National Instruments NI PXI-5105 Manual

CALIBRATION PROCEDURE
NI 5105
This document contains instructions for writing an external calibration procedure for the
NI PXI/PXIe/PCI-5105. For more information about calibration, visit ni.com/calibration.
Contents
Software.................................................................................................................................... 2
Documentation.......................................................................................................................... 3
Password................................................................................................................................... 4
Calibration Interval................................................................................................................... 4
External Calibration.......................................................................................................... 4
Self-Calibration ................................................................................................................4
Test Equipment......................................................................................................................... 5
Calibration Procedures ............................................................................................................. 5
Initial Setup....................................................................................................................... 6
Test Conditions......................................................................................................... 6
Adjust the Digital Clock Manager (DCM) ....................................................................... 6
Self-Calibration ................................................................................................................8
MAX......................................................................................................................... 9
NI-SCOPE Soft Front Panel ..................................................................................... 9
NI-SCOPE ................................................................................................................ 9
Verification ....................................................................................................................... 10
Vertical Offset Accuracy .......................................................................................... 11
Vertical Gain Accuracy ............................................................................................ 17
Timing Accuracy ...................................................................................................... 22
Bandwidth................................................................................................................. 25
Adjustment........................................................................................................................ 30
Appendix A: Calibration .......................................................................................................... 33
Complete Calibration........................................................................................................ 34
Appendix B: Calibration Utilities............................................................................................. 35
MAX................................................................................................................................. 35
NI-SCOPE ........................................................................................................................35
Where to Go for Support .......................................................................................................... 36

2|ni.com |NI 5105 Calibration Procedure
Software
To calibrate the NI 5105, install the following versions of NI-SCOPE.
You can download NI-SCOPE from the Instrument Driver Network at ni.com/idnet.
NI-SCOPE supports programming the Self-Calibration and Verification sections in a number of
programming languages; however, only LabVIEW and C are supported for the Adjustment
section of this procedure.
NI-SCOPE includes all the functions and attributes necessary for calibrating the NI 5105.
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 2 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 and functions, refer to the NI-SCOPE Function
Reference Help or the NI-SCOPE LabVIEW 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.
Table 1. Required Software for NI 5105 Calibration
Device NI-SCOPE Version
NI PXI-5105 3.1 or later
NI PCI-5105 3.2 or later
NI PXIe-5105 14.1 or later
Table 2. 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.

NI 5105 Calibration Procedure |© National Instruments |3
Documentation
Consult the following documents for information about the NI PXI/PXIe/PCI-5105, NI-SCOPE,
and your application software. All documents are available on ni.com, and the Help files install
with the software.
<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.
NI High-Speed Digitizers Getting Started Guide
Contains: NI-SCOPE installation, hardware installation, and hardware programing
NI 5105 Specifications
Contains: NI PXI/PXIe/PCI-5105 specifications and calibration intervals
NI-SCOPE Readme
Contains: Operating system and application software support in NI-SCOPE
NI High-Speed Digitizers Help
Contains: Detailed information about the NI PXI/PXIe/PCI-5105
Table 2. Calibration File Locations after Installing NI-SCOPE (Continued)
File Name and Location Description

4|ni.com |NI 5105 Calibration Procedure
Password
The default calibration password is NI.
Calibration Interval
External Calibration
The external calibration interval for the NI 5105 is two years; however, the measurement
accuracy requirements of your application determine how often you should perform external
calibration. You can shorten this interval based on your application. Refer to Appendix A:
Calibration 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 5105 more than a few times a day may cause excessive wear on the relays over
time.
NI-SCOPE LabVIEW Reference Help
Contains: LabVIEW programming concepts and reference information about
NI-SCOPE VIs and functions
NI-SCOPE Function Reference Help
Contains: Reference information for NI-SCOPE C functions and NI-SCOPE
C properties

NI 5105 Calibration Procedure |© National Instruments |5
Test Equipment
Table 3 lists the equipment required for externally calibrating the NI 5105. If you do not have
the recommended instruments, use these specifications to select a substitute calibration standard.
Note The delay times indicated in this procedure apply specifically to the
Fluke 9500B calibrator. If you use a different calibrator, you may need to adjust
these delay times.
Calibration Procedures
The calibration process includes the following steps:
1. Initial Setup—Install the device and configure it in Measurement & Automation Explorer
(MAX).
2. Adjust the Digital Clock Manager (DCM)—Complete this mandatory adjustment
periodically, even if you do not do a complete calibration.
3. Self-Calibration—Adjust the self-calibration constants of the device.
4. Verification—Verify the existing operation of the device. This step confirms whether the
device is operating within its specified range prior to calibration.
5. Adjustment—Perform an external adjustment of the device that adjusts the calibration
constants with respect to a known reference. The adjustment procedure automatically stores
the calibration date on the EEPROM to allow traceability.
6. 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.
Table 3. Required Equipment Specifications for NI 5105 External Calibration
Required
Equipment
Recommended
Equipment
Parameter
Measured Specification
Signal Generator Fluke 9500B
Oscilloscope
Calibrator
or
Wavetek 9500
(with high-stability
reference option)
Fluke 9510 Test
Head
DC Accuracy DC ±(0.025% + 25 μV)
into 1 MΩor 50 Ω
Bandwidth ±2% output amplitude
flatness for leveled sine
wave up to 60 MHz
relative to 50 kHz into
50 Ω
Timing ±2 ppm frequency
accuracy
BNC to SMB
adapter
— — 50 Ω

6|ni.com |NI 5105 Calibration Procedure
Note In some cases, the complete calibration procedure may not be required. Refer
to Appendix A: Calibration 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.
Test Conditions
Follow these guidelines to optimize the connections and the environment during calibration:
• Always connect the calibrator test head directly to the input SMB of the device using the
BNC to SMB adapter. Long cables and wires act as antennas, picking up extra noise that
can affect measurements.
Note Make sure the calibration test head has mechanical support to prevent
unnecessary strain on the SMB connector of the device.
• Keep relative humidity between 10 and 90% non-condensing, or consult the device
hardware specifications for the optimum relative humidity.
• Maintain an ambient temperature of 23 ±5 °C. The device temperature will be greater than
the ambient temperature.
• Allow a warm-up time of at least 15 minutes after the NI-SCOPE driver is loaded. Unless
manually disabled, the NI-SCOPE driver automatically loads with the operating system and
enables the device. The warm-up time ensures that the measurement circuitry of the
NI 5105 is at a stable operating temperature.
• Plug the PXI chassis or PC and the calibrator into the same power strip to avoid ground
loops.
•(PXI/PXIe) 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 document available at ni.com/manuals.
• Verify that all connections to the device, including front panel connections, are secure.
• Use shielded copper wire for all cable connections to the device. Use twisted-pair wire to
eliminate noise and thermal offsets.
Adjust the Digital Clock Manager (DCM)
Adjusting the digital clock manager for the NI 5105 is required in the calibration procedure.
NI recommends that you adjust the DCM at least once every two years, regardless of whether
you choose to perform a verification or adjustment of the device. Completing this procedure
does not affect the measurements in offset, gain, timing, or bandwidth verification sections
described later in this document.
Caution Failing to adjust the DCM at least once every two years can result in
invalid measurements from the NI 5105.

NI 5105 Calibration Procedure |© National Instruments |7
Complete the following steps to adjust the digital clock manager (DCM) of the NI 5105.
1. Obtain an instrument session handle using the niScope Cal Start VI.
Note Throughout the procedure, refer to the C/C++ function call parameters for the
LabVIEW input values.
2. Connect the calibrator test head directly to the PFI 1 input of the device. Configure the
calibrator to output a sine wave with 3.0 Vpk-pk amplitude, 50 Ωload impedance, and the
Input Frequency listed in Table 4 for the current iteration.
3. Wait 2,500 ms for the impedance matching and frequency of the calibrator to settle.
4. Adjust the digital clock manager (DCM) using the niScope Cal Adjust DCM VI.
5. Repeat steps 2 through 4 for each iteration listed in Table 4.
LabVIEW VI C/C++ Function Call
Call niSCope_CalStart with the
following parameters:
resourceName: The name of the device
to calibrate. You can find this name under
Devices and Interfaces in MAX
password: The password required to
open an external calibration session. If
this password has not been changed since
manufacturing, the password is "NI"
LabVIEW VI C/C++ Function Call
Call
niScope_CalAdjustDCM
with the following
parameters:
sessionHandle: The session
handle from
niScope_CalStart
channelName: "" (empty
string)
stimulusFreq: The input
frequency in Table 4 for the
current iteration

8|ni.com |NI 5105 Calibration Procedure
6. End the session and save the results using the niScope Cal End VI.
7. Perform a self-calibration on the device after adjusting the DCM.
Self-Calibration
The NI 5105 includes precise internal circuits and references used during self-calibration to
adjust for time and temperature drift. The device gain, offset, flatness, and trigger timing are all
corrected in self-calibration. Measuring the accuracy of these internal calibration circuits with
another instrument during external calibration provides traceability for the verification
procedure. Absolute accuracy is ensured by compensating for any error measured in the internal
references.
Note Always self-calibrate the device before you perform Verification. NI-SCOPE
includes self-calibration example programs for LabVIEW, CVI, and
Microsoft Visual C.
LabVIEW VI C/C++ Function Call
Call niScope_CalEnd with the
following parameters:
sessionHandle: The session handle
from niScope_CalStart
action:
NISCOPE_VAL_ACTION_STORE
Table 4. Input Frequencies for Adjusting NI 5105 External Clock DCM
Iteration Input Frequency (MHz)
1 8
2 15
3 22
4 29
5 36
6 43
7 50
8 55
9 60
10 65

NI 5105 Calibration Procedure |© National Instruments |9
You can initiate self-calibration using the following programs:
•MAX
• NI-SCOPE Soft Front Panel (SFP)
• NI-SCOPE
Note The device must be installed in MAX before it can be used in another
program.
MAX
To initiate self-calibration from MAX, complete the following steps:
1. Disconnect or disable any AC inputs to the device.
2. Launch MAX using the NI MAX desktop icon.
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 Soft Front Panel
To initiate self-calibration from the NI-SCOPE Soft Front Panel (SFP), complete the following
steps:
1. Disconnect or disable any AC inputs to the device.
2. Launch the NI-SCOPE SFP by selecting Start»All Programs»National Instruments»
NI-SCOPE»NI-SCOPE Soft Front Panel.
3. Select the device you want to calibrate from the Select Device dialog box. The Select
Device dialog box automatically opens when you launch the NI-SCOPE SFP.
Note To change the device, select Edit»Change Device, and select the new device
that you want to calibrate.
4. Launch the Calibration dialog box by selecting Utility»Self Calibration.
5. Click OK to begin self-calibration.
NI-SCOPE
To self-calibrate the NI 5105 programmatically using NI-SCOPE, complete the following steps:
1. Disconnect or disable any AC inputs to the device.
2. Open a session and obtain a session handle using the niScope Initialize VI.
Note Throughout the procedure, refer to the C/C++ function call parameters for the
LabVIEW input values.

10 |ni.com |NI 5105 Calibration Procedure
3. Self-calibrate the device 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 device.
4. End the session using the niScope Close VI.
Verification
Note After the 15 minute warm-up period, always self-calibrate the NI 5105 before
beginning a verification procedure.
This section describes the program you must write to verify either the calibration test limits or
the published specifications for the NI 5105.
LabVIEW VI C/C++ Function Call
Call niScope_init with the
following parameters:
resourceName: The device name
assigned by MAX
idQuery: VI_FALSE
resetDevice: VI_TRUE
LabVIEW VI C/C++ Function Call
Note: Wiring the Channel Name and Option inputs is not required
for this step.
Call niScope_CalSelf
Calibrate with the
following parameters:
vi: 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