Tektronix KPCI-3110, KPCI-3116 User manual

KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116

PCI Bus Data Acquisition Boards
User’s Manual

A GREATER MEASURE OF CONFIDENCE

WARRANTY

Hardware

Keithley Instruments, Inc. warrants that, for a period of three (3) years from the date of shipment, the Keithley Hardware product will be free from defects
in materials or workmanship. This warranty will be honored provided the defect has not been caused by use of the Keithley Hardware not in accordance
with the instructions for the product. This warranty shall be null and void upon: (1) any modification of Keithley Hardware that is made by other than Kei­thley and not approved in writing by Keithley or (2) operation of the Keithley Hardware outside of the environmental specifications therefore.

Upon receiving notification of a defect in the Keithley Hardware during the warranty period, Keithley will, at its option, either repair or replace such
Keithley Hardware. During the first ninety days of the warranty period, Keithley will, at its option, supply the necessary on site labor to return the
product to the condition prior to the notification of a defect. Failure to notify Keithley of a defect during the warranty shall relieve Keithley of its obli­gations and liabilities under this warranty.

Other Hardware

The portion of the product that is not manufactured by Keithley (Other Hardware) shall not be covered by this warranty, and Keithley shall have no
duty of obligation to enforce any manufacturers' warranties on behalf of the customer. On those other manufacturers’ products that Keithley pur­chases for resale, Keithley shall have no duty of obligation to enforce any manufacturers’ warranties on behalf of the customer.

Software

Keithley warrants that for a period of one (1) year from date of shipment, the Keithley produced portion of the software or firmware (Keithley Software)
will conform in all material respects with the published specifications provided such Keithley Software is used on the product for which it is intended
and otherwise in accordance with the instructions therefore. Keithley does not warrant that operation of the Keithley Software will be uninterrupted or
error-free and/or that the Keithley Software will be adequate for the customer's intended application and/or use. This warranty shall be null and void
upon any modification of the Keithley Software that is made by other than Keithley and not approved in writing by Keithley.

If Keithley receives notification of a Keithley Software nonconformity that is covered by this warranty during the warranty period, Keithley will review
the conditions described in such notice. Such notice must state the published specification(s) to which the Keithley Software fails to conform and the
manner in which the Keithley Software fails to conform to such published specification(s) with sufficient specificity to permit Keithley to correct such
nonconformity. If Keithley determines that the Keithley Software does not conform with the published specifications, Keithley will, at its option, provide
either the programming services necessary to correct such nonconformity or develop a program change to bypass such nonconformity in the Keithley
Software. Failure to notify Keithley of a nonconformity during the warranty shall relieve Keithley of its obligations and liabilities under this warranty.

Other Software

OEM software that is not produced by Keithley (Other Software) shall not be covered by this warranty, and Keithley shall have no duty or obligation
to enforce any OEM's warranties on behalf of the customer.

Other Items

Keithley warrants the following items for 90 days from the date of shipment: probes, cables, rechargeable batteries, diskettes, and documentation.

Items not Covered under Warranty

This warranty does not apply to fuses, non-rechargeable batteries, damage from battery leakage, or problems arising from normal wear or failure to
follow instructions.

Limitation of Warranty

This warranty does not apply to defects resulting from product modification made by Purchaser without Keithley's express written consent, or by
misuse of any product or part.

Disclaimer of Warranties

EXCEPT FOR THE EXPRESS WARRANTIES ABOVE KEITHLEY DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED,
INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PUR­POSE. KEITHLEY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE OTHER HARDWARE AND OTHER SOFTWARE.

Limitation of Liability

KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS SHALL IN NO EVENT, REGARDLESS OF CAUSE, ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR OR BE LIABLE FOR:
(1) ECONOMICAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, WHETHER
CLAIMED UNDER CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, (2) LOSS OF OR DAMAGE TO THE CUSTOMER'S DATA OR
PROGRAMMING, OR (3) PENALTIES OR PENALTY CLAUSES OF ANY DESCRIPTION OR INDEMNIFICATION OF THE CUSTOMER
OR OTHERS FOR COSTS, DAMAGES, OR EXPENSES RELATED TO THE GOODS OR SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THIS WARRANTY.

Keithley Instruments, Inc. 28775 Aurora Road • Cleveland, Ohio 44139 • 440-248-0400 • Fax: [phone]

1-888-KEITHLEY (534-8453) • www.keithley.com

Sales Offices:BELGIUM: Bergensesteenweg 709 • B-1600 Sint-Pieters-Leeuw • 02-363 00 40 • Fax: [phone]

CHINA: Yuan Chen Xin Building, Room 705 • 12 Yumin Road, Dewai, Madian • Beijing 100029 • 8610-6202-2886 • Fax: [phone]
FINLAND: Tietäjäntie 2 • 02130 Espoo • Phone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
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KOREA: 2FL., URI Building • 2-14 Yangjae-Dong • Seocho-Gu, Seoul 137-888 • 82-2-574-7778 • Fax: [phone]
NETHERLANDS: Postbus 559 • 4200 AN Gorinchem • 0183-635333 • Fax: [phone]
SWEDEN: c/o Regus Business Centre • Frosundaviks Allé 15, 4tr • 169 70 Solna • 08-509 04 679 • Fax: [phone]
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TAIWAN: 1FL., 85 Po Ai Street • Hsinchu, Taiwan, R.O.C. • 886-3-572-9077• Fax: [phone]

4/02

KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 PCI Bus Data Acquisition Boards

User’s Manual

Windows and WindowsNT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

DriverLINX is a registered trademark of Scientific Software Tools, Inc.

©1999, Keithley Instruments, Inc.

All rights reserved.

Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A.

Third Printing, January 2002

Document Number: 98180 Rev. C

Manual Print History

The print history shown below lists the printing dates of all Revisions and Addenda created for this manual. The Revi­sion Level letter increases alphabetically as the manual undergoes subsequent updates. Addenda, which are released
between Revisions, contain important change information that the user should incorporate immediately into the manual.
Addenda are numbered sequentially. When a new Revision is created, all Addenda associated with the previous Revision
of the manual are incorporated into the new Revision of the manual. Each new Revision includes a revised copy of this
print history page.

Revision A (Document Number 98180)..........................................................................................November 1999

Revision B (Document Number 98180) ............................................................................................... August 2000

Revision C (Document Number 98180) .............................................................................................. January 2002

All Keithley product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of Keithley Instruments, Inc.
Other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Safety Precautions

The following safety precautions should be observed before using
this product and any associated instrumentation. Although some in­struments and accessories would normally be used with non-haz­ardous voltages, there are situations where hazardous conditions
may be present.

This product is intended for use by qualified personnel who recog­nize shock hazards and are familiar with the safety precautions re­quired to avoid possible injury. Read and follow all installation,
operation, and maintenance information carefully before using the
product. Refer to the manual for complete product specifications.

If the product is used in a manner not specified, the protection pro­vided by the product may be impaired.

The types of product users are:

Responsible body is the individual or group responsible for the use

and maintenance of equipment, for ensuring that the equipment is
operated within its specifications and operating limits, and for en­suring that operators are adequately trained.

Operators use the product for its intended function. They must be

trained in electrical safety procedures and proper use of the instru­ment. They must be protected from electric shock and contact with
hazardous live circuits.

Maintenance personnel perform routine procedures on the product

to keep it operating properly, for example, setting the line voltage
or replacing consumable materials. Maintenance procedures are de­scribed in the manual. The procedures explicitly state if the operator
may perform them. Otherwise, they should be performed only by
service personnel.

Service personnel are trained to work on live circuits, and perform

safe installations and repairs of products. Only properly trained ser­vice personnel may perform installation and service procedures.

Keithley products are designed for use with electrical signals that
are rated Installation Category I and Installation Category II, as de­scribed in the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
Standard IEC 60664. Most measurement, control, and data I/O sig­nals are Installation Category I and must not be directly connected
to mains voltage or to voltage sources with high transient over-volt­ages. Installation Category II connections require protection for
high transient over-voltages often associated with local AC mains
connections. Assume all measurement, control, and data I/O con­nections are for connection to Category I sources unless otherwise
marked or described in the Manual.

Exercise extreme caution when a shock hazard is present. Lethal
voltage may be present on cable connector jacks or test fixtures. The
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) states that a shock
hazard exists when voltage levels greater than 30V RMS, 42.4V
peak, or 60VDC are present. A good safety practice is to expect

that hazardous voltage is present in any unknown circuit before
measuring.

Operators of this product must be protected from electric shock at
all times. The responsible body must ensure that operators are pre­vented access and/or insulated from every connection point. In
some cases, connections must be exposed to potential human con­tact. Product operators in these circumstances must be trained to
protect themselves from the risk of electric shock. If the circuit is
capable of operating at or above 1000 volts, no conductive part of

the circuit may be exposed.

Do not connect switching cards directly to unlimited power circuits.
They are intended to be used with impedance limited sources.
NEVER connect switching cards directly to AC mains. When con­necting sources to switching cards, install protective devices to lim­it fault current and voltage to the card.

Before operating an instrument, make sure the line cord is connect­ed to a properly grounded power receptacle. Inspect the connecting
cables, test leads, and jumpers for possible wear, cracks, or breaks
before each use.

When installing equipment where access to the main power cord is
restricted, such as rack mounting, a separate main input power dis­connect device must be provided, in close proximity to the equip­ment and within easy reach of the operator.

For maximum safety, do not touch the product, test cables, or any
other instruments while power is applied to the circuit under test.
ALWAYS remove power from the entire test system and discharge
any capacitors before: connecting or disconnecting cables or jump­ers, installing or removing switching cards, or making internal
changes, such as installing or removing jumpers.

Do not touch any object that could provide a current path to the com­mon side of the circuit under test or power line (earth) ground. Always
make measurements with dry hands while standing on a dry, insulated
surface capable of withstanding the voltage being measured.

The instrument and accessories must be used in accordance with its
specifications and operating instructions or the safety of the equip­ment may be impaired.

Do not exceed the maximum signal levels of the instruments and ac­cessories, as defined in the specifications and operating informa­tion, and as shown on the instrument or test fixture panels, or
switching card.

When fuses are used in a product, replace with same type and rating
for continued protection against fire hazard.

Chassis connections must only be used as shield connections for
measuring circuits, NOT as safety earth ground connections.

If you are using a test fixture, keep the lid closed while power is ap­plied to the device under test. Safe operation requires the use of a
lid interlock.

5/02

If or is present, connect it to safety earth ground using the
wire recommended in the user documentation.

!

The symbol on an instrument indicates that the user should re­fer to the operating instructions located in the manual.

The symbol on an instrument shows that it can source or mea­sure 1000 volts or more, including the combined effect of normal
and common mode voltages. Use standard safety precautions to
avoid personal contact with these voltages.

The WARNING heading in a manual explains dangers that might
result in personal injury or death. Always read the associated infor­mation very carefully before performing the indicated procedure.

The CAUTION heading in a manual explains hazards that could
damage the instrument. Such damage may invalidate the warranty.

Instrumentation and accessories shall not be connected to humans.
Before performing any maintenance, disconnect the line cord and

all test cables.

To maintain protection from electric shock and fire, replacement
components in mains circuits, including the power transformer, test
leads, and input jacks, must be purchased from Keithley Instru­ments. Standard fuses, with applicable national safety approvals,
may be used if the rating and type are the same. Other components
that are not safety related may be purchased from other suppliers as
long as they are equivalent to the original component. (Note that se­lected parts should be purchased only through Keithley Instruments
to maintain accuracy and functionality of the product.) If you are
unsure about the applicability of a replacement component, call a
Keithley Instruments office for information.

To clean an instrument, use a damp cloth or mild, water based
cleaner. Clean the exterior of the instrument only. Do not apply
cleaner directly to the instrument or allow liquids to enter or spill
on the instrument. Products that consist of a circuit board with no
case or chassis (e.g., data acquisition board for installation into a
computer) should never require cleaning if handled according to in­structions. If the board becomes contaminated and operation is af­fected, the board should be returned to the factory for proper
cleaning/servicing.

Table of Contents

Preface

Intended audience................................................................................................................................................... x

What you should learn from this manual ............................................................................................................... x

Viewing the KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 documentation online.......................................................................... xi

Conventions used in this manual .......................................................................................................................... xi

Related information.............................................................................................................................................. xii

Where to get help ................................................................................................................................................. xii

1 Overview

Introduction......................................................................................................................................................... 1-2

Features ............................................................................................................................................................... 1-2

DriverLINX software.......................................................................................................................................... 1-3

System requirements........................................................................................................................................... 1-4

Software .............................................................................................................................................................. 1-4

Accessories.......................................................................................................................................................... 1-5

2 Functional Description

Analog input features .......................................................................................................................................... 2-2

Analog input resolution............................................................................................................................... 2-3

Analog input channels................................................................................................................................. 2-3

Input ranges and gains................................................................................................................................. 2-5

A/D sample clock sources........................................................................................................................... 2-6

Analog input conversion modes.................................................................................................................. 2-7

Triggers ..................................................................................................................................................... 2-10

Data format and transfer............................................................................................................................ 2-15

Error conditions......................................................................................................................................... 2-15

Analog output features ...................................................................................................................................... 2-16

Analog output resolution........................................................................................................................... 2-16

Analog output channels............................................................................................................................. 2-16

Output filters ............................................................................................................................................. 2-17

Output ranges and gains............................................................................................................................ 2-17

D/A output clock sources.......................................................................................................................... 2-17

Analog output conversion modes.............................................................................................................. 2-19

Data format and transfer............................................................................................................................ 2-20

Error conditions......................................................................................................................................... 2-20

i

Digital I/O features............................................................................................................................................ 2-21

Digital I/O lines ......................................................................................................................................... 2-21

Digital I/O operation modes ...................................................................................................................... 2-22

Counter/timer features....................................................................................................................................... 2-22

Units .......................................................................................................................................................... 2-22

C/T clock sources ...................................................................................................................................... 2-23

Gate types .................................................................................................................................................. 2-24

Pulse output types and duty cycles............................................................................................................ 2-25

Counter/timer operation modes ................................................................................................................. 2-26

Synchronizing A/D and D/A subsystems.................................................................................................. 2-36

Synchronizing the triggers......................................................................................................................... 2-36

Synchronizing the clocks........................................................................................................................... 2-36

3 Installation and Configuration

Unpacking............................................................................................................................................................ 3-2

Installing the software ......................................................................................................................................... 3-2

Software options.......................................................................................................................................... 3-2

Installing DriverLINX................................................................................................................................. 3-4

Installing application software and drivers.................................................................................................. 3-4

Installing the board.............................................................................................................................................. 3-5

Setting up the computer............................................................................................................................... 3-5

Selecting an expansion slot ......................................................................................................................... 3-5

Inserting the board in the computer............................................................................................................. 3-6

Configuring the board to work with DriverLINX ............................................................................................... 3-7

Checking the combined board and DriverLINX installations..................................................................... 3-7

Attaching the STP-3110 screw terminal panel.................................................................................................... 3-8

Size .............................................................................................................................................................. 3-9

Jumper W1 - common ground sense ........................................................................................................... 3-9

Resistors R1 to R16 - bias return.............................................................................................................. 3-10

Resistors R17 to R32 - current shunt......................................................................................................... 3-10

Screw terminals ......................................................................................................................................... 3-10

Wiring signals.................................................................................................................................................... 3-13

Connecting analog input signals................................................................................................................ 3-13

Connecting analog output signals.............................................................................................................. 3-18

Connecting digital I/O signals................................................................................................................... 3-18

Connecting counter/timer signals.............................................................................................................. 3-19

4 Testing the Board

DriverLINX analog I/O panel ............................................................................................................................. 4-2

5 Calibration

Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................... 5-2

Objectives.................................................................................................................................................... 5-2

Calibration summary ................................................................................................................................... 5-2

Equipment.................................................................................................................................................... 5-2

Calibration procedure .......................................................................................................................................... 5-3

Preparing for the calibrations ...................................................................................................................... 5-3

Calibrating the analog inputs....................................................................................................................... 5-3

Calibrating the analog outputs..................................................................................................................... 5-3

ii

6 Troubleshooting

General checklist................................................................................................................................................. 6-2

Using the DriverLINX event viewer................................................................................................................... 6-2

Device initialization error messages ........................................................................................................... 6-2

Problem isolation ................................................................................................................................................ 6-3

Troubleshooting table ......................................................................................................................................... 6-4

Testing the board and host computer .................................................................................................................. 6-5

Testing the accessory slot and I/O connections .................................................................................................. 6-5

Technical support................................................................................................................................................ 6-6

Returning equipment to Keithley........................................................................................................................ 6-7

A Specifications

Specifications...................................................................................................................................................... A-1

Supported capabilities........................................................................................................................................ A-9

B Connector Pin Assignments

C Systematic Problem Isolation

Problem isolation schemes................................................................................................................................. C-2

Problem isolation Scheme A: basic system ............................................................................................... C-3

Problem isolation Scheme B: installation .................................................................................................. C-5

Problem isolation Scheme C: application software ................................................................................. C-11

Problem isolation Scheme D: expansion slot connectors ........................................................................ C-13

Problem isolation Scheme E: user wiring................................................................................................ C-13

Problem isolation Scheme F: the board ................................................................................................... C-14

Problem isolation Scheme G: verification of problem solution............................................................... C-14

Specified hardware I/O tests ............................................................................................................................ C-15

Analog input hardware test ...................................................................................................................... C-15

Analog output hardware test .................................................................................................................... C-18

General-purpose digital I/O hardware test ............................................................................................... C-21

Specified software I/O tests ............................................................................................................................. C-21

Analog input software test ....................................................................................................................... C-22

Analog output software test ..................................................................................................................... C-23

General-purpose digital I/O software test ................................................................................................ C-26

D Using Your Own Screw Terminal Panel

Analog inputs ..................................................................................................................................................... D-2

Single-ended inputs.................................................................................................................................... D-2

Pseudo-differential inputs .......................................................................................................................... D-2

Differential inputs ...................................................................................................................................... D-3

Analog outputs ................................................................................................................................................... D-3

Digital inputs and counter/timer inputs.............................................................................................................. D-3

Digital outputs.................................................................................................................................................... D-4

iii

List of Illustrations

2 Functional Description

Figure 2-1 Block diagram of the KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 boards.......................................................................... 2-2

Figure 2-2 An example using dynamic digital outputs................................................................................................. 2-5

Figure 2-3 Continuous post-trigger mode without triggered scan.............................................................................. 2-11

Figure 2-4 Continuous post-trigger mode with triggered scan ................................................................................... 2-12

Figure 2-5 Continuous pre-trigger mode .................................................................................................................... 2-13

Figure 2-6 Continuous pre-trigger mode with triggered scan..................................................................................... 2-13

Figure 2-7 Continuous about-trigger mode ................................................................................................................ 2-14

Figure 2-8 Continuous about-trigger mode with triggered scan................................................................................. 2-14

Figure 2-9 Counter/timer channel............................................................................................................................... 2-23

Figure 2-10 Example of a low-to-high pulse output type............................................................................................. 2-26

Figure 2-11 Connecting event counting signals (shown for Clock Input 0 and External Gate 0)................................ 2-27

Figure 2-12 Example of event counting ....................................................................................................................... 2-27

Figure 2-13 Connecting frequency measurement signals without an external gate input

(shown for Clock Input 0) .................................................................................................................. 2-28

Figure 2-14 Connecting frequency measurement signals (shown for Clock Input 0 and External Gate 0) ................. 2-29

Figure 2-15 Example of frequency measurement ........................................................................................................ 2-30

Figure 2-16 Connecting rate generation signals (shown for Counter Output 0; a software gate is used) .................... 2-31

Figure 2-17 Example of rate generation mode with a 75% duty cycle......................................................................... 2-31

Figure 2-18 Example of rate generation mode with a 25% duty cycle......................................................................... 2-32

Figure 2-19 Connecting one-shot signals (shown for Counter Output 0 and Gate 0) .................................................. 2-33

Figure 2-20 Example of one-shot mode using a 99.99% duty cycle............................................................................ 2-33

Figure 2-21 Example of one-shot mode using a 50% duty cycle................................................................................. 2-34

Figure 2-22 Example of repetitive one-shot mode using a 99.99% duty cycle............................................................ 2-35

Figure 2-23 Example of repetitive one-shot mode using a 50% duty cycle................................................................. 2-35

3 Installation and Configuration

Figure 3-1 Inserting a KPCI-3110 or KPCI-3116 board in the computer .................................................................... 3-6

Figure 3-2 Attaching the STP-3110 screw terminal panel to the KPCI-3110 or KPCI-3116 board ............................ 3-8

Figure 3-3 Layout of the STP-3110 screw terminal panel............................................................................................ 3-8

Figure 3-4 Removal of Jumper W1 for remote ground sensing ................................................................................... 3-9

Figure 3-5 Connecting single-ended voltage inputs (shown for Channels 0, 1, and 8).............................................. 3-14

Figure 3-6 Connecting pseudo-differential voltage inputs (shown for Channels 0, 1, and 8).................................... 3-15

Figure 3-7 Connecting differential voltage inputs (shown for Channel 0)................................................................. 3-16

Figure 3-8 Connecting differential voltage inputs from a grounded signal source (shown for Channel 0) ............... 3-17

Figure 3-9 Connecting current inputs to the STP-3110 screw terminal panel (shown for Channel 0)....................... 3-17

Figure 3-10 Connecting analog output voltages to the STP-3110 screw terminal panel (shown for Channel 0) ........ 3-18

Figure 3-11 Connecting digital inputs to the STP-3110 screw terminal panel (Lines 0 and 1, Bank A shown).......... 3-18

Figure 3-12 Connecting digital outputs to the STP-3110 screw terminal panel (Line 0, Bank B shown) ................... 3-19

v

Figure 3-13 Connecting event counting applications to the STP-3110 screw terminal panel

(shown for Clock Input 0 and External Gate 0)...................................................................................3-20

Figure 3-14 Connecting event counting applications to the STP-3110 screw terminal panel without an

external gate input (shown for Clock Input 0) .................................................................................... 3-21

Figure 3-15 Cascading counters (shown for event counting using Counters 0 and 1 and External Gate 0)................. 3-22

Figure 3-16 Connecting frequency measurement applications to the STP-3110 screw terminal panel

(shown for Clock Input 0 and External Gate 0).................................................................................. 3-23

Figure 3-17 Connecting pulse output applications to the STP-3110 screw terminal panel

(shown for Counter Output 0 and Gate 0) .......................................................................................... 3-24

Figure 3-18 Cascading counters (shown for rate generation using Counters 0 and 1 and External Gate 0) ................ 3-25

Figure 3-19 Cascading counters (shown for one-shot using Counters 0 and 1 and External Gate 1)........................... 3-25

vi

List of Tables

1 Overview

Table 1-1 Differences among KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 boards............................................................................. 1-2

Table 1-2 System requirements................................................................................................................................... 1-4

2 Functional Description

Table 2-1 Gains and effective ranges.......................................................................................................................... 2-5

Table 2-2 External C/T clock signals........................................................................................................................ 2-24

Table 2-3 Gate input signals...................................................................................................................................... 2-25

Table 2-4 Pulse output signals................................................................................................................................... 2-25

3 Installation and Configuration

Table 3-1 Screw terminal assignments for connector J1on the STP-3110 screw terminal panel ............................. 3-11

Table 3-2 Screw terminal assignments for connector J2 on the STP-3110 screw terminal panel ............................ 3-12

6 Troubleshooting

Table 6-1 Troubleshooting problems .......................................................................................................................... 6-4

A Specifications

Table A-1 A/D subsystem specifications .................................................................................................................... A-2

Table A-2 D/A subsystem specifications .................................................................................................................... A-5

Table A-3 DIN/DOUT subsystem specifications........................................................................................................ A-6

Table A-4 C/T subsystem specifications..................................................................................................................... A-7

Table A-5 Power, physical, and environmental specifications ................................................................................... A-8

Table A-6 Connector specifications............................................................................................................................ A-8

Table A-7 KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 supported options ......................................................................................... A-9

B Connector Pin Assignments

Table B-1 Connector J1 pin assignments on the KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 boards................................................ B-2

Table B-2 Connector J2 pin assignments on the KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 boards................................................ B-3

Table B-3 Pin assignments for connector J1 on the STP-3110................................................................................... B-4

Table B-4 Screw terminal assignments for connector J2 on the STP-3110 screw terminal panel ............................. B-5

vii

C Systematic Problem Isolation

Table C-1 Wiring for analog input hardware test using an STP-3110 screw terminal accessory

connected to the analog I/O connections ........................................................................................... C-16

Table C-2 Terminals on STP-3110 screw terminal accessory to which DVM/DMM will be

connected during analog output hardware test................................................................................... C-18

Table C-3 Test connections and correct readings for zero-voltage analog output,

using an STP-3110 screw terminal accessory connected to J1.......................................................... C-20

Table C-4 Test connections and correct readings for mid-range analog output, using an STP-3110 screw

terminal accessory connected to the J1 connector ............................................................................. C-20

Table C-5 Wiring for analog input hardware test using an STP-3110 screw terminal accessory

connected to the Analog I/O connections ........................................................................................... C-22

Table C-6 Terminals on STP-3110 screw terminal accessory to which DVM/DMM will be

connected during analog output hardware test................................................................................... C-24

Table C-7 Test connections and correct readings for zero-voltage analog output, using an

STP-3110 screw terminal accessory connected to J1 ........................................................................ C-25

Table C-8 Test connections and correct readings for mid-range analog output, using an

STP-3110 screw terminal accessory connected to the KPCI-3110 or KPCI-3116 board.................. C-25

viii

Preface

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

x Preface KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 User’s Manual

This manual describes the features of the KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 boards, the capabilities of
the DriverLINX software, and how to configure the KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 board using
DriverLINX. Troubleshooting and calibration information is also provided.

Intended audience

This document is intended for engineers, scientists, technicians, or others responsible for using
and/or programming the KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 boards for data acquisition operations in
Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows NT. It is assumed that you have some famil­iarity with data acquisition principles and that you understand your application.

NOTE

This manual focuses primarily on describing the KPCI-3110 boards and their capabilities, set­ting up the boards and their associated software, making typical hookups, and troubleshooting.
There are also sections that discuss calibration and summarize characteristics of DriverLINX
test-panel software.

Unless noted otherwise, this manual refers to both models collectively
as KPCI-3110.

What you should learn from this manual

This manual provides detailed information about the features of the KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116
boards and the capabilities of the KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 Device Driver.

Section 1 describes the major features of the board, as well as the supported software and

accessories for the board.

Section 2 describes all of the board’s features and how to use them in your application.

Section 3 describes how to install DriverLINX software, install the KPCI-3110 boards, wire

accessories, and configure the software to work with the boards.

Section 4 describes the use of the DriverLINX Analog I/O Panel for testing board functions.

Section 5 describes how to calibrate the analog I/O circuitry of the board.

Section 6 provides information that you can use to resolve problems with the board, com-

puter, or DriverLINX should they occur.

Appendix A lists the specifications of the board and data acquisition subsystems and the

associated features accessible using DriverLINX for the KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 boards.

Appendix B shows the pin assignments for the connectors on the board and for the STP300

screw termination panel.

Appendix C describes how to systematically isolate problems with the board, computer, soft-

ware, and programming.

Appendix D provides information on special considerations when using your own screw ter-

minal panel.

An index completes this manual.

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KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 User’s Manual Preface xi

Viewing the KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 documentation online

The DriverLINX Manuals and this manual have been provided in electronic form (in PDF file
format) on the CD-ROM. To view these documents, you need to install Rev 3.01 or later of
Adobe Acrobat Reader on your hard drive (refer to DriverLINX for installation instructions).

View the KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 documentation by clicking the manual title.

Here are a few helpful hints about using Adobe Acrobat Reader:

To navigate to a specific section of the document, click a heading from the table of contents
on the left side of the document.

Within the document, click the text shown in blue to jump to the appropriate reference (the
pointer changes from a hand to an index finger).

To go back to the page from which the jump was made, click the right mouse button and Go

Back, or from the main menu, click View , then Go Back .

To print the document, from the main menu, click File , then Print .

To increase or decrease the size of the displayed document, from the main menu, click View ,
then Zoom .

By default, text and monochrome images are smoothed in Acrobat Reader, resulting in
blurry images. If you wish, you can turn smoothing off by clicking File , then Preferences/

General , and unchecking Smooth Text and Monochrome Images .

Conventions used in this manual

The following conventions are used in this manual:

Notes provide useful information or information that requires special emphasis, cautions
provide information to help you avoid losing data or damaging your equipment, and
warnings provide information to help you avoid catastrophic damage to yourself or your
equipment.

Items that you select or type are shown in bold .

•

xii Preface KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 User’s Manual

Related information

Refer to the following documents for more information on using the KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116
boards:

KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 Read This First . This “Quick Start Guide” describes how to

install the KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 boards and related software.

DriverLINX Installation and Configuration

DriverLINX Appendix: Using DriverLINX with your Hardware: Keithley KPCI-3110 and
KPCI-3116 installation information)

DriverLINX Technical Reference Manual

DriverLINX Analog I/O Programming Guide

DriverLINX Digital I/O Programming Guide

DriverLINX Counter/Timer Programming Guide

PCI Specification: PCI Local Bus Specification, PCI Special Interest Group, Portland, OR.

Microsoft Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows 98, and/or Windows NT user manuals.

Other manuals appropriate to your installation.

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Where to get help

Should you run into problems installing or using a KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 board, our Tech­nical Support Department is available to provide technical assistance. Refer to Section 6 for
more information. If you are outside the U.S. or Canada, call your local distributor, whose num­ber is listed in your Keithley product catalog.

1

Overview

1-2 Overview KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 User’s Manual

Introduction

This manual is provided for persons needing to understand the installation, interface require­ments, functions, and operation of the KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 boards. These board types
differ in analog I/O resolution, throughput, and D/A filters as shown in Table 1-1.

Features

NOTE

This manual focuses primarily on describing the KPCI-3110 boards and their capabilities, set­ting up the boards and their associated software, making typical hookups, and troubleshooting.
There are also sections that discuss calibration and summarize characteristics of DriverLINX
test-panel software.

The KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 boards are high-speed, multifunction board types for the PCI
bus. These board types differ in analog I/O resolution, throughput, and D/A filters as shown in

Table 1-1.

Table 1-1

Differences among KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 boards

Board Type

KPCI-3110 12 bits 4 kSample 1.25 MSamples/s 200 kSamples/s -

KPCI-3116 16 bits 4 kSample 250 kSamples/s 100 kSamples/s 0 and 20kHz

All KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 boards share the following major features:

Unless noted otherwise, this manual refers to both models collectively
as KPCI-3110.

Analog I/O
Resolution

Output
FIFO Size

A/D Throughput
(Single Channel)

D/A Throughput
(Full Scale) D/A Filters

•

32 Single-ended or pseudo-differential analog input channels (refer to), or 16 differential
analog input channels.

•

Programmable bipolar (±10V) and unipolar (0 to 10V) input ranges with gains of 1, 2, 4,
and 8.

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Continuously-paced and triggered scan capability.

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A 1024-location channel-gain list that supports sampling analog input channels at the same
or different gains in sequential or random order.

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Up to 256 scans per trigger for a total of 262,144 samples per trigger.

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PCI bus mastering for data transfers.

•

Pre-, post-, and about-trigger acquisition modes to acquire data relative to an external event
using computer memory.

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Internal and external clock sources; one external clock input for the analog input subsystem
and one external clock input for the analog output subsystem.

•

Analog threshold triggering using either an external analog input or one of the analog input
channels; a separate DAC sets the trigger level (8-bit resolution, fixed hysteresis).

•

Digital TTL triggering; one external hardware TTL input for the analog input subsystem and
one external hardware TTL input for the analog output subsystem.

• Two analog output channels with a ±10V output range.

• Simultaneous analog input and analog output operations running at full speed.

• Software calibration of the analog input and output subsystems.

KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 User’s Manual Overview 1-3

• Two 8-bit digital ports programmable as inputs or outputs on a per-port basis; digital inputs

can be included as part of the analog input channel-gain list to correlate the timing of analog
and digital events; digital outputs can drive external solid-state relays.

• Two dynamic, high-speed digital output lines; useful for synchronizing and controlling

external equipment, these dynamic digital output lines are programmable as part of the ana­log input subsystem.

• Four user counter/timers programmable for event counting, frequency measurement, rate

generation (continuous pulse output), one-shot pulse output, and repetitive one-shot pulse
output.

• Programmable gate types.

• Programmable pulse output polarities (output types) and duty cycles.

• A/D Sample Clock Output and A/D Trigger Output signals, useful for synchronizing and

controlling external equipment.

DriverLINX software

The following software is available for use with the KPCI-3110 or KPCI-3116 board:

• KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 standard software package — Shipped with KPCI-3110 and

KPCI-3116 boards. Includes DriverLINX for Microsoft Windows and function libraries for
writing application programs under Windows in a high-level language such as C/C++, Visual
Basic, Delphi, and Test Point; LabVIEW support files; utility programs; and language­specific example programs.

• DriverLINX — the high-performance real-time data-acquisition device drivers for Windows

application development includes:

• DriverLINX API DLLs and drivers supporting the KPCI-3110 or KPCI-3116 hardware.

• Analog I/O Test Panel — A DriverLINX program that verifies the operation of your

KPCI-3110 or KPCI-3116 board and demonstrates several virtual bench-top instruments.

• Learn DriverLINX — an interactive learning and demonstration program for DriverLINX

that includes a Digital Storage Oscilloscope.

• Source Code — for the sample programs.

• DriverLINX Application Programming Interface files — for the KPCI-3110 or

KPCI-3116 interfaces.

• DriverLINX Calibration Utility — used to calibrate the ADC and DAC functions of the

KPCI-3110 or KPCI-3116 board.

• DriverLINX On-line Help System — provides immediate help as you operate

DriverLINX.

• Supplemental Documentation — on DriverLINX installation and configuration; analog

and digital I/O programming; counter/timer programming; technical reference; and infor­mation specific to the KPCI-3110 or KPCI-3116 hardware.

1-4 Overview KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 User’s Manual

System requirements

The system capabilities required to run the KPCI-3110 or KPCI-3116 board, and to use the
DriverLINX software supplied with the board, are listed in Table 1-2.

Table 1-2

System requirements

CPU Type

Operating system

Memory

Hard disk space

Other

* Any CD-ROM drive that came installed with the required computer should be satisfactory. However, if you have

post-installed an older CD-ROM drive or arrived at your present system by updating the microprocessor or replacing
the motherboard, some early CD-ROM drives may not support the long file names often used in 32-bit Windows
files.

Pentium or higher processor on motherboard with PCI bus version 2.1

Windows 95 or 98

Windows NT version 4.0 or higher

16MB or greater RAM when running Windows 95 or 98

32MB or greater RAM when running Windows NT

4MB for minimum installation

50MB for maximum installation

A CD-ROM drive*

A free PCI-bus expansion slot capable of bus mastering

Enough reserve computer power supply capacity to power the
KPCI-3110 or KPCI-3116 board, which draws 1.5A at 5VDC and 0.12A
at +12VDC.

Software

The user can select a fully integrated data acquisition software package such as TestPoint or
LabVIEW or write a custom program supported by DriverLINX.

DriverLINX is the basic Application Programming Interface (API) for the KPCI-3110 and
KPCI-3116 boards:

• It supports programmers who wish to create custom applications using Visual C/C++, Visual

Basic, or Delphi.

• It accomplishes foreground and background tasks to perform data acquisition.

• It is the needed interface between TestPoint and LabVIEW and a KPCI-3110 or KPCI-3116

board.

DriverLINX software and user’s documentation on a CD-ROM are included with your board.

TestPoint is an optional, fully featured, integrated application package with a graphical drag­and-drop interface which can be used to create data acquisition applications without
programming.

LabVIEW is an optional, fully featured graphical programming language used to create virtual
instrumentation.

Refer to Section 3, “Installation and Configuration,” for more information about DriverLINX,
TestPoint, and LabView.

KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 User’s Manual Overview 1-5

Accessories

The following optional accessories are available for KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 boards:

• STP-3110 screw terminal panel — Screw terminal panel with two connectors to accommo-

date the analog I/O, digital I/O, and counter/timer signals provided by the KPCI-3110 and
KPCI-3116 boards.

• CAB-307 cable — A 1-meter, twisted-pair, shielded cable that connects the 50-pin analog

I/O connector (J1) on the KPCI-3110 or KPCI-3116 board to the J1 connector on the
STP-3110 screw terminal panel.

• CAB-308 cable — A 1-meter, twisted-pair, shielded cable that connects the 68-pin digital

I/O connector (J2) on the KPCI-3110 or KPCI-3116 board to the J2 connector on the
STP-3110 screw terminal panel.

2

Functional Description

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2-2 Functional Description KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 User’s Manual

This section describes the analog input, analog output, digital I/O, counter/timer, and synchro­nous features of the KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 boards. To frame the discussions, refer to the
block diagram shown in Figure 2-1. Note that bold entries indicate signals you can access.

Figure 2-1

Block diagram of the KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 boards

Ext A/D Clock

Ext A/D TTL Trig

Ext D/A Clock

Ext D/A TTL Trig

Analog Trigger

20MHz Clock

Ext Analog Trigger

Analog In

Ch. Sel

Gain Sel

A/D Clk
DIO Ports

Input Sel

Trigger/Clock
Logic

A/D Counter,
24-bits

D/A Counter
24-bit

TScan Counter
24-bit

32 Channel Mux

Gain Amp
(1, 2, 4, 8)

12- or 16-bit ADC**

Tristate Buffers

1 kSample
Input FIFO

A/D Trig

A/D Clk

D/A Clk

MUX

Analog Trigger

PCI Bus Interface

8-bit
DAC

Compare

A/D Trig
A/D Clk

1 K Entry
CGL FIFO

Output FIFO*

D/A
Clk

4 User

20MHz
Clk

Counter/
Timers,
16-bit ea.

Buffer

CGL Reg.
Channel
Parameter
Reg.

Output FIFO
Counter

12- or 16­bit DAC**

12- or 16­bit DAC**

Bidirectional
8-bit Latch

Bidirectional
8-bit Latch

A/D Trig Out
A/D Clk Out

Ch. Sel
Gain Sel
Input Sel

Analog Out 1

Analog Out 0

DIO Bank B [7:0]

DIO Bank A [7:0]

User Clk [3:0]

User Gate [3:0]

User Out [3:0]

Analog input features

This section describes the features of the analog input (A/D) subsystem, including the following:

Analog input resolution
Analog input channels
Input ranges and gains
A/D sample clock sources
Analog input conversion modes
Trigger sources and trigger acquisition modes
Data formats and transfer
Error conditions

PCI Bus

*The KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 have a 4 kSample Output FIFO;
**Only the KPCI-3116 has a 16-bit ADC and 16-bit DACs.

KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 User’s Manual Functional Description 2-3

Analog input resolution

The KPCI-3110 board has a fixed analog input resolution of 12 bits. The KPCI-3116 board has a
fixed resolution of 16 bits. The analog input resolution cannot be changed in software.

Analog input channels

KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 boards support 32 single-ended or pseudo-differential analog input
channels, or 16 differential analog input channels. Refer to Section 3 for a description of how to
wire these signals. You configure the channel type through DriverLINX software.

NOTE

KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 boards can acquire data from a single analog input channel or from
a group of analog input channels. Channels are numbered 0 to 31 for single-ended and pseudo­differential inputs, and 0 to 15 for differential inputs. Refer to “Using DriverLINX with your
hardware: Keithley KPCI-3100 Series” for details of how to specify the channels.

For pseudo-differential inputs, specify single-ended in software; in this
case, how you wire these signals determines the configuration.(Refer to

Section 3 , “ Connecting pseudo-differential voltage inputs .” )

2-4 Functional Description KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 User’s Manual

Specifying digital input lines in the analog input channel list

In addition to the analog input channels, you can read the two digital I/O channels (16 lines) of
the KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 boards using the analog input channel list. This feature is partic­ularly useful when you want to correlate the timing of analog and digital events.

To read these two digital I/O channels, specify channel 0 in the DriverLINX analog input
channel list. Specify the special code (2

13

) in the gain field to indicate that channel 0 is a 16 bit
digital channel. See “Analog Input Termination Modes” in “Using DriverLINX with Your
Hardware.” The hardware-specific gain code is provided in the DriverLINX channel gain list.
You can enter channel 0 anywhere in the list and can enter it more than once, if desired. Refer to
the DriverLINX Analog I/O Programming Guide provided with DriverLINX.

NOTE

If channel 0 is programmed with digital capabilities and is the only
channel in the channel-gain list, the board can read this channel at a
rate of 3 MSamples/s. Refer to the Using DriverLINX with your Hard-

ware:Keithley KPCI-3100 manual provided with DriverLINX .

This channel is treated like any other channel in the analog input channel list; therefore, all the
clocking, triggering, and conversion modes supported for analog input channels are supported
for these digital I/O lines, if you specify them in this manner.

Performing dynamic digital output operations

Using DriverLINX software, you can enable a synchronous dynamic digital output operation for
the A/D subsystem. This feature is particularly useful for synchronizing and controlling external
equipment.

Two dynamic digital output lines are provided: 0 and 1. These lines are set to a value of 0 on
power up; a reset does not affect the values of the dynamic digital output lines. Note that these
lines are provided in addition to the other 16 digital I/O lines. See page 2-21 for more informa­tion on the digital I/O features.

To read these two digital I/O lines, specify channel 0 in the DriverLINX analog input channel
list. Specify its digital capabilities in the Digital Capabilities groups of the Logical Device
Descriptor (channel, channel characteristics, and timing and start/stop trigger events). The
hardware-specific gain code is provided in the DriverLINX channel gain list. You can enter
channel 0 anywhere in the list and can enter it more than once, if desired. Refer to the Using

DriverLINX with your Hardware: Keithley KPCI-3100 manual provided with DriverLINX.

NOTE

If channel 0 is programmed with digital capabilities and is the only
channel in the channel-gain list, the board can read this channel at a
rate of 3 MSamples/s. Refer to the Using DriverLINX with your Hard-

ware: Keithley KPCI-3100 manual provided with DriverLINX .

For KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 boards, you can specify the following values for the dynamic
digital output lines: 0 (00 in binary format), 1 (01 in binary format), 2 (10 in binary format), or 3
(11 in binary format). Each bit in binary format corresponds to the value to write to the dynamic
digital output line. For example, a value of 1 (01 in binary format) means that a value of 1 is out­put to dynamic digital output line 0 and value of 0 is output to dynamic output line 1. Similarly,
a value of 2 (10 in binary format) means that a value of 0 is output to dynamic digital output line
0 and value of 1 is output to dynamic output line 1.

For example, assume that the analog input channel list contains channels 5, 6, 7, 8; that dynamic
digital output operations are enabled; and that the values to write to the dynamic digital output
lines are 2, 0, 1, 3. Figure 2-2 shows this configuration.

KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 User’s Manual Functional Description 2-5

Figure 2-2

An example using dynamic digital outputs

Channel List

5

6

7

8

As analog input channel 5 is read, 1 is output to dynamic digital output line 1, and 0 is output to
dynamic output line 0 (since 2 in binary format is 10). As analog input channel 6 is read, 0 is
output to both dynamic digital output lines. As analog input channel 7 is read, 0 is output to
dynamic digital output line 1, and 1 is output to dynamic output line 0 (since 1 in binary format
is 01). As analog input channel 8 is read, 1 is written to both dynamic digital output lines.

NOTE

Input ranges and gains

Dynamic Digital

Values

2

0

1

3

Dynamic Digital
Outputs
Line 1 Line 0

0

1

0

0

1

0

1

1

Expansion accessories use some of the dynamic digital output signals.
Therefore, you cannot use this feature and an expansion channel in the
same task.

Each channel on the KPCI-3110 or KPCI-3116 board can measure unipolar and bipolar analog
input signals. A unipolar signal is always positive (0 to 10V on KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116
boards), while a bipolar signal extends between the negative and positive peak values (±10V on
KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 boards).

Through DriverLINX software, specify the range as 0 to 10V for unipolar signals or − 10V to
+10V for bipolar signals. Note that the range applies to the entire analog input subsystem, not to
a specific channel.

KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 boards also provide gains 1, 2, 4, and 8, which are programmable
per channel. Table 2-1 lists the effective ranges supported by KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 boards
using these gains.

Table 2-1

Gains and effective ranges

Gain Unipolar Analog Input Range Bipolar Analog Input Range

1 0 to 10V ±10V
2 0 to 5V ±5V
4 0 to 2.5V ±2.5V
8 0 to 1.25V ±1.25V

For each channel, choose the gain that has the smallest effective range that includes the signal
you want to measure. For example, if the range of your analog input signal is ±1.5V, specify a
range of − 10V to +10V for the board and use a gain of 4 for the channel; the effective input
range for this channel is then ±2.5V, which provides the best sampling accuracy for that channel.

The way you specify gain depends on how you specified the channels, as described in the fol­lowing subsections.

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2-6 Functional Description KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 User’s Manual

Specifying the gain for a single channel

The simplest way to specify gain for a single channel is to specify the gain for a single value
analog input operation using software. Refer to page 2-7 for more information on single value
operations.

You can also specify the gain for a single channel using an analog input gain list as described in
the next section.

Specifying the gain for one or more channels

On the KPCI-3110 Series, you can specify the gain for one or more analog input channels using
an analog input gain list. Using software, set up the gain list by specifying the gain for each
entry in the analog input channel-gain list. The gain list parallels the channel list. (The two lists
together are often referred to as the channel-gain list.)

For example, assume the analog input channel list contains three entries: channels 5, 6, and 7;
the gain list might look like this: 2, 4, 1, where a gain of 2 corresponds to channel 5, a gain of 4
corresponds to channel 6, and a gain of 1 corresponds to channel 7.

A/D sample clock sources

KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 boards provide two clock sources for pacing analog input opera­tions in continuous mode:

An internal A/D sample clock that uses the 24-bit A/D counter on the board
An external A/D sample clock that you can connect to the screw terminal panel

The A/D sample clock paces the acquisition of each channel in the channel-gain list. This clock
is also called the A/D pacer clock.

NOTE

The following subsections describe the internal and external A/D sample clocks in more detail.

If you specify Digital Capabilities for channel 0 in the channel-gain list,
the A/D sample clock (internal or external) also paces the acquisition of
the 16 digital input lines. Refer to the DriverLINX Analog I/O Program-

ming Guide provided with DriverLINX.

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KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 User’s Manual Functional Description 2-7

Internal A/D sample clock

The internal A/D sample clock uses a 20MHz time base. Conversions start on the falling edge of
the counter output; the output pulse is active low.

Using software, specify the clock source as internal and the clock frequency at which to pace the
operation. The minimum frequency supported is 1.2Hz (1.2 Samples/s). For the KPCI-3110
boards, the maximum frequency supported is 1.25MHz (1.25 MSamples/s). For the KPCI-3116
board, the maximum frequency supported is 250kHz (250 kSamples/s).

According to sampling theory (Nyquist Theorem), specify a frequency that is at least twice as
fast as the input’s highest frequency component. For example, to accurately sample a 20kHz sig­nal, specify a sampling frequency of at least 40kHz. Doing so avoids an error condition called

aliasing , in which high frequency input components erroneously appear as lower frequencies

after sampling.

NOTE

You can access the output signal from the A/D sample clock using screw
terminal 79 on the STP-3110 screw terminal panel (pin 4 on connector
J2).

External A/D sample clock

The external A/D sample clock is useful when you want to pace acquisitions at rates not avail­able with the internal A/D sample clock or when you want to pace at uneven intervals.

Connect an external A/D sample clock to screw terminal 76 on the STP-3110 screw terminal
panel (pin 7 on connector J2). Conversions start on the falling edge of the external A/D sample
clock input signal.

Using DriverLINX, specify the clock source as external (refer to DriverLINX Analog I/O Pro-

gramming Guide furnished with DriverLINX). For KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 boards, the

clock frequency is always equal to the frequency of the external A/D sample clock input signal
that you connect to the board through the screw terminal panel.

Analog input conversion modes

KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 boards support the following conversion modes:

Single value polled operations are the simplest to use but offer the least flexibility and effi-

ciency. Use software to specify the range, gain, and analog input channel (among other
parameters); acquire the data from that channel; and convert the result. The data is returned
immediately. For a single value operation, you cannot specify a clock source, trigger source,
trigger acquisition mode, scan mode, or buffer.

Single value operations stop automatically when finished; you cannot stop a single value
operation.

Scan mode takes full advantage of the capabilities of the KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116

boards. In a scan, you can specify a channel-gain list, clock source, trigger source, trigger
acquisition mode, buffering, and timing. Refer to “Using DriverLINX with Your Hardware:
KPCI-3100 Series” for details on specifying these parameters.

Using DriverLINX software, you can stop a scan when the hardware fills the host buffer you
specified or when your application issues a stop command.

2-8 Functional Description KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 User’s Manual

Continuously-paced scan mode (rate generation: internal clock)

Use continuously-paced scan mode if you want to accurately control the period between conver­sions of individual channels in a scan.

When it detects an initial trigger, the board cycles through the channel-gain list, acquiring and
converting the value for each entry in the channel list. This process is defined as the scan. The
board then wraps to the start of the channel-gain list and repeats the process continuously until
either the specified samples are taken or you stop the operation. Refer to page 2-15 for more
information on buffers.

The conversion rate is determined by the frequency of the A/D sample clock. Refer to page 2-6
for more information on the A/D sample clock. The sample rate, which is the rate at which a sin­gle entry in the channel-gain list is sampled, is determined by the frequency of the A/D sample
clock divided by the number of entries in the channel-gain list.

NOTE

An A/D Trigger Out signal is provided for your use. This signal is high
when the A/D subsystem is waiting for a trigger and low when a trigger
occurs. In continuously-paced scan mode, this signal goes low when the
trigger occurs and stays low until you stop the operation.

Triggered scan mode

KPCI-3110 and KPCI-3116 boards support two triggered scan (burst) modes: internally-clocked
and externally-clocked. These modes are described in the following subsections.

Internally-retriggered scan mode (internal clock: burst mode)

Use internally-retriggered scan mode if you want to accurately control both the period between
conversions of individual channels in a scan and the period between each scan. This mode is
useful when synchronizing or controlling external equipment, or when acquiring a buffer of data
on each trigger or retrigger. Using this mode, you can acquire up to 262,144 samples per trigger
(256 times per trigger x 1024-location channel-gain list).

When it detects an initial trigger, the board scans the channel-gain list a specified number of
times (up to 256), then waits for an internal retrigger to occur. When the board detects an inter­nal retrigger, the board scans the channel-gain list the specified number of times, then waits for
another internal retrigger to occur. The process repeats continuously until either the specified
samples are taken or you stop the operation.

The sample rate is determined by the frequency of the A/D sample clock divided by the number
of entries in the channel-gain list. Refer to page 2-6 for more information on the A/D sample
clock. The conversion rate of each scan is determined by the frequency of the internal retrigger
clock. The internal retrigger clock is the Triggered Scan Counter, a 24-bit counter with a 20MHz
clock located on the board.

Using DriverLINX software, specify the frequency of the internal retrigger clock. The minimum
retrigger frequency is 1.2Hz. For KPCI-3110 boards, the maximum retrigger frequency is

357.14kHz (357.14 kSamples/s); for KPCI-3116 boards, the maximum retrigger frequency is

166.67kHz (166.666 kSamples/s).