Atec Agilent-53200A User Manual

Agilent 53200A Series RF/Universal Frequency Counter/Timers

Data Sheet

53210A 350 MHz RF Frequency Counter, 10 digits/sec 53220A 350 MHz Universal Frequency Counter/Timer, 12 digits/sec, 100 ps 53230A 350 MHz Universal Frequency Counter/Timer, 12 digits/sec, 20 ps

Imagine Your Counter Doing More!

Introduction

Frequency counters are depended on in R&D and in manufacturing for the fastest, most accurate frequency and time interval measurements. The 53200 Series of RF and universal frequency counter/timers expands on this expectation to provide you with the most information, connectivity and new measurement capabilities, while building on the speed and accuracy you’ve depended on with Agilent’s decades of time and frequency measurement expertise.

Three available models offer resolution capabilities up to 12 digits/sec frequency resolution on a one second gate. Singleshot time interval measurements can be resolved down to 20 psec. All models offer new built-in analysis and graphing capabilities to maximize the insight and information you receive.

Measurement by model

More Bandwidth

• 350 MHz baseband frequency

• 6 or 15 GHz optional microwave channels

More Resolution & Speed

• 12 digits/sec

• 20 ps single-shot time resolution

• Up to 75,000 and 90,000 readings/ sec (frequency and time interval)

More Insight

• Datalog trend plot

• Cumulative histogram

• Built-in math analysis and statistics

• 1M reading memory and USB Flash storage

More Connectivity

• LXI-C/Ethernet LAN, USB, GPIB

• Optional battery for unstable AC power or timebase accuracy

More Measurement Capability (53230A only)

• Continuous gap-free measurements

• Basic measurement and timestamps for modulation domain analysis (MDA)

• Optional pulse/burst microwave measurement

Measurements Model Standard

350 MHz Input

Channel(s)

Frequency 53210A,

53220A,

53230A

Frequency ratio 53210A,

53220A,

53230A

Period 53210A,

53220A,

53230A

Minimum/maximum/ peak-to-peak input voltage

53210A, 53220A,

53230A

RF signal strength 53210A,

53220A,

53230A

Single period 53220A,

53230A

Time interval A to B, B to A, A, B

Positive/negative pulse width

53220A,

53230A

53220A,

53230A

Rise/fall time 53220A,

53230A

Positive/negative duty 53220A,

53230A

Phase A to B, B to A

Totalize (continuous or timed)

53220A,

53230A

53220A,

53230A Continuous/gap-free 53230A Timestamp 53230A Pulse/burst measure-

ment software

53230A

(Option 150)

●●

●

●●

Opt MW Inputs

(53210A: Ch 2,

53220A/30A: Ch 3)

●

1. Burst carrier frequency, pulse repetition frequency (PRF), pulse repetition interval (PRI), burst positive width (“on” time), burst negative width (“off” time).

Input Channel Characteristics

53210A 53220A 53230A

Input characteristics (nom)

Channels

Standard (DC - 350 MHz) Ch 1 Ch 1 & Ch 2 Optional (6 or 15 GHz) Ch 2 Ch 3

Standard inputs (nom)

Frequency range

DC coupled DC (1 mHz) to 350 MHz (2.8 ns to 1000 sec) AC coupled, 50 Ω1 or 1 MΩ 10 Hz - 350 MHz

Input

Connector Front panel BNC(f). Option 201 adds parallel rear panel BNC(f) inputs Input impedance (typ) Selectable 1 MΩ ± 1.5% or 50 Ω ± 1.5% || <25 pF Input coupling Selectable DC or AC Input filter Selectable 100 kHz cut-off frequency low pass

10 Hz (AC coupling) cut-off frequency high pass filter

Amplitude range

Input range ±5 V (±50 V) full scale ranges Sensitivity

Noise

Input event thresholds

Threshold levels ±5 V (±50 V) in 2.5 mV (25 mV) steps Noise reject Slope Selectable Positive or Negative Auto-scale Acquires signal for current measurement channel,

Auto-level Selectable On or Off

Minimum signal frequency for auto level

Minimum signal for auto level

Maximum input

50 Ω damage level 1 W 50 Ω protection threshold Will not activate below 7.5 Vpk

1 M Ω damage level DC - 5 kHz: 350 Vpk (AC + DC)

3,4

(typ) DC - 100 MHz: 20 mVpk

> 100 MHz: 40 mVpk

500 µVrms (max), 350 µVrms (typ)

Selectable On/ Off

selects range (5 V or 50 V), sets auto-level 50%

On: Sets auto-level (% of Vpp) operation Occurs once for each INIT or after a timeout. Measures signal Vpp and sets Trigger level to 50% Off: Selectable user set level (Volts)

User selectable (Slow (50 Hz), Fast (10 kHz))

300 mVpp

50 Ω internal termination auto-protects

by switching to 1 M Ω

5 kHz - 100 kHz: Derate linearly to 10 Vpk (AC + DC)

>100 kHz: 10 Vpk (AC + DC)

Input Channel Characteristics continued

53210A 53220A 53230A

Optional microwave inputs (nom)

Frequency range

Option 106 100 MHz - 6 GHz Option 115 300 MHz - 15 GHz

Input

Connector Front panel precision Type-N(f)

Option 203 moves the input connector to a rear panel SMA(f) Input impedance (typ) 50 Ω ± 1.5% (SWR < 2.5) Input coupling AC

Continuous wave amplitude range

Option 106 Autoranged to +19 dBm max. (2 Vrms) Option 115 Autoranged to +13 dBm max. (1.0 Vrms) Sensitivity (typ)

Input event thresholds

Level range Auto-ranged for optimum sensitivity and bandwidth AM tolerance

Maximum input

Damage level 6 GHz (Opt 106): > +27 dBm (5 Vrms)

6 GHz (Opt 106): -27 dBm (10 mVrms)

15 GHz (Opt 115): < 3 GHz: -23 dBm

3 – 11 GHz: -27 dBm

> 11 GHz: -21 dBm

50% modulation depth

15 GHz (Opt 115): > +19 dBm (2 Vrms)

1. AC coupling occurs after 50 Ω termination.

2. When ordered with optional rear terminals, the standard/baseband channel inputs are active on both the front and rear of the universal counter though the specifications provided only apply to the rear terminals. Performance for the front terminals with rear terminals installed is not specified.

3. Multiply value(s) by 10 for the 50 V range.

4. Stated specification assumes Noise Reject OFF. Noise Reject ON doubles the sensitivity minimum voltage levels.

5. Assumes sine wave.

6. CW only. Assumes AM Rate > 10/gate. For Option 106, spec applies for input powers > -20 dBm; use a tolerance of 15% modulation depth for frequencies less than 900 MHz. For Option 115, spec applies for input powers > -10 dBm.

Measurement Characteristics

53210A 53220A 53230A

Measurement range (nom)

Frequency, period (average) measurements

Common

Channels Ch 1 or optional Ch 2 Ch 1, Ch 2 or optional Ch 3 Digits/s 10 digits/s 12 digits/s 12 digits/s Maximum display

Resolution

Measurement technique Reciprocal Reciprocal and resolution

Signal type Continuous Wave (CW) CW and pulse/burst

Level & slope Automatically preset or user selectable Gate Internal or external Gate time

Advanced gating

FM tolerance ± 50%

Frequency, period

Range9 DC (1 mHz) to 350 MHz (2.8 ns to 1000 s) Microwave input (optional) Option 106 - 100 MHz to 6 GHz (166 ps to 10 ns)

Frequency ratio

Range 1015 Displayable range

Timestamp/modulation domain

Sample rate

#Edges/timestamp N/A N/A Auto-acquired per

Acquisition length N/A N/A up to 1 MSa or

Time interval (single-shot) measurements

Common

Channels N/A Ch 1 or 2 Single-shot time resolution N/A 100 ps 20 ps Gating N/A Internal or external gate

Slope N/A Independent start, stop slopes Level N/A Independent start, stop slopes Channel-to-channel time

skew (typ)

12 digits 15 digits 15 digits

enhanced

1 ms to 1000 s in 10 µs

steps

100 µs to 1000 s in 10 µs

steps

1 µs to 1000 s in 1 µs steps

N/A Start delay (time or events) and stop hold-off

(time or events)

Option 115 - 300 MHz to 15 GHz ( 66 ps to 3.3 ns)

N/A N/A 1 MSa/s, 800 kSa/s,

Start delay (time or events) and stop hold-off

(time or events)

N/A 100 ps 50 ps

Reciprocal, resolution-

enhanced or continuous

(gap-free)

(Option 150)

100 kSa/s, 10 kSa/s

acquisition

100,000 s (max)

Measurement Characteristics continued

53210A 53220A 53230A

Time interval A to B, B to A

Range

Time interval A or B

Range N/A 2 ns to 100,000 s (min) Minimum width N/A 2 ns Minimum edge repetition

rate Level & slope N/A Auto-level or user selectable

Single-period, pulse-width, rise time, fall time

Range N/A 0 s to 1000 s Minimum width N/A 2 ns Minimum edge repetition

Rate Level & slope N/A Auto-level or user selectable

Duty

Range N/A .000001 to .999999 or 0.0001% to 99.9999% Minumim width N/A 2 ns Level & slope N/A Auto-level or user selectable

Phase A to B, B to A

Range

Totalize measurements

Channels N/A Ch 1 or Ch 2

Range Rate N/A 0 - 350 MHz Gating N/A Continuous, timed, or external gate input

Level measurements

Voltage level - standard input channels

Microwave power level (microwave channel option)

N/A -1 ns to 100,000 s (nom)

-0.5 ns to 100,000 s (min)

N/A 6 ns

N/A -180.000º to 360.000º

N/A 0 to 1015 events

Gate accuracy is 20 ns

±5.1 Vpk with 2.5 mV resolution or ±51 Vpk with 25 mV resolution

0 to 4 relative signal power

Measurement Characteristics continued

53210A 53220A 53230A

6 GHz (Option 106) 15 GHz (Option 115)

Pulse/burst frequency and pulse envelope detector (Option 150)

Pulse/burst measurements N/A N/A Carrier frequency, carrier period, pulse repetition interval (PRI),

pulse repetition frequency (PRF), positive and negative width

Pulse/burst width for carrier frequency measurements

Minimum pulse/burst

N/A N/A >200 ns

Narrow: <17 µs

N/A N/A >50 ns > 100 ns width for envelope measurements

Acquisition N/A N/A Auto, Manual7 PRF, PRI range N/A N/A 1 Hz – 10 MHz 1 Hz - 5 MHz Pulse detector response

time (typ)

N/A N/A 15 ns rise/fall 40 ns rise/fall

Pulse width accuracy N/A N/A 20 ns + (2*carrier period) 75 ns Power ratio (typ) N/A N/A >15 dB Power range and

sensitivity (sinusoidal) typ)

N/A N/A +13 dBm (1 Vrms) to

-13 dBm (50 mVrms)

Wide: >13 µs

> 400 ns

Narrow: <17 μs

Wide: >13 μs

< 3 GHz: +7 dBm (500 mVrms) to

-6 dBm (115 mVrms)

3 - 11 GHz: +9 dBm (630 mVrms) to

-8 dBm (90 mVrms)

> 11 GHz: +7 dBm (500 mVrms) to

-6 dBm (115 mVrms)

1. Maximum display resolution for frequency and period. Totalize display resolution is 15 digits, time interval based measurements are 12 digits.

2. Continuous, gap-free measurements limits the gate time setting to 10 µs to 1000 s in 10 µs steps.

3. Refer to the gate characteristics section for more details on advanced gate capabilities.

4. Measurements on each input channel are performed simultaneously using one gate interval. The actual measurement gate interval on each channel will be synchrounous with edges of each input signal.

5. Maximum sample rate. Actual sample rate will be limited by the input signal edge rate for signals slower than the selected sample rate. Maximum timestamp rate offers minimal FM tolerance. If high FM tolerance is required, use lower timestamp rates.

6. Assumes two frequencies are identical, only shifted in phase.

7. Manual control of gate width and gate delay are allowed only for wide pulsed mode.

8. For pulsed signals > -7 dBm (100 mVrms) while gated on.

9. For totalize, time interval and frequency measurements, you may get measurement readings beyond the range stated, but the accuracy of those readings is not specified.

10. Applies when burst width * Carrier Freq >80.

11. Specifications apply if measurement channels are in 5 V range, DC coupled, 50 Ω terminated and at fixed level for: time interval single and dual channel, pulse width, duty, phase, single period and rise/fall time measurements.

12. Option 150 microwave pulse/burst measurement descriptions:

-12 dB Detector Level

(Option 106 only)

+ width burst (on)

PRI = 1/PRF

Burst carrier frequency

- 12 dB

- width burst (off)

PRF

- 6 dB p-p

amplitude

-6 dB Detector Level

Burst carrier frequency

+ width burst (on)

- width burst (off)

PRF

PRI = 1/PRF

Gate, Trigger and Timebase Characteristics

53210A 53220A 53230A

Gate characteristics (nom)

Gate

Source Time, external Time, external or advanced Gate time (step size)

Advanced: gate start

Source N/A Internal or external, Ch 1/Ch 2

Slope N/A Positive or negative Delay time

Delay events (edges) N/A 0 to 108 for signals up to 100 MHz

Advanced: gate stop hold-off

Source N/A Internal or external, Ch 1/Ch 2

Slope N/A Positive or negative Hold-off time

Hold-off events (edges) N/A 0 to 108 (minimum width (positive or negative) >60 ns)

External gate input characteristics (typ)

Connector Rear panel BNC(f)

Impedance 1 kΩ when selected as external gate input Level TTL compatible Slope Selectable positive or negative Gate to gate timing 3 µs gate end to next gate start Damage level <-5 V, >+10 V

Gate output characteristics (typ)

Connector Rear panel BNC(f)

Impedance 50 Ω when selected for gate output Level TTL compatible Slope Selectable positive or negative Damage level <-5 V, >+10 V

1 ms - 1000 s (10 µs) 100 µs - 1000 s (10 µs) 1 µs - 1000 s (1 µs)

(unused standard channel input)

N/A 0 s to 10 s in 10 ns steps

(unused standard channel input)

N/A Hold-off Time settable from 60 ns to 1000 s

Selectable as external gate input or gate output signal

+ 16 hidden pages