VXI Technology VM3618 User manual

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bus
VM3618
ISOLATED DIGITAL-TO-ANALOG CONVERTER
USER’S
MANUAL
82-0028-000
Release December 1, 2003
VXI Technology, Inc.
2031 Main Street
Irvine, CA 92614-6509
[phone]

www.vxitech.com
VM3618 Introduction 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
Certification .........................................................................................................................................................6
Warranty ..............................................................................................................................................................6
Limitation of Warranty ........................................................................................................................................6
Restricted Rights Legend .....................................................................................................................................6
Declaration of Conformity........................................................................................................................................7
General Safety Instructions.......................................................................................................................................9
Terms and Symbols..............................................................................................................................................9
Warnings..............................................................................................................................................................9
Support Resources ..................................................................................................................................................11
SECTION 1 ...................................................................................................................................................................13
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................13
Introduction........................................................................................................................................................13
Description.........................................................................................................................................................14
SECTION 2 ...................................................................................................................................................................17
Preparation for Use.................................................................................................................................................17
Installation..........................................................................................................................................................17
Calculating System Power and Cooling Requirements......................................................................................17
Setting the Chassis Backplane Jumpers .............................................................................................................18
Setting the Logical Address ...............................................................................................................................18
Front Panel Interface Wiring .............................................................................................................................19
Mating Connectors.............................................................................................................................................20
SECTION 3 ...................................................................................................................................................................21
Programming ..........................................................................................................................................................21
Introduction........................................................................................................................................................21
Notation .............................................................................................................................................................22
SCPI Command Examples......................................................................................................................................23
Calibration Count...............................................................................................................................................23
Calibration Gain.................................................................................................................................................24
Calibration Secure Code ....................................................................................................................................25
Calibration Secure State.....................................................................................................................................26
Calibration Store ................................................................................................................................................27
Calibration Zero .................................................................................................................................................28
Range .................................................................................................................................................................29
Route Close........................................................................................................................................................30
Route Open ........................................................................................................................................................31
Scan....................................................................................................................................................................32
Scan Limit..........................................................................................................................................................33
Scan Table..........................................................................................................................................................34
Scan Table Location ..........................................................................................................................................35
Source Current Level .........................................................................................................................................36
Source Data........................................................................................................................................................37
Source Setup ......................................................................................................................................................38
Source Voltage Level.........................................................................................................................................39
Trigger Sequence Immediate .............................................................................................................................40
Trigger Sequence Slope .....................................................................................................................................41
Trigger Sequence Source ...................................................................................................................................42
Application Examples.............................................................................................................................................43
Register Access Examples ......................................................................................................................................44
VXIplug&play Examples .......................................................................................................................................47

VXI Technology, Inc.
4 VM3618 Preface
SECTION 4 ...................................................................................................................................................................55
Command Dictionary..............................................................................................................................................55
Introduction........................................................................................................................................................55
Alphabetical Command Listing .........................................................................................................................55
The <channel_list> Parameter ...........................................................................................................................56
Command Dictionary.........................................................................................................................................60
IEEE 488.2 Common Commands...........................................................................................................................61
*CLS ..................................................................................................................................................................61
*ESE ..................................................................................................................................................................62
*ESR? ................................................................................................................................................................63
*IDN?.................................................................................................................................................................64
*OPC..................................................................................................................................................................65
*RST ..................................................................................................................................................................66
*SRE ..................................................................................................................................................................67
*STB? ................................................................................................................................................................68
*TRG..................................................................................................................................................................69
*TST?.................................................................................................................................................................70
*WAI..................................................................................................................................................................71
Instrument Specific SCPI Commands ....................................................................................................................72
CALibration:COUNt?........................................................................................................................................72
CALibration:GAIN ............................................................................................................................................73
CALibration:SECure:CODE..............................................................................................................................74
CALibration:SECure:STATe.............................................................................................................................75
CALibration:STORe ..........................................................................................................................................76
CALibration:ZERO............................................................................................................................................77
INHOUSE:PSEUDO .........................................................................................................................................78
MEMory:SETup.................................................................................................................................................79
OUTPut:TRIGger:SLOPe..................................................................................................................................80
OUTPut:TRIGger:TTLTrig ...............................................................................................................................81
OUTPut:TTLTrig[:STATe] ...............................................................................................................................82
RANGe ..............................................................................................................................................................83
ROUTe:CLOSe..................................................................................................................................................84
ROUTe:OPEN ...................................................................................................................................................85
SCAN.................................................................................................................................................................86
SCAN:LIMit ......................................................................................................................................................87
SCAN:TABLe....................................................................................................................................................88
SCAN:TABLe:LOCation...................................................................................................................................89
SOURce:CURRent:LEVel.................................................................................................................................90
SOURce:DATA .................................................................................................................................................91
SOURce:VOLTage:LEVel ................................................................................................................................92
SOURce:SETup .................................................................................................................................................93
TRIGger[:SEQuence][:IMMediate] ...................................................................................................................94
TRIGger[:SEQuence]:SLOPe ............................................................................................................................95
TRIGger[:SEQuence]:SOURce .........................................................................................................................96
Instrument Specific Commands..............................................................................................................................97
STATus:OPERation:CONDition? .....................................................................................................................97
STATus:OPERation:ENABle ............................................................................................................................98
STATus:OPERation[:EVENt]?..........................................................................................................................99
STATus:PRESet...............................................................................................................................................100
STATus:QUEStionable:CONDition? ..............................................................................................................101
STATus:QUEStionable:ENABle.....................................................................................................................102
STATus:QUEStionable[:EVENt]? ..................................................................................................................103
SYSTem:ERRor? .............................................................................................................................................104
SYSTem:VERSion?.........................................................................................................................................105

www.vxitech.com
VM3618 Introduction 5
SECTION 5 .................................................................................................................................................................107
Theory of Operation .............................................................................................................................................107
Introduction......................................................................................................................................................107
Interface and Control FPGA ............................................................................................................................108
Reference and Calibration................................................................................................................................110
INDEX ........................................................................................................................................................................111

VXI Technology, Inc.
6 VM3618 Preface
CERTIFICATION
VXI Technology, Inc. (VTI) certifies that this product met its published specifications at the time of shipment from
the factory. VTI further certifies that its calibration measurements are traceable to the United States National
Institute of Standards and Technology (formerly National Bureau of Standards), to the extent allowed by that
organization’s calibration facility, and to the calibration facilities of other International Standards Organization
members.
WARRANTY
The product referred to herein is warranted against defects in material and workmanship for a period of three years
from the receipt date of the product at customer’s facility. The sole and exclusive remedy for breach of any
warranty concerning these goods shall be repair or replacement of defective parts, or a refund of the purchase price,
to be determined at the option of VTI.
For warranty service or repair, this product must be returned to a VXI Technology authorized service center. The
product shall be shipped prepaid to VTI and VTI shall prepay all returns of the product to the buyer. However, the
buyer shall pay all shipping charges, duties, and taxes for products returned to VTI from another country.
VTI warrants that its software and firmware designated by VTI for use with a product will execute its programming
when properly installed on that product. VTI does not however warrant that the operation of the product, or
software, or firmware will be uninterrupted or error free.
LIMITATION OF WARRANTY
The warranty shall not apply to defects resulting from improper or inadequate maintenance by the buyer, buyer-
supplied products or interfacing, unauthorized modification or misuse, operation outside the environmental
specifications for the product, or improper site preparation or maintenance.
VXI Technology, Inc. shall not be liable for injury to property other than the goods themselves. Other than the
limited warranty stated above, VXI Technology, Inc. makes no other warranties, express or implied, with respect to
the quality of product beyond the description of the goods on the face of the contract. VTI specifically disclaims the
implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
RESTRICTED RIGHTS LEGEND
Use, duplication, or disclosure by the Government is subject to restrictions as set forth in subdivision (b)(3)(ii) of
the Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software clause in DFARS 252.227-7013.
VXI Technology, Inc.
2031 Main Street
Irvine, CA 92614-6509 U.S.A.

www.vxitech.com
VM3618 Introduction 7
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
Declaration of Conformity According to ISO/IEC Guide 22 and EN 45014
MANUFACTURER’S NAME VXI Technology, Inc.
MANUFACTURER’S ADDRESS 2031 Main Street
Irvine, California 92614-6509
PRODUCT NAME Isolated Digital-to-Analog Converter
MODEL NUMBER(S) VM3618
PRODUCT OPTIONS All
PRODUCT CONFIGURATIONS All
VXI Technology, Inc. declares that the aforementioned product conforms to the requirements of
the Low Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC and the EMC Directive 89/366/EEC (inclusive 93/68/EEC)
and carries the “CE” mark accordingly. The product has been designed and manufactured
according to the following specifications:
SAFETY EN61010 (2001)
EMC EN61326 (1997 w/A1:98) Class A
CISPR 22 (1997) Class A
VCCI (April 2000) Class A
ICES-003 Class A (ANSI C63.4 1992)
AS/NZS 3548 (w/A1 & A2:97) Class A
FCC Part 15 Subpart B Class A
EN 61010-1:2001
The product was installed into a C-size VXI mainframe chassis and tested in a typical configuration.
I hereby declare that the aforementioned product has been designed to be in compliance with the relevant sections
of the specifications listed above as well as complying with all essential requirements of the Low Voltage Directive.
December 2003
_________________________
Jerry Patton, QA Manager

VXI Technology, Inc.
8 VM3618 Preface

www.vxitech.com
VM3618 Introduction 9
GENERAL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
Review the following safety precautions to avoid bodily injury and/or damage to the product.
These precautions must be observed during all phases of operation or service of this product.
Failure to comply with these precautions, or with specific warnings elsewhere in this manual,
violates safety standards of design, manufacture, and intended use of the product.
Service should only be performed by qualified personnel.
TERMS AND SYMBOLS
These terms may appear in this manual:
WARNING Indicates that a procedure or condition may cause bodily injury or death.
CAUTION Indicates that a procedure or condition could possibly cause damage to
equipment or loss of data.
These symbols may appear on the product:
ATTENTION - Important safety instructions
Frame or chassis ground
WARNINGS
Follow these precautions to avoid injury or damage to the product:
Use Proper Power Cord To avoid hazard, only use the power cord specified for this
product.
Use Proper Power Source To avoid electrical overload, electric shock, or fire hazard,
do not use a power source that applies other than the
specified voltage.
Use Proper Fuse To avoid fire hazard, only use the type and rating fuse
specified for this product.

VXI Technology, Inc.
10 VM3618 Preface
WARNINGS (CONT.)
Avoid Electric Shock To avoid electric shock or fire hazard, do not operate this
product with the covers removed. Do not connect or
disconnect any cable, probes, test leads, etc. while they are
connected to a voltage source. Remove all power and
unplug unit before performing any service. Service should
only be performed by qualified personnel.
Ground the Product This product is grounded through the grounding conductor
of the power cord. To avoid electric shock, the grounding
conductor must be connected to earth ground.
Operating Conditions To avoid injury, electric shock or fire hazard:
- Do not operate in wet or damp conditions.
- Do not operate in an explosive atmosphere.
- Operate or store only in specified temperature range.
- Provide proper clearance for product ventilation to
prevent overheating.
- DO NOT operate if any damage to this product is
suspected. Product should be inspected or serviced
only by qualified personnel.
Improper Use The operator of this instrument is advised that if the
equipment is used in a manner not specified in this manual,
the protection provided by the equipment may be impaired.
Conformity is checked by inspection.

www.vxitech.com
VM3618 Introduction 11
SUPPORT RESOURCES
Support resources for this product are available on the Internet and at VXI Technology customer
support centers.
VXI Technology
World Headquarters
VXI Technology, Inc.
2031 Main Street
Irvine, CA 92614-6509
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
VXI Technology
Cleveland Instrument Division
VXI Technology, Inc.
7525 Granger Road, Unit 7
Valley View, OH 44125
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
VXI Technology
Lake Stevens Instrument Division
VXI Technology, Inc.
1924 - 203 Bickford
Snohomish, WA 98290
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Technical Support
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
Visit http://www.vxitech.com for worldwide support sites and service plan information.

VXI Technology, Inc.
12 VM3618 Preface

www.vxitech.com
VM3618 Introduction 13
SECTION 1
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
The VM3618 provides eight independent digital-to-analog converter (DAC) channels with 16 bits
of resolution and isolated outputs. This module is part of the VMIP™family of instruments and
can be combined with up to two other modules to form a high-density VXIbus instrument that
fully uses the capabilities of the VMIP. The instrument uses the message-based word serial
interface for programming and data movement, as well as supporting direct register access for
high-speed data throughput. The VM3618 command set conforms to the SCPI standard for
consistency and ease of programming.
The VM3618 is a member of the VXI Technology VMIP (VXI Modular Instrumentation
Platform) family and is available as an 8-, 16- or 24-channel, single-wide VXIbus instrument. In
addition to the three standard configurations, the VM3618 may be combined with any of the other
members of the VMIP family to form a customized and highly integrated instrument (see Figure
1-1). This allows the user to reduce system size and cost by combining the VM3618 with two
other instrument functions in a single-wide C-size VXIbus module. Figure 1-2 shows the 24-
channel version of the VM3618. The 16-channel version would not have J200 and its associated
LEDs and nomenclature while the 8-channel version would also eliminate J202.
V
X
I
B
U
S
I
N
T
E
R
N
A
L
V
M
I
P
B
U
S
V
MIP
INTERFACE
V
MIP
INSTRUMENT
MODULE #1
V
MIP
INSTRUMENT
MODULE #2
VMIP
INSTRUMENT
MODULE #3
FIGURE 1-1: VMIP™PLATFORM

VXI Technology, Inc.
14 VM3618 Introduction
Regardless whether the VM3618 is configured with other VM3618 modules, or with other
VMIP modules, each group of eight channels is treated as an independent instrument in the
VXIbus chassis and each group has its own FAIL and ACCESS light.
DESCRIPTION
The VM3618 instrumentation module provides eight independent isolated channels of a
digital to analog converter (DAC) each with 16 bits of resolution. Each channel consists of
a DAC combined with an output amplifier that allows for output voltage ranges that can be
±16 VDC, 0 to +32 VDC.
This module is part of the VMIP family of instruments and can be combined with up to two
other modules to form a high-density VXIbus instrument that fully uses the capabilities of the
VMIP.
In order to support accelerated testing, the module supports up to 512 predefined setups.
Each setup is numbered and defines the voltage of each DAC on the board. All the voltages
can then be set with a single command.
To further speed up testing, the DAC module supports up to 16 different scan lists, each 512
entries long. The scan list is a predefined sequence of setups that is loaded into the DACs.
The scan list, when enabled, can be incremented through any of the trigger sources outlined
in the following section. Both the setups and scan lists are loaded into RAM before their use.
All the DACs update synchronously and may be triggered to update via one of three sources:
1. Trigger source from the front panel input. This input is TTL compatible and is edge
sensitive. The unit may be programmed to trigger on either the rising or the falling edge
of this signal.
2. Trigger source from the VXI TTL trigger bus. Any one of the eight TTL trigger bus
lines may be programmed to trigger the update on either the rising or the falling edge of
this signal.
3. Trigger upon receipt of a word serial command. When this mode is selected, the DACs
will convert when the instrument receives a word serial command.
The VM3618 may be programmed to output a trigger on the VXI TTL trigger bus when the
DACs are updated. The user may specify any one of the eight available trigger lines, or may
disable the function if not needed.
The calibration constants used by the VM3618 are stored in non-volatile memory. These
constants are determined when the instrument is calibrated and can be changed as necessary
(such as during routine calibration cycles). These constants may also be queried at any time
via a word serial query and altered via a word serial command. By querying the calibration
constants, the user may pre-calibrate the data sent to the unit if the direct register-based
access method is being used to program the instrument.
FIGURE 1-2: FRONT PANEL LAYOUT
bus
FAIL
ACC/
ERR
FAIL
ACC/
ERR
FAIL
ACC/
ERR
J200
J201
J202

www.vxitech.com
VM3618 Introduction 15
VM3618 SPECIFICATIONS
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
NUMBER OF CHANNELS
VM3618-1
VM3618-2
VM3618-3
8
16
24
VOLTAGE MODES
Output Range
Output Current
Short Circuit
Slew Rate
Resolution
Differential Ripple & Noise
± 10.0 V, ±16.0 V, 0.0 - 20.0 V, 0.0 - 32.0 V
20 mA max. per channel normal operation
50 mA max. per channel short circuit
Continuous duration
3 V/µs (20 mA load)
16 bits, 15 bits monotonic
< 2 mVRMS (20 Hz - 300 kHz, 10 kΩload)
CURRENT MODES
Output Range
Output Voltage
Resolution
Differential Ripple & Noise
±20 mA
12.0 V max. compliance at ±20 mA output
16.0 V max. compliance at ±5 mA < 18.0 V open circuit
15 bits, 14 bits monotonic
< 2 µA rms (20 Hz – 300 kHz, 250 Ωload)
SETTLING TIME
20 µs to 0.1% of specified value
GAIN ERROR
±0.015% + 0.003%/ºC of setting
OFFSET ERROR
±2 LSB + 0.04 LSB/ºC
CONVERSION RATE
> 100,000 changes per second-dir. register access mode
> 20,000 changes per second-pseudo register access
> 300 changes per second-word-serial access mode
ISOLATION
100 VRMS, 150 VDC/AC pk (channel-to-channel or chassis)
POWER REQUIREMENTS
VM3618-1
VM3618-2
VM3618-3
+5.0 V @ 1.40 A, -5.2 V @ 0.10 A, +24.0 V @ 0.70 A
+5.0 V @ 2.05 A, -5.2 V @ 0.20 A, +24.0 V @ 1.40 A
+5.0 V @ 2.70 A, -5.2 V @ 0.30 A, +24.0 V @ 2.10 A
MANUFACTURER’S ID
3915
MODULE MODEL CODE
271
Note: The manufacturer does not recommend combining VM3618 modules with VM2XXX series modules within
the same VMIP base unit.

VXI Technology, Inc.
16 VM3618 Introduction

www.vxitech.com
VM3618 Preparation for Use 17
SECTION 2
PREPARATION FOR USE
INSTALLATION
When the VM3618 is unpacked from its shipping carton, the contents should include the
following items:
(1) VM3618 VXIbus module
(1) VM3618 Digital to Analog Converter Module User’s Manual (this manual)
All components should be immediately inspected for damage upon receipt of the unit.
Once the VM3618 is assessed to be in good condition, it may be installed into an appropriate
C-size or D-size VXIbus chassis in any slot other than slot zero. The chassis should be checked to
ensure that it is capable of providing adequate power and cooling for the VM3618. Once the
chassis is determined adequate, configure the logical address of the VM3618 and the chassis
backplane jumpers before installing the VM3618.
CALCULATING SYSTEM POWER AND COOLING REQUIREMENTS
The power and cooling requirements of the VM4018 are given in the Specifications section of
Chapter 1 in this manual. It is imperative that the chassis provide adequate power and cooling for
this module. Referring to the chassis User’s Manual, confirm that the power budget for the
system (the chassis and all modules installed therein) is not exceeded and that the cooling system
can provide adequate airflow at the specified backpressure.
It should be noted that if the chassis cannot provide adequate power to the module, the instrument
might not perform to specification or possibly not operate at all. In addition, if adequate cooling
is not provided, the reliability of the instrument will be jeopardized and permanent damage may
occur. Damage found to have occurred due to inadequate cooling will void the warranty on the
instrument in question.

VXI Technology, Inc.
18 VM3618 Preparation for Use
SETTING THE CHASSIS BACKPLANE JUMPERS
Please refer to the chassis user manual for further details on setting the backplane jumpers.
SETTING THE LOGICAL ADDRESS
The logical address of the VM4018 is set by a single 8-position DIP switch located near the
module’s backplane connectors (this is the only switch on the module). The switch is labeled with
positions 1 through 8 and with an ON position. A switch pushed toward the ON legend will
signify a logic 1; switches pushed away from the ON legend will signify a logic 0. The switch
located at position 1 is the least significant bit while the switch located at position 8 is the most
significant bit. See Figure 2-1 for examples of setting the logical address switch.
SET TO 4
1
ON
2345678
SET TO 168
12345678
SET TO 8
1
ON
2345678
SET TO 255
1
ON ON
2345678
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Switch
Position
1
2
4
8
16
32
64
128
Switch
Value
ON ON
(Dynamic)
FIGURE 2-1: LOGICAL ADDRESS SWITCH SETTING EXAMPLES
The VMIP may contain three separate instruments and will allocate logical addresses as required
by the VXIbus specification (revisions 1.3 and 1.4). The logical address of the instrument is set
on the VMIP carrier. The VMIP logical addresses must be set to an even multiple of 4 unless
dynamic addressing is used. Switch positions 1 and 2 must always be set to the OFF position.
Therefore, only addresses of 4, 8, 12, 16, ...252 are allowed. The address switch should be set for
one of these legal addresses and the address for the second instrument (the instrument in the
center position) will automatically be set to the switch set address plus one; while the third
instrument (the instrument in the lowest position) will automatically be set to the switch set
address plus two. If dynamic address configuration is desired, the address switch should be set for
a value of 255 (All switches set to ON). Upon power-up, the slot 0 resource manager will assign
the first available logical addresses to each instrument in the VMIP module.
If dynamic address configuration is desired, the address switch should be set for a value of 255.
Upon power-up, the slot 0 resource manager will assign logical addresses to each instrument in
the VMIP module.

www.vxitech.com
VM3618 Preparation for Use 19
FRONT PANEL INTERFACE WIRING
Front-panel connector, J201, contains all the instrument signals for the 8-channel version of the
VM3618 instrument (VM3618-1). The 16-channel version (VM3618-2) has J201 and J202
provided, while the 24-channel version (VM3618-3) has J200, J201 and J202. The wiring for
each of these connectors is identical. Since each group of eight channels is treated as a separate
instrument, the module will have three Channel 1s, three Channel 2s, three Channel 3s, etc., if
three VM3618s are installed.
TABLE 2-1: PIN ASSIGNMENTS FOR MODELS VM3618 ADC
SIGNAL PIN SIGNAL PIN SIGNAL PIN SIGNAL PIN
OUTPUT1 1 NC 12 GND6 23 RETURN3 34
OUTPUT2 2 NC 13 NC 24 RETURN4 35
NC 3 TRIGIN 14 GND7 25 NC 36
OUTPUT3 4 GND 15 GND8 26 RETURN5 37
OUTPUT4 5 GND1 16 NC 27 RETURN6 38
NC 6 GND2 17 NC 28 NC 39
OUTPUT5 7 NC 18 NC 29 RETURN7 40
OUTPUT6 8 GND3 19 GND 30 RETURN8 41
NC 9 GND4 20 RETURN1 31 NC 42
OUTPUT7 10 NC 21 RETURN2 32 NC 43
OUTPUT8 11 GND5 22 NC 33 GND 44
The connector for the VM3618 DAC board is a 44-pin female high-density D-Sub type.
Connections listed are for the model VM3618 8-channel DAC board. A solder pot type mating
connector is provided with each unit. Contact the factory for more connector information. The
pin locations for J200, J201 and J202 are shown in Figure 2-2:
1
16 31
15 30
44
FIGURE 2-2: J200, J201 AND J202 PIN LOCATIONS