Tabor Electronics 5251 User manual

User Manual
Model 5251
250 MS/s PXIbus
Arbitrary Waveform Generator
Publication No. 100520
Tabor Electronics Ltd.
9 Hatasia Street, Nesher, Israel 20302
TEL: [phone], FAX: [phone]
[www.taborelec.com]
PUBLICATION DATE: May 20, 2010
REVISION: 1.0
Copyright 2002 by Tabor Electronics. All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced
in any form without written permission of the publisher.

WARRANTY STATEMENT
Products sold by Tabor Electronics are warranted to be free from defects in workmanship or materials. Tabor
Electronics will, at its option, either repair or replace any hardware products, which prove to be defective
during the warranty period. You are a valued customer. Our mission is to make any necessary repairs in a
reliable and timely manner.
Duration of Warranty
The warranty period for this Tabor Electronics hardware is one year, except software and firmware products
designed for use with Tabor Electronics Hardware is warranted not to fail to execute its programming
instructions due to defect in materials or workmanship for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of delivery
to the initial end user.
Return of Product
Authorization is required from Tabor Electronics before you send your product for service or calibration. Call
your nearest Tabor Electronics support facility. A list is located on the last page of this manual. If you are
unsure where to call, contact Tabor Electronics Customer Support Department.
Limitation of Warranty
Tabor Electronics shall be released from all obligations under this warranty in the event repairs or
modifications are made by persons other than authorized Tabor Electronics service personnel or without the
written consent of Tabor Electronics.
Tabor Electronics expressly disclaims any liability to its customers, dealers and representatives and to users
of its product, and to any other person or persons, for special or consequential damages of any kind and from
any cause whatsoever arising out of or in any way connected with the manufacture, sale, handling, repair,
maintenance, replacement or use of said products.
Representations and warranties made by any person including dealers and representatives of Tabor
Electronics, which are inconsistent or in conflict with the terms of this warranty (including but not limited to the
limitations of the liability of Tabor Electronics as set forth above), shall not be binding upon Tabor Electronics
unless reduced to writing and approved by an officer of Tabor Electronics
Except as stated above, Tabor Electronics makes no warranty, express or implied (either in fact or by
operation of law), statutory or otherwise; and except to the extent stated above, Tabor Electronics shall have
no liability under any warranty, express or implied (either in fact or by operation of law), statutory or otherwise.
PROPRIETARY NOTICE
This document and the technical data herein disclosed, are proprietary to Tabor Electronics, and shall not, without
express written permission of Tabor Electronics, be used, in whole or in part to solicit quotations from a competitive
source or used for manufacture by anyone other than Tabor Electronics. 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 Tabor Electronics.

DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
We: Tabor Electronics Ltd.
9 Hatasia Street, Tel Hanan
ISRAEL 36888
declare, that the 250MS/s Single Channel Arbitrary Waveform Generator
Model 5251
meet the intent of the requirements of the Electro Magnetic Compatibility 89/336/EEC as
amended by 92/31/EEC, 93/68/EEC, 92/263/EEC and 93/97/EEC and the Low Voltage
Directive 73/23/EEC amended by 93/68/EEC. Compliance was demonstrated to the
following specifications as listed in the official Journal of the European Communities:
Safety:
IEC/EN 61010-1 2nd Edition: 2001+ C1, C2
EMC:
EN55022:2001 Class A Radiated and Conducted Emission
IEC61000-3-2:2001(Am1) Harmonics
IEC61000-3-3:2002(Am1) Flickers
IEC61000-4-2:2001(Am1+Am2) ESD : Contact Discharge ±4Kv
Air Discharge ±8Kv
IEC61000-4-3:2002(Am1) Radiated immunity - 3V/m (80MHz-1000MHz)
IEC61000-4-4:2001 (Am2) Electrical Fast Transient and Burst ±1.0kV, 5KHz
IEC61000-4-5:2001 (Am1) Surges DM ±1.0kV CM ±2.0Kv
IEC61000-4-6:2003 Current injection immunity - 3Vrms
IEC61000-4-8:2001 Magnetic field 1Amper
IEC61000-4-11:2001 Voltage dips and variation
The tests were performed on a typical configuration.

i
Table of Contents
Chapter Title Page
1
Getting Started..................................................................................................................1-1
What’s In This Chapter.......................................................................................................1-3
Conventions Used in this Manual.......................................................................................1-3
Introduction........................................................................................................................1-3
TE5251 Feature Highlights.................................................................................................1-4
ArbConnection Feature Highlights......................................................................................1-5
Functional Description........................................................................................................1-7
Supplied Accessories.........................................................................................................1-8
Specifications.....................................................................................................................1-8
Functional Description........................................................................................................1-9
Front Panel Connectors.................................................................................................. 1-9
Output......................................................................................................................... 1-9
SYNC Output.............................................................................................................. 1-9
TRIG IN...................................................................................................................... 1-9
SCLK IN ..................................................................................................................... 1-10
REF IN........................................................................................................................ 1-10
Run Modes ..................................................................................................................... 1-11
Continuous Mode ....................................................................................................... 1-11
Triggered Mode .......................................................................................................... 1-11
Gated Mode................................................................................................................ 1-11
Burst Mode................................................................................................................. 1-11
Output Type.................................................................................................................... 1-12
Standard (FIXED) Waveforms .................................................................................... 1-12

TE5251
User Manual
ii
Arbitrary (User) Waveforms........................................................................................ 1-12
Sequenced Waveforms .............................................................................................. 1-13
Modulated Waveforms................................................................................................ 1-14
Sweep.....................................................................................................................1-14
FM...........................................................................................................................1-15
AM...........................................................................................................................1-15
Frequency Hop........................................................................................................1-15
FSK.........................................................................................................................1-15
PSK.........................................................................................................................1-15
ASK.........................................................................................................................1-16
3D ...........................................................................................................................1-16
Pulse Waveforms........................................................................................................ 1-16
Half Cycle Waveforms................................................................................................ 1-16
Counter/Timer............................................................................................................. 1-16
Output State.......................................................................................................................1-17
Filters.................................................................................................................................1-17
Programming The 5251 .....................................................................................................1-17
2
Configuring the Instrument .............................................................................................2-1
Installation Overview..........................................................................................................2-3
Unpacking and Initial Inspection......................................................................................2-3
Safety Precautions..........................................................................................................2-3
Operating...........................................................................................................................2-4
Environment.......................................................................................................................2-4
Power Requirements..........................................................................................................2-4
Grounding Requirements...................................................................................................2-4
Calibration..........................................................................................................................2-5
Abnormal Conditions..........................................................................................................2-5
Long Term Storage or Repackaging For Shipment .........................................................2-5
Preparation For Use........................................................................................................2-6
Removing the Instrument from the Bag..............................................................................2-6
Installation..........................................................................................................................2-6
Installing Instrument Drivers...............................................................................................2-7
Installing Software Utilities .................................................................................................2-12
Installing IVI Drivers and ArbConnection............................................................................2-13

Contents (continued)
iii
3
ArbConnection© .............................................................................................................3-1
What’s in This Chapter?.....................................................................................................3-3
Introduction to ArbConnection............................................................................................3-3
Installing ArbConnection ....................................................................................................3-3
Quitting ArbConnection..................................................................................................3-4
For the New and Advanced Users.................................................................................3-4
Conventions Used in This Manual.................................................................................3-4
The Opening Screen..........................................................................................................3-5
ArbConnection Features ....................................................................................................3-6
The Control Panels ............................................................................................................3-7
The Operation Panels....................................................................................................3-8
Main ...........................................................................................................................3-9
Standard.................................................................................................................. 3-11
Arbitrary/Sequence ................................................................................................. 3-12
Using the Memory Partition Table .......................................................................... 3-14
Using the Waveform Studio.................................................................................... 3-15
Trigger..................................................................................................................... 3-19
The Modulation Panels............................................................................................... 3-21
FM........................................................................................................................... 3-21
AM........................................................................................................................... 3-22
Sweep..................................................................................................................... 3-23
ASK/FSK/PSK......................................................................................................... 3-24
Frequency Hop........................................................................................................ 3-26
The Auxiliary Panels................................................................................................... 3-28
Counter/Timer......................................................................................................... 3-28
Pulse Generator...................................................................................................... 3-30
Half Cycle................................................................................................................ 3-31
The System Panels..................................................................................................... 3-32
General/Filters......................................................................................................... 3-32
Calibration............................................................................................................... 3-33
The Composers Panels.............................................................................................. 3-34
The Wave Composer.............................................................................................. 3-35
The Toolbar ................................................................................................................ 3-41
The Waveform Screen................................................................................................ 3-42
Generating Waveforms Using the Equation Editor ...........................................................3-43
Writing Equations........................................................................................................ 3-45
Equation Convention .................................................................................................. 3-46

TE5251
User Manual
iv
Typing Equations........................................................................................................ 3-47
Equation Samples....................................................................................................... 3-48
Combining Waveforms ............................................................................................... 3-52
The Pulse Composer .............................................................................................. 3-53
The FM Composer.................................................................................................. 3-71
The 3D Composer................................................................................................... 3-75
The Command Editor.......................................................................................................3-80
Logging SCPI Commands................................................................................................3-81
4
Remote Programming Reference ....................................................................................4-1
What’s in This Chapter.....................................................................................................4-3
What is Required.............................................................................................................4-3
Introduction to SCPI.........................................................................................................4-3
Command Format..........................................................................................................4-4
Command Separator .....................................................................................................4-4
The MIN and MAX Parameters .....................................................................................4-5
Querying Parameter Setting..........................................................................................4-5
Query Response Format ...............................................................................................4-5
SCPI Command Terminator..........................................................................................4-5
IEEE-STD-488.2 Common Commands.........................................................................4-5
SCPI Parameter Type....................................................................................................4-6
Numeric Parameters..................................................................................................4-6
Discrete Parameters ..................................................................................................4-6
Boolean Parameters ..................................................................................................4-6
Arbitrary Block Parameters........................................................................................4-6
Binary Block Parameters ...........................................................................................4-7
SCPI Syntax and Styles...................................................................................................4-7
Instrument Control Commands........................................................................................4-14
Standard Waveforms Control Commands........................................................................4-21
Arbitrary Waveforms Control Commands.........................................................................4-28
Sequenced Waveforms Control Commands....................................................................4-34
Modulated Waveforms Control Commands......................................................................4-41
FM Modulation Programming ........................................................................................4-45
AM modulation Programming........................................................................................4-49
Sweep Modulation Programming ..................................................................................4-51
FSK Modulation Programming ......................................................................................4-54
ASK Modulation Programming ......................................................................................4-56
Frequency Hopping Modulation Programming..............................................................4-57

Contents (continued)
v
3D Modulation Programming.........................................................................................4-61
PSK Modulation Programming ......................................................................................4-63
Run Mode Commands.....................................................................................................4-66
Auxiliary Commands........................................................................................................4-72
Digital Pulse Programming............................................................................................4-73
Counter/Timer Programming.........................................................................................4-78
Half Cycle Programming................................................................................................4-81
System Commands .......................................................................................................4-83
IEEE-STD-488.2 Common Commands and Queries .......................................................4-85
Error Messages ...............................................................................................................4-85
5
Performance Checks ........................................................................................................5-1
What’s in This Chapter........................................................................................................5-3
Performance Checks ..........................................................................................................5-3
Environmental Conditions...................................................................................................5-3
Warm-up Period..................................................................................................................5-4
Initial Instrument Setting......................................................................................................5-4
Recommended Test Equipment..........................................................................................5-4
Test Procedures..................................................................................................................5-4
Frequency Accuracy........................................................................................................5-5
Frequency Accuracy, Internal Reference.........................................................................5-5
Frequency Accuracy, External 10MHz Reference...............................................................5-5
Amplitude Accuracy............................................................................................................5-6
Amplitude Accuracy, DAC Output....................................................................................5-6
Amplitude Accuracy, DDS Output....................................................................................5-6
Offset Accuracy...................................................................................................................5-7
Offset Accuracy, DAC Output..........................................................................................5-7
Offset Accuracy, DDS Output..........................................................................................5-8
Squarewave Characteristics ...............................................................................................5-9
Squarewave Checks .......................................................................................................5-9
Sinewave Characteristics....................................................................................................5-9
Sinewave Distortion, DAC Output....................................................................................5-9
Sinewave Spectral Purity, DAC Output............................................................................5-10
Sinewave Spectral Purity, DDS Output............................................................................5-11
Sinewave Flatness, DAC Output.....................................................................................5-11
Sinewave Flatness, DDS Output.....................................................................................5-12
Trigger operation Characteristics........................................................................................5-12
Trigger, Gate, and Burst Characteristics..........................................................................5-13
Mixed Trigger Advance Test............................................................................................5-13

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User Manual
vi
Delayed Trigger Characteristics......................................................................................5-14
Re-trigger Characteristics................................................................................................5-15
Trigger Slope ..................................................................................................................5-16
Trigger Level...................................................................................................................5-16
Sequence operation............................................................................................................5-17
Automatic Advance.........................................................................................................5-17
Step Advance..................................................................................................................5-18
Single Advance...............................................................................................................5-19
SYNC Output Operation .....................................................................................................5-19
SYNC Qualifier - Bit ........................................................................................................5-20
SYNC Qualifier - LCOM ..................................................................................................5-20
Arbitrary Waveform Memory Operation...............................................................................5-21
Waveform memory..........................................................................................................5-21
Modulated Waveforms Operation .......................................................................................5-21
FM - Standard Waveforms ..............................................................................................5-21
Triggered FM - Standard Waveforms..............................................................................5-22
FM Burst - Standard Waveforms.....................................................................................5-23
Gated FM - Standard Waveforms....................................................................................5-24
Re-triggered FM Bursts - Standard Waveforms...............................................................5-25
FM - Arbitrary Waveforms ...............................................................................................5-26
AM..................................................................................................................................5-26
FSK.................................................................................................................................5-27
PSK.................................................................................................................................5-28
ASK.................................................................................................................................5-28
Variable Dwell Time Frequency Hops .............................................................................5-29
Fix Dwell Time Frequency Hops......................................................................................5-30
Sweep.............................................................................................................................5-31
Auxiliary Counter/Timer Operation......................................................................................5-32
Frequency.......................................................................................................................5-32
Period, Period Averaged.................................................................................................5-33
Pulse Width.....................................................................................................................5-34
Totalize, Gated................................................................................................................5-34
Totalize, Infinite...............................................................................................................5-35
6
Adjustments and Firmware Update.................................................................................6-1
What’s in This Chapter........................................................................................................6-3
Performance Checks..........................................................................................................6-3
Environmental Conditions...................................................................................................6-3
Warm-up Period..................................................................................................................6-3
Recommended Test Equipment..........................................................................................6-4
Adjustment Procedures.......................................................................................................6-4

Contents (continued)
vii
Reference Oscillators Adjustments ....................................................................................... 6-7
(Setup 50MHz)................................................................................................................... 6-7
Setup TCXO....................................................................................................................... 6-7
Base Line Offset Adjustments............................................................................................... 6-8
Setup 1............................................................................................................................... 6-8
Setup 2............................................................................................................................... 6-8
Setup 3............................................................................................................................... 6-9
Setup 4............................................................................................................................... 6-9
Setup 5............................................................................................................................... 6-9
Setup 6............................................................................................................................. 6-10
Offset Adjustments.............................................................................................................. 6-10
Setup 7............................................................................................................................. 6-10
Setup 8............................................................................................................................. 6-11
Setup 9............................................................................................................................. 6-11
Setup 10........................................................................................................................... 6-11
Setup 11........................................................................................................................... 6-12
Setup 12........................................................................................................................... 6-12
Setup 13........................................................................................................................... 6-13
Setup 14........................................................................................................................... 6-13
Amplitude Adjustments........................................................................................................ 6-13
Setup 15........................................................................................................................... 6-14
Setup 16........................................................................................................................... 6-14
Setup 17........................................................................................................................... 6-14
Setup 18........................................................................................................................... 6-15
Setup 19........................................................................................................................... 6-15
Setup 20........................................................................................................................... 6-16
Amplitude Adjustments-Modulation..................................................................................... 6-16
Setup 21........................................................................................................................... 6-16
Setup 22........................................................................................................................... 6-17
Setup 23........................................................................................................................... 6-17
Setup 24........................................................................................................................... 6-17
Setup 25........................................................................................................................... 6-18
Setup 26........................................................................................................................... 6-18
Pulse Response Adjustments.............................................................................................. 6-19
(Setup 27)........................................................................................................................ 6-19
(Setup 28)........................................................................................................................ 6-19
Flatness Adjustments.......................................................................................................... 6-20
Setup 29........................................................................................................................... 6-20
Setup 30........................................................................................................................... 6-20
Setup 31........................................................................................................................... 6-20
Setup 32........................................................................................................................... 6-21
Setup 33........................................................................................................................... 6-21