Quantum Composers 9530 Series User manual

QUANTUM COMPOSERS, INC
PO Box 4248
Bozeman, MT 59772
[phone] phone
[phone] fax
www.quantumcomposers.com
January 2008
9530 Series Pulse Generator
Operating Manual

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This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.daneprairie.com.
The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only.

This manual is a reference designed to familiarize you with the Quantum Com-
posers 9530 series pulse generator and is arranged so that you can easily find
the informationyou relooking for. Generally, each topichas its own section and
nosectionassumesthat youvereadanythingelse inthemanual.
Technical Support
For questions or comments about operating the 9530 -- our technical staff can
be reached via one of the following methods:
- Phone - [phone]
- Fax - [phone]
- Internet - www.quantumcomposers.com
Warranty
In addition to a 30-day money back guarantee, the 9530 has a one-year limited
warranty from the date of delivery. This warranty covers defects in materials and
workmanship. Quantum Composers will repair or replace any defective unit.
Contact us for information on obtaining warranty service.
Package Contents
The box you receive should contain the following:
- 9530 Pulse Generator
- AC Power Cord
- User s Manual on Disc
Contact Quantum Composers [phone] if any parts are missing.

Safety Issues
Normal use of test equipment presents a certain amount of danger from electri-
cal shock because testing must be performed where exposed voltage is
present.
An electrical shock causing 10 milliamps of current to pass through the heart will
stop most human heartbeats. Voltage as low as 35 VDC or RMS AC should be
considered dangerous and hazardous since it can produce a lethal current under
certain conditions. Higher voltages pose an even greater threat because such
voltage can easily produce a lethal current. Your normal work habits should
include all accepted practices that will prevent contact with exposed high volt-
age, and steer current away from your heart in case of accidental contact with a
high voltage. You will significantly reduce the risk factor if you know and observe
the following safety precautions:
If possible, familiarize yourself with the equipment being tested and the
location of its high-voltage points. However, remember that high voltage may
appear at unexpected points in defective equipment.
Do not expose high voltage needlessly. Remove housing and covers only
when necessary. Turn off equipment while making test connections in high-
voltage circuits. Discharge high-voltage capacitors after shutting down power.
When testing AC powered equipment, remember that AC line voltage is
usually present on power input circuits, such as the on-off switch, fuses, power
transformer, etc.
Use an insulated floor material or a large, insulated floor mat to stand on,
and an insulated work surface on which to place equipment. Make certain such
surfaces are not damp or wet.
Usethetime-proven one hand inthepocket techniquewhilehandlingan
instrument probe. Be particularly careful to avoid contact with metal objects that
could provide a good ground return path.
Never work alone. Someone should always be nearby to render aid if
necessary. Training in CPR first aid is highly recommended.

9530 Front Panels
Display Layout and Indicators
A graphical display module displays parameters and status information. The
status information is located in the upper-left corner of the display, between the
two brackets. There are three enunciators:
Vertical Arrow Indicates there are additional pages to the current
menu.
Blinking Light Indicates the unit is actively generating pulses, or
armed and waiting for an external trigger.
The upper-right side of the display contains the title of the currently displayed
menu. The rest of the display is used for system parameters. The display
brightness may be adjusted, allowing the instrument to be used under various
lighting conditions.
Description of Front-Panel Area
Keypads
Two keypad areas provide fast access to various menus and easy editing of
system parameters.
Menu Keypad Provides one touch access to the channel, trigger, gate
and system menus for setting up the appropriate
parpameters. The Page button will allow you to page
through the multiple levels fo a menu, if multiple levels
exist.
Arrow Keypad The up/down arrows are used to increment/decrement
the current parameter (indicated by the blinking cursor).
The position of the cursor controls the step size for
each increment. The right/left arrow moves the cursor
to different positions within the current parameter. The
NEXT key selects the next parameter in the currently
displayed menu.

Counter Architecture Overview
System Timer Functions
The System Timer functions as a non-retriggerable, multi-vibrator pulse genera-
tor. This means that once started, depending on the mode, the timer will pro-
duce pulses continuously. Before pulses can be generated, the timer must be
armed and then receive a start pulse. Arming the counter is done by pressing
the RUN/STOP key. With external trigger disabled, the RUN/STOP key also
generates the start command for the counter. With external trigger enabled, the
external trigger provides the start pulse. In either case, once started, the counter
operation is determined by the System Mode Generator. Standard modes
include:
Continuous Once started T
o
pulses are generated continuously.
Single Shot One T
o
pulse is generated for each start command.
Burst n To pulses are generated for each start command.
Duty Cycle Once started T
o
pulses cycle on and off continuously.
The T
o
pulses are distributed to all of the start inputs of the Channel Timers and
Mode Generators
Output
Pulses
Output
MUX
Internal
To Pulse
External
Input
Arm
Start
*
Gate
To
Internal System Timer
and System Mode
Generator
Channel Timers and Channel
Mode Generators
* Start source is: RUN button in Internal Modes
External input in External trigger modes
** Channels are armed by the RUN button. In single shot and burst modes
channells may be rearmed by pressing the RUN a second time.
RUN
Command
**
Start
Gate
Arm
*Start source is: RUN button in Internal Modes
External input in External Trigger modes
*TRG command via Serial/GPIB access
**Channels are armed by the RUN button. In single shot and burst modes
channels may be rearmed by pressing the RUN button.

Channel Timer Functions
The Channel Timer functions as a non-retriggerable, delayed, one shot pulse
generator. This means that the timer will only generate one delayed pulse for
every start pulse received. Once the channel timer has started counting, addi-
tional start pulses will be ignored until the pulse has been completed (non-
retriggerable). The start pulse for each channel is provided by the internal T
o
pulse generated by the Internal System Timer. Whether or not a pulse is gener-
ated for each T
o
pulse is determined by the Channel Mode Generator. Standard
modes include:
Normal A pulse is generated for each T
o
pulse.
Single Shot One pulse is generated at the first T
o
pulse, after which
output is inhibited.
Burst A pulse is generated for each T
o
pulse, 'n' times, after
which output is inhibited.
Duty Cycle n pulsesaregenerated foreachTo pulse after which
theoutputisinhibited for m times. Thecycleisthen
repeated.
Different modes may be selected for each output, allowing a wide variety of
output combinations. Each output may also be independently disabled or gated
(using the external gate input).
Output Multiplexer
The output of the Channel Timers are routed to a set of multiplexers. This allows
routing of any or all Channel Timers to any or all of the unit outputs. In the normal
mode of operation, the output of the nth Channel Timer is routed to the Tnth
output connector. As an example, if a double pulse is required on Channel A
output, one can multiplex the Channel A timer with the Channel B timer adjusting
each timer to provide the necessary pulses.
Dependent & Independent Timing Events
The 9530 allows the user to control the relationship between the Channel Timers
by setting the sync source for each timer. Independent events are all timed
relative to the internal T
o
start pulse. Dependent events may be linked together
by setting the sync source to the controlling event. This allows the instrument to
match the timed events and adjustments can be made in one event without
detuning the timing between it and a dependent event.
Navigating the 9530 Front Panel
Selecting Menus
Parameters are grouped in menus, selectable using the function keys. To select
the output channel parameters press the letter key corresponding to the desired
channel. Menus may include a number of different pages, each page containing
up to four parameters. The status block in the upper-left corner of the display
shows a vertical arrow if the current menu contains addtional pages.

Press the Page button to select the next page. There may be multiple channel
menus depending upon your unit. Secondary menus can be accessed by press-
ing the letter key of that channel a second time.
There are also individual menu keys for the gate (GATE), trigger (TRIG), and
system (MENU) menus. Depending upon your unit, each of these menus may
have multiple pages, accessed by the Page button, or secondary menus, ac-
cessed by pressing that particular function key a second time.
Selecting Menu Items
Within a menu, the blinking cursor indicates the current menu item for editing.
The NEXT will select a different menu item.
Numeric Input Mode
When the current item is numeric, the system enters the Numeric Input Mode. In
this mode data may be edited using the arrow keypad. The Left and Right arrow
keys are used to select a digit to edit. The selected digit blinks to identify itself
as the active digit. The Up and Down arrow keys are then used to increment or
decrement this digit.
Entering Non-Numeric Parameters
When the current item is non-numeric, the Up and Down arrow keys are used to
select among different options for the parameter. If the item is an on-off toggle,
the Up arrow enables the item and the Down arrow disables the item.
Enabling System Output
The RUN/STOP key is used to arm the system. With external trigger disabled,
the key will arm and start pulse output. With external trigger enabled, the key will
arm the pulse generator. Pulse output then starts after the first valid trigger input.
Pressing the RUN/STOP key a second time disables the pulse generator.
Enable/Disable Channel Output
At the top of each channel menu page is a parameter to enable or disable the
output of the channel. Each channel may be individually enabled or disabled.
Rearming the Channel Timers
If there are channels currently running in normal mode, single shot and burst
channels can be re-armed without affecting the timing on normal mode channels
by pressing function RUN/STOP .
Setting Pulse Timing Parameters
Pulses are defined by a delay, from their sync or start pulse to the active edge,
and a width.
Wid: Sets the width of the active portion of the pulse.
Dly: Sets the delay from the sync source to the start of the
pulse.

NOTE: If Wid + Dly + 75ns (hardware reset time) > T
o
Period, the correct
pulsewidth will be generated but at a slower rate.
Setting Pulse Output Parameters
There are two basic types of outputs available on the 9530: (a) TTL/CMOS
compatible outputs; (b) adjustable amplitude outputs.
Out: Selects between TTL/CMOS mode and Adjustable
mode when both are available on a single output.
Pol: Sets the voltage polarity of the pulse, active high or ac-
tive low. Note: All outputs are positive - negative volt-
ages are not supported.
Ampl: In adjustable mode, the unloaded output voltage is set.
The actual output voltage will depend on the load im-
pedance. For example: If the load is 50 ohms, the out-
put will be 50% of the stated voltage.
Using the Output Multiplexer
Each output channel includes a multiplexer which allows routing any or all of the
timer outputs to the physical output. This allows double pulses and other com-
plex pulse trains to be generated.
Mux: -00000101-
Themultiplexerisrepresentedbya n bitbinarynumberasshownabove. n is
the number of channels. Each bit represents a channel timer, which is enabled
by setting the bit to one. In the above example, timers A and C are combined on
the current output.
Setting System Internal Rate Parameters
The internal T
o
period controls the fundamental output frequency of the system.
Each channel may operate at submultiples of the fundamental frequency using
their duty cycle mode.
Source: Sets the reference source for the internal T
o
Period.
Per: Sets the internal T
o
Period.
To set the system Internal Rate - Menu key and then use the arrow keys to
specify the T
o
Period.

9530 Menu Structure
System MODE Menus
To Mode To Mode To Mode To Mode
MODE:
Continuous MODE: Single Shot MODE: Burst MODE: Duty Cycle
# / On
# / Burst # / Off
Advanced
Timing
Parameters
Channel Gated Operation Channel Gated Operation
Channel
Enable Channel Enable Channel Enable
SyncSource Gate Enable: Disabled Gate Enable: <method>
Gate Polarity
T im in g P a ra m e te rs P u ls e
C o n fig u ra tio n
C hannel E nable C hannel E nable
P ola rity
P ulsewidth O utp ut Type :
A djustable
D e la y O utp ut Le ve l
C h a n n e l
M o d e C h a n n e l M o d e C h a n n e l M o d e C h a n n e l M o d e W a i t M e n u M u l t i p l e x - e r M e n u
C ha nn e l
E n a b le C ha nne l E n a b le C ha nn e l E n a b le C ha nn e l E n a b le C ha nn e l E n a b le
M o d e :
N o r m a l M o d e :
S i n g le
S h o t M o d e :
B ur s t M o d e : D ut y C yc le H e l p L i ne
# / O n M ux
# / O f f Wa i t
C o unt
Advanced CHANNEL Menus
CHANNEL Menus