Keithley 3910 User manual

Operator's Manual
Model 3910
Function Synthesizer
01991, Keithley Instruments,Inc.
All Rights Resewed
Instruments Division
Cleveland, Ohio, U. S. A.
-)ocument Number: 3910-900-01

All Keithley product names are trademarksor registered hademarksof Keithley Instruments, Inc.
Other brand and product names are trademarksor registeredtrademarks of their respectiveholders.

Safety Precautions
Thefollowingsafetyprecautionsshouldbeobservedbefore using theModel3910FunctionSynthesizer and anyassoci-
ated instruments.
This instrument is intendedforuse by qualified personnelwhorecognizeshockhazardsand are familiar with the safety
precautionsrequired toavoid possible injury. Read over this manual carefullybefore using theinstrument.
Exerciseextremecautionwhen
a shock hazard is presentatthe test circuit. TheAmericanNational StandardsInstitute
(ANSI) statesthat a shock hazard existswhen voltagelevelsgreater than 30V rms or 42.4V peak arepresent. A good
safetypractice is to expect that hazardous voltage ispresent in any unknown circuit before measuring.
Inspect the connectingcablesand testleadsforpossiblewear, cracks, orbreaksbeforeeachuse.
For maximum safety, donot touch the test cablesor any instrumentswhile power
is applied to the circuitunder test.
Turn off the power and dischargeanycapacitors before connectingordisconnectingcables from theinstnunent.
Donot touch
any objectwhich couldprovide a currentpath to the commonsideof thecircuitunder test or power line
(earth) ground.Alwaysmakemeasurements with dry handswhilestandingon a dry, insulatedsurfacecapableof with-
standing the voltagebeing measured.
Instrumentationand accessoriesshouldnot beconnected to humans.

Table of Contents
SECTION 1 - General Information
INTRODUrnON... ........................................................... 1-1
FEA- ................................................................... 1-1
WARRANTYINFORMATION
.................................................... 1-2
MANUALADDENDA .......................................................... 1-2
SAFETYTERMSANDSYMBOLS.................................................. 1-2
UNPACKINGANDREPACKING ................................................. 1-2
Unpacking
........................................................ 1-2
Shipmentcontents ........................................................... 1-2
Operator's Manual .. .. .. .. . ..... . ... . . . . ... .... .... . ... .. ,, . . . .... ... . . . . .. . . 1-2
RepackingForShipment
............................ . .......................... 1-2
OPTIONALACCESSORIES
...................................................... 1-3
SPECIFICATIONS ....................,..................................... 1-3
SECTION 2 - Getting Started
INTRODUCTION .............................................................. 2-1
INSTALLATION ........................,,.................*............. 2-1
InstalIationLocation ....................c..................................... 2-1
Cooling
...........................................................,........ 2-1
LINEPOWERSUPPLY
.......................................................... 2-2
LINE Voltage Selector Switch .. . . ... . . .. .... . .. . .. . .. .. .. ..... .... . . .. .. ....... .
2-2
LineReceptadeConnection
..................................................... 2-2
LineFuse .................................................................. 2-2
HANDLINGPRECAUTIONS
.. .... . .... ...... . . .. .. ...... . . . .. .. ... . . . ..... .... ..
2-2
BASICOPERATlON ............................................................ 2-3
FrontPanelSummary
......................................................... 2-3
TypicalTestConnections
...................................................... 2-3
OperatingExamples
..................................................... 2-4
SECTION 3 - Operation
INTRODUCTION .............................................................. 3-1
FRONTPANEL
AND REAR PANEL DESCRIPTION ... .... . . . ... .... ... . . .... . . ... . . . .
3-1
FrontPanelDescription
........................................................ 3-1
RearPanelDescription
........................................................ 34
INPUT AND OUTPUTCONNECTIONS . ...... ... . . .... .. .. . .... .... . . . ... ... . . . ...
33
Inputconnection
....................,.......,,,......................... 3-5
OutputConnections
.......................................................... 3-5
STARTUP .................................................................... 345
OPERATINGPROCEDURES . ...... . . .... .... . .. . .... . . . . .... .... . . .... . . . . .... ..
3-7
Errorcodes ................................................................ 3-7

3.5.2 FrequencySetting ............................................................ 3-7
3.5.3 OutputAmplitude ........................................................... 3-8
3.5.4 DCOffset .................................................................. 3-8
3.5.5 WaveformSelection, Square-Wave
Duty Cycle, and Synchronous Output .................. 3-8
3.5.6 OsdationMode ............................................................. 3-9
3.5.7 TriggerParameters ......................................................... 3-11
SECTION 4 - GPIB Interface
INTRODUmON .............................................................. 41
GPIBOverview .............................................................. 4-1
MajorGPIBSpecifications ...................................................... 41
BusLineSignAandOperation
.................................................. 41
GPIBHandshaking ........................................................... 42
........................................................ Data Transfer Example 43
BasicTalkerFunctions..... .................................................... 43
BasicListenerFunctions
....................................................... 4-3
BasicControUerFunctions ...................................................... 4-3
MuIti-line InterfaceMessages ................................................... 43
OVERVIEW OF MODEL 3910 GPlB INTERFACE ...................................... 4-6
Introduction .............................................................. 4-6
Specifications .............................................................. 4-45
MODEL 3910 PROGRAM CODES ..................................................
4-9
TYPICALEXECUTZON TIMES.................................................... 412
SAMPLEPROGRAMS
.......................................................... 4-13

List of Illustrations
SECTION 2 - Getting Started
......................................................
Figure2-1 Front Panel Summary 2-3
.......................................................
Figure 2-2 Typical Connections 2-4
SECTION 3 - Operation
Figure3-1
Figure3-2
Figure
3-3
Figure 3-4
Figure 3-5
Figure 34
Figure 3-7
Figure 3-8
Model3910FrontPanel ..................................................... 3-2
Mode13910RearPanel ..................................................... 3-4
LogicInputCircuit ........................................................ 3-5
OutputCircuit ........................................................... 3-6
...................
PhaseRelationshipbetween FCTN OUT Waveform and SYNC OUT 3-9
....................
RelationshipbetweenTrigger Signal andOscillation in TRIG Mode 3-10
RelationshipbetweenTrigger
Signal andOscillation in GATE Mode ................... 3-11
..........................................
Definitionof Phaseof each Waveform
3-12
SECTION 4 - GPXB Interface
.......................................................
Figure 41 InterfaceConnector 4-2
.................................................
Figure42 Handshake Timing Diagram 4-3
.....................................................
Figure 4-3 Data Transfer Example 4-4
Figure44 RogramCodeSyntax...................................................... 4-8

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List of Tables
SECTION 2 - Getting Started
Table2-1 FuseReplacement ......................................................... 2-2
SECTION 4 - GPIB Interface
Table41 Multiple-lineInterfaceMessage .............................................. 4-5
Table 42 InterfaceFunctions ........................................................ 4-6
Table 43 BusDriverSpecifications ................................................... 4-6
Table 4-4 Response to InterfaceMessages ............................................... 47
Table 45 StatusByte .............................................................. 49
Table 44 Mode13910Main ParameterSettingMessages .................................... 410
Table
47 TypicalExemtionTmes .................................................... 4-12