an overview of
the getting started procedure.
•Chapter 2, “Preparing to Use a Module,” describes how to
unpack the KUSB-3116 package, check the system requirements,
and install the software under Windows 2000 or Windows XP.
•Chapter 3, “Setting Up and Installing a Module,” describes how
to install a KUSB-3116 module, how to apply power to the
module, and how to configure the device driver.
•Chapter 4, “Wiring Signals,” describes how to wire signals to a
KUSB-3116 module.
•Chapter 5, “Verifying the Operation of a Module,” describes how
to verify the operation of the KUSB-3116 module with the Quick
Data Acq application.

About this Manual
xii
•Appendix A, “Ground, Power, and Isolation Connections,”
describes the internal ground, power, and isolation connections
on the KUSB-3116 module.
An index completes this manual.
Conventions Used in this Manual
The following conventions are used in this manual:
• Notes provide useful information that requires special emphasis,
cautions provide information to help you avoid losing data or
damaging your equipment, and warnings provide information to
help you avoid catastrophic damage to yourself or your
equipment.
• Items that you select or type are shown in bold.
•Courier font is used to represent source code.
Related Information
Refer to the following documents for more information on using the
KUSB-3116 module:
•KUSB-3116 User’s Manual, included on the CD provided with the
KUSB-3116 module. This manual describes the features of the
KUSB-3116 module and the device driver in detail.
•DataAcq SDK User’s Manual. For programmers who are
developing their own application programs using the Microsoft
C compiler, this manual describes how to use the DT-Open
LayersTM DataAcq SDKTM in Windows 2000 or Windows XP to
access the capabilities of your module.

About this Manual
xiii
•DTx-EZ Getting Started Manual. This manual describes how to use
the ActiveX controls provided in DTx-EZTM to access the
capabilities of your module in Microsoft Visual Basic® or Visual
C++®.
•DT-LV Link Getting Started Manual. This manual describes how to
use DT-LV LinkTM with the LabVIEW® graphical programming
language to access the capabilities of your module.
• Microsoft Windows 2000 or Windows XP documentation.
• USB web site (http://www.usb.org).
Where To Get Help
Should you run into problems installing or using your KUSB-3116
module, please call the Keithley Technical Support Department.

About this Manual
xiv

1
1
Overview
Hardware Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Supported Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Getting Started Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Chapter 1
2
Hardware Features
The KUSB-3116 is a high-performance, multifunction data acquisition
modules for the USB (Ver. 2.0 or Ver. 1.1) bus. The key hardware
features of the module is as follows:
• Installed in a metal BNC box to provide easy connections.
• Simultaneous operation of analog input, analog output, digital
I/O, and counter/timer subsystems.
• Analog input subsystem:
−16-bit A/D converter.
−Throughput rate up to 500 kSamples/s.
−16 single-ended or 8 differential analog input channels.
−Programmable gain of 1, 2, 4, or 8 provides input ranges of
±10, ±5, ±2.5, and ±1.25 V.
−1024-location channel-gain list. You can cycle through the
channel-gain list using continuous scan mode or triggered
scan mode. The maximum sampling rate when using the
channel-gain list is 500 kSamples/s.
• Analog output subsystem:
−Four 16-bit D/A converters.
−Output rate up to 500 kSamples/s.
−Output range of ±10 V.
−The DACs are deglitched to prevent noise from interfering
with the output signal.
−Output channel list. You can cycle through the output channel
list using continuous output mode or waveform mode. For
waveform generation mode, you can simultaneously update
all four DACs at 500 kS/s per channel; for continuous output
mode, you can simultaneously update all four DACs at
250 kS/s per channel.

Overview
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
• Digital I/O subsystem:
−One digital input port, consisting of 16 digital input lines. You
can program any of the first eight digital input lines to
perform interrupt-on-change operations. You can read the
value of the digital input port using the analog input
channel-gain list.
−One digital output port, consisting of 16 digital output lines.
You can output the value of the digital output port using the
output channel list.
−An additional dynamic digital output line that changes state
whenever an analog input channel is read.
• Five 32-bit counter/timer (C/T) channels that perform event
counting, up/down counting, frequency measurement,
edge-to-edge measurement, continuous pulse output, one-shot,
and repetitive one-shot operations. You can read the value of one
or more of the C/T channels using the analog input channel-gain
list.
• External or internal clock source.
• Trigger operations using a software command, an analog
threshold value, or an external digital input value as the trigger
event.
• 500 V galvanic isolation barrier that prevents ground loops to
maximize analog signal integrity and protect your computer.

Chapter 1
4
Supported Software
The KUSB-3116 software, which is shipped on the CD provided with
the module, includes the following software components:
•Device Driver −This software must be installed and loaded
before you can use a KUSB-3116 module with any of the
supported software packages or utilities.
•Quick Data Acq application −This application provides a quick
way to get a KUSB-3116 module up and running. Using the
Quick Data Acq application, you can verify the features of the
module, display data on the screen, and save data to disk.
•DataAcq SDK −This DT-Open Layers Software Develop Kit
(SDK) allows programmers to develop application programs for
the KUSB-3116 using the Microsoft C compiler in Windows 2000
or Windows XP.
•DTx-EZ −This software package contains ActiveX controls that
allow Microsoft Visual Basic® or Visual C++® programmers to
access the capabilities of the KUSB-3116 module.
•DT-LV Link −This software package allows LabVIEW®
programmers to access the capabilities of the KUSB-3116 module.

Overview
5
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Getting Started Procedure
The flow diagram shown in Figure 1 illustrates the steps needed to
get started using the KUSB-3116 module. This diagram is repeated in
each chapter; the shaded area in the diagram shows you where you
are in the getting started procedure.
Figure 1: Getting Started Flow Diagram
Set Up and Install the Module
(see Chapter 3 starting on page 13)
Wire Signals to the BNC Connection Box
(see Chapter 4 starting on page 23)
Verify the Operation of the Module
(see Chapter 5 starting on page 51)
Prepare to Use the Module
(see Chapter 2 starting on page 7)

Chapter 1
6