Sequid DTDR-65 User manual

Seunis Operaon Manual
Dierenal Time Domain Reectometers
(DTDR-65 / DTDR-800)
Time Domain Reectometer (STDR-65)
(Opon STDT-65: Transmissometer)
Sequid GmbH
Airbus-Allee 2
28199 Bremen
Germany

Contents
1 General Information about Sequid TDRs 3
1.1 Intended Applicaon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.2 Disclaimer............................ 3
1.3 Contents of Packing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2 Latest Changes & Features 5
3 Commissioning 8
3.1 GeneralRemarks........................ 8
3.2 Soware Conguraon File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.3 SowareStartup........................ 9
3.4 Power Supply & USB Connecon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.5 Descripon of the Applicaon Windows . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.5.1 MainWindow ..................... 11
3.5.1.1 Samples................... 11
3.5.1.2 Sample List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3.5.1.3 Macro List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3.5.2 Oscilloscope Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
3.5.3 Result Visualizaon Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.5.4 Opons Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
3.6 Soware Operaon Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
3.6.1 Sample List Operaon Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
3.6.2 Macro Operaon Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
3.6.3 Quick Operaon Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
3.7 Login with limited User Privileges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
4 Quick Start Guide 30
5 Three-Term & 12-Term Correction 37
5.1 Fundamentals ......................... 37
5.2 Requirements.......................... 37
2

5.3 Calibraon Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
5.4 General Remarks on reloading TTC/12TC Data . . . . . . . . 40
5.5 Status Indicators for TTC & 12TC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
6 Measurement Modes 42
6.1 Impedance Measurements (Modes TDR & DTDR) . . . . . . 42
6.1.1 General Recommendaons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
6.1.2 Reference Measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
6.1.3 Impedance Measurement Properes Window . . . . 46
6.1.4 User-dened Impedance Masks . . . . . . . . . . . 51
6.2 Comparison of TDR and/or Impedance Measurement (op-
onal, TDR-Compare) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
6.3 (D)S11 - Measurement Mode (oponal) . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
6.4 Full 2-Port S-Parameter Measurements (F2P, oponal) . . . . 57
6.5 Measurement Mode εbase (oponal, not for DTDR-800) . . . 58
6.6 Measurement Mode εplus (oponal, not for DTDR-800) . . . 60
6.7 Permivity Measurements (oponal, not for DTDR-800) . . 61
7 Frequency Domain Smoothing 65
8 De-Embedding 67
8.1 De-Embedding Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
8.2 The De-Embedding Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
8.3 Creang De-Embedding S-Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
8.4 Addional Remarks on De-Embedding . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
9 Import & Export Modules 72
9.1 PDF-Export Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
9.2 CSV-Export Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
9.3 STLC-Import Module (oponal, not for DTDR-800) . . . . . . 74
9.4 CIF-Import Module (oponal, not for DTDR-800) . . . . . . . 75
10 Workshop Files 76
3

11 ESD-Protection Module (optional Hardware) 77
12 RF-Multiplexer (optional Hardware) 79
12.1 Assigning Channels to Samples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
12.2 Calibraon of the Mulplexer (TTC/12TC) . . . . . . . . . . . 80
12.3 De-Embedding of the Mulplexer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
12.4 Addional Remarks on Mulplexing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
13 Additional Information 86
13.1 Descripon of the Toolbar Items in the Main Window . . . . 86
13.2 Descripon of the Toolbar Items in the Result Window . . . 88
13.3 Descripon of the Main Window Menu Items . . . . . . . . 89
13.4 Keyboard Shortcuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
14 Change Log 97
15 Technical Specications 98
16 Troubleshooting 99
17 Safety Instructions 101
17.1 Operang Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
17.2Power..............................101
17.3 Safety Symbols & Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
17.4 Safety Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
18 Maintenance 104
19 Harmonized Standards and Directives 105
20 Environment Protection Reference Note 106
21 Warranty 107
22 Notes 108
4

1. General Informaon about Sequid TDRs
The STDR-65 is used to perform single-ended me-domain reectometry
(TDR) measurements. If the STDT-65 opon is available also me-domain
transmissometry (TDT) measurements can be performed. Dierenal TDR-
Measurements can be performed with the DTDR-65 and DTDR-800.
Step signals with an ultra-wide bandwidth are emied by the instrument.
The signals are applicable to external components via the SMA-connector(s).
The STDT-65 can receive TDT signals via the second oponal SMA-connector;
the DTDR-65 and DTDR-800 generate a second complementary TDR-signal.
Please read this document carefully before commissioning the STDR/T-65
or the DTDR-65/DTDR-800, to avoid incorrect operaon of the instrument.
Keep this manual carefully the enre life-me of the instrument. All devices
listed so far will be referred to as ”device” in the following.
1.1 Intended Application
The device is exclusively intended for usage in conjuncon with the deliv-
ered soware. Upon request soware libraries are available to integrate
the device control into other soware environments. Beware of using the
device for purposes other than intended
1.2 Disclaimer
Warranty or liability claims for personal or property injury are excluded if
they are caused by one or more of the following reasons:
•Usage of the device for other purposes as described in this manual
•Disregarding the instrucons for correct operaon of the device
•Disregarding the safety instrucons listed in this operaon manual
•Opening of the instrument by the customer or user
5

1.3 Contents of Packing
•STDR/T-65 or DTDR-65/DTDR-800 (dierenal) me-domain reectome-
ter / transmissometer device
•USB 2.0 cable, Mini USB-B to USB-A (part number CU-B05-20-F)
•External power supply: input 100-240VAC, output 24VDC, max. 3A
(part number ETC70H-24)
•Seunis installaon program
•User manual
•Integrated ESD-protecon module (oponal)
•Metal or plasc storage and transport case (oponal)
•ESD-protecon kit (oponal)
•RF-connector torque wrench (oponal)
•Cable(s), probe(s), adapters(s) (oponal)
•Calibraon kit (oponal)
•Footswitch (oponal)
6

2. Latest Changes & Features
The latest changes unl March 12, 2021 can be found below. Earlier changes
can be found in chapter 14.
General improvements:
•TTC measurements are checked for plausibility, a user message is raised on
suspicious measurements
•if available, both monitors are used for window auto-arrangement
•shortcut CTRL-ALT-SHIFT-W can be used to arrange windows on a single screen,
even if two monitors are connected
•removed buons from log window, stop logging not needed anymore be-
cause the window is only updated on new logging events
•an overall project comment can be entered and stored now, printed to PDF
reports if non-empty
•de-embedding introduced, can be acvated via tool in main window
•prefered new new project le format is “mas”
•Microso Windows le type associaons are set by installer for sqc and mas
les
•disabled saving to sqz format (zipped), reloading sll supported
•axis sengs, cursors/markers are saved to & loaded from mas les
•calibraon kit data is stored & reloaded from mas les
•renaming mulple samples in list implemented, using wildcards (*) allowed
•new macro can be created based on sengs of exisng sample by right-
clicking the sample
•“change sample sengs” dialog has new entry for selecng tolerance mask
from le, raises le-open dialog
•introduced “Test Standard” info eld, can be set via “Change Sample Set-
ngs” in sample list, will be shown in the PDF-diagrams if set to non-empty
•default test standard is set in seunis.cong (can only be changed via text
editor), this will be applied to all sample which are measured
7

•new PDF suppress (project comment & test standard) in opons dialog
•reverse tabbing through Impedance Measurement Properes Window by
pressing shi-tab
•enhanced cal-standard modelling includes thru-loss & thru-impedance
•info about TTC/REF is show in the status bar when hovering over LEDs
•message is shown, if ESD auto-o is 0 and a moon sensor event is detected
•sensor temperature can be adjusted by an oset (seunis.cong, Thermome-
ter oset)
Mulplexer support:
•extended mulplexer support
•channel is shown as string (A,B,..) and number (in brackets) in mux dialog
•column with mux channel info appears in sample list, if a mux is connected
•connecng to two devices prohibited if a mux is connected
•new short-cut CTRL-M for opening mux dialog
•Enhanced mul-channel TTC handling to ensure internal soware integrity
•disabled wizard-integrated loading & saving of TTC/12TCs if mux connected
•added WinDMXU.exe to installer for mux tesng
Result visualizaon:
•plong directly to any printer enabled
•moving zoom area possible by holding middle mouse buon down
•sample name is shown in status bar while moving mouse over trace or legend
•when physical length acvated, cursor values are also displayed as length
•reloading of cursor lists from mas le implemented
•window sengs are saved in & loaded from mas les (result type & axis)
•new menu entry to show current video bandwidth, also shows where to
change it (seunis.cong)
•new menu entry to set opmized frequency axis, useful for exporng de-
embedding S-parameters (matches internal FFT-adapted frequency axis)
•new dialog for adjusng axes manually
8

Oscilloscope window:
•moving zoom area possible by holding middle mouse buon down
•axis, markers and trace type saved to and restored from mas les now
•mux channel is shown in upper-le corner
PDF-export:
•PDF-reports now showing either t- or cm-axis (depends on result window
seng)
•creaon of summary page for frequency domain measurement modes
•added mebase info to PDF-reports (impedance mode only)
In addion, the soware is connuously improved with bug xes and enhance-
ments to increase performance and improve usability.
9

3. Commissioning
Before the rst start of operaon you have to install the provided Seunis
soware. Please follow the installaon instrucons given by the soware.
Before starng the soware connect the device and turn it on. The soware
automacally detects the connected instrument.
Remark: In rare cases, the device is not found, which is usually caused by problems
with the USB connecon. In this case please check the USB connecon and drivers.
Latest D2XX-Drivers can be found on the shipped CD, at www.dichip.com or be
requested from [email protected].
3.1 General Remarks
The Seunis measurement soware was designed to make series measure-
ments and therefore the central element of the main window is a spread-
sheet-like table. For a beer understanding, some regularly used terms are
dened below:
Sample Describes the individual objects/devices under
test (DUT)
Sample List Collecon of samples in the spreadsheet table
(D)TTC =
(Dierenal)
Three-Term
Correcon
Error correcon method, removes systemac
device & external cable/connector errors
12TC = Twelve
Term Correcon
Error correcon method for full 2-port
S-parameter measurements. Only used if full
2-port measurement mode is available
Measurement
Modes
The soware is capable of measuring various
parameters (impedance, S11, etc.). These
funconalies are called measurement modes
10

Remark: Much earlier versions of this soware were called RFQ-Scan. Along with
renaming the soware to Seunis the Calibraon folder (containing calibraon kit
data, company logo and for older devices the SCE measurement mode les) has be
renamed to Cong.
3.2 Software Conguration File
Some specialized hidden opons and funconalies can only be modied
via the soware conguraon le Seunis.cong. The default locaon of the
conguraon le is C:\Users\<USERNAME>\AppData\Roaming\Sequid.
3.3 Software Startup
Devices with rmware versions newer than 5.0.1: The device must be turned
on to operate the device, because the soware queries the device for avail-
able measurement modes. Alternavely the soware can be started with
an Sequid Viewer Key (oponal, ordering code SVK). In this case an inter-
net connecon and a valid login account is required (contact support@se-
quid.com for more informaon).
Remark for devices with rmware versions 4.1.205 or older: The device
must be connected via the USB cable but not necessarily be switched on.
Make sure the required *.sce measurement les are available in the pro-
grams Cong subfolder.
3.4 Power Supply & USB Connection
To enable measurements, connect the USB port of the instrument to a com-
puter. Please follow the instrucons given below:
•If available plug the Mini-USB-B plug connector of the USB-cable into
the corresponding USB-jack connector of the device and the USB-A
plug into a USB-port of your computer.
•Turn on the device by pressing the power buon for more than 1 sec-
ond. Aer a few seconds, the buon LED changes from green to red.
11

The device can be turned o by pressing the power buon for more
than 3 seconds.
•The 2-state red-green LED signals have the following meaning:
Green blinking LED: Device switched o, baery charging acve
Red blinking LED: Device switched on, baery charging acve
Red LED turned on: Device switched on, baery charging nished
•The soware will automacally probe your USB ports to communicate
with the device. You can check if this was successful in the status bar
on the boom of the Main Window, which shows whether the device
is Connected or Not connected.
•If the connecon to the device failed, retry to connect by pressing
CTRL-U or via the menu Extras. If you are not able to establish a con-
necon, check the USB-drivers in your device manager.
•Like other RF-measurement systems, the device needs some me to
warm-up for performing stable and accurate measurements. During
the warm-up phase, measurements are prohibited. If the tempera-
ture is stable, the status bar shows OK. If you try to measure during
the warm-up phase, the measurement is aborted, accompanied by an
audio warning and the nocaon Device temperature instable.
•A further eld in the status bar shows the current temperature mea-
sured by an oponally connected temperature sensor (PT100). An
oset correcon value Thermometer oset can be set in the congu-
raon le Seunis.cong. If you want to use this feature, please contact
Sequid GmbH for further informaon.
Remark for devices with rmware 4.1.205 or older: if the soware does not nd
any measurement mode les in the programs Cong subfolder, a le dialog is raised.
Select the measurement mode (*.sce) les to be installed. The les are delivered
with the soware on the installaon CD.
12

3.5 Description of the Application Windows
3.5.1 Main Window
The Main Window (Fig. 1) allows the user to organize the measurement cam-
paigns. The spreadsheet format is used to prepare sample lists, which can
be worked o accordingly. The main funconality for organizing the data,
results and further common tasks (e.g. saving, loading, exporng of data)
can be controlled via the main menu. ”At a glance”-informaon and mea-
surement results are also available.
All project relevant informaon can be stored in Project Files. With the cur-
rent soware release the new mas le format is introduced and replaces
the previously used sqc format.
The informaon saved in mas Project Files are:
•Traces, masks, results and sengs for each sample
•Calibraon and reference measurements
•Calibraon kit data
•Time base and frequency sengs
•Last axes and cursors states
•Project comment
•System diagnosis informaon
Please note: sqc les are sll supported but do store less informaon (e.g.
axes sengs, any kind of cursors, calibraon kit data, de-embedding).
3.5.1.1 Samples
In the context of the Seunis soware, measurements usually are referred to
as Samples. These contain a range of other data in addion to the actual TDR
measurement. The following is a list of some selected informaon stored in
each indivdual Sample:
13

Figure 1: Main Window with sample list and control elements
•Sample name (must be dened on creaon of sample)
•Descripon (some further piece of informaon, oponal)
•Channel assignment
•Results of measurement (depends on measurement mode)
•Measurement mode (see chapter 6)
•TDR traces (compare gure 2)
•Time base sengs
•Frequency seng
•Tolerance mask
•Part descripon and number, batch number, customer info
•Test standard (freely selectable descripon, e.g. IEC 61196)
14

•Meta and system diagnosc data
To create a new Sample, simply type a new name in the rst empty line of
the Sample List. On creaon, only the name has to be dened, all other
parameters are dened according to the current system sengs (e.g. me
base, frequency, measurement mode, test standard).
With very few excepons, the sengs can also be made or changed later.
How to change the sengs for a single or mulple Samples is explained
later in the course of this manual. To get an overview of the sengs to
be changed, right-click an exisng Sample in the list and select the Change
Samples Sengs menu item or open the Impedance Measurement Proper-
es Window, as described in secon 6.1.3.
3.5.1.2 Sample List
Basically the Sample List is collecon of Samples as described in subsec-
on 3.5.1.1. The following is a list of the table columns as shown in Fig. 1:
Sample Name: Measurement label, which must be a non-empty string. A
new sample can be generated by lling in this eld. Special characters should
be avoided.
Descripon: Field for storing some addional informaon for each sample
(not mandatory)
Channel: Indicates the selected channel(s) for the sample. Not directly ed-
itable.
Result: Indicates overall result for the measurement, content depends on
measurement mode. Not available in all modes and not directly editable.
3.5.1.3 Macro List
The Macro List is suitable for performing recurring series measurements.
Macros can be dened similar to Samples. When working in macro mode
15

(see toolbar ), the listed macros are cyclically used as template for a new
measurements. The measurements are automacally labeled according to
the macro name and pushed in to the Sample List for further use.
16

3.5.2 Oscilloscope Window
Figure 2: Oscilloscope Window showing a dierenal TDR measurement
General Remark
The Oscilloscope Window gives the user an overview over the current de-
vice seng (average, me base sengs) and shows the real-me (”live”)
TDR trace(s), similar to an oscilloscopes screen. If a measured Samples is
selected in the Main Window, the corresponding uncorrected TDR trace(s)
is/are displayed addionally.
Number of Averages
The number of curves to be averaged (repeon measurements) for a sam-
ple can be set in the Average eld. In case a large number of averages is
chosen it may be advantageous to display only an averaged version of the
trace(s). This can be acvated via the menu entry View →Display averaged
Measurement.
17

Please note: in the Seunis.cong le a maximum number of averages can
be set (Compressed number of measurements, default: 50). If the selected
number of averages exceeds this number, the number of stored repeon
measurements is compressed to this value automacally.
TDR and Impedance View
The view can be switched to real-me impedance trace (menu View →Show
Impedance). The impedance trace represents the uncorrected impedance
(without TTC, see chap. 5). The traces of the currently selected sample in
the sample list are not shown if impedance is turned on.
The live traces can be switched on/o via the Channel buons. A linear inter-
polaon between the points can be acvated via View →Interpolate Trace.
The background color can be changed via the View →Change Background
Color menu entry.
Zooming & Moving
Zooming funcons are available via Posion, Zoom & Fit buons. The zoom
can be changed via the mouse (use mouse-wheel or hold le mouse buon
pressed down while dragging). A ”t-to-screen” is applied by a double right-
click in the diagram. The TDR trace can be posioned by holding the middle
buon down while moving the mouse.
Memory Funcon
It is possible to display a previously acquired TDR trace on the screen by
pressing the CTRL buon and clicking the Show Mem buon simultaneously.
Either the live curve or a sample (average of all repeon measurements)
from the list can be displayed. The trace is displayed and saved into a tem-
porary memory. It can be switched on/o by clicking the Show Mem buon.
18

3.5.3 Result Visualization Window
Figure 3: Impedance measurements results
General Remark
Most Measurement Modes (see chapter 6) yield more informaon than can
be displayed in the yellow result eld of the Main Window. To display the
specic results more in detail the Result Visualizaon Window is used. The
dierent kinds of visualizaons depend on the currently selected measure-
ment mode and are therefore described in the specic secons.
TTC/12TC Calibraon
The soware allows the correcon of systemac errors by means of OPEN,
SHORT, LOAD calibraon, referred to here as Three Term Correcon (TTC).
An addional THRU is used for a full 2-port calibraon (12-Term Correc-
on = 12TC). The TTC/12TC can be acvated/deacvated using the TTC ac-
ve checkbox. Please note that deacvaon is not allowed for frequency
domain measurements and therefore the buon is disabled in this case.
19

Rise Time Adjustment
The rise me of the step signal can be altered in me domain modes. Be-
sides the standard funconality of increasing the rise me (simulaon of
slower digital signals), it is also possible to decrease the rise me to lower
values (S/DTDR-65: 25ps, DTDR-800: 400ps).. In this way, a higher me-
base and spaal resoluon can be achieved. Make sure that the number
of averages for the TTC and DUT measurements is suciently high to avoid
”ringing” due to overweighted and erroneous spectral components.
Zooming & Moving
Zooming funcons are available via the buons in the toolbar. Furthermore
the zoom can be changed via the mouse (le buon & wheel) a ”t-to-
screen” can be achieved by double right-clicking within the diagram. Press-
ing the buon with the lock symbol has the eect that in me domain mea-
surement modes (as TDR, DTDR & TDR-Compare) the zoom is locked to the
current zoom of the Oscilloscope Window. The result traces can be posi-
oned by holding the middle buon down while moving the mouse.
Measurement Buon
A small green arrow buon is located in the status bar to start a measure-
ment. Pressing the buon has the same eect as pressing the measurement
buon in the Main Window or pressing F5.
Live Traces
Working in Quick Operaon Mode (see secon 3.6.3) enables the user to
view a ”live” trace in the Result Visualizaon Window. This feature can be
acvated via the menu entry Extras →Live.
Seng Cursors
The soware features (delta) cursors for each displayed sample in the Re-
sult Visualizaon Window. Cursors can be set by pressing down the CTRL
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