HP E1725C, E1740A Getting Started Manual

HP E1725C and HP E1740A
Time Interval Analyzers with the
HP E1742A/43A/44A/46A/48A

Getting
Started Guide

Analysis Software

Getting Started Guide

This guide describes how to start using the HP E1725C and the
HP E1740A Time Interval Analyzers (TIA) with the HP E1742A,
HP E1743A, HP E1744A, HP 1746A, and HP E1748A Analysis Software
(HP E1725C options 242, 243, 244, 246, and 248, respectively).
Information on installation, start-up, and first use of the TIA are
provided.

HP E1725C and HP E1740A
Time Interval Analyzers with the
HP E1742A/43A/44A/46A/48A
Analysis Software



Copyright Hewlett- P ac ka rd

Company 1998
All Rights Reserved.

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

Printed: April 1998
Printed in USA

Manual part number
E1725-900 12

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 one
year 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 familiariza ti on
with this safety markings and
instructions before operation.

This product is a safety Class I
instrument (provided with a
protective earth terminal).

Before Applying Power

Verify that the product is set to
match the available line voltage
and the correct fuse is installed.
Refer to instructions in Chapter
1 of the Manual.

Before Cleaning

Disconnect the product from
operating power before
cleaning.

Safety Earth Ground

An uninterruptible safety earth
ground must be provided from
the mains power source to the
product input wiring terminals
or supplied power cable.

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.

Safety Considerations
(contd)

Indicates earth (ground)
terminal.

or

Indicates terminal is connected
to chassis when such connection
is not apparent.

Indicates Alternating
current.

Indicates Direct current.

WARNING

BODILY INJUR Y OR DEATH
MAY RESULT FROM
FAILURE TO HEED A
WARNING. DO NOT
PROCEED BEYOND A
WARNING SIGN 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
sign until the indicated
conditions are fully
understood and met.

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

Hewlett-Packard Company 7.CD.NL.A.03.11.97.R1.J.CW2F
Santa Clara Division
5301 Stevens Creek Boulevard
Santa Clara, California 95052-8059

Contents

In This Guide

Guide Organization vii
Description of the High Performance Time Interval

Analyzer viii
Documentation List ix
Where to Find Information x

1 How to Begin

In this Chapter 1-2
HP E1725C and HP E1740A Time Interval Analyzers with

the HP E1742A/43A/44A/46A/48A Analysis Software 1-4
Assembling the TIA 1-5

HP E1725C TIA Assembly 1-5

Installing the HP E1742A/43A/44A/46A/48A Analysis
Software 1-7

HP E1725C TIA Requirements 1-7
Install the HP TIA Software 1-8

To Modify the Directory 1-9

Power-Up and Health Check 1-11

Start 1-11
Start the HP TIA Software 1-11
Verify Communication with the TIA 1-11

Set the Interface Type 1-11
Verify Communication 1-12

Where to Now? 1-13

2 Practice Using the TIA

In this Chapter 2-2
Conventions Used in the Tutorial 2-4

Selecting Commands with the Mouse 2-4

Getting Started Guide iii

Contents

Hints Provided in Italics 2-4

TIA Tutorial 2-5

Presetting the Instrument to a Known State 2-5
Recalling a Saved Data File and Setup 2-6
Configuring the TIA for a Measurement (Setup Menu) 2-7
Initiating a Measurement and Viewing Results (Measure

Menu) 2-16
Using Cursors, Markers and Zooming 2-19
Printing Results 2-25

3 Demo Waveforms

In this Chapter 3-2
Demo 1: Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO) Frequency

Step Response and Settling 3-3

Start 3-3
Overview 3-3
Frequency Deviation Results 3-6
Cursors and Markers 3-7
Zooming 3-7
Autoscale and Scaling 3-9

Demo 2: Phase Modulation Analysis (BPSK) 3-12

Start 3-12
Overview 3-13
Phase Deviation Results 3-15
DeTilt 3-16
FFT Analysis 3-17

Demo 3: Sharing TIA Data With Other Windows
Applications 3-20

Sharing Graphics 3-20

Open the Windows’ “WordPad” Progr am 3-21
Now Add the Log Information 3-23
Sharing Data 3-25

iv Getting Started Guide

Index

Contents

Getting Started Guide v

Contents

vi Getting Started Guide

In This Guide

This book is the getting started guide for the HP E1725C and HP E1740A
Time Interval Analyzers. It consists of a table of contents, this preface,
three chapters, and an index.

This preface contains the following information

• Guide Organization

• Description of the High Performance Time Interval
Analyzer

• Documentation List

• Where to Find Information

:

pg. vii
pg. viii

pg. ix
pg. x

Guide Organization

Table of Contents
In This Guide (this preface) introduces you to the getting started guide,

and provides general information on the HP E1725C/HP E1740A Time
Interval Analyzer (TIA).

Chapter 1, “How to Begin,” provides complete system requirements and
information, and step-by-step instructions on how to assemble and start
operating your TIA.

Chapter 2, “Practice Using the TIA,” provides a short tutorial that
teaches you how to set up the TIA to acquire and analyze measurement
data without the need for an actual signal to measure.

Chapter 3, “Demo Waveforms,” provides detailed demonstrations about
measuring and analyzing actual signals. Data files are included with your
software to be used as examples to illustrate key points.

Index

Getting Started Guide vii

In This Guide

Description of the High Performance Time Interval Analyzer

The HP E1725C and HP E1740A Time Interval Analyzers provide new
insight into critical timing issues for applications in computer,
communications, and defense industries. The HP E1725C TIA features a
modular architecture that offers both high performance timing
measurements and a customized user-interface, which can be configured
to specific measurement applications. The HP E1740A Time Interval
Analyzer VXI module is the measurement hardware of the system.
The HP E1742A/43A/44A/46A/48A series of analysis software is designed

to “tune” the TIA to specific needs for greater ease-of-use and higher
productivity. The TIA and software provide the following measurement
and analysis features:

• Graphical user interface implemented in Windows® 3.1 or
Windows® 95

A mouse, or similar pointing device, can be used to set up the TIA,
control operation, and analyze results.

• Large sequential data capture

Up to 256 thousand single-channel measurements can be acquired in
sequence. This can be useful when studying phenomena which occur
over many measurement samples.

• Large histogram capacity

Large amounts of data can be collected into a histogram very quickly.
Statistical analysis is enhanced with higher confidence due to large
sample sizes.

• Continuous edge sampling up to 80 MHz rate

In the HP E1743A and E1744A, every edge can be timed in a pulse
series up to an 80 MHz rate (12.5 ns minimum continuous interval,

3.2 µsec maximum interval). In the HP E1742A, HP E1746A, and
HP E1748A (and optionally the HP E1743A and HP E1744A), every

viii Getting Started Guide

In This Guide

edge can be captured up to a 40 MHz rate (25 ns minimum continuous
interval, 104 ms maximum interval).

• Easily share data with other applications

Include TIA results in lab reports using Windows word processing

software such as Microsoft Word for Windows or Lotus® Amipro®.

• Resolve signal edge timing to within 50 ps LSD

Characterize small amounts of jitter and timing noise on a single-shot
basis.

Documentation List

The following manuals are part of the standard HP E1725C Time Interval
Analyzer:

Manual Title HP Part Number

HP E1725C and HP E1740A Time Interval Analyzers
with the HP E1742A/43A/44A/46A/48A Analysis Software
Getting Started Guide (this guide)

HP E1740A Time Interval Analyzer User’s Guide E1740-90005
HP E1421B VXI Mainframe Manual E1421-90000
HP E1406A Command Module User’s Guide E1406-90004
HP E1406A Command Module Installation Guide E1406-90027
HP Omnibook 5700 CTX Laptop Computer manuals _____

National Instruments GPIB User’s Manual _____

MS-DOS

®

and Windows® 95 manuals _____

E1725-90012

Getting Started Guide ix

In This Guide

Where to Find Information

The order in which you use these resources will depend on your
situation. When first starting to use the HP E1725C or
HP E1742A/43A/44A/46A/48A, refer to this Getting Started Guide.
When setting up the HP E1740A TIA in a VXI system you will find very

important information in the HP E1740A User’s Guide.

To find out more about... Refer to the following...

installing the HP E1725C Time
Interval Analyzer or
HP E1742A/43A/44A/46A/48A
Analysis software

installing the HP E1740A Time
Interval Analyzer VXI module

the specifications for the
HP E1725C/HP E1740A TIA

how to program the HP E1740A Time
Interval Analyzer VXI module

the HP E1421B six-slot mainframe HP E1421B Mainframe Manual
the portable computer for the

HP E1725C
making specific

HP E1742A/43A/44A/46A/48A
measurements

HP E1725C and HP E1740A Time
Interval Analyzers with the
HP E1742/43/44A/46A/48A Analysis
Software Getting Started Guide
(this guide)

HP E1740A User’s Guide

HP E1740A User’s Guide

HP E1740A User’s Guide

HP Omnibook 5700 CTX Laptop
Computer manuals

HP E174XA on-line Help

x Getting Started Guide

1

How to Begin

Chapter 1 How to Begin

In this Chapter

In this Chapter

1

This chapter describes in a step-by-step fashion how to assemble and start
operating your Hewlett-Packard TIA (Time Interval Analyzer). The steps
also make a good checklist to follow when you suspect a problem with your
setup.

Components Provided
Components Needed
to Configure a TIA

VXI mainfra me 6-slot mainframe (inc luded) 13-slot mainframe, such as

Computer HP Omnibook 5 700 CTX Laptop

VXI interface/control Included in HP 1406A Slot-0

TIA module HP E1740A (included) None
Measurement control

and analysis software

with a Standard

HP E1725C Possible Alternatives

the HP E1401B
HP Vectra or IBM-

Computer

command module (with HP-IB

card in computer)

HP E1742A Tributary Jitter

Analysis

HP E1743A Clock Jitter

Analysis

HP E1744A Token Ring Jitter

Analysis

HP E1746A Network

Synchronization Measurement

Software

HP E1748A Multiple-Channel

Network Synchr o niz a t io n

Measurement Software

(one included)

compatible PC with
HP 82335B or HP 82341B
HP-IB card installed

_____

Create custom programs to
control the HP E1740A TIA
module.

1-2 Getting Started Guide

Chapter 1 How to Begin

In this Chapter

Components Provided
Components Needed
to Configure a TIA

MS-DOS 6.0 (or later) (included) MS-DOS 5.0 (or later)
Windows®3.1 or

Windows

®

95

with a Standard

HP E1725C Possible Alternatives

Windows

®

95 _____

1

National Instruments
PCMCIA-GPIB Kit

(included) None

Getting Started Guide 1-3

Chapter 1 How to Begin

HP E1725C and HP E1740A Time Interval Analyzers with the
HP E1742A/43A/44A/46A/48A Analysis Software

HP E1725C and HP E1740A

1

HP E1742A/43A/44A/46A/48A
Analysis Software

The HP E1725C TIA is a stand-alone instrument. Connect the pieces as
described below and apply power. Skip the steps that do not apply.
The TIA is then ready to start measuring.

The HP E1742A/43A/44A/46A/48A are options to the HP E1725C
(option 242, 243, 244, 246 and 248, respectively). These software packages
are Microsoft Windows applications, which serve as the user interface and
analysis portion of the TIA. At least one of these packages must be
included with the HP E1725C.

This guide describes how to assemble the TIA and start using it. If you are
assembling the HP E1725C for the first time, reassembling it after some
time, or building the TIA using other computers or VXI mainframes, this
procedure will help.

The standard HP E1725C TIA instrument consists of the following items:

• HP E1740A Time Interval Analyzer (two-slot, C-size VXI module )

• HP E1406A Slot-0 Command Module (one-slot, C-size VXI module)

Time Interval Analyzers with the

• HP E1742A/43A/44A/46A/48A Analysis Software

• HP Omnibook 5700 CTX Laptop Computer

• Six-slot VXI C-size mainframe

• National Instruments PCMCIA-GPIB Kit (includes a PCMCIA card
and a GPIB cable)

• DOS and Windows software

• Four oscilloscope probes (three 10:1 and one 1:1)

• Blank panels for covering unused VXI mainframe slots

1-4 Getting Started Guide

Chapter 1 How to Begin

Assembling the TIA

Assembling the TIA

NOTE

HP E1725C TIA Assembl y

This section assumes that the HP E1725C is completely disassembled.
Just skip the steps that do not apply to your situation. The intention is to
meet your needs if in the future you need to rebuild an HP E1725C that
has been disassembled. The standard HP E1725C is shipped from the

factory assembled and configured.
1 Before you start, make sure power is shut off to all of the components.
2 Install the HP E1406A Command Module in slot 0 of the VXI mainframe.

(With the standard HP E1725C 6-slot mainframe, this will be the slot at

the bottom or left side, depending on the orientation of the mainframe.)

Line up the module with the slot guides and then press the module firmly

into the backplane connectors. Tighten the screws attached to the

command module to fully seat the module into the backplane connectors of

the mainframe.
3 Install the HP E1740A TIA module in slots 1 and 2 of the VXI mainframe

or any other open slo ts .

Always check that the mainframe power is OFF before installing any

boards or instruments into the backplane connectors. This is also a good

time to check that the TIA module address setting is unique and different

from other modules already installed in the mainframe. The HP E1740A

address (ULA) is set to 48 at the factory, corresponding to a secondary

address of 06 when using the HP 82335A/B HP-IB Interface Card. If you

are installing multiple TIAs, make sure each one has its own unique

address. See the HP E1740A TIA User’s Guide for more information about

address switch settings.

1

4 Line up the module with the slot guides and then press the module firmly

into the backplane connectors. Use the screws attached to the module to

securely tighten down the module.

Getting Started Guide 1-5

Chapter 1 How to Begin

Assembling the TIA

5 Install blank panels over any unused slots of the VXI mainframe to help

maintain proper cooling of VXI modules.

1

6 Apply power to the laptop computer and the VXI mainframe.

1-6 Getting Started Guide

Chapter 1 How to Begin

Installing the HP E1742A/43A/44A/46A/48A Analysis Software

Installing the HP E1742A/43A/44A/46A/48A

Analysis Software

This section provides instructions for installing the user-interface

software onto your computer. This software is already installed on the

HP E1725C TIA. If you have purchased the HP E1742A/43A/44A/46A/48A

Analysis Software by itself, follow these instructions to install the

software.

HP E1725C TIA Requirements

The following are the minimum requirements to support operation of the

HP E1725C TIA using the HP E1742A/43A/44A/46A/48A software.

• 20 MHz 386-based PC with a 387 co-processor

• 8 megabytes of RAM

• A hard disk with at least 6 megabytes of free disk space

• DOS version 5.0 (or later) and Microsoft Windows

Windows

• A two-button mouse

It is recommended that you always read any “readme” files associated

with the software before proceeding with the installation. These files

contain important information which may not be found elsewhere.

The HP E174XA readme file can be viewed by one of the following

methods:

®

95)

®

version 3.1 (or

1

• Insert the HP E174XA disk 1 in drive a: (or whatever floppy drive is
appropriate). Start Windows 95, select Programs group, double-click
on Windows Explor er ic on, choose drive a:, and double-click on the
“readme.wri” file.

• If the HP E174XA software is already installed on the PC, double-click
on the “readme” icon in the HP Applications program group.

Getting Started Guide 1-7

Chapter 1 How to Begin

Installing the HP E1742A/43A/44A/46A/48A Analysis Software

Install the HP TIA Software

1 Insert the HPE1742A/43A/44A/46A/48A disk 1 into the 3.5-inch floppy

drive.

1

2 Start Windows.
3 Open Windows Explorer and double-click on Setup File to install the

software.

NOTE

The software cannot be installed while another Visual Basic program is
open in Windows. If you see an error message to this effect, close all other
Visual Basic programs to proceed with the installation.

Shortly after double-clicking, you will see the installation window shown
below. If you see a different window, you may have inserted disk 3 by
mistake. (Disk 3 also has a file with the name setup.exe.) Click Cancel
and return to step 1.

This window allows you to modify the directory for the software
installation, or to cancel the installation completely. To cancel the
installation, click Exit Setup or press ALT E.

1-8 Getting Started Guide

Chapter 1 How to Begin

Installing the HP E1742A/43A/44A/46A/48A Analysis Software

To Modify the Directory

The default directory is C:\hpe174Xa (where X=2, 3, 4, 6, or 8 depending
on the particular software package you have). If you want to install the
application software files in a different directory, highlight hpe174Xa and
type in the preferred directory name. Highlight the C:\ if you wish to
modify the drive location as well. Make a note of the directory you

have selected as you will need this information later during the
installation. Click the Continue button to continue the installation.

An Interface Options window will appear next. If you are using an

HP 82335A HP-IB interface, the appropriate Window’s driver (hpib.dll
for the HP 82335A) will be installed for you. If you are certain that the
correct interface driver is already available on your system (and in the
“path”), you may leave “Other/None” selected. Otherwise, choose the
appropriate interface. If the interface you are using is not listed, select
“Other/None”. Click Continue to start the actual installation.

1

Getting Started Guide 1-9

Chapter 1 How to Begin

Installing the HP E1742A/43A/44A/46A/48A Analysis Software

After the program file s from di sks 1 and 2 are copied to your disk, y ou will
be asked to insert disk 3 into the floppy drive. Insert disk 3 into the floppy
drive and click Continue. A new setup program will be launched to

1

install the Help system. You will see another “Initializing Setup...”
message, and then the opening screen for installing the Help system.
Follow the instructions on the screen.

When you are asked to select a directory to install the Help system files
(not the shared files to be placed in the Windows System directory),
enter the same directory you noted previously.

When the installation is complete, click the OK button. A new program
group “HP Applications” will be created. The HP E174XA software, a
“read-me” file and the Help icon will be placed in this program group.

Be sure to send in your registration card. This will ensure that you are
notified about software updates and other important product information.

1-10 Getting Started Guide

Chapter 1 How to Begin

Power-Up and Health Check

Power-Up and Health Check

Start

1 Switch on the VXI mainframe before the computer.
2 Switch on the computer.

Start the HP TIA Software

1 Double-click the HP Applications Program Group icon in Windows to

open the group.

2 Double-click the HP E174XA icon to start the application.

Verify Communication with the TIA

The default interface setting for the HP E1742A/43A/44A/46A/48A is

“none.”

Set the Interface Type

If this is the first time you have started the software, or if no interface has
been previously selected, you will be asked if you wish to select the
interface now. Click Yes and continue with step3. Otherwise, select the
interface with the following steps:

1 Select Setup>In strument Setup... .

1

2 The HP E1740A setup window will appear. Click on the Interface

Setup... button in the lower right hand corner of the window.

3 Select the appropriate interface and addressing. Refer to the on-line Help

under the topic of “Interface” and the corresponding documentation that
came with the interface. Refer to the HP E1740A User’s Guide for details
on address switch settings.

4 Click on OK once the setting is chosen.

Getting Started Guide 1-11

Chapter 1 How to Begin

Power-Up and Health Check

Verify Communication

A convenient way to test the interface with the TIA is to check for an erro r
condition in the HP E1740A. This is a fairly comprehensive test as it

1

requires that the interface is configured correctly and that the hardware is
operational.

1 Select Setup>In strument Setup... .

2 Beneath “Calibration & Errors:” (bottom, center of the HP E1740A Setup

window), click on the Service button.

3 Click on the Get Error button in the bottom right corner of the

“Calibration and Service” window.

4 If the interface is configured correctly, and there are no hardware error

conditions, a small dialog box will appear with the message:

System error code:
+0, “No error”

5 Click on the OK button to exit this window. Close the Calibration and

Service window, and Cancel the HP E1740A Setup window to return to
the application.

If you do not see the above error-free condition, check that the correct
interface has been configured in the HP E1740A Setup window and that
the HP E1740A has a unique address (ULA). For HP E1740A hardware
error conditions, refer to the HP E1740A User’s Guide.

6 You can configure the HP E174XA to always use the interface you just

selected as follows:

Select File>Save Setup As... .

Select the file inisetup.stp in the c:\hpe174Xa directory. This is the
setup file the software uses as its configuration when loaded.

1-12 Getting Started Guide

Chapter 1 How to Begin

Where to Now?

Where to Now?

If this is your first time using the TIA, you may want to follow the short
tutorial in Chapter 2. It demonstrates how to set up the TIA to acquire
and analyze measurement data without the need for an actual signal to
measure.

Chapter 3 goes into more detail about measuring and analyzing actual
signals. Data files are included with your software to be used as examples

to illustrate key points. These data files are “generic” and may not
illustrate the specific application for which you purchased the software.
The on-line Help file is intended to do this.

1

Getting Started Guide 1-13

Chapter 1 How to Begin

Where to Now?

1

1-14 Getting Started Guide

2

Practice Using the TIA

Chapter 2 Practice Using the TIA

In this Chapter

In this Chapter

This chapter provides the opportunity for you to learn about some of the

TIA’s features and operation without the need for connecting actual
signals to the instrument. Data files which were measured with the TIA
are included with the analysis software. A frequency deviation
measurement for a frequency modulated (FM) carrier is recalled in these
examples to illustrate specific features and capabilities. This chapter
covers the general steps to configure the TIA to capture this data as well
as steps to follow to analyze the collected data.

2

The following items are demo nstrated in this chapter:

• Presetting the instrument to a known default state

• Recalling a data file and setup (File Menu)

• How to configure the TIA for a measurement (Setup Menu)

• How to initiate a measurement and view the results (Measure and
View Menus)

• Using the cursors and zooming

• Printing results

This Getting Started Guide covers features and functions available in the
following software applications:

• HP E1742A SONET/SDH Tributary Jitter Analyzer

• HP E1743A Clock Jitter Analyzer

• HP E1744A Token Ring Jitter Analyzer

• HP E1746A Network Synchronization Measurement Software

• HP E1748A Multiple-Channel Network Synchron iza tion
Measurement So ftware

2-2 Getting Started Guide

Chapter 2 Practice Using the TIA

In this Chapter

Each of the above products has functionality specific to a given
application, which may not be explicitly covered in this tutorial. Refer to
the on-line help in each software package for application-specific
informatio n. All features and functions covered in this guide are included
in each of these products.

2

Getting Started Guide 2-3

Chapter 2 Practice Using the TIA

Conventions Used in the Tutorial

Conventions Used in the Tutorial

Selecting Commands with the Mouse

You select commands by pointing with the mouse cursor and the n clicking
on each of the commands by pressing the left mouse button. For example,
when you see, Setup>Instrument Setup..., click on the Setup menu and
then the Instrument Setup... selection in the pulldown menu.

Hints Provided in Italics

2

Helpful information is presented throughout this tutorial. The
information will help you with the current task or sometimes it is just to
let you know that you are progressing properly.

2-4 Getting Started Guide

Chapter 2 Practice Using the TIA

TIA Tutorial

TIA Tutorial

You should already have the HP E1742A/43A/44/46A/48A application
running. If not, refer to Chapter 1 of this guide for information on how to
install the software and start the TIA application.

NOTE

The windows and dialog boxes shown in this guide are those of the
HP E1742A. The screens on the HP E1743A/44A/46A/48A may have a
slightly different appearance.

2

Presetting the Instrument to a Known State

1 Once the TIA application is started, select File>Load Default Setup.

The default setup will configure the TIA to a known state as determined

by a set of parameters fixed at the factory, similar to the “preset” key on
many instruments.

You may also customize the initial user-interface configuration by first
configuring the instrument as desired and saving the setup in the file
“INISETUP.STP” (File>Save Setup (inisetup.stp)). This configuration
will automatically be loaded when the Windows application is started. In
general, instrument setups are saved by selecting File>Save Setup As.

Note that the INISETUP.STP file and the default parameters are two
different files, and may not necessarily result in the same instrument
configuration.

Getting Started Guide 2-5

Chapter 2 Practice Using the TIA

TIA Tutorial

2 A window will appear with an explanation similar to the one shown here

when you retrieve the default setup.

2

Click on the Yes button to proceed.

Recalling a Saved Data File and Setup

1 Select File>Load Data File... .

Select the file “fm.pan” in the c:\hpe174Xa\demo directory.
You will be using data that was acquired with the TIA and saved as a data

file (*.pan). This is a convenient way to experiment with the measurement
and analysis features without the need for live input signals.

2 Select File>Load Setup... .

Select the setup file “fm.stp” in the c:\hpe174Xa\demo directory.
This is the instrument configuration used to acquire the data in “fm.pan.”

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Configuring the TIA for a Measurement (Setup Menu)

1 Select the Instrument Setup window by clicking on Setup>Instrument

Setup... .

2

This window is used to specify the measurement hardware configuration.
The window is divided into five or six separate areas. Input Configure,
Trigger, Calibration & Erro rs, Reference, and Interface are common
to all HP E174XA products. You will only need to modify the Input
Configure and Trigger selections for most measurements. In most cases,
changes become effective when you click the OK button and close this
dialog box.

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Input Configure:

Channels 1 and 2 are configured separately by clicking on the
appropriate channel. You can determine the input threshold in volts,
the threshold slope, the input coupling, and the input impedance.
In the HP E1743A/44A/46A/48A, input channel routing is also
selected in this area. All of these selections are modified in the
HP E1740A immediately.

This menu configures the measurement hardware parameters.
To select the channel used to acquire measurements, select
Setup>Measure/View Setup.

2

Trigger:

You can select whether the TIA will wait for a threshold crossing on the
trigger input before acquiring time stamp information. The threshold
choices are GND (0 volts), ECL (−1.3 volts) and TTL (1.4 volts).
Selecting 10:1 divides these threshold values by 10 if you are using a
10:1 oscilloscope probe on the trigger input.

You may also select a time delay from the trigger edge prior to the
acquisition of data. The selectable range of delay is 75 ns to 26.214 ms.

Calibration & Errors:

Clicking on the “Service” button lets you perform a variety of
calibration tests on the HP E1740A. Further information on the
calibration procedures can be found in the HP E1740A User’s Guide.

The Calibration and Service window also provides a “Get Error”
button. If for any reason the HP E1740A front panel “Error” LED (red)
is illuminated, you can query the HP E1740A for the type of error. This
also clears the error condition on the instrument. The error type will be
displayed.

Click the Close button to return to the HP E1740A Setup menu.

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Reference:

You can choose between three sources for the 10 MHz reference clock for
the HP E1740A:

• Internal: clock reference provided by the HP E1740A internal
circuitry.

• External: clock reference provided by the user via the input
connector on the front panel of the HP E1740A.

• CLK10: clock reference provided by the VXI Slot 0 Controller via
the VXI backplane.

Interface

HP E1742A/43A/43A/46A/48A supports various interfaces.
Clicking on the Setup... button allows you to select and configure
the interface.

The interface configuration is not affected by recalling the Default
Setup Parameters.

2

One additional area on the Instrument S etup dialo g box appears if y ou
are using the HP E1743A/44A:

Sample Rate

The Sample Rate parameter controls the maximum rate at which
the signal can be sampled. It does not control the rate at which the
signal is actually sampled. See the HP E1743A/44A on-line Help
for more information about Sample Rate.

2 Click on Cancel to close the HP E1740A Interface window.

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3 Select the measurement setup window by clicking on

Setup>Measure/View Setup... .

2

This window is used to specify the measurement processing
parameters which are inherent in measurement calculations, such as the
number of measurements, the duration of the measurement, the number
of averages, filtering, clock/carrier determination, etc. You will also select
the TIA input channel (1 or 2) which will be used to collect the data for
measurement computations. The actual data acquisition and
processing will be selected and initiated from the Measure menu.
(The HP E1743A/44A/46A/48A dialog boxes will look slightly different
than the HP E1742A shown above.)

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Parameters for:

This portion of the window lets you modify parameters that are
inherent in the measurement processing, such as the measurement
time, the number of measurement points during that time, window
types for FFT computations, etc.

Next to “Phase & Frequency Deviation,” (or “Period, Frequency, TI,
& Phase” in the HP E1743A/44A) you will see that you can modify the
number of frequency measurements or points to be displayed, and the
time duration of the measurement. In general, the “gate time” for each
frequency measurement is the measurement time divided by the
number of samples. Note however, that the measurement gate is
synchronized to the input signal and the actual measurement time ma y
differ from the value entered here.

You can modify each of these parameters by either double-clicking on
the desired item, or clicking on the desired item and clicking the
Modify>> button. Other measurement types are available with their
own sets of parameters to configure.

2

Filter

You may select a filter type (low pass, high pass, band pass, or
smoothing function) to be applied to the measurement results. If either
the low pass, band pass, or high pass filters are selected, you can also
enter the cut-off frequencies.

Clock/Carrier Frequency

Deviation measurements (phase deviation, frequency deviation, time
deviation, etc.) require a reference carrier or clock to compute the
relative measurement. This portion of this window lets you enter the
frequency of the reference clock directly, or have the
HP E1742A/43A/44A/46A/48A estimate the reference frequency for
you based upon the acquired data. Various carrier estimation
algorithms are also available, depending on the type of signal and
modulation you want to measure.

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Pacing

In general, the TIA does not have to time stamp every zero crossing of
the input signal to reconstruct the modulation or jitter on the signal.
Selection of Auto pacing allows the HP E174XA software to determine
the number of skipped zero crossings in order to capture the specified
number of samples in a given measurement time (as specified in the
Parameters for: field). You can directly specify the pacing by

“unchecking” the auto box, and entering the pacing value directly.

Input

2

4 Click the Cancel button to close this window without making any

Allows selection of the measurement channel to be used for data
acquisition and processing. The threshold parameters for each channel
are configured in the Setup>Instrument Setup... menu.

changes.

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5 Select the Display Setup window by clicking on Setup>Display Setup... .

2

The Display Setup menu lets you annotate the display with a title, date,
or other descriptive information which may be useful if you store the data
to a file or print a hard copy. You can also set the scaling for both the x
and y axis of the measurement display or select the Autoscale function.
Display masks can also be turned on in the Display Setup dialog box.
Search the HP E1742A/46A/48A on-line Help for Show Masks to obtain
more information.

To annotate or title the display, simply click in the box beneath Title and
enter the descripti ve text . For sa ved data file s, the da te t he fil e is st ored is
automatically appended to the title information.

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To modify the X or Y scaling, highlight the number of interest and enter

the new value. If you don’t know these values, click Get Autoscale
Values and the software will determine them for you.

If you click on the Show Points box, each measurement point will be
displayed with a “+” on the waveform presentation, and these points are
connected with a line.

Autoscale

Click on the Autoscale Al wa ys b ox to au toscale b oth the X and Y axis
to the acquired data with each new data acquisition.

2

The Get Autoscale Values button p rovides a conveni ent way to recal l
the X and Y axis scale values. This is useful if you modify these values,
and then want to return to the autoscale configuration.

6 Click the Cancel button to exit the window without making changes.

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7 Select the format for measurement units by selecting Setup>Phase

Units.

2

You can select units for the phase measuremen t results from t his window.
All phase displays will show the selected units on the Y axis. You can
obtain other phase units by clicking on a point. The other units for that
point will be shown in the Log display at the bottom of the screen.

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Initiating a Measurement and Viewing Results (Measure Menu)

1 Click on Measure to view the available measurement selections. Since

this demonstration is using a saved data file, do not select any of the
measurement choices at this time.

If you wanted to make a “live” measurement with hardware, you would
select a choice on the Measure menu at this time. For example, to
measure the dynamic frequency characteristics (FM) of this signal you
would select Frequency Deviation from the list you see. Subsequent
measurement acquisitions can be initiated by clicking on the ReMeasure

2

button.

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MEASURE MENU VS VIEW MENU. The choices on these two menus
are very similar, however the action performed by the instrument is quite
different. Selecting any of the choices on the Measure menu will cause
the instrument to initiate a measurement and acquire a new set of data
points and perform the selected result processing. Selecting any of the
choices on the View menu will cause the instrument to perform the
selected calculations on the currently acquired data.

The notable difference between the selections on the Measure and View
menus is that the View menu also offers the choice to compute an FFT of
the data currently on the display.

Note that data files that are saved and subsequently recalled can be

“re-processed” to compute other results using the View menu.
The display is now showing Frequency vs. time. This signal is a 100 MHz

carrier with sinusoidal frequency modulation (approximately a 11 kHz
rate and a 500 kHz p-p deviation). You can re-process the data to display
phase power spectral density by performing the following step.

2

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2 Select View>Phase Power Spectral Density.

2

This display was computed from the “fm.pan” data. This is the power
spectral density plot of the modulating tone. The 11 kHz modulation is
easily seen on this display, as well as ot her modulat io n prod ucts.

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Using Cursors, Markers and Zooming

1 Select View>Frequency Deviation.

The results display is divided into two primary areas. The major portion of
the display is devoted to the graph of measurement results, in this case
frequency deviation vs. time. The very top of this area includes a
description of the measurement function and the key processing
parameters that apply to the processing and the date the measurement
was taken. As shown in this example:

2

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“Frequency deviation from Fo as function of time. Fs=9.901 kHz;
Fo=100 MHz; 03/07/1994”

Where:

Fs = sampling frequency or the nominal measurement gate time for
each data point.

Fo = clock or carrier frequency used in the deviation calculations.
The date is the date the measurement was taken.

2

Immediately beneath this information is the graph title as entered on the
Setup>Display Setup menu, “Frequency Modulation”.

The HP E1742A/43A/44A/46A/48A software prompts you for a graph title
the first time a measurement has been made. This title is retained for
subsequent measurements and can be modified by selecting
Edit>Display Setup.

The bottom portion of the display is a running log of the instrument status
and cursor readouts. This includes information about the data files that
have been loaded, the current pacing value in the measurement, the total
number of measurement points, etc. In addition, cursor information is also
displayed in this box. A scroll bar on the right hand side allows you to view
a running list of these results.

The cursor is a “crosshair” (+) which is controlled by the mouse when it is
positioned in the res ults area of the display. Y ou can retrieve the current
mouse position by clicking the left mouse button.

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2 Position the cursor on a peak of the sinusoid and click the left button on

the mouse.

2

The last line of the display shows the x value of the cursor (time),
the difference between the measured frequency and the carrier frequency
Fo (Freq Deviation), and the absolute frequency value (Freq).

You can also display a marker (marker 1) on a clicked point by holding
the SHIFT key while you click the left mouse button. The same
information as above is displayed as MRK1>.

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2

3 Position the cursor at the next peak of the sinusoid and click the left

button.
The result log now sho ws th e coord ina te va lues fo r the new posit ion o f t he

cursor.
Clicking the right mouse button will provide both the current cursor

position information and the difference between the current position and
the last position where the mouse was clicked. Using the right mouse
button you can move the cursor to successive positions and always display
the difference (Dtime, Dfreq, etc.) from the last cursor position.

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You can also display the delta marker (marker 2) on a clicked point by
holding the SHIFT key while clicking the right mouse button. The same
information as above is displayed as MRK2> and MRK1to2>. To clear a
marker, hold down the CONTROL key while clicking on the appropriate
mouse button. Both markers may be cleared in one operation by clicking
both mouse buttons together.

2

NOTE

The cursor position values are the (x,y) position on th e graph. The cursor
is not tied to measurement data points.

4 You can magnify or zoom in on a particular portion of the waveform by

defining the area of interest with the cursor and clicking on the Zoom
button. Position the cursor at a positive peak of the sinusoid and click the
left button. Without releasing the button, drag the cursor to the next

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negative peak and release it. The green box defines the zoomed display
when the Zoom button is clicked.

5 Click the Zoom button.

2

NOTE

You can define the zoom area anywhere in the data display area where the

cursor appears as a “+.” Valid points are not confined to the grid portion of
the data display.

You can achieve greater and greater magnification by repeating the zoom
process on successive displays. To rescale the graph to full view, click on
the Full or Autoscale buttons.

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Printing Results

Select File>Print Graph.
This will print the measurement graph area on the currently active

Windows printer. You can configure or modify the Windows printer in the
Windows Control Panel application. If a printer is not currently active,
the buttons will disappear and you will need to exit and restart the
HP E174XA software to get them back.

Selecting File>Print Graph with Log will print both the measurement
graph area and the current results displayed in the log area.

To print the entire log, select File>Print Log.

2

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2

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3

Demo Waveforms

Chapter 3 Demo Waveforms

In this Chapter

In this Chapter

This chapter provides detailed demonstrations using data that was
acquired with the HP E1740A TIA and processed using the applications

software. The acquired data was saved in files in the “demo” directory.
The examples shown can be duplicated with the HP E1742A, HP E1743A,
HP E1744A, HP E1746A, or HP E1748A. These data files are “generic”
and may not illustrate the specific application for which you purchased
the software. The on-line Help file is intended to provide more application
specific information.

You will be recalling this measurement data from stored files that are
installed during the application software installation process described in
Chapter 1. These demonstrations can be performed with or without
having the HP E1740A Time Interval Analyzer hardware present.

3

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Chapter 3 Demo Waveforms

Demo 1: Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO) Frequency Step Response and Settling

Demo 1: Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO)
Frequency Step Response and Settling

This demonstration shows a VCO whose output is stepped from 9 MHz to

10 MHz. The raw data, or “time stamps” were previously recorded and
subsequently saved to a file, along with the measurement setup which
processes the time stamps into frequency deviation measure ments.
The following will be demonstrated:

• Recalling data files from disk

• Using the cursors and markers

• Zooming and scaling

• Frequency deviation measurements

• Settling time measurement

• Frequency overshoot measurement

Start

1 Select File>Load Setup... .

2 Open the demo sub directory (c:\hpe174Xa\demo) and click on the file

“vco.stp.”

3 Click the OK button.

Overview

The VCO under test has a voltage step applied to the input control voltage
causing the frequency output to step from 9 MHz to 10 MHz. A trigger
signal occurs approximately 116µsec prior to the voltage step. This
trigger signal is connected to the “Trigger” input of the HP E1740A.
The VCO output signal is connected to input 1 of the HP E1740A, and is
1 volt pk-pk, centered at 0 volts (no DC offset).

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Chapter 3 Demo Waveforms

Demo 1: Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO) Frequency Step Response
and Settling

1 Select Setup>In strument Setup... to view the HP E1740A setup menu.

3

2 This is the Instru ment Setup menu for the HP E1740A, configured to

measure the VCO signal. The input circuitry for inputs 1 and 2 and the
trigger input, as well as the delay from trigger are specified on this menu.

Click Cancel to close this menu without making changes, and proceed to
the next step.

3 Select Setup>Measure/View Setup... .

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Demo 1: Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO) Frequency Step Response
and Settling

This menu lets you se t var ious parame ters t hat a pply to the comput ation s
performed on the raw timing information from the measurement
hardware. You can see the various choices, as the parameters apply,
for Phase & Frequency Deviation measurement processing in the
HP E1742A/46A/48A or Period, Frequency, TI & Phase in the
HP E1743A/44A. You can see that 1024 measurement samples will be
acquired over a period of 1.024 ms. Note that this implies a sample
interval of 1µsec (1.024 msec/1024 samples). About 1 msec of the VCO
step will be acquired.

The remainder of this menu is left with default values for this
measurement. No filtering will be applied to the data, a least-square fit
will be used to determine the reference frequency for frequency deviation
measurements (deviation from the reference frequency), pacing will be
determined automatically, and input 1 will be used for measurement data.

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Chapter 3 Demo Waveforms

Demo 1: Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO) Frequency Step Response
and Settling

4 Click on the Cancel button to close the Measure/View Se tup menu.

5 Select File>Load Data File... . Open the demo subdirectory

(c:\hpe174Xa\demo) and click on the file “vco.pan.”, and click on OK.
This will retrieve the data and display the computed Frequency Deviation

vs. time.

Frequency Deviation Results

3

This is a display of frequency deviation from a constant reference
frequency, Fo. The reference shows up in the display as a green line at a
value of zero. The Fo computed by the software is displayed in the log at
the bottom of the display. This value can be recalled at any time, along
with the pacing value and the total number of samples by clicking the Fo
button on the to ol bar.

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Demo 1: Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO) Frequency Step Response
and Settling

The step response, frequency overshoot, and settling characteristics can
be seen clearly on this display.

Cursors and Markers

The software lets you easily find the (x,y) coordinates of any point on the

display (it doesn’t have to be a measurement point.) Position the
“crosshair” (+) using the mouse at a point of interest, for example the peak
of the VCO step waveform, hol d the SHIFT key and click the left mouse
button. The bottom entry in the log area (bottom of the display) will show
MRK1>, the x value (time in this case), the y value (frequency deviation
from Fo), and the absolute frequency value.

Now move the cursor to a point at the bottom of the “ringing” of the
waveform, hold the SHIFT key and click the right mouse button.
The data log now shows MRK2> and MRK1to2> with the difference in
both x (Dtime) and y (Dfreq) from the pr evious cursor position (D= delta).
The peak-to-peak ringing is about 130 kHz. You can continue positioning
the cursor at various points and, while holding the SHIFT key, clicking
the right mouse button; each new log entry will be the x,y difference from
the previous cursor pos ition. To cle ar a marker, h old do wn the CONTROL
key while clicking on the appropriate mouse button. Bot h markers may be
cleared in one operation by clicking both mouse buttons together.

3

Zooming

Any portion of the data display may be arbitrarily magnified using the
zoom feature. You simply define two diagonal corners of a rectangle which
will be the new, magnified display.

1 To magnify the peak overshoot and settling of the VCO response, position

the cursor just to the le ft of th e overs hoo t o f th e wa vef orm. Cl ick a nd drag
the mouse to define the area you wish to magnify as follows. Click the left
mouse button (you’ve just defined the upper left hand corner position of
the magnified display) and drag the mouse to a point just to the right of
the ringing portion of the waveform, and slightly beneath the 10 MHz
frequency level. Release the mouse button. You have defined the lower
right hand corner position of the magnified display. The green box
outlines the region that will be magnified when you click the “zoom”
button.

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Demo 1: Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO) Frequency Step Response
and Settling

2 Click the Zoom button on the tool bar. The display will “zoom” to the area

inside the green zoom box.

3

NOTE

Valid cursor positions include any portion of the display where the cursor
appears as a crosshair (+). The data area is not confined to the grid portion
of the display. You can actually increase the current display range by
clicking in positions off of the grid.

3 To return the scaling to the previous full view, click on the FULL button

on the toolbar.

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Demo 1: Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO) Frequency Step Response
and Settling

Autoscale and Scaling

The application will normally autoscale to the current data set, placing
the minimum value near the bottom of the display, and the maximum
value near the top of the display. This is particularly useful when you

don’t know the exact values of the acquired data.
However, at other times, you may be interested in manually fixing the

scale so you only view a particular portion of the waveform. For example,
you may only be interested in the waveform settling characteristics.
Suppose that you are only interested in verifying that the VCO output
frequency is within ±10 kHz of 10 MHz, 225 µsec after the trigger signal
occurs.

1 To change the reference frequency value, Fo to 10 MHz, select

Setup>Measure/View Setup... .

2 In the Clock/Carrier Frequency area of the measurement setup menu,

select “User Specified.” Enter 10 M (10 MHz) and press ENTER.
3 Click the OK button to close the window.
4 Select View>Frequency Deviation.

The display will be updated with calculations based on Fo = 10 MHz.

5 To fix the display scale in that region, select Setup>Display Setup... .

6 Click on the box Autoscale Always to disable this feature.
7 Enter 10 k into the Max Freq. Deviation field a n d press ENTER.
8 Enter −10 k into the Min Freq. Deviation field and press ENTER.

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Chapter 3 Demo Waveforms

Demo 1: Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO) Frequency Step Response
and Settling

9 Enter 225 and 325 into the Min Time and Max Time fields

respectively . Press ENTER after each entry. The Display Setup dialog
box will appear as follows:

3

10 Click OK to close this window.

The display scale is now fixed at these values. This VCO meets the

± 10 kHz after 225µsec specification.

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Demo 1: Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO) Frequency Step Response

and Settling

11 Select File>Load Defaul t Set u p and click on Yes to return the software

to the default setup conditions.

This completes Demo 1.

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Chapter 3 Demo Waveforms

Demo 2: Phase Modulation Analysis (BPSK)

Demo 2: Phase Modulation Analysis (BPSK)

This demonstration shows the phase modulation analysis capabilities of
the TIA, using a BPSK signal (binary phase shift keying). This is a
common form of intentional phase modulation for digital communication
systems, where a carrier is shifted between two phase states

(±180 degrees). A “1” may be repres ented by one of the phas e states,
while a “0” is represented by the other.

The HP E1740A is used to gather timing information from the modulated
carrier. This information has been processed as deviation in phase from a
carrier and stored in a file. The following features will be demonstrated on
this waveform:

• Phase Deviation measurements

• De-Tilt feature

• FFT analysis

3

Start

1 Select File>Load Setup... .

2 Open the demo subdirectory (c:\hpe174Xa\demo) and click on the file

“bpsk.stp.”

3 Click the OK button.

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Chapter 3 Demo Waveforms

Demo 2: Phase Modulation Analysis (BPSK)

Overview

The signal is a 100 kHz carrier, phase modulated by a 1 kHz square wave.

The input signal has an amplitude of 500 mV p-p, and is centered about

0 volts. The signal is connected to input 1 of the HP E1740A.
1 Select Setup>In strument Setup... to view the HP E1740A setup menu.

This is the HP E1740A Setup menu to configure the instrument to

measure the BPSK signal.

2 Click the Cancel button to exit this menu without making changes.

3 Select Setup>Measure/View Setup... .

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Chapter 3 Demo Waveforms

Demo 2: Phase Modulation Analysis (BPSK)

3

Notice that the measurement time for the Phase & Frequency Deviation
function in the HP E1742A/46A/48A (Period, Frequency, TI & Phase
function in the HP E1743A/44A) is 10.24 msec. This has been done so the
display will show a number of cycles of the 1 kHz modulation. The use of
automatic pacing will let the TIA determine the appropriate number of
cycles of the 100 kHz carrier to skip, so 10 msec of the signal can be
captured and analyzed. A measurement time of 10.24 msec while
collecting 1024 samples implies that a sample will be captured every
10µsec.

Since phase deviation is a relative measurement, you have the choice of
making the first phase measurement zero, or making the average phase
deviation zero. The Set initial phase to zero box is not checked for this
measurement, so the average phase deviation will be zero.

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Demo 2: Phase Modulation Analysis (BPSK)

The Carrier Frequency has been entered as a User Specif i ed value of

100.0 kHz. The phase deviation measurements will be computed relative

to a constant frequency value of 100 kHz.

4 Click on the Cancel button to close the Measure/View Se tup menu.

5 Select File>Load Data File... . Open the demo subdirectory

(c:\hpe174Xa\demo) and click on the file “bpsk.pan.” This will retrieve

the stored data, and display it as Phase Deviation vs. time.

Phase Deviation Results

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3

Chapter 3 Demo Waveforms

Demo 2: Phase Modulation Analysis (BPSK)

This is a display of phase deviation from the constant reference frequency,
Fo = 100 kHz. The square wave modulation can easily be seen. Using the
cursor (left mouse button) and delta cursor (right mouse button) features,
you can easily determine the period of the modulation (1/mod rate), and
the peak-to-peak values.

DeTilt

Notice that the modulating signal has a “tilt” over time. This is because
the actual carrier is not exactly 100.0 kHz as we specified as the carrier
frequency on the Measure/View Setup menu. The DeTilt feature
provides a convenient way to fine tune this value of Fo to get a “flat”
display, and determine the precise value of the actual carrier frequency.

1 Position the cursor on one of the “high” phase states near the left side of

the plot (point A on the plot shown). Click on the left mouse button.

2 Re-position the cursor o n a nother “ hi gh” pha se stat e n ear the ri ght side o f

the plot (point B on the pl ot shown). Click on the left mouse button.

3

You have now defined two points which should be at the same vertical
level, but currently are not due to the “tilt” in the waveform.

3 Click on the DeTilt button. A warning message will appear indicating

that the value of Fo will be modified in the DeTilt process. Click OK to
acknowledge the warning. After a moment of recalculation, the graph will
be re-drawn with a slightly modified value of Fo. The tilt should be
removed. Note the new value of Fo (100.01 kHz instead of 100.0 kHz) on
the line just below the buttons. You can also verify Fo by clicking on the
Fo button and viewing the results log at the bottom of the display.

3-16 Getting Started Guide

Chapter 3 Demo Waveforms

Demo 2: Phase Modulation Analysis (BPSK)

NOTE

3

The actual carrier frequency is about 10 Hz greater than the initial value

specified for Fo. The DeTilt feature lets you quickly correct for minor

discrepancies in Fo.

FFT Analysis

In certain applications it may be useful to study the spectrum of the

modulating tone, or perhaps the spectrum of undesired jitter. This

analysis can be useful to determine the source of unwanted jitter, or phase

noise.

Getting Started Guide 3-17

Chapter 3 Demo Waveforms

Demo 2: Phase Modulation Analysis (BPSK)

The analysis software of fers two methods to v ie w jit ter spec trum or p has e
noise. FFT computations can be made on the currently displayed data
(vs. time views). Phase power spectral density calculations can also be
performed. This differs from the FFT calculations in that you may also
specify a windowing type and sample frequency for the calculations.
(See the Setup>Measure/View Setup menu.) The theoretical noise floor
of the instrument is displayed in addition to the measurement data.

1 Select View>FFT of current display.

3

3-18 Getting Started Guide

Chapter 3 Demo Waveforms

Demo 2: Phase Modulation Analysis (BPSK)

Using the cursor and clicking on each peak in the spectrum, the

characteristic odd harmonics of the square wave phase modulation can be

seen. Note that this is not the same view as a spectrum analyzer would

display (spectrum of the modulated carrier), but a direct view of the

spectral content of the modulation.
2 Select View>Phase Power Spectral Density.

This plot is very similar to the FFT. Since it is normalized, the units are in

dBc/Hz. Note that the top line of the display shows the noise bandwidth.

This completes Demo 2.

Getting Started Guide 3-19

3

Chapter 3 Demo Waveforms

Demo 3: Sharing TIA Data With Other Windows Applications

Demo 3: Sharing TIA Data With Other
Windows Applications

A powerful feature of Microsoft Windows is the ability to share data and

graphics between various applications using “cut and paste” on files.
The HP E174XA takes advantage of these features allowing you to easily
share TIA data and graphics with other applications such as spreadsheets
(Lotus, Excel, etc.), word processors, and other computational packages
such as MathCad.

This demonstration will show how easy it is to share the HP E174XA
graphics plots and data with a word processor—in this case the Windows
“Write” application.

Sharing Graphics

1 Select File>Load Data File... .

3

2 Open the demo sub directory (c:\hpe1 74Xa\demo) and click on the file

“fm.pan.”

3 Click the OK button.
4 You have retrieved the FM signal you saw in the TIA Tutorial in this

guide. Suppose you want to integrate this data with a report or your lab
notebook.

5 Select Edit>Copy Graph.

You have now copied the active window in the HP E174XA application to
the Windows Clipboard. If you want, you can verify the cu rrent contents of
the clipboard by opening the Clipboard Viewer application in the
Accessories group under Programs.

3-20 Getting Started Guide

Chapter 3 Demo Waveforms

Demo 3: Sharing TIA Data With Other Windows Applications

Open the Windows’ “WordPad” Program

1 Minimize the TIA application by clicking on the minimize () button in

the top right corner of the window.
2 In Windows 95, click the Start button, select Programs group, and select

the Accessories icon.
3 Double-click on the WordPad icon to open this application.

You have now opened the Windows’ WordPad word-proc essor application,

and you will see a blank space.
4 Select Edit>Paste.

You have just copied the bit mapped graphics from the TIA application to

the word processor without a scope camera, printer or pl otter as shown in

the figure on the foll owing page.

Getting Started Guide 3-21

3

Chapter 3 Demo Waveforms

Demo 3: Sharing TIA Data With Other Windows Applications

3

NOTE

Once the FM signal graphics has been copied into WordPad, click the
down arrow (

You need to perform the above step to append the log window contents to
the FM signal graphics, which is demonstrated in the next procedure

(titled “Now Add the Log Informat ion”).

3-22 Getting Started Guide

↓) or the right arrow (→) to move outside the graphics.

Chapter 3 Demo Waveforms

Demo 3: Sharing TIA Data With Other Windows Applications

Now Add the Log Information

1 Return to the HP E174XA application by clicking on the HP E174XA icon

on the taskbar (or press ing ALT-TAB, or selecting it from the Windows

pull-down menu). Select Edit>Copy Log as Text. This will copy the

entire contents of the logging area of the TIA display as text to the

Windows Clipboard.

2 Bring up the WordPad application again.
3 Select Edit>Paste in the WordPad application.

Getting Started Guide 3-23

3

Chapter 3 Demo Waveforms

Demo 3: Sharing TIA Data With Other Windows Applications

You now have both the graphic results, and the entire log window neatly
pasted in your report.

NOTE

You may need to modify the f ont fo r the logge d d ata. This is easily d one in
WordPad by highlighting the text to be modified, then going to
Format>Font and selecting the desired font and size.

Note also that you can directly edit the logging window in the E174XA
application by positioning the cursor in the logging window and typing or
using basic edit functions from the keyboard. In this way, you can add
annotations to the data, or delete undesired information.

You can copy the entire HP E174XA display using the “Print Screen” key
found in the upper right hand corner of most keyboards. Print Screen will
copy the entire current display to the Windows clipboard. ALT-Print
Screen will copy only the active window to the clipboard.

3

3-24 Getting Started Guide

Chapter 3 Demo Waveforms

Demo 3: Sharing TIA Data With Other Windows Applications

Sharing Data

1 Return to the HP E174XA application.

2 Select File>Save Data for Export As... .

3 Open the demo subdirectory (c:\hpe174Xa\demo).
4 Type the filename “temp.txt” and click the OK button.

You have saved the FM data as ASCII text.

5 Return to the Windows WordPad application.
6 Select File>Open.

The Open dialog box appears.

7 Open the directory c:\hpe174Xa\demo by selecting the path

c:\hpe174Xa\demo in the “Look in:” field of the Open dialog box.

3

8 Type the filename “temp.txt” in the “Filename:” field and click the Open

button.
9 Click No button to answer the question “Save changes to document?”.

Getting Started Guide 3-25

Chapter 3 Demo Waveforms

Demo 3: Sharing TIA Data With Other Windows Applications

3

You now have a list of the raw data measured by the HP E1740A TIA

(the “time stamps”—see the Help file for more information). Similarly, you
could have imported the data into a spread sheet to perform your own
custom analysis of the data.

You can also save the data to a file using the File>Save Data As...
command. Instead of the time stamps, the data is stored in the format as
currently viewed. For instance, if you are viewing a Frequency Deviation
display at the time the data is stored, the data is saved as Frequency
Deviation vs. Time values. If you are viewing Phase Power Spectral
Density display, the data is saved as Freq uency vs. Amplitude values.

This completes the Demos.

3-26 Getting Started Guide

Index

A

alternative products, 1-2

analysis

, 3-17

FFT
analysis features
assembling
autoscale

, 3-9

, viii

, viii, 1-5

C

configuting the TIA, 2-7
continuous edge sampling
conventions
cursors
cursors, using

, 2-4

, 3-7

, 2-19

, viii

D

data

sharing
data capture
demo

phase modulation analysis

sharing TIA data with other

VCO frequency step response and
description of time inte rval

analyzer, viii
detilt
directory

modifying, 1-9

documentation list

, 3-25

, viii

(BPSK)
Windows applications, 3-20
settling

, 3-12

, 3-3

, 3-16

, ix

F

features

analysis
FFT analysis
finding information
frequecy deviation

, viii

, 3-17

, x

, 3-6

G

graphics

sharing

, 3-20

H

healt check, 1-11
histogram capacity
HP TIA requirements

, viii

, 1-7

I

initiating a measurement

measurement initiation

installing HP TIA software

, 2-16

, 1-8

L

list of documents, ix
log information

, 3-21

M

markers, 3-7
markers, using
modifying the directory
mouse, using

, 2-19

, 1-9

, 2-4

O

operating HPTIA software, 1-11

P

phase deviation, 3-15
power up
preface
presettig instrument
printing

, 1-11

, vii

, 2-5

, 2-25

R

requirements for TIA, 1-7

S

scaling, 3-9
self-test
sharing data
sharing data with other applicat ions
sharing graphics

, 1-11

, 3-25

, 3-20

, ix

Getting Started Guide Index-1

Index

signal edge timing, ix
software

operation, 1-11

software applications

features and functions
starting a measurement
starting HP TIA software
switch on

, 1-11

T

tilt, 3-16
time interval analyzer
turn on
tutorial

, 1-11

, 2-5

, viii

W

write program, 3-21

Z

zooming, 2-19, 3-7

, 2-2

, 2-16

, 1-11

Index-2 Getting Started Guide

Technical Support:
If you need technical assistance with a Hewlett-Packard test and measurement product or application,
please contact the Hewlett-Packard office or distributor in your country.

Asia Pacific:

Hong Kong

(852) 2599 7889

India

(91-11) 682-6000

Japan

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

Korea

(82-2) 769 0800

Malaysia

(60-3) 291 0213

Philippines

(63-2) 894 1451

PRC

(86-10) 6505-0149

Singapore

(1800) 292 8100

Taiwan

(886-3) 492 9666

Thailand

(66-2) 661 3900

For Countries in Asia Pacific not
listed, contact:

Hewlett-Packard Asi a Paci fic Lt d.
17-21/F Shell Tower, Times Square,
1 Matheson Street
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tele: (852) 2599 7777
Fax: [phone]

Australia/New Zealand:

Hewlett-Packard Australia Ltd.
31-41 Joseph Street
Blackburn , Victoria 3130
Australia
1 800 629 485

Canada:

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

United States:

Hewlett-Packard Company
Test and Measurement Organization
5301 Stevens Creek Boulevard
Building 51L-SC
Santa Clara, California 95052-8059
1 800 452 4844

Europe, Africa, and Middle East:

Austria

(0) 1 25000-0

Baltic Countries

(358) 08872 2100

Belgium and Luxembourg

[phone]

Czech Republic

(0042) 2-4743111

Denmark

45 99 10 00

Finland

(90) 88 721

France

(0) 1 69.82.60.60

Germany

(0180) 532 62-33

Greece

(1) 7264045

Hungary

(1) 252 4705

Ireland

[phone]

Israe:

[phone]

Italy

02 - 92 122 241

Netherlands

[phone]

Norway

(22) 73 57 50

Poland

(22) 608 7700

Portugal

(11) 482 85 00

Russia:

Tele: (7/095) 928-6885
Fax: [phone]

South Africa

[phone]

Spain

34 1 631 1323

Sweden

(08) 444 22 77

Switzerland

[phone]

Turkey

(212) 224 59 25

United Kingdom

[phone]

For countries in Europe/Middle East
and Africa not listed, contact:

Hewlett-Packard
International Sales Europe
Geneva, Switzerland
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Printed in U.S.A
Data subject to change
Rev 01/98

Continued from front matter. . .

Warranty (contd)

HP does not warrant that the
operation of HP products will be
uninterrupted or error free. If
HP is unable, within a
reasonable time, to repair or
replace any product to a
condition as warranted,
customer will be entitled to a
refund of the purchase price
upon prompt return of the
product.

HP products may contain
remanufactured parts
equivalent to new in
performance or may have been
subjected to incidental use.

The warranty period begins on
the date of delivery or on the
date of installation if installed
by HP. If customer schedules or
delays HP installation more
than 30 days after delivery,
warranty begins on the 31st day
from delivery.

Warranty does not apply to
defects resulting from
(a) improper or inadequate
maintenance or calibra tion,
(b) software, interfacing, parts
or supplies not supplied by HP,
(c) unauthorize d modifica tion or
misuse, (d) operation outside of
the published environmental
specifications for the product, or
(e) improper site preparation or
maintenance.

TO THE EXTENT ALLOWED
BY LOCAL LAW, THE ABOVE
WARRANTIES ARE
EXCLUSIVE AND NO OTHER
WARRANTY OR CONDITION,
WHETHER WRITTEN OR
ORAL, IS EXPRESSED OR
IMPLIED AND HP
SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS
ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES
OR CONDITIONS OF
MERCHANTABILITY,
SATISFACTORY QUALITY,
AND FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

HP will be liable for damage to
tangible property per incid ent
up to the greater of $300,000 or
the actual amount paid for the
product that is the subject of the
claim, and for damages for
bodily injury or death, to the
extent that all such damages
are determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction to have
been directly caused by a
defective HP product.

TO THE EXTENT ALLOWED
BY LOCAL LAW, THE
REMEDIES IN THIS
WARRANTY STATEMENT

ARE CUSTOMER’S SOLE AND
EXCLUSIVE REMEDIES.
EXCEPT AS INDICATED
ABOVE, IN NO EVENT WILL
HP OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE
LIABLE FOR LOSS OF DATA
OR FOR DIRECT, SPECIAL,
INCIDENTAL,
CONSEQUENTIAL
(INCLUDING LOST PROFIT
OR DATA), OR OTHER
DAMAGE, WHETHER BASED
IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR
OTHERWISE.

For consumer transactions in
Australia and New Zealand: the
warranty terms contained in
this statement, except to the
extent lawfully permitted, do
not exclude, restrict or modify
and are in addition to the
mandatory statutory rights
applicable to the sale of this
product to you.

Assistance

Product maintenance
agreements and other customer
assistance agreements are
available fo r Hewlett-Packard
products.

For any assistance, contact your
nearest Hewlett-Packard Sales
and Service Office.

Safety Considerations
(contd)

WARNING

ANY INTERRUPTION OF THE
PROTECTIVE GROUNDING
CONDUCTOR (INSIDE OR
OUTSIDE THE INSTRUMENT)
OR DISCONNECTING THE
PROTECTIVE EARTH
TERMINAL WILL CAUSE A
POTENTIAL SHOCK
HAZARD THAT COULD
RESULT IN PERSONAL
INJURY. (GROUNDING ONE
CONDUCTOR OF A TWO
CONDUCTOR OUT-LET IS
NOT SUFFICIENT
PROTECTION.)

Whenever it is likely that the
protection has been impaired,
the instrument must be made
inoperative and be secured
against any unintended
operation.

If this instrument is to be
energized via an
autotransformer (for voltage
reduction) make sure the
common terminal is connected
to the earthed pole terminal
(neutral) of the power source.

Instructions for adjustments
while covers are removed and
for servicing are for use by
service-trained personnel only.
To avoid dangerous electric
shock, do not perform such
adjustments or servicing unless
qualified to do so.

For continued protection
against fire, replace the line
fuse(s) only with 250V fuse(s) of
the same current rating and
type (for example, normal blow,
time delay).
Do not use repaired fuses or
short circuited fuseholders.

Acoustic Noise Emissions

LpA<47 dB at operator position,
at normal operation, tested per
EN 27779. All data are the
results from type test.

Geräuschemission

LpA<47 dB am Arbeits

platz, normaler Betrieb, geprüft
nach EN 27779.
Die Angagen beruhen auf
Ergebnissen von
Typenprüfungen.

7.CD.NL.A.03.11.97.R1.J.CW2B



Manual Part Number E1725-90012 Printed in U.S.A, APRIL 1998