National Instruments PXI-5152 Manual

CALIBRATION PROCEDURE
NI 5152/5153/5154
This document contains instructions for writing an external calibration
procedure for National Instruments PXI/PCI-5152/5153/5154 digitizers.
This calibration procedure is intended for metrology labs. For more
information about calibration, visit ni.com/calibration.
Contents
Conventions ............................................................................................ 2
Software Requirements ........................................................................... 3
Documentation Requirements................................................................. 4
Password ................................................................................................. 5
Calibration Interval ................................................................................. 5
External Calibration ......................................................................... 5
Self-Calibration................................................................................ 5
Test Equipment ....................................................................................... 5
Test Conditions ....................................................................................... 7
Calibration Procedures............................................................................ 8
Initial Setup...................................................................................... 8
Self-Calibration................................................................................ 8
MAX......................................................................................... 9
NI-SCOPE SFP......................................................................... 9
NI-SCOPE ................................................................................ 9
Verification ...................................................................................... 11
Vertical Offset and Vertical Gain Accuracy............................. 11
Programmable Vertical Offset Accuracy (NI 5152 Only)........ 23
Timing Accuracy ...................................................................... 28
Bandwidth................................................................................. 34
Trigger Accuracy ...................................................................... 44
Trigger Sensitivity .................................................................... 55
Adjustment....................................................................................... 59
Appendix A: Calibration Options ........................................................... 64
Complete Calibration....................................................................... 65
Optional Calibration ........................................................................ 66

NI 5450 Calibration Procedure 2 ni.com
Appendix B: Calibration Utilities............................................................68
MAX.................................................................................................68
NI-SCOPE ........................................................................................68
Where to Go for Support .........................................................................69
Conventions
The following conventions appear in this manual:
»The »symbol leads you through nested menu items and dialog box options
to a final action. The sequence File»Page Setup»Options directs you to
pull down the File menu, select the Page Setup item, and select Options
from the last dialog box.
This icon denotes a note, which alerts you to important information.
This icon denotes a caution, which advises you of precautions to take to
avoid injury, data loss, or a system crash.
bold Bold text denotes items that you must select or click in the software, such
as menu items and dialog box options. Bold text also denotes parameter
names.
italic Italic text denotes variables, emphasis, a cross-reference, or an introduction
to a key concept. Italic text also denotes text that is a placeholder for a word
or value that you must supply.
monospace Text in this font denotes text or characters that you should enter from the
keyboard, sections of code, programming examples, and syntax examples.
This font is also used for the proper names of disk drives, paths, directories,
programs, subprograms, subroutines, device names, functions, operations,
variables, filenames, and extensions.
Platform Text in this font denotes a specific platform and indicates that the text
following it applies only to that platform.

©National Instruments Corporation 3 NI 5450 Calibration Procedure
Software Requirements
Calibrating the NI 5152/5153/5154 requires installing the following
versions of NI-SCOPE on the calibration system.
You can download NI-SCOPE from the Instrument Driver Network at
ni.com/idnet. NI-SCOPE supports programming the Self-Calibration
section and Verification section in a number of programming languages;
however, only LabVIEW and C are supported for the Adjustment section.
NI-SCOPE includes all the functions and attributes necessary for
calibrating the NI 5152/5153/5154. LabVIEW support is installed in
niScopeCal.llb, and all calibration functions appear in the function
palette. For LabWindows™/CVI™, the NI-SCOPE function panel
niScopeCal.fp provides further help on the functions available in CVI.
Refer to Table 1 for installed file locations.
Calibration functions are LabVIEW VIs or C function calls in the
NI-SCOPE driver. The C function calls are valid for any compiler capable
of calling a 32-bit DLL. Many of the functions use constants defined in the
niScopeCal.h file. To use these constants in C, you must include
niScopeCal.h in your code when you write the calibration procedure.
For more information on the calibration VIs functions, refer to the
NI-SCOPE LabVIEW Reference Help or the NI-SCOPE Function
Reference Help. These references can be found in the NI High-Speed
Digitizers Help. Refer to the NI-SCOPE Readme for the installed locations
of these documents.
Device NI-SCOPE Version
NI PXI-5152 3.2 or later
NI PCI-5152 3.3 or later
NI PXI/PCI-5153/5154 3.5 or later

NI 5450 Calibration Procedure 4 ni.com
Documentation Requirements
You may find the following documentation helpful as you write your
calibration procedure:
•NI High-Speed Digitizers Getting Started Guide
• NI High-Speed Digitizers Help
• NI PXI/PCI-5152 Specifications
• NI 5153/5154 Specifications
•NI-SCOPE LabVIEW Reference Help (NI-SCOPE VIs and
NI-SCOPE Properties)
•NI-SCOPE Function Reference Help
These documents are installed with NI-SCOPE. You can also download
the latest versions from ni.com/manuals.
Table 1. Calibration File Locations after Installing NI-SCOPE
File Name and Location Description
IVI\Bin\niscope_32.dll NI-SCOPE driver containing the entire
NI-SCOPE API, including calibration functions
IVI\Lib\msc\niscope.lib NI-SCOPE library for Microsoft C containing
the entire NI-SCOPE API, including calibration
functions
<LabVIEW> \examples\instr\niScope Directory of LabVIEW NI-SCOPE example
VIs, including self-calibration.
<LabVIEW> \instr.lib\niScope\
Calibrate\niScopeCal.llb
LabVIEW VI library containing VIs for calling
the NI-SCOPE calibration API.
IVI\Drivers\niScope\niScopeCal.fp CVI function panel file that includes external
calibration function prototypes and help on
using NI-SCOPE in the CVI environment.
IVI\Include\niScopeCal.h Calibration header file, which you must include
in any C program accessing calibration
functions. This file automatically includes
niScope.h, which defines the rest of the
NI-SCOPE interface.
IVI\Drivers\niScope\Examples Directory of NI-SCOPE examples for CVI, C,
Visual C++, and Visual Basic.

©National Instruments Corporation 5 NI 5450 Calibration Procedure
Password
A password is required to open an external calibration session. If the
password has not been changed since manufacturing, the password is NI.
Calibration Interval
External Calibration
The measurement accuracy requirements of your application determine
how often you should externally calibrate the NI 5152/5153/5154.
NI recommends that you perform a complete external calibration at least
once every two years. You can shorten this interval based on the accuracy
demands of your application. Refer to Appendix A: Calibration Options
for more information.
Self-Calibration
Self-calibration can be performed whenever necessary to compensate for
environmental changes.
Caution Although you can use self-calibration repeatedly, self-calibrating the
NI 5152/5153/5154 more than a few times a day may cause excessive wear on the relays
over time.
Test Equipment
Table 2 lists the equipment required for externally calibrating the
NI 5152/5153/5154. If you do not have the recommended instruments,
use these specifications to select a substitute calibration standard.

NI 5450 Calibration Procedure 6 ni.com
Table 2. Required Equipment Specifications for NI 5152/5153/5154 External Calibration
Required
Equipment
Recommended
Equipment
Parameter
Measured Specification
Signal
Generator
NI 5152/5153:
Fluke 9500B
oscilloscope
calibrator
or
Wavetek 9500
with
high-stability
reference
option
Fluke 9510
Test Head
NI 5154:
Fluke
9500B/1100
oscilloscope
calibrator
or
Wavetek
9500/1100 with
high-stability
reference option
Fluke 9510 Test
Head
DC
Accuracy
DC ±(0.025% + 25 μV)
into 1 MΩor 50 Ω
Bandwidth,
Trigger
Sensitivity
NI 5152:
±2% output amplitude
flatness for leveled sine
wave up to 300 MHz
relative to 50 kHz into
50 Ω
NI 5153:
±3% output amplitude
flatness for leveled sine
wave up to 500 MHz
relative to 50 kHz into
50 Ω
NI 5154:
±4% output amplitude
flatness for leveled sine
wave up to 1100 MHz
relative to 50 kHz into
50 Ω
Timing ±2 ppm frequency
accuracy
NI 5402 Function Generator
or
Agilent 33220A Function Generator
Trigger
Accuracy
±5% output amplitude
flatness for leveled sine
wave up to 10 Vpk-pk and
11 MHz relative to
50 kHz into 50 Ω
(3) BNC Cables — — 50 Ω, identical in length
and cable material

©National Instruments Corporation 7 NI 5450 Calibration Procedure
Note The delay times indicated in this procedure apply specifically to the Fluke 9500B/
Wavetek 9500 calibrator. If you use a different instrument, you may need to adjust these
delay times.
Test Conditions
Follow these guidelines to optimize the connections and the environment
during calibration:
• Always connect the calibrator test head directly to the input BNC of
the digitizer, or use a short 50 ΩBNC coaxial cable if necessary. Long
cables and wires act as antennae, picking up extra noise that can affect
measurements.
• Keep relative humidity between 10 and 90% non-condensing, or
consult the digitizer hardware specifications for the optimum relative
humidity.
• Maintain an ambient temperature of 23 ±5 °C.
• Allow a warm-up time of at least 15 minutes after the NI-SCOPE
driver is loaded. Unless manually disabled, NI-SCOPE automatically
loads with the operating system and enables the device. The warm-up
time ensures that the measurement circuitry of the digitizer is at a
stable operating temperature.
For PXI digitizers:
• Ensure that the PXI chassis fan speed is set to HIGH, that the fan filters
are clean, and that the empty slots contain filler panels. For more
information, refer to the Maintain Forced Air Cooling Note to Users,
which is available at ni.com/manuals.
• Plug the PXI chassis and the calibrator into the same power strip to
avoid ground loops.
BNC Power
Splitter
Mini-Circuits Power Splitter
ZSC 2-1+
Trigger
Accuracy
Insertion Loss:
< 4 dB at 10 MHz
Amplitude Imbalance:
0.2 dB
BNC
Feedthrough
Terminator
Pomona 4119 BNC Feedthrough
Terminator
Trigger
Accuracy
50 Ω
Frequency Range:
DC to 10.1 MHz
VSWR: 1.1 at 10 MHz
Table 2. Required Equipment Specifications for NI 5152/5153/5154 External Calibration (Continued)
Required
Equipment
Recommended
Equipment
Parameter
Measured Specification

NI 5450 Calibration Procedure 8 ni.com
For PCI digitizers:
• Plug the PC and the calibrator into the same power strip to avoid
ground loops.
Calibration Procedures
The calibration process includes the following steps.
1. Initial Setup—Install the device and configure it in Measurement &
Automation Explorer (MAX).
Note Allow a 15-minute warm-up time before beginning self-calibration.
2. Self-Calibration—Adjust the self-calibration constants of the device.
3. Verification—Verify the existing operation of the device. This step
confirms whether the device is operating within its specified range
prior to calibration.
4. Adjustment—Perform an external adjustment of the device that adjusts
the calibration constants with respect to a known voltage source. The
adjustment procedure automatically stores the calibration date on the
EEPROM to allow traceability.
5. Reverification—Repeat the verification procedure to ensure that the
device is operating within its specifications after adjustment.
These steps are described in more detail in the following sections.
Note In some cases, the complete calibration procedure may not be required. Refer to
Appendix A: Calibration Options for more information.
Initial Setup
Refer to the NI High-Speed Digitizers Getting Started Guide for
information about how to install the software and hardware, and how
to configure the device in MAX.
Self-Calibration
The NI 5152/5153/5154 includes precise internal circuits and references
used during self-calibration to adjust for time and temperature drift.
Note Allow a 15 minute warm-up period before you begin self-calibration.
Note Self-calibrate the digitizer before you perform verification. NI-SCOPE includes
self-calibration example programs for LabVIEW, CVI, and Microsoft Visual C.

©National Instruments Corporation 9 NI 5450 Calibration Procedure
You can initiate self-calibration using the following methods:
•MAX
• NI-SCOPE Soft Front Panel (SFP)
•NI-SCOPE
MAX
To initiate self-calibration from MAX, complete the following steps:
1. Disconnect or disable any AC inputs to the digitizer.
2. Launch MAX.
3. Select My System»Devices and Interfaces»NI-DAQmx Devices.
4. Select the device that you want to calibrate.
5. Initiate self-calibration using one of the following methods:
•ClickSelf-Calibrate in the upper right corner of MAX.
• Right-click the name of the device in the MAX configuration tree
and select Self-Calibrate from the drop-down menu.
NI-SCOPE SFP
To initiate self-calibration from the NI-SCOPE SFP, complete the
following steps:
1. Disconnect or disable any AC inputs to the digitizer.
2. Launch the Scope SFP, which is available at Start»All Programs»
National Instruments»NI-SCOPE»SCOPE Soft Front Panel
3. Select the device you want to calibrate using the Device Configuration
dialog box by selecting Edit»Device Configuration.
4. Launch the Calibration dialog box by selecting Utility»
Self Calibration.
5. Click OK to begin self-calibration.
NI-SCOPE
To self-calibrate the digitizer programmatically using NI-SCOPE,
complete the following steps:
1. Disconnect or disable any AC inputs to the digitizer.
Note Throughout the procedure, refer to the C/C++ function call parameters for the
LabVIEW input values.

NI 5450 Calibration Procedure 10 ni.com
2. Open a session and obtain a session handle using the niScope
Initialize VI.
3. Self-calibrate the digitizer using niScope Cal Self Calibrate VI.
.
Note Because the session is a standard session rather than an external calibration session,
the new calibration constants are immediately stored in the EEPROM. Therefore, you can
include this procedure in any application that uses the digitizer.
4. End the session using the niScope Close VI.
LabVIEW VI C/C++ Function Call
Call niScope_init with the following
parameters:
vi: The returned session handle that you use to
identify the instrument in all subsequent
NI-SCOPE driver function calls
resourceName: The device name assigned by
MAX
idQuery: VI_FALSE
resetDevice: VI_TRUE
LabVIEW VI C/C++ Function Call
Call niScope_CalSelfCalibrate
with the following parameters:
sessionHandle: The instrument handle
from niScope_init
channelList: VI_NULL
option: VI_NULL
LabVIEW VI C/C++ Function Call
Call niScope_close with the following
parameters:
vi: The instrument handle from niScope_init