Racal Instruments 3152A User manual

PRECISION PLL SYNTHESIZER
MODEL 3152A
PUBLICATION NO. 980867
RACAL INSTRUMENTS
United States
(Corporate Headquarters and Service Center)
4 Goodyear Street, Irvine, CA 92618
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone]
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Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone]
Racal Instruments Group Limited, Technologie Park, D-51429 Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone]
[email protected]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
http://www.racalinstruments.com
[email protected]
www.racalinstruments.de
PUBLICATION DATE: November 30, 2005
Copyright 2001 by Racal Instruments, Inc. Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved.
This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher.

THANK YOU FOR PURCHASING THIS RACAL INSTRUMENTS PRODUCT
For this product, or any other Racal Instruments product that incorporates software drivers, you may access
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If you have any questions about software driver downloads or our privacy policy, please contact us at
[email protected]
WARRANTY STATEMENT
All Racal Instruments, Inc. products are designed and manufactured to exacting standards and in full
conformance to Racal’s ISO 9001:2000 processes.
For the specific terms of your standard warranty, or optional extended warranty or service agreement, contact
your Racal customer service advisor. Please have the following information available to facilitate service.
1. Product serial number
2. Product model number
3. Your company and contact information
You may contact your customer service advisor by:
E-Mail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone] (USA)
[phone] (UK)
Fax: [phone] (USA)
[phone] (UK)
RETURN of PRODUCT
Authorization is required from Racal Instruments before you send us your product for service or calibration.
Call your nearest Racal Instruments support facility. A list is located on the last page of this manual. If you are
unsure where to call, contact Racal Instruments, Inc. Customer Support Department in Irvine, California, USA
at 1-800-722-3262 or 1-949-859-8999 or via fax at 1-949-859-7139. We can be reached at:
[e-mail].

PROPRIETARY NOTICE
This document and the technical data herein disclosed, are proprietary to Racal Instruments, and shall not,
without express written permission of Racal Instruments, be used, in whole or in part to solicit quotations from
a competitive source or used for manufacture by anyone other than Racal Instruments. The information
herein has been developed at private expense, and may only be used for operation and maintenance
reference purposes or for purposes of engineering evaluation and incorporation into technical specifications
and other documents which specify procurement of products from Racal Instruments.
DISCLAIMER
Buyer acknowledges and agrees that it is responsible for the operation of the goods purchased and should
ensure that they are used properly and in accordance with this handbook and any other instructions provided
by Seller. Racal Instruments products are not specifically designed, manufactured or intended to be used as
parts, assemblies or components in planning, construction, maintenance or operation of a nuclear facility, or
in life support or safety critical applications in which the failure of the Racal Instruments product could create a
situation where personal injury or death could occur. Should Buyer purchase Racal Instruments product for
such unintended application, Buyer shall indemnify and hold Racal Instruments, its officers, employees,
subsidiaries, affiliates and distributors harmless against all claims arising out of a claim for personal injury or
death associated with such unintended use.

FOR YOUR SAFETY
Before undertaking any troubleshooting, maintenance or exploratory procedure, read carefully the
WARNINGS and CAUTION notices.
This equipment contains voltage hazardous to human life and
safety, and is capable of inflicting personal injury.
If this instrument is to be powered from the AC line (mains) through an
autotransformer, ensure the common connector is connected to the neutral (earth
pole) of the power supply.
Before operating the unit, ensure the conductor (green wire) is connected to the
ground (earth) conductor of the power outlet. Do not use a two-conductor extension
cord or a three-prong/two-prong adapter. This will defeat the protective feature of the
third conductor in the power cord.
Maintenance and calibration procedures sometimes call for operation of the
unit with power applied and protective covers removed. Read the procedures
and heed warnings to avoid “live” circuit points.
Before operating this instrument:
Ensure the proper fuse is in place for the power source to operate.
Ensure all other devices connected to or in proximity to this instrument are properly grounded or
connected to the protective third-wire earth ground.
If the instrument:
- fails to operate satisfactorily
- shows visible damage
- has been stored under unfavorable conditions
- has sustained stress
Do not operate until, performance is checked by qualified personnel.

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3152A User Manual
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1........................................................................................................................1-1
GETTING STARTED ................................................................................................................1-1
What’s In This Chapter...........................................................................................................1-1
Introduction.............................................................................................................................1-2
Options ...............................................................................................................................1-3
Safety Considerations ............................................................................................................1-4
Supplied Accessories .............................................................................................................1-4
Specifications .........................................................................................................................1-5
Functional Description............................................................................................................1-5
Input and Output Connectors .................................................................................................1-5
Main Output............................................................................................................................1-5
SYNC Output..........................................................................................................................1-5
External Clock Input ...............................................................................................................1-6
PM Input .................................................................................................................................1-8
Trigger Input ...........................................................................................................................1-8
Operating Modes ................................................................................................................1-8
Continuous Mode ............................................................................................................1-8
Triggered Mode...............................................................................................................1-8
Burst Mode......................................................................................................................1-9
Gated Mode ....................................................................................................................1-9
Output Type ........................................................................................................................1-9
Standard Waveforms ....................................................................................................1-10
Arbitrary Waveforms .....................................................................................................1-10
Sequenced Waveforms.................................................................................................1-10

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Sweep Waveforms ........................................................................................................1-12
Output State......................................................................................................................1-12
Backplane Synchronization ..............................................................................................1-12
Front-Panel PLL................................................................................................................1-12
Frequency Counter ...........................................................................................................1-13
Phase Modulation .............................................................................................................1-13
Filter..................................................................................................................................1-13
Front Panel Indicators.......................................................................................................1-14
Programming The Model 3152A.......................................................................................1-14
Chapter 2........................................................................................................................2-1
CONFIGURING the INSTRUMENT..........................................................................................2-1
Installation Overview ..............................................................................................................2-1
Unpacking and Initial Inspection.............................................................................................2-1
Safety Precautions .................................................................................................................2-1
Performance Checks..............................................................................................................2-2
Grounding Requirements .......................................................................................................2-2
Long Term Storage or Repackaging For Shipment................................................................2-3
Preparation For Use ...............................................................................................................2-3
Logical Address Selection ......................................................................................................2-4
Emulation Mode Selection......................................................................................................2-4
Address Space Selection .......................................................................................................2-4
Installation ..............................................................................................................................2-6

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Chapter 3........................................................................................................................3-1
USING THE INSTRUMENT......................................................................................................3-1
Overview ................................................................................................................................3-1
Output Termination.................................................................................................................3-1
Input/Output Protection ..........................................................................................................3-1
Power On/Reset Defaults.......................................................................................................3-1
What To Do Now ....................................................................................................................3-2
Using the APPLy Command ...........................................................................................3-4
Output Configuration Commands...........................................................................................3-8
Selecting an Output Function Type ....................................................................................3-8
Selecting a Standard Function Shape ................................................................................3-9
Changing the Frequency and Sample Clock ......................................................................3-9
Selecting the Sample Clock Source .................................................................................3-10
Programming the Output Amplitude and Offset................................................................3-11
Selecting the Filter Type ...................................................................................................3-11
Activating the Backplane ECLTRG and TTLTRG Lines ...................................................3-12
Assigning the Validating Source For TTLTRG..................................................................3-13
Enabling the Main Output .................................................................................................3-14
Enabling the SYNC Output ...............................................................................................3-14
Assigning the Source For The SYNC Output ...................................................................3-15
Selecting the SYNC Position ............................................................................................3-16
Setting the Sync Pulse Width ...........................................................................................3-16
Using the Built-In Standard Waveforms ...............................................................................3-17
Selecting an Operating Mode...............................................................................................3-20
Triggered Mode ................................................................................................................3-20

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Gated Mode ......................................................................................................................3-21
Burst Mode .......................................................................................................................3-22
Selecting the Trigger Source................................................................................................3-23
Using the Internal Trigger Generator ................................................................................3-23
Selecting the Trigger Slope ..............................................................................................3-24
Using the Trigger Delay ....................................................................................................3-24
Selecting the Trigger Level ...............................................................................................3-25
Using the Soft Trigger.......................................................................................................3-25
Generating Arbitrary Waveforms..........................................................................................3-25
What Are Arbitrary Waveforms? .......................................................................................3-26
Arbitrary Memory Management ........................................................................................3-26
Memory Management Commands ...................................................................................3-27
Loading Arbitrary Waveforms ...........................................................................................3-28
High Speed Segment Downloads.....................................................................................3-31
Reversing Byte Order .......................................................................................................3-33
Selecting Binary Download Forma ...................................................................................3-34
Using Shared Memory ......................................................................................................3-34
16-Bit Shared....................................................................................................................3-36
Memory Download............................................................................................................3-36
Sequences ...........................................................................................................................3-39
Generating Sequenced Waveforms .....................................................................................3-39
What Are Sequenced Waveforms? ..................................................................................3-39
High Speed Sequence Downloads ...................................................................................3-42
Triggered Sequence Advance ..........................................................................................3-44
Triggered Sequence Advance Commands.......................................................................3-45
Backplane Inter-Module Synchronization .........................................................................3-45
Front-Panel Phase Synchronization.....................................................................................3-47

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PLL Commands....................................................................................................................3-48
Using the Frequency Counter ..............................................................................................3-49
Using the Phase Modulation Input .......................................................................................3-49
Amplitude Modulation Commands .......................................................................................3-50
Using Sweep Mode ..............................................................................................................3-51
System-Related Commands ................................................................................................3-53
Chapter 4........................................................................................................................4-1
SCPI AND HS COMMAND REFERENCE................................................................................4-1
What’s In This Chapter...........................................................................................................4-1
Introduction to the SCPI Language ........................................................................................4-1
Command Format ..................................................................................................................4-2
Command Separator ..............................................................................................................4-3
The MIN and MAX Parameters...........................................................................................4-3
Querying Parameter Setting...................................................................................................4-4
Query Response Format ....................................................................................................4-4
SCPI Command Terminator ...................................................................................................4-4
IEEE-STD-488.2 Common Commands..................................................................................4-4
SCPI Parameter Types ..........................................................................................................4-4
Numeric Parameters...........................................................................................................4-5
Discrete Parameters ...........................................................................................................4-5
Boolean Parameters ...........................................................................................................4-5
Arbitrary Block Parameters.................................................................................................4-5
Alternative Command Set (HS Commands)...........................................................................4-6
Invoking HS Command Mode.............................................................................................4-6
Rules for Using HS Command Mode..................................................................................4-7

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SCPI and HS Command Summary ........................................................................................4-8
Output Configuration Command Summary ..........................................................................4-14
Standard Waveform Command Summary ...........................................................................4-16
Arbitrary Waveform, Sequence, and Shared Memory Command Summary........................4-17
Modulation Command Summary..........................................................................................4-18
Trigger Command Summary ................................................................................................4-19
Backplane Inter-Module Phase Synchronization Command Summary................................4-19
Front-Panel PLL Command Summary .................................................................................4-20
System-Related Command Summary..................................................................................4-21
IEEE-STD-488.2 Common Commands and Queries ...........................................................4-21
The SCPI Status Registers ..................................................................................................4-23
The Status Byte Register (STB) ..........................................................................................4-25
Reading the Status Byte Register.....................................................................................4-25
Clearing the Status Byte Register.....................................................................................4-26
Service Request Enable Register (SRE) ..........................................................................4-26
Standard Event Status Register (ESR).............................................................................4-27
Standard Event Status Enable Register (ESE).................................................................4-28
Error Messages ....................................................................................................................4-28
Device-Specific Commands .................................................................................................4-30
Chapter 5........................................................................................................................5-1
MAINTENANCE AND PERFORMANCE CHECKS ..................................................................5-1
Maintenance Overview...........................................................................................................5-1
Disassembly Instructions........................................................................................................5-1
Special Handling of Static Sensitive Devices .........................................................................5-2
Cleaning .................................................................................................................................5-2

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Repair and Replacement........................................................................................................5-3
Performance Checks..............................................................................................................5-4
Environmental Conditions...................................................................................................5-4
Warm-Up Period .................................................................................................................5-4
Initial Instrument Setting .....................................................................................................5-4
Recommended Test Equipment .........................................................................................5-5
Performance Check Procedures ............................................................................................5-5
Frequency Accuracy ...........................................................................................................5-5
Amplitude Accuracy ............................................................................................................5-6
DC Offset Characteristics ...................................................................................................5-7
Squarewave Characteristics ...............................................................................................5-8
Sine Characteristics............................................................................................................5-9
Sine Flatness ....................................................................................................................5-10
Trig, Gate and Burst Characteristics.................................................................................5-11
PLL Characteristics...........................................................................................................5-13
Adjustments..........................................................................................................................5-15
Environmental Conditions.................................................................................................5-15
Warm-Up Period ...............................................................................................................5-15
Recommended Test Equipment .......................................................................................5-15
Adjustment Procedures ....................................................................................................5-16
Pulse Response Adjustment ................................................................................................5-17
Amplitude Adjustment ..........................................................................................................5-17
Offset Adjustment.................................................................................................................5-18
VCO Adjustment...................................................................................................................5-19
PLL Adjustment ....................................................................................................................5-19
Troubleshooting....................................................................................................................5-20
Recommended Test Equipment .......................................................................................5-20

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Power-Up Tests ................................................................................................................5-20
Self-Test ...........................................................................................................................5-21
Main Board Circuit Checkout ............................................................................................5-21
Power Supply Checkout ...................................................................................................5-21
CPU and VXI ASIC Checkout...........................................................................................5-22
Output Amplifier and Amplitude Control Checkout ...........................................................5-23
Clock Synthesizer Checkout.............................................................................................5-24
Sequence Generator Checkout ........................................................................................5-25
PLL Checkout ...................................................................................................................5-27
Engine Board Circuit Checkout.........................................................................................5-28
Engine Board Checkout....................................................................................................5-28
Chapter 6........................................................................................................................6-1
PRODUCT SUPPORT..............................................................................................................6-1
Product Support .....................................................................................................................6-1
Reshipment Instructions.........................................................................................................6-1
Support Offices.......................................................................................................................6-2
Appendix A ..................................................................................................................................1
3152A Specifications ...................................................................................................................1
VXIbus General Information ......................................................................................................1
Synthesizer Reference Sources/Sample Clock.........................................................................2
Triggering Characteristics .........................................................................................................2
Backplane Multi-Module Synchronization .................................................................................5
Output Characteristics...............................................................................................................9
Standard Waveforms...............................................................................................................10
Arbitrary Waveforms................................................................................................................13
Sequenced Waveforms ...........................................................................................................14

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Swept Waveforms ...................................................................................................................14
PLL Characteristics .................................................................................................................16
PM Characteristics ..................................................................................................................18
Appendix B ..................................................................................................................................1
tEKTRONIX VX4750 EMULATION..............................................................................................1

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List of Figures
Figure 1-1, Model 3152A ................................................................................................................ 1-1
Figure 1-2, 3152A Front Panel........................................................................................................ 1-7
Figure 1-3, Segment 1 - Sin(x)/x Waveform ................................................................................. 1-11
Figure 1-4, Segment 2 - Sine Waveform ...................................................................................... 1-11
Figure 1-5, Segment 3 - Pulse Waveform..................................................................................... 1-11
Figure 1-6, Sequenced Waveforms .............................................................................................. 1-12
Figure 2-1, Set The Logical Address .............................................................................................. 2-5
Figure 2-2, 3152 Emulation Mode and Address Space Switch....................................................... 2-6
Figure 3-1, Definite Length Arbitrary Block Data Format .............................................................. 3-29
Figure 3-2, 12-Bit Waveform Data Format.................................................................................... 3-29
Figure 3-3, 16-Bit Waveform Data Format.................................................................................... 3-30
Figure 3-4, High Speed Segment Downloads............................................................................... 3-32
Figure 3-5, Sin(x)/x Waveform Loaded Into Segment 1................................................................ 3-39
Figure 3-6, Sine Waveform Loaded Into Segment 2..................................................................... 3-40
Figure 3-7, Pulse Waveform Loaded Into Segment 3................................................................... 3-40
Figure 3-8, Sequenced Waveforms - Continuous Advance Mode................................................ 3-40
Figure 3-9, Sequenced Downloads............................................................................................... 3-43
Figure 3-10, Sequenced Waveforms - Triggered Advance Mode................................................. 3-45
Figure 4-1, SCPI Status Registers................................................................................................ 4-24

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List of Tables
Table 3-1, Default Conditions After Power On, RESet or *RST...................................................... 3-2
Table 3-2, Peak to Peak Amplitude and Offset Ranges ................................................................. 3-3
Table 4-1, VXIbus Model 3152A SCPI Command Summary.......................................................... 4-9
Table 5-1, CPU and VXI Interface Checkout Procedure............................................................... 5-23
Table 5-2, Output Amplifier and Amplitude Control Checkout Procedure..................................... 5-24
Table 5-3, Clock Synthesizer Checkout Procedure ...................................................................... 5-25
Table 5-4, Sequence Generator Checkout Procedure.................................................................. 5-26
Table 5-5, Burst Generator Checks .............................................................................................. 5-27
Table 5-6, PLL Checkout Procedure............................................................................................. 5-27
Table 5-7a, Engine Board Checkout Procedure - #1 .................................................................... 5-29
Table 5-7b, Engine Board Checkout Procedure - #2 .................................................................... 5-30
Table 5-7c, Engine Board Checkout Procedure - #3 .................................................................... 5-30

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3152A User Manual
Racal Instruments ©2001 Getting Started 1-1
Chapter 1
GETTING STARTED
What’s In This
Chapter
This chapter contains a general description of the VXIbus Model
3152A Waveform Synthesizer and an overall functional
description of the instrument. It lists and describes various
options available for this model. It also describes the Model
3152A front panel connectors and indicators.
NOTE:
This manual provides a complete description of all
features and options available with the Model 3152A;
however, some items described in the following
paragraphs may not be installed in your instrument.
Figure 1-1, Model 3152A

3152A User Manual
Getting Started 1-2 Racal Instruments ©2001
Introduction The Model 3152A is a VXIbus, single slot C-size Synthesized
Waveform Generator. It is a high performance waveform
synthesizer that combines two powerful instruments in one small
package; a function generator and an arbitrary waveform
generator. The instrument provides a variety of standard
waveforms to be used as test stimuli for different electronic
devices. The Model 3152A is also capable of generating
arbitrary waveforms with sampling rates to 100 MHz at 12 bits of
vertical resolution.
Despite its small size, the Model 3152A offer many features and
functions such as VXIplug&play compatibility, backplane phase
synchronization, front-panel PLL,sweep, counted burst, internal
trigger-generator, and more. The instrument generates high
quality, high accuracy waveforms throughout the specified
frequency range, amplitude span, and operating temperature.
The Model 3152A generates sine waveforms with a spectral
purity that can only be matched by much more expensive bench
type synthesizers.
The Model 3152A generates standard waveforms at frequencies
ranging from 100 µHz to 50 MHz. Frequency may be set with 7
digit resolution. Accuracy and stability of the output frequency
depend on the reference clock. As a default, CLK10 is used as
the reference clock. The typical accuracy and stability of CLK10
is 100 ppm. An optional internal TCXO circuit provides 1 ppm
accuracy and stability. When the optional TCXO is installed, the
output frequency can be programmed with a full seven digits of
resolution.
Arbitrary waveforms are generated with clock rates ranging from
100 mHz to 100 MHz. Output amplitude may be programmed
within the range of 20 mV to 32 Vp-p into an open circuit, and 10
mV to 16V into 50Ω. Amplitude and offsets are programmed with
4 digit resolution.
Besides normal continuous mode, the Model 3152A offers a
variety of interrupted modes. The output waveform may be
gated, triggered, or may generate a counted burst of waveforms.
A built-in trigger generator with a programmable period can
replace an external trigger.
The Model 3152A generates arbitrary waveforms with 12 bits of
resolution. There are nine standard waveforms that are memory-
resident. Other waveforms may be generated, either manually
or downloaded from the controller to the instrument using shared
memory or standard data bus transfer. Waveforms may also be
generated using the WaveCAD program.