Total Phase Advanced Cable Tester User Manual

Total Phase Advanced Cable Tester User
Manual

This document describes the Advanced Cable Tester web software
applications, the Advanced Cable Tester Hardware, and how to
use both.

The Advanced Cable Tester provides an easy-to-use web interface
that allows for remote operation and logging. Using the Promira
platform's connectivity, the Advanced Cable Tester can be
operated over USB or over Ethernet. The Advanced Cable Tester
can also be configured to operate in a stand-alone mode that does
not require a host PC. The LEDs on the device provide straight­forward pass/fail information for the qualification of cables without
the need for the graphical interface.

Supported products:

Advanced Cable Tester
User Manual v1.13.001

September 14, 2018

Advanced Cable Tester User Manual v1.13.001

2

1 General Overview

1.1 Revision History

Always read the CHANGES.txt file included in the Promira Serial Platform update
package for more details

1.1.1 Release 1.13

Version 1.13 FW/1.13 Web - This release provides enhanced speed, removes some eye
diagram display issues, fixes other bugs, and adds the USB A to Lightning cable test.

1.1.2 Release 1.11

Advanced Cable Tester User Manual v1.13.001

Version 1.11 FW/1.11 Web - This release provides enhanced behavior, fixes some bugs,
adds color coding for resistor detection, and is required for v1.00 adapters.

1.1.3 Release 1.10

Version 1.10 FW/1.10 Web - This is the second release of the advanced cable tester that
fixes some errors and includes the use of legacy adapters.

1.1.4 Release 0.90

Version 0.90 - This is the first release of the advanced cable tester.

1.2 General Description

The Advanced Cable Tester is a set of applications for the Promira™ Serial Platform that
provides the ability to test USB cables. The Total Phase Advanced Cable Tester - Level 1
Application provides continuity testing, DC resistance measurement, and E-Marker
verification. The Total Phase Advanced Cable Tester - Level 2 Application provides
additional capabilities to evaluate cable signal integrity at up to 12Gbps. Both application
levels use the Advanced Cable Tester Hardware, pictured below.

This document describes the Advanced Cable Tester web software applications, the
Advanced Cable Tester Hardware and how to use both.

3

Advanced Cable Tester User Manual v1.13.001

Figure 1 : ACT Hardware

Figure 2 : ACT System

Primarily targeted at USB cables, the main hardware natively supports testing Type-C-to­Type-C cables. Adapter cards are available to enable testing cables that terminate in
USB 3.1 Standard-A, USB 3.1 Micro-B, and Lightning USB2.

Continuity testing checks all pins for continuity, preventing dangerous situations like
shorts of VBUS to data signals, VBUS/GND reversal, etc., which could damage devices.

DC Resistance ("DCR") and IR Drop testing confirms that each power pin (VBUS and
GND) is capable of carrying the required current to meet the applicable specification. For
Type-C cables, each power pin is individually measured, then the cable as a whole is
tested.

4

Advanced Cable Tester User Manual v1.13.001

E-Marker testing reads the data from all E-Markers present on the cable, then validates
the advertised data and power capabilities against the actual measured parameters of
the cable. Additionally, the values of fields such as Vendor ID, Product ID, Test ID,
firmware and hardware versions can be specified by the operator, for easy pass/fail
determination of cables through a QA process.

The Advanced Cable Tester provides an easy-to-use web interface that allows for remote
operation and logging. Using the Promira platform's connectivity, the Advanced Cable
Tester can be operated over USB or over Ethernet. The Advanced Cable Tester can also
be configured to operate in a stand-alone mode that does not require a host PC. The
LEDs on the device provide straight-forward pass/fail information for the qualification of
cables without the need for the graphical interface.

5

Advanced Cable Tester User Manual v1.13.001

2 Device Specifications

2.1 Hardware Connectors and LED Indicators

Table 1 : Connector Description

Connector Purpose

Promira platform Connects to Promira platform via included 40mm 34pin ribbon cable

U Type-C connector for connecting to one plug of the cable under test.

Typically configured as the functional Source when testing Type-C cables.

D Similar function to the U connector, but typically configured as the

functional Sink when testing Type-C cables.

Advanced
Cable Tester
LEDs

Table 2 : LED Function and Description

LED Purpose and Meaning

Data Indicates data signal integrity is within expected values. Only valid for

the Advanced Cable Tester - Level 2 Application.

Off: Test not performed (Level 1 application)
Green: Indicates that signal integrity passed.
Red: Indicates a signal integrity or other data line failure.

Amps Indicates power-related test result of the cable.

Green: Cable shows no power-related failures, and can carry its
specified current.
Red: Power-related failure, such as shorts/opens, out-of-spec IR
Drop/DCR, etc.

Status Off: Not ready or Test in Progress

Green: Test completed and passed
Red: Test completed and failed
Blue flashing: Idle or waiting for cable attachment

Note While idle or waiting for cable, the Data or Amps LEDs will illuminate

green to indicate an adapter is present, blue to indicate that a USB
Type C plug has been detected, or blue-green to indicate that a cable
has been detected in the attached adapter, corresponding to the
"D"and "U" receptacles.

6

Promira LEDs Left Blank: Normal state

Middle Blue flashing: Test in progress

Off: Idle

Right Green: Advanced Cable Tester application running

Blue: No application running (Promira idle)

2.2 Software Specifications

• Test Profiles: Held in non-volatile storage on the Promira platform

• Test Results: Up to 1000 sets of results are kept in a circular buffer in RAM. Test
results are cleared upon power cycle.

Advanced Cable Tester User Manual v1.13.001

2.3 Physical Specifications

• DC Characteristics: Power Consumption: 900mA @ 5 V with Promira platform

• Dimensions: W x D x L: 77.5 x 29.2 x 115.6 mm (3.05 x 1.15 x 4.55 in)

• Weight: 125 g (4.41 oz)

• Operating Temperature: 10°35° C (50°95° F) non-condensing

7

Advanced Cable Tester User Manual v1.13.001

3 Promira Serial Platform Overview

The Promira Serial Platform is a multi-purpose test platform. Total Phase separately
licenses many other applications for other types of test and development. This includes
Host Adapter and Analysis applications for I2C, SPI, eSPI, etc. The Advanced Cable
Tester Applications are just a few possibilities for the platform. Details about the Promira
Serial Platform are included in the separate Promira Serial Platform System User Manual
(https://www.totalphase.com/support/articles/204227283). A brief overview of essential
usage details is included here.

3.1 Basic Connectivity

The basic interface to the Promira Serial Platform is via USB or Ethernet. In either case,
the USB micro-B interface is used for power (see below). Communication between the
end user platform and the Promira is via TCP/IP over Ethernet-over-USB or via TCP/IP
over Ethernet. The Ethernet over USB connection is established using the RNDIS or
ECM protocol. In this case, the Promira will act as a DHCP server, provide an IP address
t your PC/Mac in the 10.0.0.0/24 range.

When using the physical Ethernet connection, the Promira platform can use a static IP
address or act as a DHCP client, depending on network requirements. It is most
convenient to use the Promira Utility (https://www.totalphase.com/products/promira­update-utility) software to discover the address that was assigned. The utility software
can connect to the Promira via USB or Ethernet connection. The Promira Utility software
can also be used to configure a static IP address for the Promria platform (and therefore
the Advanced Cable Tester).

3.2 Powering the Promira and ACT

In the case where an Ethernet connection is used, it is necessary to power the Promira
platform (and the Advanced Cable Tester) via a USB power adapter with a Micro-B
cable. It is essential that this is a high-quality power supply, capable of supplying a
minimum of 5V at 1A of current, and with all relevant safety certifications. If a power
adapter does not provide enough power, the Promira platform and the Advanced Cable
Tester Hardware may not have enough power to operate properly and thus cannot
ensure valid testing.

After the Promira platform is configured, the Advaned Cable Tester Application is simply
accessed via HTTP from an HTML5-compatible web browser. This could be a mobile

8

phone, tablet, or most often a PC. Please consult the Quick Start Guide at the end of this
manual or on our website at Quick Start Guide (http://www.totalphase.com/support/
articles/235050988).

3.3 Update Process

In order to update your Promira databases properly, you must follow the below procedure
to backup any custom profiles you have created, reset the profile database, and then
restore any custom profiles.

The full update sequence is:

1. Start the Promira Utility (v1.35 or later available at Download) and use it put the
Promira in firmware update mode:

a. Click the Promira button.

Advanced Cable Tester User Manual v1.13.001

b. Find your Promira device in the list. If it doesnt appear yet, wait a little while

for it to finish booting and enumerating, then click the button to refresh the
list.

c. Select the Promira which was found, and click OK.

d. Click the Update License/Firmware button.

2. Copy the new firmware (.pmu file) to the Promiras disk. Typically your PC will
notify you that a new disk has been detected, and give you the option to browse it.
You may need to manually navigate to it using Finder or Explorer.

3. Eject the USB disk

4. Power-cycle the Promira the firmware will be automatically updated, which will
take about a minute to complete, during which time the LEDs will blink blue.

5. Wait for the right-most LED to illuminate green, then login to the Advanced Cable
Tester.

6. Open the "Profile Management" screen.

9

Advanced Cable Tester User Manual v1.13.001

7. Select your first custom profile. (Standard profiles are marked with a *; custom
profiles are not marked).

8. Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and click on the last custom profile. (Be
sure youve scrolled to the end of the listbox).

9.
Click Export and a <filename>.json file will be downloaded to your

computer, make sure to save this.

10