PMK dataTec FireFly FF-1500 User manual

Instruction Manual
FireFly®
High Voltage Optically-Isolated Probe
with Universal BNC Interface
>1.5 GHz, >180dB CMRR
Preliminary
DE | EN
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FireFly®Instruction Manual
2
Copyright © 2023 PMK - All rights reserved.
Manufacturer
PMK Mess- und Kommunikationstechnik GmbH
Königsteiner Str. 98
65812 Bad Soden, Germany
Tel: [phone]
Internet: www.pmk.de
E-Mail: [e-mail]
Warranty
PMK warrants this product for normal use and operation within specifications for a period of one year
from date of shipment and will repair or replace any defective product, which was not damaged by
negligence, misuse, improper installation, accident or unauthorized repair or modification by the buyer.
This warranty is applicable only to defects due to material or workmanship. PMK disclaim any other
implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. PMK will not be liable for any
indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages (including damages for loss of profits, loss of
business, loss of use or data, interruption of business and the like), even if PMK has been advised of
the possibility of such damages arising from any defect or error in this manual or product.

FireFly®Instruction Manual
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Table of Contents
Manufacturer ...................................................................................................................................... 2
Warranty ............................................................................................................................................. 2
Compliance Information ...................................................................................................................... 4
IEC Pollution Degrees ......................................................................................................................... 5
IEC Safety Symbols ............................................................................................................................ 5
Safety and Handling Information ......................................................................................................... 6
Safety and Handling Information (Continued) ...................................................................................... 7
Lithium-Ion 18650 Battery Charging and Storage Information ........................................................ 7
Clearance Requirements ............................................................................................................... 8
About FireFly® ..................................................................................................................................... 9
Factory Calibration .............................................................................................................................. 9
Specifications ................................................................................................................................... 10
Electrical Specifications1 .............................................................................................................. 10
Electrical Specifications (Continued) ........................................................................................... 11
Environmental Specifications ....................................................................................................... 12
Physical Specifications ................................................................................................................. 12
Dimensions .................................................................................................................................. 12
Typical Common Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR) .......................................................................... 13
Typical Maximum Differential Input Voltage (CW) ........................................................................ 13
Typical Frequency Response ....................................................................................................... 14
Typical Pulse Response ............................................................................................................... 14
Typical Differential Input Impedance ............................................................................................ 15
User Interface ................................................................................................................................... 15
Interface Box Controls & Indicators .............................................................................................. 15
Probe Status Indicator.................................................................................................................. 16
Probe Head Battery Level Indicators ............................................................................................ 16
Probe Head Power ON/OFF Button ............................................................................................. 16
Auto-Zero Button.......................................................................................................................... 16
Remote Interface .............................................................................................................................. 17
Getting Started.................................................................................................................................. 17
Cable Selection ............................................................................................................................ 17
Probe Setup ................................................................................................................................. 17
Connection to the Test Points (Circuit-Under-Test) ...................................................................... 18
Making the Measurement ............................................................................................................. 19
Scope of Delivery .............................................................................................................................. 19
Ordering Information ......................................................................................................................... 20

FireFly®Instruction Manual
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Compliance Information
The FireFly® probing system complies with the following relevant union harmonization legislation, safety
and environmental standards. Only professionals and qualified personnel should use this product.
Serious injury or death may occur as result of incorrect usage of this product.
Probe
•IEC/EN 61010-1:2010 - Safety Requirements for Electrical Equipment for Measurement, Control
and Laboratory Use, Part 1: General Requirements
•IEC/EN 60825–1 - Safety of Laser Products Part 1: Equipment Classification and Requirements
-Edition 3 (2014)
•US 21CFR Part 1010 - Performance Standards for Electronic Products: General
•US 21CFR Part 1040 - Performance Standards for Light- Emitting Products
•Laser Certification: Class 1 Laser Product
This product complies with 21 CFR 1040.10 and 1040.11 except for deviations pursuant to Laser
Notice No. 50, dated June 24, 2007.
CAUTION. Use of controls or adjustments for performance of procedures other than those
specified herein may result in hazardous exposure.
Battery
•EU model: CE conform. More information follow soon.
•US model: UL conform. More information follow soon.
•Asian model: PSE conform. More information follow soon.

FireFly®Instruction Manual
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IEC Pollution Degrees
Definitions and Examples:
Overview of measurement categories according to IEC 61010-01
O = No Measurement Category (Other circuits that are not directly connected to mains)
Pollution Degree 1
No POLLUTION or only dry, non conductive POLLUTION. NOTE: The
POLLUTION has no influence.
Pollution Degree 2
Only- non conductive POLLUTION. Occasionally, however, a temporary
conductivity caused by condensation must be accepted.
Pollution Degree 3
Conductive POLLUTION occurs or dry, non-conductive POLLUTION
occurs which becomes conductive due to condensation which is to be
expected.
IEC Safety Symbols
The following symbols may appear on the product or in this instruction manual:
Caution, risk of danger. Refer to manual.
Caution, risk of electric shock.
Earth (ground) TERMINAL.

FireFly®Instruction Manual
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Safety and Handling Information
The probe head, tip cables and accessories are NOT for hand-held use. The overall safety of any
measurement setup incorporating this probe is the responsibility of the user.
The probe head is optically isolated and galvanically isolated from the measuring
system and earth ground.
To avoid personal injury and to prevent fire or damage to this product or products
connected to it, review and comply with the following safety precautions. Be aware that if
you use this probe assembly in a manner not specified the protection this product provides
may be impaired. Only qualified personnel should use this probe assembly.
Beware of High Voltages.
Observe probe and probe accessory ratings. Do not apply any electrical potential to the
probe input, which exceeds the maximum ratings of the probe head, tip cables or the
accessories connected to it. In a combination, the lower rating / measurement category
applies to both the probe and accessories connected to it. Make sure to comply with the
voltage versus frequency derating curve.
Do not connect the probe head/tip cable to an energized circuit to avoid the risk of shock.
Always de-energize the circuit-under-test before installing or removing the probe head or
tip cable from the circuit-under-test. The plastic case of the probe head and insulating
sleeve on the tip cable do not supply adequate isolation
Keep away from hazardous live circuits.
Avoid open circuitry. Do not touch connections or components when power is present.
Maintain safe clearance from the Probe Head and Tip Cable while connected to the
energized circuit
Avoid unnecessary stress.
The small electrical components of the probe are sensitive to shock and impact. Avoid any
unnecessary stress to the probe like throwing, falling and strong vibrations.
The FireFly® fiber cable between the probe head and the interface box contains multiple
optical fibers. Avoid tight radius bends, crushing, crimping, twisting, or otherwise stressing
of the fiber cable. Do not crush, crimp, twist, pull, jerk or sharply bend the fiber-optic cable.
Avoid making loops in the fiber-optic cable smaller than 12.7cm (5in).
Avoid over-bending the Probe Head's Tip Cables; do not exceed the minimum bend radius
of 5cm (2in).
Keep products clean and dry.
Remove all connections of the probe before cleaning. Keep the fiber cable clean and free
from contaminants in order to maintain the 60kV common mode voltage rating.
Inspect the fiber cable for dirt, contaminants or damage before each use and clean using
a dry, lint-free cloth. If dirt remains, use a soft cloth or swab dampened with a 75%
isopropyl alcohol solution and rinse with deionized water. A swab is useful for cleaning
narrow spaces, use only enough solution to dampen the swab or cloth. Do not use
abrasive compounds on any part of the probe.
Do not use chemical cleaning agents; they may damage the probe. Avoid using chemicals
that contain benzine, benzene, toluene, xylene, acetone, or similar solvents.
Continues on next page.

FireFly®Instruction Manual
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Safety and Handling Information (Continued)
Do not operate with suspected failures.
Refer to qualified service personnel.
Do not operate in wet or damp conditions.
Condensation may occur if a unit is moved from a cold to a warm environment.
Do not operate the product in an explosive atmosphere.
Connect and disconnect properly.
The circuit-under-test MUST BE DE-ENERGIZED (TURNED OFF) when handling,
connecting & disconnecting the probe head, tip cables or accessories to the circuit.
Use ONLY non-conductive probe head & tip holders.
Use only PMK recommended 18650 batteries in the probe head.
Avoid applying an input signal without batteries in the probe head.
Use only the originally provided carry case to store or transport the probe not in use.
If the probe is no longer being used, and before the probe is placed back into the probe
case, remove the battery from the probe head for storage.
Lithium-Ion 18650 Battery Charging and Storage Information
For optimal charging, the ambient temperature during charging should be 24±2.5°C. Batteries should
be stored in a dry, room temperature space. Avoid any situations that might subject the batteries to
either extreme cold or heat. Between the range of -20°C to +50°C (-4°F to +122°F) is sufficient but the
most optimal storage temperature is somewhere around 77°F or 25°C.
Before handling the probe head to change the battery, make sure the circuit under test
has been de-energized or has been disconnected from the circuit-under-test.
Use ONLY the PMK recommended 18650 batteries, in the probe head. If using a battery with a built in
USB charge port, connect the appropriate USB cable and connect to a USB port on the oscilloscope,
AC power adaptor or PC. Use only the PMK recommended charger.
Charging times will vary based on the battery and the charger used.
Observe battery safety: The FireFly®probe head is powered by a user-replaceable 18650
rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery.
To avoid personal injury or property damage due to electrical burst, smoke, fire or explosions,
please operate the probe within the specified operating conditions.
Do not drop the probe or subject it to strong impacts.
Do not use the probe if it has been damaged in any way.

FireFly®Instruction Manual
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Clearance Requirements
The probing system can be used for very high common mode voltages. Observe all pre-cautions and
information from the manual when using this product. See also the specifications and referring derating
curves in this manual.
Maintain at least 1m (40in) safe clearance of the probe head, tip cable and tip cable
accessories in all directions when connected to an energized circuit.
RF burn hazard zone around the probe head and tip cable
Maximum Safe Handling Limits
Common Mode Voltage (Probe Head to Earth Ground)
1 6,00E+04 4,24E+04 4,24E+04
1,00E+01 6,00E+04 4,24E+04 4,24E+04
1,00E+02 6,00E+04 4,24E+04 4,24E+04
1,00E+03 6,00E+04 4,24E+04 4,24E+04
1,00E+04 6,00E+04 4,24E+04 4,24E+04
1,00E+05 6,00E+04 4,24E+04 4,24E+04
8,00E+05 6,00E+04 4,24E+04 4,24E+04
1,00E+06 6,00E+04 4,24E+04 4,24E+04
2,00E+06 6,00E+04 4,24E+04 3,00E+04
3,40E+06 6,00E+04 4,24E+04 2,00E+04
5,00E+06 6,00E+04 4,24E+04 1,30E+04
6,50E+06 6,00E+04 4,24E+04 1,00E+04
1,20E+07 6,00E+04 4,24E+04 5,60E+03
2,00E+07 6,00E+04 4,24E+04 3,50E+03
1,00E+08 6,00E+04 4,24E+04 7,00E+02
1,00E+09 6,00E+04 4,24E+04 1,00E+02
1,50E+09 6,00E+04 4,24E+04 2,50E+01
2,00E+09 6,00E+04 4,24E+04 1,00E+01
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
110 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000 10000000 100000000 1E+09
Common Mode Voltage [kV]
Frequency [Hz] -Continuous Wave
Common Mode Voltage [V
PEAK
]
Common Mode Voltage [VRMS]
RF Burn Area
1m (40in)
Away from
Probe Head
1 10 100 1k 10k 100k 1M 10M 100M 1G
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FireFly®Instruction Manual
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About FireFly®
The FireFly® high voltage optically isolated probe offers industry leading performance that combines the
ability to accurately resolve high bandwidth, small differential signals in the presence of large common
mode voltages with its ultra-high common mode rejection performance across its entire bandwidth. With
>1.5GHz bandwidth, wide differential input range, unmatched common mode rejection ratio CMRR up
to >180dB (1 billion to 1 rejection), and a 60kV common mode, FireFly® is the ideal measurement
solution for both GaN and SiC device characterization and system level design development.
PMK‘s optically isolated interface and unique compact angled probe head design are the key attributes
that set FireFly® apart from the other solutions in the market, providing very stable and accurate
measurements over a wide temperature range and easy access to the measurement points in tight
spaces.
The compact angled probe head design allows for shorter tip cables to be used, resulting in higher
signal fidelity measurements and reduced stresses placed on the measurement test point. FireFly®‘s
wide selection of probe tip connections and accessories offer reliable, hands-free, high-fidelity
connectivity to the measurement points. Using industry standard MMCX and square pins connections
allow FireFly® to easily interface to test boards that have already been design with these test points.
The FireFly® probe head is powered by an easy to change, rechargeable, industry standard 18650
battery that provides continuous operation for up to 30h at room temperature. FireFly® has a universal
BNC output connector and is compatible with any oscilloscope with a 50Ω input impedance or 1MΩ
input impedance and a 50Ω feed-through termination, allowing FireFly® to be used on any oscilloscope
in the lab. For accurate deskew, each probe‘s unique propagation delay is measured and added to each
probe label.
Coming soon: FireFly® series will have the capability to be controlled from either remote control or the
controls located on the interface box. The „PMK Probe Control“ software provides the ability for the user
to control the probe remotely via a computer, and provides the user with a graphical user interface. The
software is free of charge, and included with PMK’s 2ch and 4ch power supplies PS2 and PS3, which
are required to power the probe. The PS2 and PS3 power supplies all have a USB interface and are
available with optional LAN interface. The new AP-01, 1 channel battery pack power supply, provides
> 8h of portable and isolated operation, which allows the user the flexibility of where the probe can be
used. The AP-01 supplies power only to the probe with no software remote control.
Factory Calibration
Annual re-calibration is recommended. ISO17025 calibration upon delivery or as re-calibration will be
possible on request.

FireFly®Instruction Manual
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Specifications
Read the Instruction Manual before first use, and keep it for future reference. A digital copy of the latest
Instruction Manual revision can be downloaded at www.pmk.de
Specifications that are marked with * are guaranteed, others are typical. Do not exceed specifications.
Allow the probe to warm up for 20 minutes. The probe head and tip cables are not for handheld use.
The probe can be used without the probe tip. To achieve the most accurate measurement results,
review the “Getting Started” section in the Instruction Manual. This probe comes with 1 year warranty.
Electrical Specifications1
Observe adequate spacing between probe head components and earth ground. This product is not
rated for CAT II, III or IV. Do not exceed the specifications. Use original PMK power supplies only.
FireFly®
Bandwidth *
(-3dB)
Rise time *
(10% - 90%)
Input
Attenuation
Input Impedance 2
SMA Input
> 1.5 GHz
<280 ps
1X
200 kΩ || 4.0 pF
FF-MMCX-1V
> 1.5 GHz
<280 ps
1X
50 Ω 3
FF-MMCX-10V
> 1.3 GHz
<280 ps
10X
2 MΩ || 3.4 pF
FF-MMCX-25V
> 1.3 GHz
<280 ps
25X
4.9 MΩ || 2.1 pF
FF-MMCX-50V
> 1.3 GHz
<280 ps
50X
10 MΩ || 2 pF
FF-MMCX-250V
TBD
TBD
250X
TBD
FF-WSQ-500V
TBD
TBD
500X
TBD
FF-WSQ-1000V
TBD
TBD
1000X
TBD
FF-WSQ-2500V
TBD
TBD
2500X
TBD
See next page for more Electrical Specifications and footnotes.
Maximum Rated Input Voltages 4
Common Mode Voltage 5
(Maximum Voltage to Earth)
± 60 kV (DC + Peak AC)
No Measurement Category
Linear Input
Voltage Range
(DC + Peak AC) 2
Maximum Non-Destruct Differential
Input Voltage
(DC + Peak AC) 2
SMA Input
± 1 V
5 V
FF-MMCX-1V
± 1 V
5 V
FF-MMCX-10V
±10 V
50 V
FF-MMCX-25V
± 25 V
100 V
FF-MMCX-50V
± 50 V
100 V
FF-MMCX-250V
± 250 V
TBD
FF-WSQ-500V
± 500 V
TBD
FF-WSQ-1000V
± 1000 V
TBD
FF-WSQ-2500V
± 2500 V
TBD
Pollution Degree
2