NI PXIe-5110 Manual

CALIBRATION PROCEDURE
PXIe-5110
This document contains the verification and adjustment procedures for the PXIe-5110. Refer
to ni.com/calibration for more information about calibration solutions.
Contents
Required Software.....................................................................................................................1
Related Documentation.............................................................................................................2
Test Equipment..........................................................................................................................2
Test Conditions..........................................................................................................................4
Password................................................................................................................................... 5
Calibration Interval................................................................................................................... 5
As-Found and As-Left Limits................................................................................................... 5
Calibration Overview................................................................................................................5
Test System Characterization....................................................................................................6
Zeroing the Power Sensor................................................................................................. 6
Characterizing Power Splitter Amplitude Balance and Loss............................................6
Verification................................................................................................................................9
Verifying DC Accuracy...................................................................................................11
Verifying 50 Ω Bandwidth.............................................................................................. 17
Adjustment.............................................................................................................................. 22
Adjusting the PXIe-5110.................................................................................................22
Adjusting 1 MΩ Compensation Attenuator.................................................................... 22
Adjusting 1 MΩ DC Reference.......................................................................................23
Adjusting 50 Ω DC Reference........................................................................................ 24
Reverification..........................................................................................................................24
Updating Verification Date and Time..................................................................................... 25
Worldwide Support and Services............................................................................................ 25
Product Certifications and Declarations................................................................................. 25
Required Software
Calibrating the PXIe-5110 requires you to install the following software on the calibration
system:
• Compatible version of the NI-SCOPE instrument driver. NI recommends you use the
latest version of NI-SCOPE for external calibration.
• Supported application development environment (ADE): LabVIEW
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-5110/5111/5113 Getting Started Guide
•NI High-Speed Digitizers Help
•PXIe-5110 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-5110.
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.
Table 1. PXIe-5110 Test Equipment
Equipment Recommended
Model
Where Used Minimum Requirements
Oscilloscope
calibrator
Fluke 9500B/600
with Fluke 9530
Active Head
Verifications:
• DC accuracy
Adjustment
Square wave generation:
• Amplitude: 0.02 Vpk-pk to
20 Vpk-pk into 1 MΩ
symmetrical to ground
(0 V)
• Frequency: 500 Hz
• Aberrations: <2% of peak
for the first 500 ns
DC generation:
• Amplitude: ±5.0 V into
50 Ω, ±118.0 V into
1 M Ω
• Accuracy: ±(0.025% of
output + 25 µV)
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Table 1. PXIe-5110 Test Equipment (Continued)
Equipment Recommended
Model
Where Used Minimum Requirements
Power sensor Rohde & Schwarz
NRP6A
Test system
characterization
Verifications:
• 50 Ω
bandwidth
Power measurement:
• Frequency range: 50 kHz
to 101 MHz
• Power range: -27 dBm to
10 dBm
• VSWR: <1.11
• Absolute accuracy:
– <0.048 dB for
50 kHz
– <0.063 dB for
100.1 MHz
• Relative accuracy at
-4 dBm: <0.022 dB for
50 kHz to 101 MHz
Signal
generator
Rohde & Schwarz
SMA100A
Test system
characterization
Verifications:
• 50 Ω
bandwidth
Sine wave generation:
• Amplitude: -22 dBm to
16 dBm
• Frequency: 50 kHz to
101 MHz
• Harmonics: <-30 dBc
• Frequency accuracy:
±100 ppm
Power splitter Aeroflex/Weinschel
1593
Test system
characterization
Verifications:
• 50 Ω
bandwidth
• Amplitude: -22 dBm to
16 dBm
• Frequency: 50 kHz to
101 MHz
• VSWR: <1.25
50 Ω BNC
terminator (f)
Fairview
Microwave ST3B-F
Test system
characterization
• Impedance: 50 Ω
• Frequency: DC to
101 MHz
• VSWR: <1.1
PXIe-5110 Calibration Procedure | © National Instruments | 3

Table 1. PXIe-5110 Test Equipment (Continued)
Equipment Recommended
Model
Where Used Minimum Requirements
SMA (m)-to-
SMA (m) cable
—
Test system
characterization
Verifications:
• 50 Ω
bandwidth
• Frequency: DC to
101 MHz
• VSWR: <1.1
• Length: ≤1 m
SMA (f)-to-
N (m) adapter
Fairview
Microwave
SM4226
Test system
characterization
Verifications:
• 50 Ω
bandwidth
• Frequency: DC to
101 MHz
• VSWR: <1.05
BNC (f)-to-
N (f) adapter
Fairview
Microwave
SM3526
Test system
characterization
Verifications:
• 50 Ω
bandwidth
• Frequency: DC to
101 MHz
• VSWR: <1.1
• Impedance: 50 Ω
SMA (m)-to-
BNC (m)
adapter (×2)
Fairview
Microwave
SM4716
Test system
characterization
Verifications:
• 50 Ω
bandwidth
• Frequency: DC to
101 MHz
• VSWR: <1.1
• Impedance: 50 Ω
Test Conditions
The following setup and environmental conditions are required to ensure the PXIe-5110 meets
published specifications:
• Allow all test instruments a warm-up time of at least the amount of time stated in their
specifications documents.
• 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-5110. The warm-up time ensures that the
PXIe-5110 and test instrumentation are at a stable operating temperature.
• Keep cabling as short as possible. Long cables act as antennas, picking up extra noise that
can affect measurements.
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• Verify that all connections to the PXIe-5110, 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.
• Maintain an ambient temperature of 23 °C ± 3 °C.
• Keep relative humidity between 10% and 90%, noncondensing.
• 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 standards 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-5110. NI uses these limits to
determine whether the PXIe-5110 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-5110,
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 and amplitude loss through your power splitter.
PXIe-5110 Calibration Procedure | © National Instruments | 5

The results of this step are used as a correction in the following procedures:
•Verifying 50 Ω Bandwidth
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 in the
nonvolatile memory 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 and
Loss
This procedure characterizes the amplitude balance of the two output ports of the power
splitter and amplitude loss through the power splitter over a range of frequencies.
The results of the characterization are later used as a correction in the following procedures:
•Verifying 50 Ω Bandwidth
Table 2. Power Splitter Characterization
Config Test Point: Frequency (MHz)
1 0.05
2 100.1
1. Connect the BNC (f)-to-N (f) adapter to the power sensor. Refer to this assembly as the
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 an SMA (f)-to-N (m) adapter and an SMA (m)-to-SMA (m) cable.
4. Connect an SMA (m)-to-BNC (m) adapter to one of the power splitter output ports. Refer
to this assembly as splitter output 1.
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5. Connect the 50 Ω BNC terminator (f) to splitter output 1.
6. Connect the other SMA (m)-to-BNC (m) adapter to the other output port of the power
splitter. Refer to this assembly as splitter output 2.
7. Connect the power sensor to splitter output 2.
The following figure illustrates the hardware setup.
1
64 5
3
7 8
2
5
1. Signal generator
2. SMA (f)-to-N (m) adapter
3. SMA (m)-to-SMA (m) cable
4. 50 ΩBNC terminator (f)
5. SMA (m)-to-BNC (m) adapter
6. Power splitter
7. BNC (f)-to-N (f) adapter
8. Power sensor
8. Configure the power sensor with the following settings:
• Power measurement: continuous average
• Path selection: automatic
• Averaging: automatic
• Averaging resolution: 4 (0.001 dB)
• Aperture: 20 ms
9. Configure the signal generator to generate a sine waveform with the following
characteristics:
• Frequency: the Test Point Frequency value from the Power Splitter Characterization
table
• Amplitude level: 2.0 dBm
PXIe-5110 Calibration Procedure | © National Instruments | 7

10. Configure the power sensor to correct for the Test Point Frequency value using the power
sensor frequency correction function.
11. Wait 0.1 second for settling.
12. Use the power sensor to measure the power in dBm.
13. Repeat steps 9 through 12 for each configuration in the Power Splitter Characterization
table, recording each result as splitter output 2 power, where each configuration has a
corresponding value.
14. Disconnect the power sensor and 50 Ω BNC terminator (f) from splitter output 2 and
splitter output 1.
15. Connect the power sensor to splitter output 1.
16. Connect the 50 Ω BNC terminator (f) to splitter output 2.
The following figure illustrates the hardware setup.
1
3
8
6
7
6
5
4
2
1. Signal generator
2. SMA (f)-to-N (m) adapter
3. SMA (m)-to-SMA (m) cable
4. Power sensor
5. BNC (f)-to-N (f) adapter
6. SMA (m)-to-BNC (m) adapter
7. Power splitter
8. 50 ΩBNC terminator (f)
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17. Configure the signal generator to generate a sine waveform with the following
characteristics:
• Frequency: the Test Point Frequency value from the Power Splitter Characterization
table
• Amplitude level: 2.0 dBm
18. Configure the power sensor to correct for the Test Point Frequency value using the power
sensor frequency correction function.
19. Wait 0.1 second for settling.
20. Use the power sensor to measure the power in dBm.
21. Repeat steps 17 through 20 for each configuration in the Power Splitter Characterization
table, recording each result as splitter output 1 power, where each configuration has a
corresponding value.
22. Calculate the splitter balance for each frequency point using the following equation:
splitter balance = splitter output 2 power - splitter output 1 power
23. Calculate the splitter loss for each frequency point using the following equation:
splitter loss = signal generator amplitude level - splitter output 2 power
24. Disconnect the 50 Ω BNC terminator (f) from splitter output 2. Refer to the remaining
assembly as the power sensor assembly.
Note Do not disassemble the power sensor assembly. The power splitter
amplitude balance and loss characterization is invalid if the power sensor
assembly has been disassembled.
The power sensor assembly will be used in the following procedures:
•Verifying 50 Ω Bandwidth
Verification
The performance verification procedures assume that adequate traceable uncertainties are
available for the calibration references.
Verification of the PXIe-5110 is complete only after you have successfully completed all tests
in this section using the As-Found Limits.
Refer to the following for the names, locations, and functions of the PXIe-5110 front panel
connectors.
PXIe-5110 Calibration Procedure | © National Instruments | 9

Figure 1. PXIe-5110 Front Panel
PXIe-5110
100 MHz Oscilloscope
+5V MAX
5V
PFI 3
PFI 2
PFI 1
PFI 0
ExtTrig & PFI
CH 1
CH 0
MAX INPUT:
250 V
CAT I TO
50 : 7 V peak MAX
1 M : 250 V peak MAX
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Table 3. Signal Descriptions
Signal Connector Type Description
1 CH 0
BNC female Analog input connection; digitizes data and
triggers acquisitions.
2 CH 1
3 PFI 0
HD-BNC female PFI line for digital trigger input/output.
4 PFI 1
5 PFI 2
6 PFI 3
7 5 V square
wave
Probe compensation
terminal
Generates a 5 V square wave for passive
probe compensation.
8 Ground Probe compensation
terminal
Ground reference for passive probe
compensation.
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