NI PXIe-5162 Manual

CALIBRATION PROCEDURE
PXIe-5162
This document contains the verification and adjustment procedures for the PXIe-5162. Refer
to ni.com/calibration for more information about calibration solutions.
Please review and become familiar with the entire procedure before beginning the calibration
process.
Contents
Required Software.....................................................................................................................1
Related Documentation.............................................................................................................2
Test Equipment..........................................................................................................................2
Test Conditions..........................................................................................................................7
Password................................................................................................................................... 8
Calibration Interval................................................................................................................... 8
As-Found and As-Left Limits................................................................................................... 8
Calibration Overview................................................................................................................8
Test System Characterization....................................................................................................9
Zeroing the Power Sensor................................................................................................. 9
Characterizing Power Splitter Amplitude Balance........................................................... 9
Verification..............................................................................................................................14
Verifying DC Accuracy...................................................................................................15
Verifying AC Amplitude Accuracy.................................................................................19
Verifying 50 Ω Bandwidth.............................................................................................. 22
Verifying 1 MΩ Bandwidth.............................................................................................26
Verifying Timebase Accuracy.........................................................................................30
Verifying Input Impedance..............................................................................................31
Verifying Input Capacitance............................................................................................32
Verifying RMS Noise......................................................................................................33
Adjustment.............................................................................................................................. 35
Reverification..........................................................................................................................39
Revision History..................................................................................................................... 40
NI Services..............................................................................................................................40
Required Software
Calibrating the PXIe-5162 requires you to install the following software on the calibration
system:
• NI-SCOPE 4.0
• Supported application development environment (ADE)—LabVIEW or
LabWindows™/CVI™

You can download all required software from ni.com/downloads.
Related Documentation
For additional information, refer to the following documents as you perform the calibration
procedure:
•PXIe-5160/5162 Getting Started Guide
•NI High-Speed Digitizers Help
•PXIe-5162 Specifications
Visit ni.com/manuals for the latest versions of these documents.
Test Equipment
Refer to the following table for a list of necessary equipment and model recommendations for
calibration of the PXIe-5162.
If you do not have the recommended equipment, select a substitute calibration standard using
the specifications listed in the minimum requirements column of the table.
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Table 1. PXIe-5162 Test Equipment
Equipment
Recommended
Model Where Used Minimum Requirements
Oscilloscope
calibrator
Fluke 9500B/600 with
Fluke 9530 Active
Head
Verifications:
• Timebase
accuracy
• DC accuracy
• Input impedance
• Input
capacitance
Adjustment
Sine wave amplitude:
0.9 V pk-pk at 100 MHz
into 50 Ω
Sine wave frequency
accuracy: 0.25 ppm at
100 MHz
Square wave amplitude
range: 0.5 V pk-pk to
45 V pk-pk into 1 MΩ,
symmetrical to ground
(0 V)
Square wave frequency:
500 Hz
Square wave aberrations:
<2% of peak for the first
500 ns
DC output range:
• ±2.5 V into 50 Ω
• ±40 V into 1 MΩ
DC output accuracy:
±(0.025% of output +
25 µV)
Impedance measurement:
±0.1% of reading at 50 Ω
and 1 MΩ
Capacitance measurement:
±2% of reading ± 0.25 pF
PXIe-5162 Calibration Procedure | © National Instruments Corporation | 3

Table 1. PXIe-5162 Test Equipment (Continued)
Equipment
Recommended
Model Where Used Minimum Requirements
DMM NI PXI-4070/4071 or
NI PXIe-4081
Verifications:
• AC amplitude
accuracy
AC voltage accuracy at
50 kHz:
• ≤(0.09% of reading +
0.04% of range) for
test points <
0.15 V pk-pk
• ≤(0.09% of reading +
0.02% of range) for
test points ≥
0.35 V pk-pk
AC input range:
0.1 V pk-pk to 20 V pk-pk
AC input impedance:
≥10 MΩ
Bandwidth: ≥100 kHz
Function
generator
NI PXI-5402/5406 or
Agilent 33220A
Verifications:
• AC amplitude
accuracy
Sine wave frequency:
50 kHz
Sine wave amplitude:
• 0.1 V pk-pk to
3.5 V pk-pk into 50 Ω
• 0.1 V pk-pk to
20 V pk-pk into 1 MΩ
BNC Tee
(m-f-f)
Pasternack PE9174 Verifications:
• AC amplitude
accuracy
Impedance: 50 Ω
Double banana
plug to BNC (f)
Pasternack PE9008 Verifications:
• AC amplitude
accuracy
Impedance: 50 Ω
BNC (m)-to-
BNC (m) cable
(x2)
Pasternack PE3087 Verifications:
• AC amplitude
accuracy
Length: ≤1 meter
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Table 1. PXIe-5162 Test Equipment (Continued)
Equipment
Recommended
Model Where Used Minimum Requirements
Power sensor Rohde & Schwarz
NRP-Z91,
NRP6A(N), or
NRP18A(N)
Test system
characterization
Verifications:
• Bandwidth
Power range: -26 dBm to
10 dBm
Frequency range: 50 kHz
to 1,500.1 MHz
Absolute accuracy:
• <0.056 dB for 50 kHz
to <100 MHz
• <0.063 dB for
100 MHz to
<1,500.1 MHz
Relative accuracy at
-7 dBm:
• <0.023 dB for 50 kHz
to <100 MHz
• <0.023 dB for
100 MHz to
<1,500.1 MHz
VSWR: ≤1.11:1
Signal
generator
Rohde & Schwarz
SMA100A or
SMA100B
Test system
characterization
Verifications:
• Bandwidth
Frequency range: 50 kHz
to 1,500.1 MHz
Frequency accuracy:
±100.0 ppm
Amplitude: -20 dBm to
16 dBm
Harmonics: <-30 dBc
PXIe-5162 Calibration Procedure | © National Instruments Corporation | 5

Table 1. PXIe-5162 Test Equipment (Continued)
Equipment
Recommended
Model Where Used Minimum Requirements
Power splitter1Keysight 11667A or
Aeroflex/
Weinschel 1593
Test system
characterization
Verifications:
• Bandwidth
Frequency: 50 kHz to
1,500.1 MHz
VSWR: ≤1.10:1
50 Ω BNC
terminator (f)
Fairview Microwave
ST3B-F
Test system
characterization
Frequency: DC to
1,500.1 MHz
VSWR: ≤1.25:1
Impedance: 50 Ω
50 Ω BNC
terminator (m)
Fairview Microwave
ST2B
Verifications:
• RMS noise
Frequency: DC to
1,500.1 MHz
VSWR: ≤1.15:1
Impedance: 50 Ω
Type N (m)-to-
Type N (m)
cable2
Maury Microwave
SP-N-MM-24
Test system
characterization
Verifications:
• Bandwidth
Frequency: DC to
1,500.1 MHz
VSWR: ≤1.10:1
Length: ≤1 meter
SMA (m)-to-
SMA (m)
cable3
— Test system
characterization
Verifications:
• Bandwidth
Frequency: DC to
1,500.1 MHz
VSWR: ≤1.10:1
Length: ≤1 meter
Type N (m)-to-
BNC (m)
adapter (×2)2
Maury Microwave
8821D1
Test system
characterization
Verifications:
• Bandwidth
Frequency: DC to
1,500.1 MHz
VSWR: ≤1.08:1
1The Aeroflex/Weinschel 1593 must be verified to VSWR ≤1.10:1 from 50 kHz to 1,500.1 MHz.
This calibration procedure is written for the Keysight 11667A. If using the Aeroflex/
Weinschel 1593, use the prescribed connectors and adapters in an analogous manner.
2Required if using the Keysight 11667A.
3Required if using the Aeroflex/Weinschel 1593.
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Table 1. PXIe-5162 Test Equipment (Continued)
Equipment
Recommended
Model Where Used Minimum Requirements
SMA (f)-to-
N (m) adapter3
Fairview Microwave
SM4226
Test system
characterization
Verifications:
• Bandwidth
Frequency: DC to
1,500.1 MHz
VSWR: ≤1.05:1
Impedance: 50 Ω
BNC (f)-to-
N (f) adapter
Fairview Microwave
SM3526
Test system
characterization
Verifications:
• Bandwidth
Frequency: DC to
1,500.1 MHz
VSWR: ≤1.20:1
Impedance: 50 Ω
SMA (m)-to-
BNC (m)
adapter (×2)3
Fairview Microwave
SM4716
Test system
characterization
Verifications:
• Bandwidth
Frequency: DC to
1,500.1 MHz
VSWR: ≤1.10:1
Impedance: 50 Ω
BNC feed-thru
terminator
Pomona 4119-50 Verifications:
• Bandwidth
Frequency: DC to
300.1 MHz
VSWR:
• ≤1.10:1 at ≤250 MHz
• ≤1.20:1 at >250 MHz,
≤301 MHz
Impedance: 50 Ω
Test Conditions
The following setup and environmental conditions are required to ensure the PXIe-5162 meets
published specifications:
• Keep cabling as short as possible. Long cables act as antennas, picking up extra noise that
can affect measurements.
• Verify that all connections to the PXIe-5162, including front panel connections and
screws, are secure.
• Use shielded copper wire for all cable connections to the module. Use twisted-pair wire
to eliminate noise and thermal offsets.
PXIe-5162 Calibration Procedure | © National Instruments Corporation | 7

• Maintain an ambient temperature of 23 °C ± 3 °C. The device temperature will be greater
than the ambient temperature.
• Keep relative humidity between 10% and 90%, noncondensing.
• Allow a warm-up time of at least 15 minutes after the chassis is powered on and
NI-SCOPE is loaded and recognizes the PXIe-5162. The warm-up time ensures that the
PXIe-5162 and test instrumentation are at a stable operating temperature.
• Ensure that the PXI chassis fan speed is set to HIGH, that the fan filters, if present, are
clean, and that the empty slots contain filler panels. For more information about cooling,
refer to the Maintain Forced-Air Cooling Note to Users document available at ni.com/
manuals.
• Plug the chassis and the instrument standard into the same power strip to avoid ground
loops.
Password
The default password for password-protected operations is NI.
Calibration Interval
Recommended calibration interval 2 years
As-Found and As-Left Limits
The as-found limits are the published specifications for the PXIe-5162. NI uses these limits to
determine whether the PXIe-5162 meets the specifications when it is received for calibration.
Use the as-found limits during initial verification.
The as-left calibration limits are equal to the published NI specifications for the PXIe-5162,
less guard bands for measurement uncertainty, temperature drift, and drift over time. NI uses
these limits to reduce the probability that the instrument will be outside the published
specification limits at the end of the calibration cycle. Use the as-left limits when performing
verification after adjustment.
Calibration Overview
Install the device and configure it in NI Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) before
calibrating.
Calibration includes the following steps:
1. Self-calibration—Adjust the self-calibration constants of the device.
2. Test system characterization—Characterize the amplitude balance of the output ports on
your power splitter. The results of this step are used as a correction in the bandwidth
verification procedure.
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3. Verification—Verify the existing operation of the device. This step confirms whether the
device is operating within the published specification prior to adjustment.
4. Adjustment—Perform an external adjustment of the calibration constants of the device.
The adjustment procedure automatically stores the calibration date and temperature on
the EEPROM to allow traceability.
5. Re-verification—Repeat the Verification procedure to ensure that the device is operating
within the published specifications after adjustment.
Test System Characterization
The following procedures characterize the test equipment used during verification.
Notice The connectors on the device under test (DUT) and test equipment are
fragile. Perform the steps in these procedures with great care to prevent damaging
any DUTs or test equipment.
Zeroing the Power Sensor
1. Ensure that the power sensor is not connected to any signals.
2. Zero the power sensor using the built-in function, according to the power sensor
documentation.
Characterizing Power Splitter Amplitude Balance
This procedure characterizes the amplitude balance of the two output ports of the power
splitter over a range of frequencies.
The results of the characterization are later used as a correction in Verifying 50 Ω Bandwidth
on page 22 and Verifying 1 MΩ Bandwidth on page 26.
Table 2. Power Splitter Characterization
Config
Test Point
Frequency (MHz) Amplitude (dBm)
1 0.05 -0.5
2 250.1 -0.5
3 300.1 -0.5
4 1,500.1 -0.5
1. Connect the BNC (f)-to-Type N (f) adapter to the power sensor.
Refer to this assembly as the power sensor.
PXIe-5162 Calibration Procedure | © National Instruments Corporation | 9

Figure 1. Power Sensor
2. Zero the power sensor as described in the Zeroing the Power Sensor section.
3. Connect the RF OUT connector of the signal generator to the input port of the power
splitter using a Type N (m)-to-Type N (m) cable.
4. Connect a Type N (m)-to-BNC (m) adapter to one of the power splitter output ports.
Refer to this assembly as splitter output 1.
Figure 2. Splitter Output 1
5. Connector the 50 Ω BNC (f) terminator to splitter output 1.
6. Connect the other Type N (m)-to-BNC (m) adapter to the other output port of the power
splitter.
Refer to this assembly as splitter output 2.
Figure 3. Splitter Output 2
7. Connect the power sensor to splitter output 2.
The following figure illustrates the hardware setup.
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