Agilent 53131A Operations Guide

HP 53131A/132A 225 MHz Universal Counter

Operating Guide

This guide describes how to use the HP 53131A/132A 225 MHz Universal Counter. The information in this guide applies to instruments having the

number prefix listed below, unless accompanied by a “Manual Updating Changes” package indicating otherwise.

SERIAL PREFIX NUMBER: 3313A to 3736A (HP 53131A)

3352A to 3736A (HP 53132A)

HP 53131A/132A 225 MHz Universal Counter



Reproduction, adaptation, or translations without prior written permission is prohibited, except as allowed under the copyright laws.

Printed: May 1999 Printed in USA

Manual part number 53131-90055

Certification and Warranty

Certification

Hewlett-Packard Company certifies that this product met its published specification at the time of shipment from the factory. Hewlett-Packard further certifies that its calibration measurements are traceable to the United States National Institute of Standards and Technol ogy (formerly National Bureau of Standards), to the extent allowed by the

Institute’s calibration facility, and to the calibration facilities of other International Standards Organization members.

Warranty

HP warrants HP hardware, accessories and supplies against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of three years from date of shipment. If HP receives notice of such defects during the warranty period, HP will, at its option, either repair or replace products which prove to be defective. Replacement products may be either new or like-new.

HP warrants that HP software will not fail to execute its programming instructions, for the period specified above, due to defects in material and workmanship when properly installed and used. If HP receives notice of such defects during the warranty period, HP will replace software media which does not execute its programming instructions due to such defects.

For detailed warra nty information, see back matter.

Safety Considerations General

This product and related documentation must be reviewed for familiarizat ion with this safety marki ngs and instructions before operation.

Before Cleaning

Disconnect the product from operating power before cleaning.

Warning Symbols That May Be Used In This Book

Instruction manual symbol; the product will be marked with this symbol when it is necessary for the user to refer to the instruction manual.

Indicates hazardous voltages.

Indicates earth (ground) terminal.

Indicates terminal is con n ected to chassis when such connection is not apparent.

Indicates Alternating current.

Indicates Direct current.

Safety Considerations (contd)

WARNING

BODILY INJUR Y OR DEATH MAY RESULT FROM FAILURE TO HEED A WARNING. DO NOT PROCEED BEYOND A WARNING UNTIL THE INDICATED CONDITIONS ARE FULLY UNDERSTOOD AND MET .

CAUTION

Damage to equipment, or incorrect measurement data, may result from failure to heed a caution. Do not proceed beyond a CAUTION until the indicated conditions are fully understood and met.

Safety Earth Ground

An uninterruptible safety earth ground must be maintained from the mains power source to the product’s ground circuitry.

WARNING

WHEN MEASURING POWER LINE SIGNALS, BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL AND ALWAYS USE A STEP-DOWN ISOLATION TRANSFORMER WHICH OUTPUT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE INPUT MEASUREMENT CAPABILITIES OF THIS

PRODUCT. THIS PRODUCT’S FRONT AND REAR PANELS ARE TYPCIALLY AT EARTH GROUND.

TO MEASURE AC POWER LINE SIGNALS WITHOUT AN ISOLATION TRANSFORMER.

For additional safety and acoustic noise information, see back matter.

THUS, NEVER TRY

Hewlett-Packard Company 7.NC.NL.A.11.03.97.R1.P.CW6FC Santa Clara Division 5301 Stevens Creek Boulevard Santa Clara, California 95052-8059

Contents

In This Guide

Contents and Organization xii Related Documents xiii Types of Service Available if Your Instrument Fails xiv

Standard Repair Services (Worldwide) xiv Express Repair/Performance Calibration Service

(USA Only) xiv Assembly-Level Service Guide xiv

Repackaging for Shipment xv Description of the 225 MHz Universal Counter xvi Options xviii

Hardware xviii Support xviii

Accessories Supplied and Available xix

Accessories Supplied xix Accessories Available xix Supplied Manuals xix

Differences Between Prior and Current Revisions of the HP 53131A/132A xx

HP 53131A Containing Firmware Revisions (3317, 3335, or

3402) xx Calibrations xxi

Measurements xxi Statistics xxii HP-IB Commands xxii

HP 53132A Time Interval Delay Arming xxii

Operating Guide iii

Contents

HP 53131A/132A Quick Reference Guide xxiii

1 Getting Started

The Front Panel at a Glance 1-2 The Front Panel Indicators at a Glance 1-3 The Front Panel Indicators at a Glance (Cont.) 1-4 The Front Panel Menus at a Glance 1-5 The Front Panel Menus at a Glance (Cont.) 1-6 The Front Panel Menus at a Glance (Cont.) 1-7 The Front Panel Menus at a Glance (Cont.) 1-8 The Display Annunciators at a Glance 1-9 The Display Special Character at a Glance 1-10 The Limit Test Graph Characters at a Glance 1-10 The Rear Panel at a Glance 1-11 Making Measurements 1-12

To Measure Frequency 1-13 To Select Input Coupling and Impedance 1-15

Selecting Input Coupling 1-15 Selecting Input Impedance 1-16

To Set Input Channel Trigger Level/Sensitivity 1-17

Changing Trigger Mode 1-17 Modifying Input Trigger Level 1-17 Selecting Input Trigger Slope 1-18 Selecting Input Sensitivity 1-19 Starting the Measurement 1-19

To Select Scale and Offset 1-19

Entering the Scale Value 1-20 Entering the Offset Value 1-21 Displaying the Math Results 1-22 Disabling Math 1-22

To Set Limits of Measurements 1-23

Setting the Upper Limit 1-24 Setting the Lower Limit 1-26

iv Operating Guide

Contents

Setting the Counter to Flag and Stop Measuring On Out-of-Limit Measurements 1-28

Setting the Counter to Flag On Limits But Continue Measuring 1-29

Disabling Limit Testing 1-30 Disabling Math 1-30

To Perform Statistics on Measurements 1-31

Selecting the Type of Statistic s (Stats) 1-31 Computing Stats on Filtered Data Only 1-32 Displaying Stats After Filtering Data of Input

Signal 1-34 Disabling Stats and Math 1-35

To Control Measurement 1-36

2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Introduction 2-2

Chapter Summary 2-2 Where to Find Some Key Working Examples 2-3

How this Counter Wor k s for You 2-4 Using the Measurement Control Keys (Run and Stop/

Single) 2-5

Overview of the Measurement Control Keys 2-5 To Use the Measurement Control Keys 2-6

Using Entry/Select (Arrow) Keys 2-8

To Use During Numeric Entry 2-8 To Use When Sequencing Through the Measurement

Function Menus (Freq & Ratio, Time & Period, Other Meas) and the Recall Menu 2-8

To Use During State Changing (ON/OFF, LO/MED/HI, etc.) 2-9

To Use on Prompted Event Messages (SET OFFSET ?, CAL: OFFS n ?, TEST: ALL?, etc.) 2-9

To Use on Prompted Help Messages (MATH HELP ?, PRINT HELP ?) 2-9

Operating Guide v

Contents

Using the MEASURE Menu Keys 2-10

Overview of the MEASURE Menus 2-10 To Measure Frequency 2-11 To Measure Frequency Ratio 2-12 To Measure Time Interval 2-13 To Measure Period 2-13 To Measure Rise/Fall Times 2-13 To Measure Positive/Negative Pulse Widths 2-14 To Measure Duty Cycle 2-14 To Make Totalize Measurements 2-14 To Make Phase Measurements 2-15 To Measure Positive/Negative Voltage Peaks 2-15

Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key 2-16

Overview of Gate/External Arming Functions 2-16 Gate/External Arming Capabilities 2-16

AUTO Arming 2-16 EXTERNAL Arming 2-17 TIME Arming 2-17 DIGITS Arming 2-17 HP 53131A (and HP 53132A With S/N Prefix Below

3646) Time Interval DELAY Arming 2-17 HP 53132A (With S/N Prefix 3646 and Above) Time

Interval DELAY Arming 2-20

To Use the Gate and External Arm 2-24

Example Procedure for Gate and External Arm 2-24 Example Procedure for Changing the Number of Digits of Resolution Displayed for More Precise Measurements 2-25

Using the MATH Menu Keys 2-27

Overview of Scale/Offset Math Menu 2-27 To Use the Scale/Offset Math Menu 2-28

Example Procedure for Scale Function 2-28 Example Procedure for Offset Function 2-29

vi Operating Guide

Contents

Example Procedure for Turning Off Math Mode 2-30 Example Procedure for Setting the Offset From

the Last Measurement Value 2-31

Overview of Statistics (Stats) Menu 2-32 To Use the Stats Menu for Automatic and Continuous

Statistical Analysis 2-33

Example Procedure for Computing Stats 2-33 Example Procedure for Easy Viewing of Stats 2-34 Example Procedure for Filtering Data (Using Limits) During Stats 2-35 Example Procedure for Configuring SINGLE to Initiate N Measurements 2-36 Example Procedure for Turning Off Stats Mode 2-36

Using the LIMITS Menu Keys 2-37

Overview of Limits Menus 2-37 To Set and Use Automatic Limit Testing 2-38

Limits Testing Example 1—Flag and Stop Measuring On L imits 2-38

Limits Testing Example 2—Flag On Limits but Continue Measuring 2-40

Limits Testing Example 3—Use Analog Graph Display While Adjusting Input Signal 2-40

Limits Testing Example 4—Selecting Filtering Conditions of Stats Computation 2-42

Limits Testing Example 5—Sending the Limit-Detect Output to the RS-232 Serial Port 2-43

Using CHANNEL 1 and CHANNEL 2 Input Conditioning Keys 2-44

Overview of Trigger/Sensitivity Menu 2-44 To Use the Trigger/Sensitivity Keys to Adjust Counter’s

Triggering Level 2-48

Example Procedure for Setting Trigger Voltage and Sensitivity Levels 2-48

Operating Guide vii

Contents

Example Procedure for Using Common 1 to Make Time Interval (TI) Measurements on a Single Signal 2-51

Overview of Input Conditioning Toggle Keys 2-51

Using the Save and Recall Menus 2-52

Overview of Save and Recall Functions 2-52 To Use the Save Function 2-53 To Use the Recall Function 2-54 To Unsave a Measurement Setup 2-55

Using the Print Menu 2-56

Overview of the Print Menu 2-56 To Use the Print Menu 2-56

Using the Utility Menu 2-57

Overview of the Utility Menu 2-57 To Set the HP-IB Address 2-58

Selecting Operating Mode (Talk/Listen, TalkOnly) 2-58

Setting the HP-IB Address 2-58 To Choose the Timebase Source 2-59 To Run the Self-Test Routines 2-59

Overview of the Self-Test Routines 2-59

Example Procedure for Running the Self Test 2-61 To Configure the RS-232 Serial Port for Printing 2-61

Setting the Hardware Pacing 2-62

Setting the Baud Rate 2-62

Setting the Parity 2-63

Setting the Software Pace 2-63 To Configure the RS-232 Serial Port for Sending

Limit-Detect Output 2-64 To Select the Numerical Convention for the Display 2-65 To Connect the Counter to a Serial Printer via the RS-232

Port 2-65 To Connect the Counter to a Printer via HP-IB 2-66 To Select the HP-IB Talk-Only Mode for Printing 2-66

viii Operating Guide

Contents

Using the Calibration Menu 2-67

Overview of the Calibration Menu 2-67 To View the Calibration Menu and Security Status 2-68 To Unsecure for Calibration 2-68 To Initiate the Calibration Routines 2-69 To Secure Against Calibration 2-71 To Change to a New Security Code 2-72 To View the Calibration Count 2-72 To Get Help With the Calibration Menu 2-72

Front Panel Display Messages 2-73

Measurement Result Displays 2-73 Power-Up/Self Test Messages 2-74 Menu Messages 2-75 HP-IB Messages 2-77

Preset Values After Power-Up and *RST 2-78

HP 53131A (and HP 53132A With S/N Prefix Below 3646) Preset Values for Functions Accessible Via Front Panel or HP-IB 2-79

HP 53132A (With S/N Prefix 3646 and Above) Preset Values for Functions Accessible Via Front Panel or HP-IB 2-85

Preset Values for Functions Accessible Via HP-IB Only 2-91

Summary of the Measurement Sequence 2-93 Common Questions 2-94

Why is Stats result not available yet? 2-94

Why won’t printer work? 2-94 Why did Counter stop measuring? 2-94 Why did Counter go to its default state after I set up my

RS-232 port? 2-94 Counter’s numeric display does not follow the numerical

convention for my country. 2-94 How do I display the 13th digit in my numerical

result? 2-94

Operating Guide ix

Contents

3 Specifications

Introduction 3-2

Instrument Inputs 3-2 Instrument Inputs (Continued) 3-3 Time Base 3-4 Measurement Specifications 3-5 Measurement Specifications (Continued) 3-6 Measurement Definitions 3-12 Measurement Definitions (Continued) 3-13 Measurement Arming and Processing 3-14 Measurement Arming and Processing (Continued) 3-15 General Information 3-16

Index

x Operating Guide

In This Guide

This book is the operating guide for the HP 53131A and HP 53132A 225 MHz Universal Counters. It consists of a table of contents, this preface, a quick reference guide, three chapters, and an index.

This preface contains the following information:

• Contents and Organization page xii

• Related Documents page xiii

• Types of Service Available if Your Instrument Fails page xiv

• Repackaging for Shipment page xv

• Description of the 225 MHz Universal Counter page xvi

• Options page xviii

• Accessories Supplied and Available page xix – Supplied Manuals page xix

• Differences Between Prior and Current Revisions of the HP 53131A/132A

Operating Guide xi

page xx

In This Guide

Contents and Organization

Table of Contents

The Quick Reference Guide consists of a Menu Tree (cut-out shee t) that serves as a device to trigger your memory or get you quickly reacquainted with the instrument, and Menu Roadmaps that illustrate how to navigate through the menus. It is located after this preface.

Chapter 1, “Getting Started,” is a quick start guide that gives you a brief

overview of the Counter’s keys, indicators, menus, display, and connectors. Last, a graphical procedure for performing a complete measurement is provided.

Chapter 2, “Operating Your Universal Counter,” is an operator’s reference. You are given an overview of each group of front-panel keys, operating functions, and menus followed by a series of exercises that guide you through the operation of the Counter.

Chapter 3, “Specifications,” lists the specifications and characteristics of the Counter.

Index

xii Operating Guide

In This Guide

Types of Service Available if Your Instrument Fails

If your HP 53131A/132A fails within three years of original purchase, HP will repair it free of charge. If your instrument fails after your 3-year warranty expires HP will repair it, or you can repair it yourself by ordering the service guide.

There are three types of repair services:

• Standard repair service—if downtime is not critical.

• Express Repair/Performance Calibration Service—if downtime is critical.

• Order the Assembly-Level Service Guide and repair unit yourself.

Standard Repair Services (Worldwide)

Contact your nearest HP Service Center. They will arrange to have your HP 53131A/132A Universal Counter repaired.

Express Repair/Performance Calibration Service (USA Only)

If downtime is critical, you can receive your repaired HP 53131A/132A via overnight shipment. Just call 1-800-403-0801 and ask for Express Repair/Performance Calibration Service. When your Counter is repaired, it will be returned via overnight shipment.

Assembly-Level Service Guide

If your HP 53131A/132A 3-year warranty has expired and you choose to repair the instrument yourself or would like more details on self test and calibration, refer to the HP 53131A/132A Assembly-Level Service Guide, HP part number 53131-90023.

xiv Operating Guide

In This Guide

Repackaging for Shipment

For the Express Repair/Performance Calibration Service described above, return your failed HP 53131A/132A to the designated HP Service Center, using the shipping carton of the instrument. HP will notify you when your failed instrument has been received.

If the instrument is to be shipped to HP for service or repair, be sure you do the following:

• Attach a tag to the instrument identifying the owner and indicating the required service or repair. Include the instrument model number and full serial number.

• Place the instrument in its original container with appropriate packaging material.

• Secure the container with strong tape or metal bands.

If the original shipping container is not available, place your unit in a container which will ensure at least 4 inches of compressible packaging material around all sides of the unit. Use static free packaging materials to avoid additional damage to your unit.

HP suggests that you always insure shipments.

Operating Guide xv

In This Guide

Description of the 225 MHz Universal Counter

The HP 53131A and HP 53132A are universal counters capable of measuring frequencies to 225 MHz on Channels 1 and 2. With an optional Channel 3 Option 030, Option 050, or Option 124, this capability is extended to 3.0, 5.0, or 12.4 GHz, respectively.

For the HP 53131A, frequency and time interval resolutions ar e 10 digits in one second and 500 picoseconds, respectively. The HP 53131A provides users with a HP-IB measuring speed of up to 200 measurements per second, and is suitable for bench-top operation and lower-volume ATE operation. The frequency and time interval resolutions for the HP 53132A are up to 12 digits in one second and 150 picoseconds, respectively. The HP 53132A provides users with exceptional resolution, and is ideal for ATE systems operation.

The HP 53131A/132A basic measurement functions include Frequency, Period, Pulse Width, Duty Cycle, Rise/Fall Time, Time Interval, Frequency Ratio, Totalize, Phase, and Peak Voltage. The HP 53131A/132A Counter has four arming modes: auto, external, digits and time. However, the HP 53132A with serial number prefix 3646 and above has expanded arming capabilities for Time Interval measurements.

xvi Operating Guide

In This Guide

The HP 53131A/132A include additional measurement functions and features that are designed specifically for manufacturing and service applications:

• 1, 5, 10 MHz external reference capability—to match customer’s house standard (however, the HP 53132A’s external reference capability is 10 MHz only),

• optional ultra high, high, or medium stability oven oscillators for high accuracy needs and lengthened calibration cycles,

• external gating,

• statistics,

• automatic limit testing,

• SCPI programming capability, and

• analog display mode limit testing

Programmable control is performed via an HP-IB. The HP-IB and a talk-only RS-232C serial port are standard for the HP 53131A and HP 53132A. The serial port is for printing measured and analyzed data on serial printers, or for outputting an out-of-limit signal.

Operating Guide xvii

In This Guide

Options

The options available for the HP 53131A/132A 225 MHz Universal Counter are listed following this paragraph. Specifications for the option s

are listed in Chapter 3, “Specifications.” If you’ve purchased an option with the initial order, it will be installed at the factory and ready for operation at delivery. Refer to the “Retrofitting Options” chapter in the Assembly-Level Service Guide for instructions on field installation of the options.

NOTE

The “0’s” and “1’s” in the following option numbers are numeric characters (that is, they are not letters).

Hardware

• Medium Stability Oven Timebase, Option 001

• DC Power Input, Option 002

• High Stability Oven Timebase, Option 010

• Ultra-High Stability Oven Timebase, Option 012 (HP 53132A only)

• 3.0 GHz RF Input Channel (Channel 3), Option 030

• 5.0 GHz RF Input Channel (Channel 3), Option 050

• 12.4 GHz RF Input Channel (Channel 3), Option 124

• Rear Terminals

, Option 060

• Rack Mount Kit, Option 1CM. Also available under HP part number 5062-3972.

• Lock-Link Kit (side-by-side) available under HP part number 5061-9694. Also requires Flange Kit, part number 5062-3974.

Support

• 5-year Return to HP for Repair, Option W50

• 5-year Return to HP for Calibration, Option W52

The two standard input channels (1 and 2) will have both front and rear terminals. Option 030 Channel 3 will have a rear terminal only. Option 050 and Option 124 Channel 3 will have a front terminal only.

xviii Operating Guide

In This Guide

Accessories Supplied and Available

Accessories Supplied

• Power cord, 2.3 meters

Accessories Available

• HP 34161A Accessory Pouch

• HP 34131A Transit Case

• Printer RS-232 Interface cables, HP 24542G or HP 24542H

• HP-IB cables, HP 10833A/B/C/D

Supplied Manuals

• HP 53131A/132A Operating Guide—this guide (HP P/N 53131-90055)

• HP 53131A/132A Programming Guide (HP P/N 53131-90044)

• HP 53131A/132A Assembly-Level Service Guide (HP P/N 53131-90023)

Operating Guide xix

In This Guide

Differences Between Prior and Current Revisions of the HP 53131A/132A

If you have an HP 53131A containing one of the prior firmware revisions

(3317, 3335, or 3402), read the subsection below titled “HP 53131A Containing Firmware Revisions (3317, 3335, or 3402)” to get an overview of the differences between the earlier firmware revisions and current firmware revision.

If you have an HP 53132A with a serial number prefix below 3646, read the subsection titled “HP 53132A Time Interval Delay Arming” on page xxii.

NOTE

Note that throughout the guide, differences between the earlier and current firmware revisions are noted where applicable.

HP 53131A Containing Firmware Revisions (3317, 3335, or 3402)

There are four main areas that differ:

• Calibrations

•Measurements

•Statistics

• HP-IB Commands

xx Operating Guide

In This Guide

Calibrations

If your Counter contains other than the current firmware revision, the following calibration features are different:

• The calibration functions are in the Utility menu instead of the Calibration menu, which is accessed by pressing and holding the front-panel Utility key and then cycling POWER key.

• Calibrations are not protected by a security code.

• A calibration count does not exist to aid in monitoring the number of calibrations performed.

• A more accurate Time Interval calibration (FINE TI) is not available.

See the section titled “Using the Calibration Menu” in Chapter 2 of the HP 53131A/132A Operating Guide for details.

Measurements

If your Counter contains other than the current firmware revision, the following measurement capabilities are different:

• Ratio channel selections Ratio 2 to 1 and Ratio 3 to 1 (for those counters equipped with Channel 3) are not available.

• Ratio “AUTO-armed” does not automatically extends gate to capture sufficient edges.

If Channel 1 input frequency is less than approximately 10 Hz, the Ratio gate time is not extended to capture sufficient Channel 1 edges to produce a valid measurement. Default gate time is 100 msec, which is not long enough to capture two edges on a low-frequency signal. The user is required to extend the gate by switching to TIME arming, and selecting a gate time appropriately long.

• Sensitivity for firmware revision below does not have adjusted controls to LO and MED sensitivity.

In some Counters that contained firmware revision 3317, LO sensitivity fails to correctly count very high frequency signals.

Operating Guide xxi

In This Guide

Statistics

If your Counter contains other than the current firmware revisions, single-shot statistics are not available using the ON SINGLE: menu item found in the Statistics menu (use Stats key).

HP-IB Comman ds

[:SENSe]:EVENt[1|2}:HYSTeresis:RELative

If your Counter contains firmware revisions 3402 and below, the input hysteresis command and query does not operate in the conventional way. That is, [:SENSe]:EVENt[1|2]:HYSTeresis:RELative sets high sensitivity when the parameter is MINimum or 0 percent, and sets low sensitivity when the parameter is MAXimum or 100 percent.

In the prior firmware revisions (3317, 3335, or 3402), MINimum or 0 percent corresponded to low sensitivity, and MAXimum or 100 percent corresponded to high sensitivity.

:CONFigure:TOTalize:TIMed :CONFigure:TOTalize:CONTinuous :MEASure:TOTalize:TIMed?

If your Counter contains firmware revisions 3402 and below, the Totalize Measurement Instruction commands (shown above) are not available to disable auto-trigger.

In the firmware revisions 3402 and below, these commands enabled auto-trigger at the 50% level.

HP 53132A Time Interval Delay Arming

HP 53131A and HP 53132A Counters with a serial number prefix below 3646 are identical in their TI arming modes. Both only offer Time Interval Delay, where the STOP trigger of a time interval measurement can be delayed by a user-specified time.

xxii Operating Guide

HP 53131A/132A Quick Reference Guide

The Quick Reference Guide is designed for experienced users of the HP 53131A/132A Universal Counter. It is intended to be used as a tool to trigger your memory. If you are using the HP 53131A/132A for the first time, HP recommends that you at least read Chapter 1, “Getti ng St art ed,”

in the Operating Gui de first. The Quick Reference Guide follows this page, and consists of the following

items:

• Menu Trees which may be torn out of the guide for external use (pages 1, 2, 3a, and 3b).

• Menu Roadmaps which illustrate via key-press sequences how to navigate through the menus under the menu keys (pages 4 through 11). Key-press sequences are provided for the following menu keys:

– Freq & Ratio – Time & Period –Other Meas – Gate & ExtArm – Uppr & Lower – Limit Modes – Scale & Offset –Stats – Trigger/Sensitivity

Operating Guide xxiii

xxiv Operating Guide

HP 53131A/132A

Universal Counter

Freq & Ratio

FREQUENCY 1 FREQUENCY 2 FREQUENCY 3 RATI O 1 TO 2 RATI O 1 TO 3 RATI O 2 TO 1 RATI O 3 TO 1

Uppr & Lower

UPPR: 0.000000 LOWR: 0.000000

Time & Period

T I 1 TO 2 PERIOD 1 RISETIME 1 FALLTIME 1 POS WIDTH 1 NEG WIDTH 1

Limit Modes

LIM TEST: OFF

LIM TEST: ON

ON FAIL:GO ON

ON FAIL: STOP

SHOW: NUMBER

SHOW: GRAPH

Scale & Offset

SCALE:1.000000 OFFS: 0.000000 SET OFFSET ? MATH: OFF

MATH: ON

MATH HELP?

Other Meas

T O T A L I Z E 1 PHASE 1 TO 2 DUTYCYCLE 1 VOLT PEAKS 1 VOLT PEAKS 2

Stats

SHOW: MEAS

SHOW: STD DEV SHOW: MEAN SHOW: MAX SHOW: MIN

N: 100 STATS: OFF

STATS: ON

USE: ALL MEAS

USE: IN LIMIT

ON SINGLE: 1

ON SINGLE: N

(HP 53131A and HP 53132A)

HP 53131A/132A

Universal Counter

Recall

NO REGISTERS RECALL 0 RECALL 1 RECALL 2 RECALL 3 RECALL 4 RECALL 5

RECALL 20

50Ω 1MΩ

CH 1: 50 OHM

CH 1: 1M OHM

Save & Print

SAVE: UNSAVE: PRINT: OFF

PRINT: ON

PRINT HELP?

DC AC

CH 1: DC

CH 1: AC

Trigger Sensitivity

AUTO TRG: ON AUTO TRG: OFF LEVEL: 50 PCT SLOPE: POS

SLOPE: NEG

SENSTVTY: HI

SENSTVTY: LO SENSTVTY:MED

COMMON 1: OFF

COMMON 1: ON

X10 Attenuate

CH 1: X10 ATT

CH 1: X1 ATT

LEVEL: 0.000V

SLOPE: POS

SLOPE: NEG

SENSTVTY: HI

SENSTVTY: LO SENSTVTY:MED

COMMON 1: OFF

COMMON 1: ON

100kHz Filter

CH 1: LP FILT

CH 1: NO FILT

(HP 53131A and HP 53132A)

HP 53131A and

HP 53132A

(Serial Number Prefix below 3646)

Universal Counter

Gate & ExtArm

Time & Period

T I 1 TO 2

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Gate & ExtArm

ARM: AUTO DELAY : NONE

DELAY : TIME

T IME : .01000

GATE: TIME

TIME: .100 s

ARM : EXTERNL

SLOPE : POS

DELAY: NONE

GATE: AUTO

SLOPE : NEG DELAY: TIME

TIME : .01000

START: POS

START: NEG

STOP: AUTO

STOP: NEG STOP: POS STOP: TIME

TIME: .100 s

GATE: DIGITSGATE: EXTERNL

DIGITS: 4

(HP 53131A and HP 53132A S/N below 3646)

HP 53132A

(Serial Number Prefix 3646 and above)

Universal Counter

Time & Period

T I 1 TO 2

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Gate & ExtArm

GATE: TIME

TIME: .100 s

GATE: AUTO

Gate & ExtArm

START: POS

START: NEG

STOP: AUTO

STOP: NEG STOP: POS STOP: TIME

TIME: .100 s

GATE: DIGITSGATE: EXTERNL

DIGITS: 4

START: AUTO DELAY : NONE

T : .1 E : 1

DELAY :TIME

DELAY : EVENT

SLOPE : POS

DELAY: NONE

STOP : AUTO

DELAY : NONE

DELAY: TIME

T : .1 E : 1

SLOPE : POS

T : .1 E : 1

(HP 53132A S/N 3646 and above)

START: EXT

SLOPE : NEG

STOP : EXT

DELAY : TIME

DELAY: EVENT

SLOPE : NEG

DELAY : EVENT

HP 53131A/132A Universal Counter

Freq & Ratio

MEASURE

Time & Period

Other Meas

Freq & Ratio

FREQUENCY 1

FREQUENCY 2

FREQUENCY 3

RATIO 1 TO 2

RATIO 1 TO 3

RATIO 2 TO 1

RATIO 3 TO 1

Time & Period

T I 1 TO 2

Time &

PERIOD 1

Period

Time &

RISETIME 1

Period

Time &

FALLTIME 1

Period

Time &

POS WIDTH 1

Period

Time &

NEG WIDTH 1

Period

Other Meas

TOTALIZE 1

Other

PHASE 1 TO 2

Meas

Other

DUTYCYCLE 1

Meas

Other

VOLT PEAKS 1

Meas

Other

VOLT PEAKS 2

Meas

(HP 53131A and HP 53132A)

HP 53131A/132A Universal Counter

Freq & Ratio

FREQUENCY 1

MEASURE

– – – – – – – – – – – –

Gate & ExtArm

GATE: TIME

GATE: AUTO

GATE: EXTERNL

Gate & ExtArm

GATE: DIGITS

STOP:

TIME: .100

Gate &

TIME: .100

ExtArm

TIME: .200

Gate &

START:

ExtArm

START: POS START: NEG

STOP: AUTO STOP: NEG STOP: POS STOP: TIME

TIME: .2000

Gate &

DIGITS: 10

ExtArm

Enter

Gate & ExtArm

RUN

DIGITS: 5

(HP 53131A and HP 53132A)

Enter

RUN

HP 53131A and HP 53132A

(Serial Number Prefix below 3646)

Universal Counter

Time & Period

TI 1 TO 2

MEASURE

– – – – – – – – – – – –

Gate & ExtArm

ARM:

Gate & ExtArm

SLOPE:

DELAY:

TIME: .01000

ARM: AUTO ARM: EXTERNL

SLOPE: POS SLOPE: NEG

DELAY: NONE DELAY: TIME

TIME: .02000

RUN

Enter

(HP 53131A and HP 53132A S/N below 3646)

HP 53132A

(Serial Number Prefix 3646 and above)

Universal Counter

Time & Period

TI 1 TO 2

MEASURE

- - - - - - - - - - -

Gate & ExtArm

START:

Gate & ExtArm

SLOPE:

START: EXT START: AUTO

Gate & ExtArm

SLOPE: POS SLOPE: NEG

Gate &

DELAY:

ExtArm

DELAY :NONE DELAY :TIME DELAY :EVENT

Gate &

T : .1

ExtArm

T : 100.1

Gate &

E : 1

ExtArm

E : 1000

Enter

B C

(HP 53132A S/N 3646 and above)

HP 53132A

(Serial Number Prefix 3646 and above)

Universal Counter

Gate & ExtArm

STOP :

STOP :EXT

B C

STOP :AUTO

Gate &

SLOPE :

ExtArm

SLOPE : POS

SLOPE : NEG

Gate &

DELAY :

ExtArm

DELAY :NONE

Run

DELAY :TIME DELAY :EVENT

Gate & ExtArm

T : .1

T : 100.1

E : 1

E : 1000

Run

Enter

Run

Enter

(HP 53132A S/N 3646 and above)

HP 53131A/132A Universal Counter

Uppr & Lower

LIMITS

Uppr & Lower

Limit Modes

Uppr & Lower

Limit Modes

UPPR: 0.000000

Uppr &

LOWR: 0.000000

Lower

LIM TEST:

Limit

ON FAIL:GO ON

Modes

Limit

SHOW: NUMBER

Modes

UPPR: 5.100000

LOWR: 4.900000

LIM TEST: OFF LIM TEST: ON

ON FAIL:GO ON ON FAIL: STOP

SHOW: NUMBER SHOW: GRAPH

Enter

RUN

(HP 53131A and HP 53132A)

HP 53131A/132A Universal Counter

Scale & Offset

MATH

Scale & Offset

SCAL: 1.000000

OFFS: 0.000000

SET OFFSET?

MATH:

MATH HELP ?

SCAL: 2.000000

OFFS: 0.500000

Enter

OFFS:-nnnnnnn

MATH: OFF MATH: ON

Enter

(MEAS X SCALE) + OFFS = RESULT

Enter

RUN

(HP 53131A and HP 53132A)

HP 53131A/132A Universal Counter

Stats

MATH

Stats

SHOW:

SHOW: MEAS SHOW: STD DEV SHOW: MEAN

SHOW: MAX

SHOW: MIN

Stats

N: 100

N: 200

STATS:

STATS: OFF STATS: ON

USE:

USE: ALL MEAS USE: IN LIMIT

ON SINGLE:

ON SINGLE: 1 ON SINGLE: N

Enter

RUN

Run

(HP 53131A and HP 53132A)

HP 53131A/132A Universal Counter

Freq & Ratio

– – – – – – – – – – – –

Trigger Sensitivity

CHANNEL 1 CHANNEL 2

Trigger Sensitivity

FREQUENCY 1 FREQUENCY 2 FREQUENCY 3 RATIO 1 TO 2 RATIO 1 TO 3 RATIO 2 TO 1 RATIO 3 TO 1

Time & Period

PERIOD 1 RISETIME 1 FALLTIME 1 POS WIDTH 1 NEG WIDTH 1

Other Meas

TOTALIZE PHASE 1 TO 2 DUTY CYCLE 1

Trigger Sensitivity

AUTO TRG:

Enter

Trigger Sensitivity

AUTO TRG: ON

AUTO TRG: OFF

LEVEL: 0.000V

LEVEL: 2.000V

LEVEL: 50 PCT

LEVEL: 75 PCT

SLOPE:

SLOPE: POS SLOPE: NEG

SENSTVTY:

SENSTVTY: HI SENSTVTY: LO SENSTVTY: MED

RUN

(HP 53131A and HP 53132A)

HP 53131A/132A Universal Counter

Time & Period

TI 1 TO 2

CHANNEL 1 CHANNEL 2

– – – – – – – – – – – –

Trigger Sensitivity

AUTO TRG:

LEVEL: 0.000V

LEVEL: 50 PCT

SLOPE:

SENSTVTY:

COMMON 1:

AUTO TRG: ON

AUTO TRG: OFF

LEVEL: 2.000V

LEVEL: 75 PCT

SLOPE: POS SLOPE: NEG

SENSTVTY: HI SENSTVTY: LO SENSTVTY: MED

COMMON 1: OFF

COMMON 1: ON

RUN

Enter

RUN

(HP 53131A and HP 53132A)

Getting Started

Chapter 1 Getting Started

The Front Panel at a Glance

Remote

SRQ

POWER

Utility Menu: Hold at power up

53131 A

UNIVERSAL COUNTER

Period Freq +Wid -Wid Rise Fall Time Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 ExtRef

MEASURE LIMITS MATH CHANNEL 1 CHANNEL 2

Freq & Ratio

Other Meas

Recall

Time & Period

Gate & ExtArm

LocalUtility Save & Print

225 MHz

Uppr & Lower

Limit Modes

Run

Scale & Offset

Stats

Stop/ Single

567

MHz µs

Trigger Sensitivity

50Ω 1MΩ

DC AC

X10 Attenuate

Gate

Damage Lvl: 5V rms MAX.50Ω

100kHz Filter

Limit

12 13

+/–

Enter

Trigger Sensitivity

50Ω 1MΩ

DC AC

X10 Attenuate

CHANNEL 3

100 MHz − 3 GHz

Damage Lvl: 5V rms MAX.50Ω

100kHz Filter

Note: Unit shown with Option 030.

1 Measurement function menu keys 2 Limits menu keys 3 Math menu keys 4 Sign (+ or −) selection toggle key 5 Data Entry/Select (or arrow) keys 6 Enter numeric data (terminate) key 7 3.0/5.0/12.4 GHz RF input chann el

(optional)

8 Utility menu key (Hold during

power-up to access Utility functions.)

9 Recall, Save and Print menu keys 10 Gate and External Arm menu key 11 Measurement control keys 12 Channel 1 Trigger/Sensitivity menu

key and input conditioning keys

13 Channel 2 Trigger/Sensitivity menu

key and input conditioning keys

14 Calibration menu key (Hold Scale &

Offset key during power-up to access Calibration functions.)

NOTE

It is normal operation for the fan in the Counter to continue to run after the Counter is placed in Standby mode. Power to the timebase is continuous to maintain long term measurement reliability, and the fan helps maintain timebase temperature stability.

1-2 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Other Meas

Time & Period

Freq & Ratio

The Front Panel Indicators at a Glance

There are eight different gro ups of indicato rs or LEDs. They are listed and described in the following table.

Indicators Description of the Indicators

When one of these indicato rs is lit, it simultaneous ly

indicates which key’s menu (for example, Time & Period key) and its menu item (for example, TI 1 to 2) is enabled.

When these indicators are lit, the key’s “enable”

Scale & Offset

Stats

Limit Modes

Local Save & Print

Trigger Sensitivity

menu item (that is, Limit Modes/LIM TEST, Scale & Offset/MATH, Stats/STATS, and Save & Print/PRINT) is enabled.

When this indi cator is lit, i t indica tes that yo u are in the Trigger/Sensitivity menu for the corresponding channel.

When this indicator flashes, it indicates that the arrow keys can be used to modify or enter data.

+/–

Enter

When one of these indicators is lit, it indicates that

Run

Stop/ Single

the Run or Single function is enabled.

Operating Guide 1-3

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Remote

SRQ

The Front Panel Indicators at a Glance (Cont.)

Indicators Description of the Indicators

When this indicator flashes, it indicates that the Counter is triggering on the input signal. If the input signal is too high, this indicator remains ON. If the input signal is too low, this indicator is OFF.

When one of these indicators is lit, it indicates that

50Ω 1MΩ

X10 Attenuate

DC AC

100kHz Filter

the adjacent choice (that is, 50Ω, DC, X10, or 100kHz Filter) is enabled or active. Note that when these indicators are not lit, then the other choice (that is, 1MΩ, AC, X1, or no filter) is active.

A lit Remote indicator indicates that the Counter is in remote mode (No te: In th e remote mo de, the Save & Print key becomes the Local key.)

If (while in remote) an error occurs, the Remote indicator will flash. The indi cator will continue flashing until the controller has read or cleared the error queue, or until the front panel returns to local mode.

An unlit Remote indicator indicates that the Counter is in local mode.

The SRQ indicator indicates that the Counter has requested service from th e controller. The SRQ indicator will remain lit until the controller has recognized the service request and serial poll ed the Counter, or taken specific action to cancel the request (for example, *CLS command).

1-4 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

The Front Panel Menus at a Glance

Freq & Ratio

Time & Period

Other Meas

Gate & ExtArm

FREQUENCY 1 FREQUENCY 2

FREQUENCY 3 RATI O 1 TO 2

RATI O 1 TO 3 RATI O 2 TO 1

RATI O 3 TO 1

Uppr & Lower

UPPR: 0.000000 LOWR: 0.000000

T I 1 TO 2 PERIOD 1 RISETIME 1 FALLTIME 1 POS WIDTH 1 NEG WIDTH 1

Limit Modes

LIM TEST: OFF

LIM TEST: ON

ON FAIL:GO ON

ON FAIL: STOP

SHOW: NUMBER

SHOW: GRAPH

T O T A L I Z E 1 PHASE 1 TO 2 DUTYCYCLE 1 VOLT PEAKS 1 VOLT PEAKS 2

Scale & Offset

SCALE:1.000000 OFFS: 0.000000 SET OFFSET ?

MATH: OFF

MATH: ON

MATH HELP?

GATE: TIME

GATE: AUTO GATE: EXTERNL GATE: DIGITS

Stats

SHOW: MEAS

SHOW: STD DEV SHOW: MEAN SHOW: MAX SHOW: MIN

N: 100

STATS: OFF

STATS: ON

USE: ALL MEAS

USE: IN LIMIT

ON SINGLE: 1

ON SINGLE: N

These menu items appear only if your Counter contains the optional Input Channel.

Refer to the Menu Tree in the Quick Reference Guide (which precedes this chapter) and/or the Gate/External Arming table in Chapter 2 for details on the Gate & ExtArm menu.

Operating Guide 1-5

Chapter 1 Getting Started

The Front Panel Menus at a Glance (Cont.)

Recall

NO REGISTERS

RECALL 0 RECALL 1 RECALL 2 RECALL 3 RECALL 4 RECALL 5

RECALL 20

50Ω 1MΩ

CH 1: 50 OHM

CH 1: 1M OHM

Save & Print

SAVE:

UNSAVE: PRINT: OFF

PRINT: ON

PRINT HELP?

Trigger Sensitivity

AUTO TRG: ON LEVEL: 50 PCT SLOPE: POS

SLOPE: NEG

SENSTVTY: HI

AUTO TRG: OFF LEVEL: 0.000V

SENSTVTY: LO SENSTVTY:MED

COMMON 1: OFF

COMMON 1: ON

DC AC

777

CH 1: DC

CH 1: AC

X10 Attenuate

CH 1: X10 ATT

CH 1: X1 ATT

100kHz Filter

CH 1: LP FILT

CH 1: NO FILT

This appears when nothing can be recalled.

Only registers which can be recalled will appear in this menu.

This menu item only appears if an instrument setup has been saved.

COMMON 1 only appears when the Counter is operating in the Time Interval measurement function (TI 1 TO 2).

Channel 2 is the same, except “CH 2” instead of “CH 1” is displayed. These menus will terminate after two seconds.

1-6 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

The Front Panel Menus at a Glance (Cont.)

NOTE

Turn power off, press and hold Recall (Utility) key, then press POWER key to access this menu.

POWER

On / Stby

Utility

Recall

REV:

HP-IB: 3 TIMEBAS: AUTO

TIMEBAS: INT TIMEBAS: EXT

CAL: HELP? TEST LOOP: OFF

TEST LOOP: ON

TST PRINT:OFF

TST PRINT: ON

TEST: ALL?

TEST: DISP? TEST: CPU? TEST: ROM? TEST: RAM? TEST: EEPROM? TEST: HP-IB? TEST: QSPI? TEST: FPGA? TEST: FR END? TEST: MEAS? TEST: INTERP?

TEST: KEYPAD? TEST: PRINT?

BAUD: 9600

BAUD: 19200 BAUD: 300 BAUD: 1200 BAUD: 2400

PARITY: OFF

PARITY: EVEN PARITY: ODD

SW PACE: XON

SW PACE: NONE

DTR: HIGH

DTR: LIMIT DTR: HW PACE

SHOW 9 AS: 9.0

SHOW 9 AS: 9,0

These menu items appear only if TEST LOOP is OFF.

Operating Guide 1-7

Chapter 1 Getting Started

The Front Panel Menus at a Glance (Cont.)

NOTE

Turn power off, press and hold Scale & Offset key, then press POWER key to access this menu. (This menu does not exist in early versions of the Counter. In the early versions of the Counter, the CAL: menu item resides in the Utility menu, and there is no calibration security capability.)

POWER

Scale & Offset

On / Stby

CAL SECURE CAL UNSECURE

CAL: OFFS1?

CAL: OFFS2? CAL: GAIN1? CAL: GAIN2? CAL: TI QUIK? CAL: TI FINE? CAL: TIMEBAS?

CODE: 0 CAL COUNT? HELP: CAL?

HELP: SECURE? HELP: CODE?

This menu item appears and calibration is permitted only if calibration is unsecure. Enter in the correct code

to change calibration to secure; refer to the section titled “Using the Calibration Menu” in Chapter 2 in this guide for more information.

Timebase can be automatically calibrated only if the timebase option is installed.

1-8 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

The Display Annunciators at a Glance

MHz

µs

Period Freq +Wid -Wid Rise Fall Time Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 Limit ExtRef

Annunciator Indication Period Counter is set to mea sur e Period. Freq Counter is set to mea sur e Fr equency. +Wid Counter is set to mea sur e Positive Pulse Width.

−Wid C ounter is set to measur e Negative Pulse Width. Rise Counte r i s set to measure Rise Time. (The Time ann unciator is also

turned on when the R ise annunciator is on.)

Fall Counter is set to mea sur e Fa ll Time. (The Time annunci at or is al so

turned on when Fall annunciator is on.)

Time Counter is set to mea sur e Time Inte rval. (The Time annunciator is

also turned on when the R i se or Fa l l an nun ci at or ar e on.)

Ch 1 Counter’s channel 1 is selected to measure an input signal. Ch 2 Counter’s channel 2 is selected to measure an input signal. Ch 3 Counter’s channel 3 is selected to measure an input signal. Limit Counter is limit te st ing and the current mea surement exceeds th e

user-entered limits.

ExtRef Counter is se t to use the signal connect ed at rear panel Ref In

connector as the timebase (TIMEBAS: EXT); or Counte r is set to automatically (TIMEBAS: AUTO) select the timebase and has chosen the signal connected at th e rear panel Ref In connector.

Hz The displayed data is in units of Hertz. M The prefix for the units of th e displayed data is mega (10

µ The prefix for the units of th e displayed data is micro (10

s The displayed data is in units of seconds. Gate The gat e is open. Before a measurement starts, this annunciat or is

OFF, indicating the gate is closed. During a measurement, the annunciator is ON, indi cating the gate is open.

Gate

−6

Operating Guide 1-9

Chapter 1 Getting Started

The Display Special Character at a Glance

MHz

µs

Period Freq +Wid -Wid Rise Fall Time Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 Limit ExtRef

Special Character Description

A placeholder that indicates this digit is not significant.

Gate

The Limit Test Graph Characters at a Glance

Freq Ch 1

Special Character Description

The colons represent the lower and upper limits.

The asterisk represents the last measurement.

These marks indicate that the last measurement was significantly past the limit i n the direction indicated.

1-10 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

The Rear Panel at a Glance

1 2

WARNING:

I N P U T

Ext

Arm

WARNING:

NO OPERATOR SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE, REFER SERVICING TO SERVICE TRAINED PERSONNEL.

50/60 Hz

50/60/400 Hz

60 VA

100 - 120 VAC

200 - 240 VAC

10 MHz Out

AC LINE:

Ref In

FOR CONTINUED FIRE PROTECTION, USE SPECIFIED ~ LINE FUSE.

5 6 7 8 9

1 Rear-panel input connectors

(optional)

2 Power module (Senses incoming

voltage and automa tically selects proper setup.)

3 Fan 4 External Arm input connector 5 External Reference Input connector

ISM 1-A

FOR LABORATORY USE BY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL FOUR USAGE EN LABORATOIRE PAR PERSONNEL QUALIFIE

OPTIONS

001 MS Oven

HP-IB

Talk Only

010 HS Oven

To Configure: Hold Recall during turn-on.

Osc Adjust

RS - 232

6 10 MHz Output connector 7 HP-IB (IEEE-488.1)

interface connector

8 Oscillator Adjust potentiometer

(This potentiometer is not present for options 001, 010, and 012.)

9 RS-232 interface or Limit

Output connector

SERIAL PLATE

NOTE

Operating Guide 1-11

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

One of the first things you will want to do wi th your HP 53131A/132A Universal Counter is to become acquainted with its front panel. Therefore, we have written the procedures in this section to familiarize you with some of its controls. The following procedures are provided:

• First you are shown how to turn on the Counter and measure the frequency of a signal applied to the Counter’s input channels.

• Second, you are shown how to use the input coupling, impedance, and trigger/sensitivity keys to set the input conditions of the appropriate input channel to match the signal being measured.

• Third, you are shown how to scale and offset the measurement result.

• Fourth, you are shown how to set upper and lower limits for measurements.

• Fifth, you are shown how to enable the Counter to compute statistics (such as standard deviation) and display statistics of measurements.

• Last, you are shown how to use the Run and Stop/Single keys to control measurements.

The order of the procedures in this chapter is the recommended order for making measurements with this Counter.

Study and refer to the following legend, as needed, to understand the meaning of the icons which are used throughout this chapter.

1-12 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Legend

1 Press key one time

and release

2 Press key two times

and release

4 Press and hold 5 Result 6 Auto operation 7 Connect signal

3 Repeated key presses

To Measure Frequency

POWER

On / Stby

Period Freq +Wid -Wid Rise Fall Time Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 Limit ExtRef

91110

8 Disconnect signal 9 Indicator off

10 Indicator on

11 Indicator flashing

MHz

µs

Gate

Freq Ch 1

Operating Guide 1-13

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Other Meas

Time & Period

Gate & ExtArm

MEASURE

Freq & Ratio

Making Measurements

NOTE

Earlier versions of the Counter do not momentarily display the HP-IB address at turn-on.

Connect (for demonstration purposes) the Counter’s rear-panel 10 MHz Out signal to CHANNEL 1 input as shown in the illustrated procedure,

below.

CHANNEL 1

MHz

Damage Lvl: 5V rms MAX.50Ω

Freq Ch 1

Gate

The Counter will automatically display the measured frequency of the input signal.

Disconnect the demonstration signal from CHANNEL 1, and connect it to CHANNEL 2 as shown in the following steps.

CHANNEL 1

Damage Lvl: 5V rms MAX.50Ω

CHANNEL 2

Damage Lvl: 5V rms MAX.50Ω

Freq & Ratio

Freq Ch 1

Freq Ch 2

Freq

Ch 2

MHz

Gate

1-14 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

CHANNEL 2

Trigger Sensitivity

DC AC

50Ω 1MΩ

X10 Attenuate

100kHz Filter

Damage Lvl: 5V rms MAX. 50Ω

Making Measurements

Again, the Counter will automatically display the measured frequency of the input signal.

If you need or want to change CHANNEL 2’s coupling, impedance, and triggering conditions to match the input signal you are trying to measure, the next procedures “To Select Input Coupling and Impedance” and “To Set Input Channel Trigger Level/Sensitivity” demonstrate this. Perform these procedures whether or not you want to customize the Counter’s input conditions to measure your signal; doing this will help you become familiar with the DC/AC, 50Ω/1MΩ, and Trigger/Sensitivity keys.

To Select Input Coupling and Impedance

Remember, the input signal is still connected to CHANNEL 2.

Selecting Input Coupling

DC AC

Channel 2’s input coupling is now set to dc. If you want to change the coupling back to the default ac coupling, perform

the following step.

DC AC

Operating Guide 1-15

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Selecting Input Impedance

50Ω

Channel 2’s input impedance is now set to 50Ω.

1MΩ

NOTE

The “arrow” keys can also be used to toggle the state of toggle keys (DC/AC, 50Ω/1MΩ, etc.) as indicated by the flashing indicator withi n the arrow keys. However, for simplicity in this procedure, use the corresponding toggle key to change states.

If you want to change the input impedance back to the default 1MΩimpedance, perform the following step.

50Ω 1MΩ

MHz

Freq

Ch 2

Gate

1-16 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Enter

+/–

Making Measurements

To Set Input Channel Trigger Level/Sensitivity

Changing Trigger Mode

Trigger Sensitivity

Press any one of these arrow keys to toggle to the next state of Auto Trigger.

Modifying Input Trigger Level

NOTE

Trigger Sensitivity

The leftmost “0” digit in the LEVEL display is highlighted, indicating that if you press the d key once the displayed value will increase to 1.000 volt as shown in the following step.

Enter

BE SURE to always press the Enter key to complete numeric data entries.

Channel 2’s trigger level is now set to +1V.

Operating Guide 1-17

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

To set the trigger level to −0.05V, perform the following steps.

+/–

Enter

NOTE

BE SURE to always press the Enter key to complete numeric data entries.

Channel 2’s trigger level is now set to −0.05V.

Selecting Input Trigger Slope

Trigger Sensitivity

Display 1, 7/13/92

1-18 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Selecting Input Sensitivity

Trigger Sensitivity

Display 1, 7/13/92

Starting the Measurement

Run

Freq

Ch 2

The Run key initiates repetitive measurements, and is described in the

section titled “To Control Measurement” at the end of this chapter.

MHz

Gate

To Select Scale and Offset

The Scale & Offset key allows for multiplication and addition, respectively, of the measurement by user-specified constants. Modification of the displayed measurement by these Math operations is represented by the following equation:

(Measurement × Scale) + Offset = Displayed Results

The Scale and Offset Math operations can be used, for example, to subtract systematic errors or display the percentage difference between signals.

Operating Guide 1-19

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Stats

Scale & Offset

MATH

Making Measurements

Entering the Scale Value

Scale &

To demonstrate the Scale Math operation, set Scale to 10 as shown in the following steps.

Press and hold the d key until the value of Scale is 10 as shown in the following step.

Offset

NOTE

Enter

BE SURE to press the Enter key to enter the val ue of 10.

The Scale is now set to 10, and MATH has been enabled. The Scale & Offset indicator is now lit to show that MATH is enabled. Since MATH is enabled, the results are being scaled and offset.

1-20 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Entering the Offset Value

To demonstrate the Offset Math operation, set the Offset to 1 MHz as shown in the following steps.

Scale & Offset

At this point, pressing the s key will cause the Counter to display the full display of the Offset value as shown in the following step.

Press the s key six more times to cause the Counter to display your entry in Mega units as shown in the following step.

NOTE

The leftmost “0” digit in the OFFSet display is highlighted, indicating that if you press d key once the displayed value will increase to 1 Mega (that is, 1E6) as shown in the followi ng step.

Enter

BE SURE to press the Enter key to enter the 1 Mega value.

The Offset is now set to 1 Mega.

Operating Guide 1-21

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Displaying the Math Results

Run

Freq Ch 2

The Counter displays t he mo difi ed measu rement res ul ts, whi ch are ba sed on the scale and offset values that you selected in the previous steps. That is, the 101 represents the original 10, scale multiplied by 10, then offset by 1.

(For more details and real applications of the Math Scale and Offset

operations, refer to the appropriate section in Chapter 2, “Operating Your Universal Counter.”)

Disabling Math

Scale & Offset

Display 1, 7/13/92

Note that the Scale & Offset key indicator is now off.

NOTE

Run

Freq

Ch 2

MHz

Gate

DO NOT cycle POWER because you will need to use these Scale and Offset values in the follow ing procedure “To Set Limits of Measu rements.” Continue to the following procedure.

1-22 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

To Set Limits of Measurements

To demonstrate how Math and Limits work together, use the Scale (10)

and Offset (1 Mega) values selected in the previous procedure “To Select Scale and Offset.” Enable Math by performing the following steps.

Scale & Offset

Display 1, 7/13/92

Run

Freq Ch 2

The result of this Math operation is a measurement of 101 MHz.

(Measurement × Scale) + Offset = Result (10 MHz × 10) + 1Mega = 101 Mega

Now, set the upper limit to 102 Mega and the lower limit to 100 Mega by performing the following procedures. (Figure 1-1 and Figure 1-2 illustrate the limits settings.)

Operating Guide 1-23

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Limit Modes

Uppr & Lower

LIMITS

Making Measurements

Setting the Upper Limit

Uppr & Lower

Press the s key six more times to cause the Counter to display your entry in Mega units as shown in the following step.

The leftmost “0” digit in the UPPR display is highlighted as shown above, indicating that each press of the d key will increase the displayed value.

1-24 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

NOTE

Enter

BE SURE to press the Enter key to enter the 102 Mega value.

1 2

1 102 Mega Upper Limit 2 101 Mega Scale/Offset M ea sur em ent

Figure 1-1. 102 Mega Upper Limit Setting

Operating Guide 1-25

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Setting the Lower Limit

Uppr & Lower

Press the arrow keys as shown in th e foll owing steps to set th e lower limi t value.

Press the s key six more times to cause the Counter to display your entry in Mega units as shown in the following step.

NOTE

Enter

BE SURE to press the Enter key to enter the 100 Mega value.

1-26 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Limits should now be set as shown in Figure 1-2.

1 2

1 102 Mega Upper Limit 2 101 Mega Scale/Offset M ea sur em ent 3 100 Mega Lower Limit

Figure 1-2. 100 Mega Lower and 102 Mega Upper Limits Settings

Figure 1-3 represents what transpired during this Math and Limits procedure.

234

1 Raw Measurements 2 Math

3 Limits 4 Measurements (Scale/Off set Results)

within Limits

Figure 1-3. Math and Limits Results

Operating Guide 1-27

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Setting the Counter to Flag and Stop Measuring On Out-of-Limit Measurements

If you want the Counter to stop measuring when the signal exceeds the

limits (102 to 100 Mega) that you entered in the previous procedure, perform the following steps to select the STOP choice in the ON FAIL display. (Note that ON FAIL: GO ON is the default state after power-up.)

Limit Modes

Run

Freq Ch 2

Gate

The current modified measurement of the input signal applied to CHANNEL 2 is displayed.

Since the Counter is now in the stop-on-fail mode, the Limit annunciator in the display will light and the Counter will stop making measurements when a measurement exceeds the limits you set.

1-28 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Setting the Counter to Flag On Limits But Continue Measuring

Perform the following steps to select the GO ON choice in the ON FAIL display if you want the Counter to continue measuring even though an measurement result exceeds the limits previously entered.

Limit Modes

Run

Freq Ch 2

Gate

The current modified measurement of the input signal applied to CHANNEL 2 is displayed.

Since the Counter is now in the go-on-fail mode, the Limit annunciator in the display will light each time a measurement exceeds the limits you set. However, the Counter will continue to make measurements.

Operating Guide 1-29

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Disabling Limit Testing

Limit

Modes

The Counter is now making measurements without limit testing.

Disabling Math

Scale & Offset

Display 1, 7/13/92

Run

Freq

Ch 2

MHz

Gate

The Counter is now making measurements without the scale/offset values calculated into the measurements.

1-30 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Stats

Scale & Offset

MATH

Making Measurements

To Perform Statistics on Measurements

Selecting the Type of Statistics (Stats)

Suppose you want the Counter to compute and display the standard deviation of the current input data (which is the 10 MHz signal applied

to CHANNEL 2). Also, you want the Counter to make 20 measurements before it computes the standard deviation. Perform the following steps.

Stats

Updating the SHOW configuration caused Stats to be enabled. The Stats indicator is now lit.

Stats

NOTE

Enter

BE SURE to press the Enter key to enter the val ue of 20.

Operating Guide 1-31

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

The Counter is now set to make statistics based on 20 measurements.

Run

Freq Ch 2

Gate

In this case, the displayed standard deviation value is computed on all measurements of the 10 MHz signal since no limits were set.

Computing Stats on Filtered Data Only

A special feature of the Counter allows you to use the upper and lower limits to filter data before statistical processing or computation as shown in Figure 1-4.

1 Raw Measurements 2 Limits

3 Filtered data (USE: IN LIMIT) 4 Statistics

Figure 1-4. Filtering Data Before Statistical Computation

1-32 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Perform the following steps to select the IN LIMIT choice in the USE display if you want the Counter to compute statistics on only frequency measurements within the limits you set.

Stats

Display 1, 7/13/92

Since the Limits were set to 101 Mega and 102 Mega values that are based on a scale of 10 and offset of 1 Mega, you must re-enable Math now to get the measurements to be within the limits. Perform the following steps.

Scale & Offset

Display 1, 7/13/92

Operating Guide 1-33

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Displaying Stats After Filtering Data of Input Signal

Let’s assume you have set the upper and lower limits for the input signal, and selected the IN LIMIT (filtering) choice. Now, perform the following

steps to display the standard deviation of the filtered measurements. (Note that the first step in the following procedure is optional since you

should have already set Stats to show standard deviation at the beginning of this Stats procedure. But, you may want to perform the step anyway to verify that the Counter is displaying the standard deviation of the measurement.)

Stats

Display 1, 7/13/92

Run

Freq Ch 2

Gate

The standard deviation value shown in the previous illustration is for demonstration purposes . The statistic is computed using only those measurements which fell within the limits you set.

(For more details on the Stats and Limits functions, refer to the appropriate sections in Chapter 2, “Operating Your Universal Counter.”)

Now, disable Math and Stats as shown in the following procedure.

1-34 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Disabling Stats and Math

Stats

Scale & Offset

Display 1, 7/13/92

Run

Freq

Ch 2

MHz

Gate

The Counter is now making and displaying normal measurements (that is, the Counter is not showing statistics or scale/offset results).

Operating Guide 1-35

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Run Single/

Stop

Making Measurements

To Control Measurement

Use these two keys to control the measurement of the Counter. The Run key provides repetitive measurements, whereas the

Stop/Single key allows you to make one measurement. With the 10 MHz signal still connected to CHANNEL 2, perform the

following steps so you can better understand the Run and Stop/Single operations.

Run

Freq

Ch 2

MHz

Gate

The Counter is now making repetitive measurements (continuously

making “live” measurements).

Stop/ Single

Freq Ch 2

MHz

The Counter stopped making measureme nts. Th e Gate annunciator is not lit. Hence, pressing the Stop/Single key while the Counter is making measurements (in Run) causes the Counter to stop after the measurement in progress is completed. If you press the Stop/Single key again while the Counter is stopped, the Counter will make a single measurement and then stop—the Gate annunciator will light one time, momentarily.

If you press the Stop/Single key while the Counter is stopped and when the Stats menu item ON SINGLE is set to N, the Counter will make N measurements and then stop. This enables a set of statistics to be computed.

While the Counter is still stopped, perform the following step.

Run

Freq

Ch 2

MHz

Gate

The Counter is making repetitive measurements again.

1-36 Operating Guide

Operating Your Universal Counter

Operator’s Reference

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Introduction

This is the operator’s reference chapter which contains information and procedures for the front-panel keys, operating functions, and menus of the HP 53131A/132A 225 MHz Universal Counter.

Chapter Summary

• How this Counter Works for You page 2-4

• Using the Measurement Control Keys (Run and Stop/Single)

• Using Entry/Select (Arrow) Keys page 2-8

• Using the MEASURE Menu Keys page 2-10

• Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key page 2-16

• Using the MATH Menu Keys page 2-27

• Using the LIMITS Menu Keys page 2-37

• Using CHANNEL 1 and CHANNEL 2 Input Conditioning Keys

• Using the Save and Recall Menus page 2-52

• Using the Print Menu page 2-56

• Using the Utility Menu page 2-57

• Using the Calibration Menu page 2-67

• Front Panel Display Messages page 2-73

• Preset Values After Power-Up and *RST page 2-78

• Summary of the Measurement Sequence page 2-93

• Common Questions page 2-94

page 2-5

page 2-44

2-2 Operating Guide

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Introduction

Where to Find Some Key Working Examples

• Example Procedure for Gate and External Arm page 2-24

• Example Procedure for Changing the Number of Digits of Resolution Displayed for More Precise Measurements

• Example Procedure for Scale Function page 2-28

• Example Procedure for Offset Function page 2-29

• Example Procedure for Turning Off Math Mode page 2-30

• Example Procedure for Setting the Offset From the Last Measurement Value

• Example Procedure for Computing Stats page 2-33

• Example Procedure for Easy Viewing of Stats page 2-34

• Limits Testing Example 1—Flag and Stop Measuring On Limits

• Limits Testing Example 2—Flag On Limits but Continue Measuring

• Limits Testing Example 3—Use Analog Graph Display While Adjusting Input Signal

• Limits Testing Example 4—Selecting Filtering Conditions of Stats Computation

• Limits Testing Example 5—Sending the Limit-Detect Output to the RS-232 Serial Port

page 2-25

page 2-31

page 2-38

page 2-40

page 2-42

page 2-43

Operating Guide 2-3

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

How this Counter Works for You

The followin g text lists some of the key things the Counter does for you.

• The Counter presets the menus to default states and values at power-up (refer to Table 2-7A for a detailed list of the preset values). Cycling the POWER key presets the Counter.

• The Counter’s Utility menu allows you to select such things as timebase source, HP-IB configuration, and RS-232 serial port

configuration. After your selections, the Counter automatically stores all these selections in non-volatile memory (except the timebase source); thus, these settings (except timebase source) will not change when power has been off or after a remote interface reset.

• The Counter automatically displays measurement(s) in a couple of seconds after you select a measurement function (e.g., Period).

• The Counter accepts your numeric entry for a menu item after you press the Enter key. You MUST press the Enter key to complete numeric entry.

• The Counter automatically enables Limits when you enter a numeric value for upper and/or lower limits, or update any menu item in the Limit Modes menu.

• The Counter automatically enables Math after you enter a numeric value for scale and offset.

• The Counter performs Statistical analyses for you, and will enable Stats when you update any item in the Stats menu.

• The Counter automatically disables Limits, Math, and Stats when you select another measurement function.

• The Counter saves measurement setup(s).

• The Counter instantly recalls the measurement setup you want to use.

• The Counter prints out your measurement and analysis data.

2-4 Operating Guide

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Run Stop/

Single

Using the Measurement Control Keys (Run and Stop/Single)

Overview of the Measurement Control Keys

Two measurement control keys are provided on the HP 53131A/132A Counter: Run and Stop/Single. In general, the Run key provides repetitive measurements while the Stop/Single key allows you to make single-shot measurements.

The Run key allows you to:

• put the Counter into a continuous measurement loop.

• exit any measurement after your selection of another measurement function.

• abort the current measurement by starting a new measurement (if already in Run mode or in Single mode with a measurement in progress). This also clears any statistics being processed.

The Stop/Single key allows you to:

• put the Counter into Single mode (if the Counter was in Run mode) where one measurement is taken with each Stop/Single keypress. (Stats menu item ON SINGLE should be set to 1.)

• put the Counter into Single mode (if the Counter was in Run mode) where N measurements are taken with each Stop/Single keypress. (Stats menu item ON SINGLE should be set to N.)

• stop (abort) the current measurement (if the Counter was in Single mode).

Operating Guide 2-5

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using the Measurement Control Keys (Run and Stop/Single)

To Use the Measurement Control Keys

The following proced ure demonstrates how these keys function.

1 Connect power source to Counter, and turn on Counter.

All segments of the front-panel display will light up while the Counter performs its power-on self-test, and then dashes are displayed. The Counter is now ready to measure frequency of a signal applied to CHANNEL 1 input. Note that the Freq and Ch1 annunciators light.

2 Connect an input signal to CHANNEL 1.

The Counter automatically displays the measured frequency of the input signal. Note that the Run key indicator is ON.

3 Press Stop/Single key.

The Counter is put into Single mode and the current measurement is completed. One measurement is taken with each press of Stop /Single key. Note that the Stop/Single key indicator is ON.

4 Press Run key.

The Counter aborts any measurement in progress, and starts making repetitive measurements. That is, the Counter is in a continuous measurement loop.

5 Press Stop/Single key.

The Counter is put into Single mode.

6 Press Stats key until

of the arrow keys to set The Counter is set to take N measure ments on each Stop/Sing le keypress.

The state of while statistics are enabled.

Observe that the Stats indicator is ON. This indicates statistical processing is enabled.

2-6 Operating Guide

ON SINGLE

menu item affects the Stop/Single key operation

menu item appears, then pres s a ny o ne

menu item to N.

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using the Measurement Control Keys (Run and Stop/Single)

7 Press Stop/Single key.

One set of N frequency measurements is taken with each press of the Stop/Single key. One set of statistics is computed with each press of the Stop/Single key.

8 Press Stats key until 9 Press any one of the arrow keys to select a statistical result to display, and

press Enter key. The Counter is now displaying one of the statistical results.

10 Press Stop/Single key.

One set of N frequency measurements is taken with each press of the Stop/Single key. At the completion of th e Nth meas ur eme nt, the Cou nte r displays the statistical result selected in step 9.

11 Press Stats key until

of the arrow keys to set The Counter is set to take one measurement on each Stop/Sing le

keypress. Disabling the statistics (with the

to cause the Stop/Single key to initiate one measurement at time.

SHOW

menu item appears.

ON SINGLE

menu item appears, then pres s a ny o ne

menu item to 1.

STATS: OFF

menu item) is another way

Operating Guide 2-7

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Enter

+/–

Using Entry/Select (Arrow) Keys

There are six entry/select keys of which four are “arrow” keys. The function of the four arrow keys and the Enter key depends on the Counter’s operating mode (that is, numeric entry, state changing, sequencing through choices in a menu, etc.). This section describes how the keys perform in the different operating modes.

To Use During Numeric Entry

•Use the s key to move left to select adjustable digits (it does not wrap around).

•Use the g key to move right to select ad justable digi ts (it doe s not wrap around).

•Use the d key to increment the selected (highlighted) digit of the displayed value.

•Use the f key to decrement the selected (highlighted) digit of the displayed value.

•Use the +/− key to change the sign of the numeric value.

•Use the Enter key to complete a numeric entry. (If a numeric entry is changed and the Enter key is NOT pressed, then the value is not changed.)

To Use When Sequencing Through t he Measurement Function Menus (Freq & Ratio, Time & Period, Other Meas) and the Recall Menu

•Use the d or s key to go back to the previous choice in a function or recall menu. Repeatedly pressing this key will cycle through (and loop around) the list of choi ces.

•Use the f or g key to go forward or to the next choice in a function or recall menu. Repeatedly pressing this key w ill cycle thro ugh (and loop around) the list of choi ces.

•Use the Enter key to select the function or execute the recall, or wait for the menu to time out for automatic selection/execution.

2-8 Operating Guide

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using Entry/Select (Arrow) Keys

To Use During State Changing (ON/OFF, LO/MED/HI, etc.)

•Press any of the arrow key s to toggl e or change t o the next state of th e parameters found in the following menus:

–Gate & ExtArm –Limit Modes – Scale & Offset –Stats – Trigger/Sensitivity –50Ω/1M – DC/AC – X10 Attenuate – 100kHz Filter –Save & Print – Utility Menu

Ω

•The Enter and +/− keys are ignored during the state changing operating mode.

To Use on Prompted Event Messages (SET OFFSET ?, CAL: OFFS n ?, TEST: ALL?, etc.)

•For

SET OFFSET ?

press Enter key to start the event.

CAL: OFFS n ?

instructions. Press Enter key again to start the event.

, and all th e

and

GAIN n ?

TEST: ?

prompted event messages,

, press Enter key to display

To Use on Prompted Help Messages (MATH HELP ?, PRINT HELP ?)

•When

Operating Guide 2-9

MATH HELP ?

“

(MEAS x SCALE) + OFFS = RESULT

PRINT HELP ?

“

CONFIGURE PORT ON UTILITY MENU; REMEMBER TO SAVE

SETUP FIRST

” instruction.

is displayed, press Enter key to display the

” message.

is displayed, press Enter key to display the

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Other Meas

Time & Period

Gate & ExtArm

MEASURE

Freq & Ratio

Using the MEASURE Menu Keys

Overview of the MEASURE Menus

The measurement function menus are divided into three categories:

• Frequency measurements on channel 1, 2, or 3 (optional) and ratio of frequencies between channels.

• Time interval, period, and pulse characterization measurements. (The HP 53131A/132A provides one key-press operation for such pulse

measurements as risetime, falltime, pulse width, etc., which have traditionally required multiple key presses or operations.)

• Other measurements (dutycycle, phase, peak voltage, and totalize).

Table 2-1. Menus of the MEASUREment Keys

Freq & Ratio Key Time & Period Key Other Meas Key

NOTE

FREQUENCY 1 REQUENCY 2 REQUENCY 3 (optional) ATIO 1 TO 2 ATIO 1 TO 3 (optional) ATIO 2 TO 1

TI 1 TO 2 PERIOD 1 RISETIME 1 FALLTIME 1 POS WIDTH 1 NEG WIDTH 1

TOTALIZE 1 PHASE 1 TO 2 DUTYCYCLE 1 VOLT PEAKS 1 VOLT PEAKS 2

RATIO 3 TO 1 (optional)

To sequence through the menus of the MEASUREment function keys (Freq & Ratio, Time & Period, and Other Me as key s), you simply need to repeatedly press the appropriate MEASURE key to cycle through (and loop around) the menus under the key. Each press of a MEASURE key will advance the Counter to the next measurement function in the menu.

The menus under the MEASURE keys will te rmina te (s elect functi o n and return to measurement result display) after two seconds.

2-10 Operating Guide

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using the MEASURE Menu Keys

To Measure Frequency

1 Connect power source to Counter, and turn on Counter.

2 Connect an input signal to CHANNEL 1.

The Counter should automatically display the measured frequency of the input signal. The trigger levels are set to the 50% points of the signal. However, you may disable auto triggering, and change the trigger levels and slopes.

To set up CHANNEL 1’s coupling, impedance, and triggering conditions to match the input signal you are trying to measure, refer to the procedures “To Select Input Coupling and Impedance” and “To Set Input Channel Trigger Level/Sensitivity” in Chapter 1, “Getting Started,” or the section titled “Using CHANNEL 1 and CHANNEL 2 Input Conditioning Keys” in this chapter.

3 Press the Fr eq/Ratio key until

the frequency of an input signal applied to CHANNEL 2.

FREQUENCY 2

annunciators light, and the Counter is ready to measure frequency of a signal applied to CHANNEL 2 input. The trigger levels are set to the 50% points of the signal. However, you may disable auto triggering, and change the trigger level s and slopes.

4 To measure the frequency of a signal applied to optional CHANNEL 3

input, repeat step 3 until

FREQUENCY 3

annunciators will light. The Counter will be ready to measure the frequency of a signal applied to CHANNEL 3 input.

is momentarily displayed, the Freq and Ch2

FREQUENCY 3

will be momentarily displayed and the Freq and Ch3

FREQUENCY 2

is displayed.

is displayed to measure

Note that the Frequency 3 menu item is not available in Counters that do not contain optional Channel 3.

Operating Guide 2-11

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using the MEASURE Menu Keys

To Measure Frequency Ratio

1 Press Freq & Ratio key until

RATIO 1 TO 2

annunciators light, and the Counter is ready to measure and display the frequency ratio of a signal applied to CHANNEL 1 in relation to a signal applied to CHANNEL 2 (Ch1/Ch2). The trigger levels are set to the 50% points of each signal. However, you may disable auto triggering, and change the trigger level s and slopes.

Note the result is not scaled by 100; it is not a percentage.

is momentarily displayed, the Freq, Ch1, and Ch2

RATIO 1 TO 2

is displayed.

Note that RATIO 2 TO 1 is also available (Ch2/Ch1).

2 To measure the frequency ratio between a signal applied to CHANNEL 1

input and a signal applied to Option 030/050 CHANNEL 3 input, repeat step 1, above.

RATIO 1 TO 3

Ch3 annunciators will light. The Counter will be ready to measure the frequency ratio of a signal applied to CHANNEL 1 in relation to a signal applied to CHANNEL 3 (Ch1/Ch3).

Note that the Ratio 1 to 3 menu item is not available in Counters that do not contain optional Channel 3.

will be momentarily displayed and the Fr eq, Ch1, and

Note the result is not scaled by 100; it is not a percentage. Note that RATIO 3 TO 1 is also available (Ch3/Ch1). By pressing the Freq & Ratio key, the Counter will return to the

Frequency 1 measurement mode; this demonstrates the loop around feature of the measurement function menu keys.

The front-panel “arrow” (or entry/select) keys can also be used when sequencing through the measurement function menus. Refer to the section titled “Using Entry/Select (Arrow) Keys” for details.

2-12 Operating Guide

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using the MEASURE Menu Keys

To Measure Time Interval

Press Time & Period key until

TI 1 TO 2

annunciators light, and the Counter is ready to measure the length of time between a start event on CHANNEL 1 and a stop event on CHANNEL 2. The Counter is automatically set to measure from separate signal sources. (The start and stop events may be derived from separate

signal sources, or they may be from a single source. Refer to the

section in this chapter titled “Using CHANNEL 1 and CHANNEL 2 Input Conditioning Keys” for specifics in performing Time Interval measurements on a single source—COMMON 1: ON).

Independent slope, trigger level, and sensitivity controls for the start and stop events allow variable triggering on either positive- or negative-going slopes.

The trigger levels are set to the 50% points of each signal. However, you may disable auto triggering, and change the trigger levels and slopes.

is momentarily displayed, the Time, Ch1, and Ch2

TI 1 TO 2

is displayed.

To Measure Period

Press Time & Period key until

Period 1

light, and the Counter is ready to measure the period of a signal applied to CHANNEL 1.

is momentarily displayed, the Period and Ch1 annunciators

Period 1

is displayed.

To Measure Rise/Fall Times

Press Time & Period key until on which measurement you want to make, is displayed.

RISETIME 1

Fall, Time, and Ch1 annunciators light. The risetime and falltime modes of operation automatically configure the Counter to perform risetime or falltime measurements through CHANNEL 1 input. The triggering is automatically set to AUTO TRIG: ON. In the risetime and falltime modes, AUTO TRIG automatically locates the 10% and 90% points of the input signal, and sets the trigger levels accordingly. You may override these automatic selections if you want.

Operating Guide 2-13

FALLTIME 1

RISETIME 1

is momentarily displayed, and the Rise or

FALLTIME 1

, depending

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using the MEASURE Menu Keys

To Measure Positive/Negative Pulse Widths

Press Time & Period key until depending on which measurement you want to make, is displayed.

POS WIDTH 1

or −Wid, and Ch1 annunicators light. The pulse width measurement automatically configures the Counter to perform positive or negati ve pulse width measurements through CHANNEL 1 input. The AUTO TRIG is set to trigger at the 50% point of the signal.

NEG WIDTH 1

POS WIDTH 1

is momentarily displayed, and the +Wid

NEG WIDTH 1

To Measure Duty Cycle

Press Other Meas key until

DUTYCYCLE 1

The dutycycle mode of operation is ready to measure a continuous waveform applied to CHANNEL 1 input. The inp ut is automa ticall y set to common-channel 1, and triggering set to AUTO TRIG: ON. The trigger levels are set to the 50% points of each signal. However, you may disable auto triggering, and change the trigger levels.

Results will range from 0 to 1. The dutycycle is defined as the positive pulse width divided by the period. (Note that the result is not scaled by 100; it is not a percentage.)

is momentarily displayed, the Ch1 annunciator lights.

DUTYCYCLE 1

is displayed.

To Make Totalize Measurements

Press Other Meas key until

TOTALIZE 1

and the Counter is in its totalize mode. Auto-triggering is automatically disabled on CHANNEL 1 since there may not be a suitable signal at the beginning of the measurem ent. The totalize mode of opera tion displays the number of counts (events) rece ived through CHANNEL 1. The count is continuously displayed if GATE: AUTO is selected.

The totalize measurement is cleared to zero when the totalize function is first invoked, when the front-panel Run key is pressed, o r when the Stop/Single key is pressed.

2-14 Operating Guide

is momentarily displayed, the Ch1 annunciator lights,

TOTALIZE 1

is displayed.

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using the MEASURE Menu Keys

To Make Phase Measurements

NOTE

Press Other Meas key until

PHASE 1 TO 2

light, and the Counter is ready to measure the phase of a signal applied to CHANNEL 1 input relative to a signal applied to CHANNEL 2 input. The phase difference is displayed in degrees. If auto triggering is enabled, the trigger levels are set to the 50% points of each signal. However, you may disable auto triggering, and change the trigger levels and slopes.

Use CHANNEL 2 as the reference. One period on CHANNEL 2 will

define 360°. If CHANNEL 1 is leading CHANNEL 2, the pulse result is positive.

is momentarily displayed, the Ch1 and Ch2 annunicators

PHASE 1 TO 2

is displayed.

To Measure Positive/Negative Voltage Peaks

Press Other Meas key until depending on which measurement you want to make, is displayed.

VOLT PEAKS 1

Ch2 annunciator lights, and the Counter is ready to measure minimum and maximum voltage peaks of signals applied to CHANNEL 1 or CHANNEL 2, respectively.

In Voltage Peaks function, the Counter measures the input signal after the signal has been conditioned by the input settings (impedance, coupling, attenuation, and filter). One reminder of this is the (

AC COUPLED

selected and the measurement channel is ac coupled.

VOL T PEA KS 2

) message, which is displayed when Voltage Peaks is

VOLT PEAKS 1

is momentarily displayed, the Ch1 or

VOLT PEAKS 2

The result is corrected for X10 attenuation.

Note that Arming is not used for Voltage Peaks measurements, and that neither Limits nor Math is available.

Operating Guide 2-15

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Other Meas

Time & Period

Gate & ExtArm

MEASURE

Freq & Ratio

Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key

Overview of Gate/External Arming Functions

Table 2-2 for the HP 53131A (and HP 53132A with a serial number prefix below 3646) and Table 2-3 for the HP 53132A with a serial number prefix 3646 and above (on page 2-19 and page 2-23, respectively) list the menus for all the arming configurations, and shows how the Gate and External Arming menu changes as a function of the measurement and the arming mode.

The HP 53131A/132A Counter has four arming modes: auto, external, digits, and time. However, the HP 53131A (or HP 53132A with a serial number prefix below 3646) and HP 53132A have different arming capabilities for Time Interval measurements. Thus, for simplicity, their Time Interval arming capabilities are discussed in separate subsections.

• If you are using an HP 53131A (or HP 53132A with a serial number prefix below 3646), read the Time Interval Delay arming information starting on page 2-17.

• If you are using an HP 53132A (with a serial number prefix 3646 and above), read the Time Interval Delay arming information starting on page 2-20.

Gate/External Arming Capabilities

AUTO Arming

For frequency, period, frequency ratio, risetime, falltime, pulse width, dutycycle, and phase, auto arming means make individual measurements as fast as possible.

For totalize, auto arming means the Counter starts to count when it is enabled by the pressing of either the Run or Stop/Single key. The Counter stops counting when the Stop/ Single key is pressed.

2-16 Operating Guide

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key

EXTERNAL Arming

For frequency, period, frequency ratio, and totalize, external arming means you can control the start of a measurement by using an external signal.

NOTE

When external arming mode is enabled, a signal must be connected to the

Counter’s rear-panel Ext Arm connector.

TIME Arming

For frequency, period, ratio, and totalize, time a rming means you can set the gate time—the length of time for which your signal is measured.

Gate time and resolution are linked: the longer the gate time, the greater the resolution. With an increase in resolution, you get a larger number of digits on the display.

Time arming is demonstrated in the sub-section titled “Example Procedure for Gate and External Arm.”

DIGITS Arming

For frequency, period, and ratio, digits arming means you can set the number of digits of resolution that you require your result to provide.

Digits arming is demonstrated in the sub-section titled “Example Procedure for Changing the Number of Digits of Resolution Displayed for More Precise Measurements.”

HP 53131A (and HP 53132A With S/N Prefix Below 3646) Time Interval DELAY Arming

The DELAY capability (specified in the Time Interval arming menu) provides a variable delay between the start event (Channel 1) and the enabling of the stop event (Channel 2) as shown Figure 2-1. Potential stop events are ignored during the specified delay time.

External arming can also be used to control the start of a measurement by using an external signal.

Operating Guide 2-17

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

)

Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key

NOTE

When external arming mode is enabled, a signal must be connected to the

Counter’s rear-panel Ext Arm connector.

START STOP

ARM: AUTO, DELAY: NONE

DESIRED T.I. MEASUREMENT

ACTUAL T.I. MEAS

(standard T.I. measurement)

START STOP

ARM: AUTO, DELAY: TIME, TIME: (specified)

EXT ARM INPUT

DESIRED T.I. MEASUREMENT

ACTUAL T.I. MEAS

DELAY TIME

START STOP

DESIRED T.I. MEASUREMENT

ACTUAL T.I. MEAS

DELAY TIME

NOTE

ARM: EXTERNL, SLOPE: POS, DELAY: TIME, TIME: (specified

Figure 2-1. HP 53131A (HP 53132A S/N Prefix Below 3646) Time Interval

Delay

The examples in Figure 2-1 have the input signal applied to Channel 1 with COMMON 1: ON, Channel 1 SLOPE: POS, and Channel 2 SLOPE: POS.

2-18 Operating Guide

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key

Table 2-2. *HP 53131A (HP 53132A S/N Prefix Below 3646) Gate & External Arm Key Menus as

a Function of the Measurement and Arming Mode

Freq, Period, Ratio

Auto Arm i ng:

GATE: AUTO

Digits Arming: GATE: DIGITS

DIGITS: <digits> _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ Time Arming:

GATE: TIME TIME: <time>

External Arming: GATE: EXTERNL START: POS

NEG

STOP: AUTO

NEG POS TIME

TIME: <time>

* There is no Gate and External Arm menu available for Voltage Peaks measurements.

Phase Totalize RiseTime, Fall Time,

+/−Width, Dutycycle

Auto Arm i ng:

ARM: AUTO

_______________

External Arming: ARM: EXTERNL SLOPE: POS

NEG

Auto Arm i ng: GATE: AUTO

Time Arming: GATE: TIME

TIME: <time> External Arming:

GATE: EXTERNL START: POS

NEG

STOP: NEG

POS TIME

TIME: <time>

Auto Arming: ARM: AUTO

_______________ _______________

External Arming: ARM: EXTERNL SLOPE: POS

NEG

Time Interval

Auto Arming:

ARM: AUTO DELAY: NONE

TIME

TIME: <time>

External Arming: ARM: EXTERNL SLOPE: POS

NEG

DELA Y: NONE

TIME

TIME: <time>

Operating Guide 2-19

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key

HP 53132A (With S/N Prefix 3646 and Above) Tim e Interval DELAY Arming

In the following subsections, a leading star (✴) means the parameter affects the START event. A trailing star means the parameter affects STOP event.

AUTO ARMING (✴START: AUTO)

The DELAY✴ (stop delay) capability (specified in the Time Interval arming menu) provides a variable delay between the start event (Channel 1) and the enabling of the stop event (Channel 2) as shown in

Figure 2-2. Two types of delay are possible: 1) TIME—potential stop events are ignored during the specified delay time, or 2) EVENT— the measurement is stopped when the specifie d number of stop ev ents has occurred.

EXTERNAL ARMING (✴START: EXT)

External arming can be used to control the start, or start and stop, of a measurement by using an external signal as shown in Figure 2-3.

NOTE

Set STOP✴ and/or ✴START to EXT to activate.

When external arming mode is enabled, a signal must be connected to the Counter’s rear-panel Ext Arm connector.

The ✴DELAY (start delay) capability (specified when ✴START is set to EXT) provides a variable delay between the arming event (Ext Arm) and the enabling of th e start of the measurement. Two types of delay are possible: 1) TIME—potential start events (Channel 1) are ignored during the specified delay time, or 2) EVENT—the measurement is started after the specified number of Channel 2 events has occurred. A DELAY✴ (stop delay) as described in AUTO ARMING above can also be used in conjunction with ✴DELAY (start delay) as shown in Figure 2-3.

2-20 Operating Guide

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key

START STOP

START: AUTO, DELAY : NONE

START STOP

START: AUTO, DELAY : TIME, T : (specified)

START STOP

DESIRED T.I. MEASUREMENT

ACTUAL T.I. MEAS

DESIRED T.I. MEASUREMENT

ACTUAL T.I. MEAS

DELAY TIME

DESIRED T.I. MEASUREMENT

ACTUAL T.I. MEAS

DELAY STOP TO 4th EVENT

123 4

(standard T.I. measurement)

NOTE

START: AUTO, DELAY : EVENT, E : 4

Figure 2-2. HP 53132A (With S/N Prefix 3646 and Above) Auto Arming

The examples in Figure 2-2 have the input signal applied to Channel 1 with COMMON 1: ON, Channel 1 SLOPE: POS, and Channel 2 SLOPE: POS.

Operating Guide 2-21

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key

EXT ARM INPUT

START STOP

START DELAY TIME

DESIRED T.I. MEASUREMENT

ACTUAL T.I. MEAS

DELAY STOP TO 4th EVENT

234 5

START: EXT, SLOPE: POS, DELAY: TIME, T: (specified), STOP : AUTO, DELAY : EVENT, E : 5

EXT ARM INPUT

DELAY START BY 4 CHAN 2 EVENTS

234

START STOP

DESIRED T.I. MEASUREMENT

ACTUAL T.I. MEAS

START: EXT, SLOPE: POS, DELAY: EVENT, E: 5, STOP : EXT, SLOPE : NEG, DELAY : NONE

Figure 2-3. HP 53132A (With S/N Prefix 3646 and Above) External Arming

NOTE

The examples in Figure 2-3 have the input signal applied to Channel 1 with COMMON 1: ON, Channel 1 SLOPE: POS, and Channel 2 SLOPE: NEG. Thus, the signals applied to Channel 1 and Channel 2 are identical, however, the channel events occur on opposite slopes.

2-22 Operating Guide

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key

Table 2-3. *HP 53132A (S/N Prefix 3646 and Above) Gate & External Arm Key Menus as a

Function of the Measurement and Arming Mode

Freq, Period, Ratio

Auto Arm i ng:

GATE: AUTO

Digits Arming: GATE: DIGITS

DIGITS: <digits> Time Arming:

GATE: TIME TIME: <time>

External Arming: GATE: EXTERNL START: POS

NEG

STOP: AUTO

NEG POS TIME

TIME: <time>

* There is no Gate and External Arm menu available for Voltage Peaks measurements. ** A leading star (✴) means the parameter affects the START event. A trailing star means the parameter affects the STOP event.

Phase Totalize RiseTime, Fall Time,

+/−Width, Dutycycle

Auto Arm i ng:

ARM: AUTO

_______________ _______________ _______________ _______________

_______________ External Arming:

ARM: EXTERNL SLOPE: POS

NEG

Auto Arm i ng: GATE: AUTO

Time Arming: GATE: TIME

TIME: <time> External Arming:

GATE: EXTERNL START: POS

NEG

STOP: NEG

POS TIME

TIME: <time>

Auto Arming: ARM: AUTO

_______________ _______________ External Arming:

ARM: EXTERNL SLOPE: POS

NEG

Time Interval

Auto Arming:

✴START: AUTO DELAY✴:NONE

TIME EVENT

T✴:<time> E✴: <events>

External Arming:

✴START: EXT ✴SLOPE: POS

NEG

✴DELAY: NONE

TIME EVENT

✴T: <time> ✴E: <events>

STOP✴:AUTO

EXT

SLOPE✴:POS

NEG

DELAY✴:NONE

TIME EVENT

T✴:<time> E✴: <events>

Operating Guide 2-23

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Ext Arm

Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key

To Use the Gate and External Arm

Example Procedure for Gate and External Arm

For demonstration purposes, you want to set up the Counter so that it uses an external arm to start a measurement. You want to make a Totalize measurement on the positive edges (that is, count the number of positive edges) of a pulse-train signal applied to channel 1. Also, you want to perform the measurement duri ng an interval of 5milliseconds as shown in the following figure.

CHANNEL 1

Ext Arm

Gate

5 ms

Perform the following procedure to accomplish this task.

1 Turn on the Counter, and press Stop/Single to put the Counter into the

single measurement mode.

2 Connect the pulse-train signal to channel 1 input, and press Other Meas

key until

TOTALIZE 1

is displayed.

3 Connect an external TTL signal to the Counter’s rear-panel Ext Arm

connector.

4 Press Gate & Ex tArm key.

GATE: TIME

5 Press any one of the arrow keys until

is displayed.

GATE: EXTERNL

is displayed.

6 Press Gate & Ex tArm key.

START: POS

press any one of the arrow keys to toggle to the next state—

is displayed. (If

START: NEG

is displayed instead, then

POS

2-24 Operating Guide

Agilent 53131A Operations Guide

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

In This Guide

Contents and Organization

Related Documents

Types of Service Available if Your Instrument Fails

Standard Repair Services (Worldwide)

Express Repair/Performance Calibration Service (USA Only)

Assembly-Level Service Guide

Repackaging for Shipment

Description of the 225 MHz Universal Counter

Options

Hardware

Support

Accessories Supplied and Available

Accessories Supplied

Accessories Available

Supplied Manuals

Calibrations

Measurements

Statistics

HP-IB Comman ds

HP 53131A/132A Quick Reference Guide

The Front Panel at a Glance

The Front Panel Indicators at a Glance

The Front Panel Indicators at a Glance (Cont.)

The Front Panel Menus at a Glance

The Front Panel Menus at a Glance (Cont.)

The Front Panel Menus at a Glance (Cont.)

The Front Panel Menus at a Glance (Cont.)

The Display Annunciators at a Glance

The Display Special Character at a Glance

The Limit Test Graph Characters at a Glance

The Rear Panel at a Glance

Making Measurements

To Measure Frequency

To Select Input Coupling and Impedance

Selecting Input Coupling

Selecting Input Impedance

To Set Input Channel Trigger Level/Sensitivity

Changing Trigger Mode

Modifying Input Trigger Level

Selecting Input Trigger Slope

Selecting Input Sensitivity

Starting the Measurement

To Select Scale and Offset

Entering the Scale Value

Entering the Offset Value

Displaying the Math Results

Disabling Math

To Set Limits of Measurements

Setting the Upper Limit

Setting the Lower Limit

Setting the Counter to Flag On Limits But Continue Measuring

Disabling Limit Testing

Disabling Math

To Perform Statistics on Measurements

Selecting the Type of Statistics (Stats)

Computing Stats on Filtered Data Only

Displaying Stats After Filtering Data of Input Signal

Disabling Stats and Math

To Control Measurement

Introduction

Chapter Summary

Where to Find Some Key Working Examples

How this Counter Works for You

Overview of the Measurement Control Keys

To Use the Measurement Control Keys

Using Entry/Select (Arrow) Keys

To Use During Numeric Entry

To Use During State Changing (ON/OFF, LO/MED/HI, etc.)

To Use on Prompted Event Messages (SET OFFSET ?, CAL: OFFS n ?, TEST: ALL?, etc.)

To Use on Prompted Help Messages (MATH HELP ?, PRINT HELP ?)

Using the MEASURE Menu Keys

Overview of the MEASURE Menus

To Measure Frequency Ratio

To Measure Time Interval

To Measure Period