Agilent E4916A Data Sheet

For Testing Crystal Resonators and
Evaluating Their PerfoArmance Characteristics

HP E4916A
Crystal Impedance Meter

PRODUCT OVERVIEW

 Meets IEC Standard through the Transmission

π Network Method

 Allows Testing at up to 180 MHz
 Enables Applying 0.1 nW Low Drive Level
 Automates Testing and Evaluation through HP-IB and

Parallel I/O Interfaces

1

Displays Fr, CI, and Equivalent
Circuit Parameters (Backlit LCD)

Drive Level Selectable between 0.1 nW and 1 mW
(No Adjustments Required)

Front View

Easy Pass/Fail Judgment
(No External PC Required)

RF Output

Parallel I/O Port

Mobile radios and communicators
are increasingly expanding their
applications into homes and offices.
This makes the evaluation of crystal
resonator characteristics at higher
frequencies and/or lower drive levels
more critical. However, conventional
crystal impedance meters based on
the oscillation method cannot
properly meet the current measure­ment needs due to the following
limitations on:
 High-end measurement frequency

(60 MHz or below)

 Applicable power level

The HP E4916A is a crystal imped­ance meter based on the transmission

π network method which enables you

to:

Reference Input Test Signal Input Analog Voltage Output

Allows Testing at
up to 180 MHzv

External Reference Signal Input

Drive Level Dependency
Characteristic Evaluation Function

External Trigger Input

 Test at high frequencies (1 MHz to

180 MHz)

 Apply low drive level (0.1 nW to

1 mW, when testing a 25 Ω DUT
with the π circuit).

The HP E4916A yet provides a cost
effective solution, comparable
enough to conventional CI meters.

In addition to Fr and CI measure­ments, the HP E4916A offers a variety
of testing capabilities including the
equivalent circuit analysis and the
drive level dependency characteristic
evaluation (DLD) through easy-to­follow steps. It comes with the HP-IB
and parallel I/O interfaces for easy
connection to external equipment,
thus allowing an automatic testing
system to be configured.

Evaporation Monitoring Function

HP-IB Interface

Rear View

Key Features

 Based on the transmission π

network method recommended by
the IEC444 standard.

 Wide frequency range (1 MHz to

180 MHz)

 Easy to change the drive level

(0.1 nW to 1 mW)

 Applies up to 20 mW to the DUT

when used in combination with the
optional impedance probe (option

001)

 Allows you to use the same test

fixtures as those for the network
analyzer.

 Provides the π calibration to correct

errors resulting from the extension
of the cable.

 Saves and recalls up to 10 patterns

of the system settings together with
calibration data.

2

Meets a Variety of Measurement Needs
on the Production Lines

For Final Inspection:

 DLD (drive level dependency)

characteristic measurement. The
HP E4916A offers the DLD
characteristic measurement
function for efficient determina­tion of variations in resonance
frequency and impedance resulting
from variations in drive level.

 Centralized data management. The

HP-IB interface allows testing to be
performed automatically and
measurement data to be managed
collectively.

 Integration to a handler. The

handler interface allows connec­tion between an external handler
and the HP E4916A.

HP 41901A SMD π Network and its Load Capacitances

For Intermediate Inspection:

 Consistent testing with final

inspection. Based on the same
measurement method as that for
the network analyzer, the
HP E4916A provides measurement
results that can properly correlate
with those obtained with the
network analyzer used for final
inspection.

 Simple operation. The HP E4916A

simply requires trigger inputs to
provide the desired parameters.

 Space saving. The HP E4916A can

fit anywhere in the clean room.
Also, it operates stand alone: no
need to use a PC for testing.

 Self-contained. The HP E4916A

requires no external devices for Fr
(FL) and CI measurements and
Pass/Fail judgment.

For Frequency Adjustments:

 EM (evaporation monitoring)

mode. The HP E4916A comes with
the EM mode for high-speed
monitoring.

 Frequency trapping for automated

evaporation. You can specify
multiple trap frequencies to
determine the transition of the
resonance frequency. The
HP E4916A detects in real time
when the resonance frequency falls
into each of the trap frequencies
and outputs the results through the
handler interface for proper
controlling of the evaporator
operation.

For Measurement with Load
Capacitance:

 Consistent testing with network

analyzer. When measuring a DUT
with load capacitance, the
HP E4916A can make it easy to
correlate your results with those
obtained with network analyzer,
for which same test fixtures and
load capacitance can be used.

HP 41900A π

Network Test Fixture and its Load Capacitances

3

Resonance Point Determination by Recursive Search

Primary Search Range

θ

+

0°

–

––

Secondary Search Range

θ

0°

–

CL boards with fixed capacitors are
available as well as the CL board with
the trimmer. Around 20 different CL
boards with fixed C and a target
capacitance trimming function will
make your measurement with load
capacitance easier to handle and
much more reliable with substantially
less error components than other
solutions currently in use.
With the HP E4916A, you can mea­sure a DUT with load capacitance
using the same test fixtures and load
capacitance as those for the network
analyzer. Thus no correction is
required to correlate your results to
those obtained with network ana­lyzer.
Unlike other conventional network
analyzers, the HP E4916A searches for
the resonance point (zero-phase
point) in a unique manner for
improved efficiency.

+

It begins to measure the phase at the
lower end of the search range and
continues its search by changing the
frequency at specific intervals. The
resonance point lies somewhere
between the two adjacent points at
which the phase for one point is
negative and that for the other point
positive. This is the primary search.
Then, the HP E4916A slightly goes
back in the search range and changes
the frequency at smaller intervals
such that the phase becomes closer to

0. The HP E4916A repeats its mea­surements until the phase is suffi­ciently close to 0. This is the second­ary search.

Benefit:

This method provides constant
frequency resolution regardless of the
measurement time, because there are
no needs to specify the number of
measurement points. In addition, the
power level is not interpolated.
Therefore, the specified power is
exactly applied to the DUT at the
resonance point.

4

Sample Programs for Versatile Needs

HP VEE Control Program

The control program is available as
standard with the HP E4916A. This
program runs on the HP VEE and
ensures easy evaluation of crystal
resonator performance. (The instru­ment driver is not provided: this
program controls the HP E4916A via
direct I/O.)
This program allows you to:
 obtain the best possible results

during acceptance and quality
assurance inspection,

 control the HP E4916A operation

on the PC,

 graphically display the drive level

characteristics, and

 save measurement data in the

ASCII format.
This program is supplied with the run­only versions of VEE3.21 (Windows

95). (This program does not run on
VEE4.0.)

HP BASIC Sample Programs

HP BASIC sample programs are
available as standard with the
HP E4916A for efficient crystal
resonator testing on production lines.
These sample programs allow you to:
 control the operation of two or

more HP E4916As on a single PC,

 automatically document your

measurement results and send it to
a printer,

 save data in a format that can be

loaded into a spreadsheet program
such as Microsoft Excel, and Lotus
1-2-3.

 save and recall multiple patterns of

the system settings together with
calibration data on the PC.

Creating a documentation using HP
BASIC sample program

System Requirements (Recom­mended)
 Processor: Pentium 90 MHz or

higher
 Memory: 32 MB or more
 Disk space: 20 MB or more
 HP-IB interface (82335B, 82340,

82341C or D)

Option 001: Add Impedance
Probe Kit

This kit allows you to
 apply up to 20 mW to the DUT

(resonator) when used in place of

the π network test fixture,

 use the HP E4916A as a powerful

LCR meter when the option 010
(LCR measurement feature) is
used, and

 vuse a variety of test fixtures for

HP 4291A Impedance Analyzer (the

HP 16099A is required).
(See the accessory guide for more
information on the text fixtures that
can be used in combination with the
16099A.)

5

Outline of Options 001 and 010

Measurement parameters: Z, Y, θ,

R, X, G, B, L, C, D, Q

Measurement range: 0.2 to 10 kΩ
DC bias: ±30V max. (an external

power supply is required)

Specifications

Measurement parameters:

Fr, Fs, Fa, FL, CI, Q, C0, C1, L1, R1,
R0, G0, spurious, DLD, EM, filter
bandwidth
(Note that Fr and Fs represent the
frequencies at which the phase is 0
degree and the maximum conduc­tance is attained, respectively. You
can also set up the HP E4916A to
search for Fr at which |Z| is minimal.)

Output
Frequency range: 1 MHz to 180 MHz/

1 mHz resolution
Frequency accuracy: 2 ppm (can be
improved up to 0.2 ppm through
external reference input)

Inputs (typical)
Measurement range: 1 MHz to

180 MHz/1 mHz resolution

Impedance: 5 to 125 Ω/10 mΩ

resolution

Return loss: 20 dB
Max. input level: 0 dBm
Damage level: 25 Vdc, 20 dBm
Average noise level: -130 dBm/Hz
Cross talk: -100 dB
Dynamic accuracy:

Input level Level Phase

accuracy accuracy

0 to -20 dBm 0.5 dB 5°

-20 to -30 dBm 0.4 dB 3°

-30 to -40 dBm 0.1 dB 0.6°

-40 to -50 dBm 0.05 dB 0.3°

-50 to -60 dBm 0.05 dB 0.3°

-60 to -70 dBm 0.1 dB 0.6°

-70 to -80 dBm 0.5 dB 5°

-80 to -90 dBm 1.0 dB 10°

General Specifications
Power supply: 90 to 132 V or 198 to

264V, 47 to 63 Hz, 100 VA max.

Operating temperature/humidity:

0 to 55 °C/15 to 95%
Outer dimensions: 320W × 100H ×

450D mm

Weight: 5.3 kg

Others
Interface: HP-IB interface, handler

interface
External reference input: 1/2/5/10

MHz, ±10 ppm

Equipment supplied with the HP
E4916A:

2 BNC cables (120 cm), 1 operation
manual, 1 user's guide, 4 sample
program disks (VEE run-only
versions included), 1 power cable

Measurement Accuracy
Resonator testing:
Fr: 2 ppm (SPC: Supplemental

Performance Characteristics)

CI: 5% (SPC)

LCR measurements:
Basic accuracy: 3% (SPC)

Impedance measurement range (SPC)

Measurement time (SPC):

The duration of time between the
triggering of the HP E4916A and the
completion of the measurement was
measured. (The time required to
transfer data is not included. The
DLD measurement was made at 5

points; 10 nW, 100 nW, 1 µW, 10 µW,
and 100 µW.)

Frequency Q Fr,CI Fr,CI+ DLD MEAS

100 MHz 83,000 240 ms 1.02 s 890 ms SHORT

60 M Hz 110,000 190 ms 730 ms 775 ms SHORT
24 M Hz 135,000 146 ms 680 ms 705 ms SHORT

2 MHz 40,000 280 ms 1.64 s - - MEDIUM

2 MHz - - - - - - 2.57 s LONG

EQV TIME

Note: Measurement time may vary

depending on the resonance
frequency even if two resona­tors of the same type are
tested.

Accessories and Other
Equipment

HP E4915A Crystal Impedance
Meter

Inexpensive model (no variable
power function available with the HP
E4916A)

Frequency range: 1 MHz to 180 MHz
Output power: -5dBm fixed

Comes with all HP E4916A measure­ment capabilities other than DLD,
EM, and LCR measurement functions.

HP 41900A
Fixture

resonators with load capacitance
when used in combination with
option 001.

HP41901A SMD
Fixture

Supports 6 types of QIAJ (Quartz
Crystal Industry Association of
Japan) SMDs.

ππ

π Network Test

ππ

Meets the
IEC444 and JIS
standards. Ideal
for final and
acceptance
inspections.
Can test

ππ

π Network Test

ππ

SMD type π

network test
fixture that
offers superb
repeatability.
Ideal for final
and acceptance
inspections.

6

Ordering Information

HP E4916A Crystal
Impedance Meter

Options:

001: Add Impedance Probe Kit
010: Add LCR Measurement Feature
0B0: Delete Instruction Manual
0B1: Add Instruction Manual
ABA: English Instruction Manual
ABJ: Japanese Instruction Manual
UK6: Inspection Record
W30: 3-year Repair and Replacement

Service (from the date of
delivery)

W32: 3-year Regular Calibration

Service (from the date of

delivery)
ICM: Rack Mount Kit
ICN: Front Handle Kit

Upgrade Kit

This kit appends optional features to
the HP E4916A that has been pur­chased.

HP E4916U Upgrade Kit

001: Add Impedance Probe*
010: Add LCR Measurement Fea-

ture*
UK6: Inspection Record
(*:Applicable to the HP E4916A only.)

HP E4915A Crystal
Impedance Meter

Options:

0B0: Delete Instruction Manual
0B1: Add Instruction Manual
ABA: English Instruction Manual
ABJ: Japanese Instruction Manual
UK6: Inspection Record
W30: 3-year Repair and Replacement

Service (from the date of

delivery)
W32: 3-year Regular Calibration

Service (from the date of

delivery)
ICM: Rack Mount Kit
ICN: Front Handle Kit

Accessories

HP 41900A
Fixture

Standard:

16 CL boards with fixed capacitance,

Calibration standards (50 Ω and

SHORT)
Option:
001: Variable Load Capacitance

includes 1 CL board with the trimmer,
and SMD capacitors

HP 41901A SMD
Fixture

Options:

010: Attachment Kit: QIAJ-QS06, 4

ππ

π Network Test

ππ

Adapter Kit

ππ

π Network Test

ππ

Terminals

020: Attachment Kit: QIAJ-QS06, 2

Terminals

030: Attachment Kit: QIAJ-QS07, 4

Terminals

040: Attachment Kit: QIAJ-QS07, 2

Terminals

050: Attachment Kit: QIAJ-QS08, 4

Terminals

060: Attachment Kit: QIAJ-QS08, 2

Terminals
* Supplied with the following parts:
22 CL boards with fixed capacitance,
1 Contact board, 1 Device positioning
plate, and Calibration standards

(50 Ω and SHORT)

A variable load capacitance (CL with
the trimmer) board, supplied with a
single option number before, should
now be ordered with a combination
of the above and below options.

011: Variable Load Capacitance

Adapter Kit: QIAJ-QS06, 4

Terminals
021: Variable Load Capacitance

Adapter Kit: QIAJ-QS06, 2

Terminals
031: Variable Load Capacitance

Adapter Kit: QIAJ-QS07, 4

Terminals
041: Variable Load Capacitance

Adapter Kit: QIAJ-QS07, 2

Terminals
051: Variable Load Capacitance

Adapter Kit: QIAJ-QS08, 4

Terminals
061: Variable Load Capacitance

Adapter Kit: QIAJ-QS08, 2

Terminals
* Supplied with the following parts:
1 CL board with the trimmer, and
SMD capacitors

LCR Measurement
Accessories

HP 16099A APC-7 Adapter
HP 16092A RF Spring Clip
HP 16093A RF Two-Terminal

Binding Post
HP 16191A Side Electrode SMD

Test Fixture
HP 16192A Parallel Electrode SMD

Test Fixture
HP 16193A Small Side Electrode

SMD Test Fixture
HP 16194A Widae Temperature

SMD Test Fixture

Note:

See the Accessories Selection Guide
For Impedance Measurements
(P/N 5965-4792E) for more informa­tion on HP 16xxxA.

7

For more information about Hewlett­Packard test & measurement products,
applications, services, and for a current
sales office listing, visit our web site,
http://www.hp.com/go/tmdir. You can also
contact one of the following centers and ask
for a test and measurement sales
representative.

United States:

Hewlett-Packard Company
Test and Measurement Call Center
P.O. Box 4026
Englewood, CO 80155-4026
1 800 452 4844

Canada:

Hewlett-Packard Canada Ltd.
5150 Spectrum Way
Mississauga, Ontario
L4W 5G1
[phone]

Europe:

Hewlett-Packard
European Marketing Centre
P.O. Box 999
1180 AZ Amstelveen
The Netherlands
(31 20) 547 9900

Japan:

Hewlett-Packard Japan Ltd.
Measurement Assistance Center
9-1, Takakura-Cho, Hachioji-Shi,
Tokyo 192, Japan
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Latin America:

Hewlett-Packard
Latin American Region Headquarters
5200 Blue Lagoon Drive
9th Floor
Miami, Florida 33126
U.S.A.
Tel: [phone]

[phone]

Fax: [phone]

Australia/New Zealand:

Hewlett-Packard Australia Ltd.
31-41 Joseph Street
Blackburn, Victoria 3130
Australia
Tel: [phone] (Australia)

0800 738 378 (New Zealand)

Fax: [phone]

Asia Pacific:

Hewlett-Packard Asia Pacific Ltd.
17-21/F Shell Tower, Times Square,
1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay,
Hong Kong
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Copyright © 1998
Hewlett-Packard Company
Printed in U.S.A. 11/98
5967-6115E