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ilent 53131A/132A

225 MHz Universal Counter



Operating Guide

Manual Part Number 53131-90055 Printed in Malaysia

Agilent 53131A/132A 225 MHz Universal Counter Operating Guide

This guide describes how to use the Agilent 53131A/132A 225 MHz Universal Counter.

Agilent 53131A/132A 225 MHz Universal Counter

Copyri ght Agilent Techno logies

Inc., 1993, 1996, 1998, 1999

Printed: October 1999

Printed in Malaysia

Manual part numb er 53131-90055

Certification and Warranty

Certification

Agilent Technologies certifies that this product met its published specification at the time of shipment from the factory. Agilent Technologies further certifies that its calibration measurements are traceable to the United States National Institute of Standards and Technology (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.

War ra nty

Agilent warrants Agilent hardware, accessories and supplies against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from date of shipment. If Agilent receives notice of such defects during the warranty period, Agilent will, at its option, either repair or replace products which prove to be defective. Replacement products may be either new or likenew.

Agilent warrants that Agilent 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 Agilent receives notice of such defects during the warranty period, Agilent will replace software media which does not execute its programming instructions due to such defects.

For detailed warranty information, see back matter.

Safety Considerations

General

This product and related documentation must be reviewed for familiarization with this safety markings and instructions before operation.

Before Cleaning

Disconnect the product from operating power before cleaning.

Warning Symbols That M ay 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.

Indicates earth (ground) terminal.

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

Indicates Alternating current.

Indicates Direct current.

Safety Considerations (contd)

ARNING

BODILY INJURY OR DEATH MAY RESULT FROM FAILURE TO HEED A WARNING. DO NOT PROCEED BEYOND A WARNING UNTIL THE INDICATED CONDITIONS ARE FULLY UNDERSTOOD AND MET.

AUTION

Damage to equipment, or incorrect measurement data, may result from failure to heed a caution. Do not proceed beyond a CAUTION until the indicated conditions are fully understood and met.

Safety Earth G round

An uninterruptible safety earth ground must be maintained from the mains power source to the product’s ground circuitry.

ARNING

WHEN MEASURING POWER LINE SIGNALS, BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL AND ALWAYS USE A STEP-DOWN ISOLATION TRANSFORMER WHICH OUTPUT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE INPUT MEASUREMENT CAPABILITIES OF THIS PRODUCT. THIS PRODUCT’S FRONT AND REAR PANELS ARE TYPCIALLY AT EARTH GROUND. THUS, NEVER TRY

TO MEASURE AC POWER LINE SIGNALS WITHOUT AN ISOLATION TRANSFORMER.

Agilent Technologies, Inc 7.NC.NL.A.11.0 3.97.R 1.P.CW6FC 815 S.W. 14th Street Loveland, Colorado U.S.A.

Warranty (contd)

Agilent does not warrant that the operation of Agilent products will be uninterrupted or error free. If Agilent 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 retur n of the product.

Agilent 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 Agilent. If customer sched ules or delay s Agilent 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 calibration, (b) software, interfacing, parts or supplies not supplied by Agilent, (c) unauthorized modification 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 AGILENT SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, SATISFACTORY QUALITY, AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

Agilent will be liable for damage to tangible property per incident 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 Agilent 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 AGILENT 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 for Agilent Technologies products.

For any assistance, contact your nearest Agilent Technologies Sales and Service Office.

Safety Considerations (contd)

WARNI NG

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ADJUSTMENTS WHILE COVERS ARE REMOVED AND FOR SERVICING ARE FOR USE BY SERVICETRAINED PERSONNEL ONLY. TO AVOID DANGEROUS ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT PERFORM SUCH ADJUSTMENTS OR SERVICING UNLESS QUALIFIED TO DO SO.

WARNI NG

ANY INTERRUPTION OF THE PROTECTIVE GROUNDING CONDUCTOR (INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE PRODUCT'S CIRCUITRY) 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 OUTLET 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) m ake sure the commo n 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 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) 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.NL.A.11.03.97.R1.P.CW6BC

I

II

DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY

According to ISO/IEC Guide 22 and CEN/CENELEC EN 45014

Manufacturer’s Name: Manufacturer’s Address:

Declares, that the product

Product Name: Model Number: Product Options: This declaration covers all options of the above product.

Conforms with the following European Directives:

The product herewith complies with the requirements of the Low Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC and the EMC Directive 89/336/EEC (including 93/68/EEC) and carries the CE Marking accordingly.

EMC Standard

IEC 61326-1:1997+A1:1998 / EN 61326-1:1997+A1:1998 CISPR 11:1990 / EN 55011:1991 IEC 61000-4-2:1995+A1:1998 / EN 61000-4-2:1995 IEC 61000-4-3:1995 / EN 61000-4-3:1995 IEC 61000-4-4:1995 / EN 61000-4-4:1995 IEC 61000-4-5:1995 / EN 61000-4-5:1995 IEC 61000-4-6:1996 / EN 61000-4-6:1996 IEC 61000-4-11:1994 / EN 61000-4-11:1994

Canada: ICES-001:1998 Australia/New Zealand: AS/NZS 2064.1

Agilent Technologies, Incorporated Santa Clara Site 5301 Stevens Creek Blvd Santa Clara, California 95051

Universal Counter Frequency Counter 53131A, 53132A 53181A

Limit

Group 1 Class A 4kV CD, 8kV AD 3 V/m, 80-1000 MHz

0.5kV signal lines, 1kV power lines

0.5 kV line-line, 1 kV line-ground 3V, 0.15-80 MHz I cycle, 100%

[1]

Safety

Supplemental Information:

[1]

The product was tested in a typical configuration with Agilent Technologies test systems.

Authorized EU-representative: Agilent Technologies Deutschland GmbH, Herrenberger Stra

IEC 61010-1:1990+A1:1992+A2:1995 / EN 61010-1:1993+A2:1995 Canada: CSA C22.2 No. 1010.1:1992

July 31, 2001

Date Art Nanawa, Product Regulations Manager

For further information, please contact your local Agilent Technologies sales office, agent or distributor.

e 130, D 71034 Böblingen, Germany

Contents

In This Guide

Contents and Organization xii

Related Documents

For more information on universal counters refer to the following Series 200 Application Notes:

• Fundamentals of Electronic Frequency Counters Application Note 200—Agilent part number 02-5952-7506.

• Fundamentals of Time Interval Measurements Application Note 200-3—Agilent part number 02-5952-7561.

• Understanding Frequency Counter Specifications Application Note 200-4—Agilent part number 02-5952-7522.

Operating Guide xiii

In This Guide

Types of Service Available if Your Instrument Fails

If your Agilent 53131A/132A fails within one year of original purchase, Agilent will repair it free of charge. If your instrument fails after your one-year warranty expires, Agilent will repair it, or you can repair it yourself by ordering the service guide (Agilent part number 53131-90039).

There are three types of repair services:

• Standard repair service—if downtime is not critical.

• Express Repair/Performance Calibration Service—if downtime is critical.

• Order the Assembly-Level Service Guide and repair unit yourself.

Standard Repair Services (Worldwide)

Contact your nearest Agilent Technologies Service Center. They will arrange to have your Agilent 53131A/132A Universal Counter repaired.

Express Repair/Performance Calibration Service (USA Only)

If downtime is critical, you can receive your repaired Agilent 53131A/132A via overnight shipment. Just call 1-800-403-0801 and ask for Express Repair/Performance Calibration Service. When your Counter is repaired, it will be returned via overnight shipment.

Assembly-Level Service Guide

If your Agilent 53131A/132A 1-year warranty has expired and you choose to repair the instrument yourself or would like more details on self test and calibration, refer to the Agilent 53131A/132A Assembly-Level Service Guide, Agilent part number 53131-90039.

xiv Operating Guide

In This Guide

Repackaging for Shipment

For the Express Repair/Performance Calibration Service described above, return your failed Agilent 53131A/132A to the designated Agilent Technologies Service Center, using the shipping carton of the instrument. Agilent will notify you when your failed instrument has been received.

If the instrument is to be shipped to Agilent for service or repair, be sure you do the following:

• Attach a tag to the instrument identifying the owner and indicating the required service or repair. Include the instrument model number and full serial number.

• Place the instrument in its original container with appropriate packaging material.

• Secure the container with strong tape or metal bands.

If the original shipping container is not available, place your unit in a container which will ensure at least 4 inches of compressible packaging material around all sides of the unit. Use static free packaging materials to avoid additional damage to your unit.

Agilent Technologies suggests that you always insure shipments.

Operating Guide xv

In This Guide

Description of the 225 MHz Universal Counter

The Agilent 53131A and Agilent 53132A are universal counters capable of measuring frequencies to 225 MHz on Channels 1 and 2. With an optional Channel 3 Option 030, Option 050, or Option 124, this capability is extended to 3.0, 5.0, or

12.4 GHz, respectively.

For the Agilent 53131A, frequency and time interval resolutions are 10 digits in one second and 500 picoseconds, respectively. The Agilent 53131A provides users with a GPIB measuring speed of up to 200 measurements per second, and is suitable for bench-top operation and lower-volume ATE operation. The frequency and time interval resolutions for the Agilent 53132A are up to 12 digits in one second and 150 picoseconds, respectively. The Agilent 53132A provides users with exceptional resolution, and is ideal for ATE systems operation.

The Agilent 53131A/132A basic measurement functions include Frequency, Period, Pulse Width, Duty Cycle, Rise/Fall Time, Time Interval, Frequency Ratio, Totalize, Phase, and Peak Voltage. The Agilent 53131A/132A Counter has four arming modes: auto, external, digits and time. However, the Agilent 53132A with serial number prefix 3646 and above has expanded arming capabilities for Time Interval measurements.

xvi Operating Guide

In This Guide

The Agilent 53131A/132A include additional measurement functions and features that are designed specifically for manufacturing and service applications:

• 1, 5, 10 MHz external reference capability—to match customer’s house standard (however, the Agilent 53132A’s external reference capability is 10 MHz only),

• optional ultra high, high, or medium stability oven oscillators for high accuracy needs and lengthened calibration cycles,

• external gating,

• statistics,

• automatic limit testing,

• SCPI programming capability, and

• analog display mode limit testing

Programmable control is performed via an GPIB. The GPIB and a talk-only RS-232C serial port are standard for the Agilent 53131A and Agilent 53132A. The serial port is for printing measured and analyzed data on serial printers, or for outputting an out-oflimit signal.

Operating Guide xvii

In This Guide

Options

The options available for the Agilent 53131A/132A 225 MHz Universal Counter are listed following this paragraph. Specifications for the options are listed in Chapter 3, “Specifications.” If you’ve purchased an option with the initial order, it will be installed at the factory and ready for operation at delivery. Refer to the “Retrofitting Options” chapter in the Assembly-Level Service Guide for instructions on field installation of the options.

NOTE The “0’s” and “1’s” in the following option numbers are numeric characters (that is,

they are not letters).

Hardware

• Medium Stability Oven Timebase, Option 001

• DC Power Input, Option 002

• High Stability Oven Timebase, Option 010

• Ultra-High Stability Oven Timebase, Option 012 (Agilent 53132A only)

• 3.0 GHz RF Input Channel (Channel 3), Option 030

• 5.0 GHz RF Input Channel (Channel 3), Option 050

• 12.4 GHz RF Input Channel (Channel 3), Option 124

• Rear Terminals

• Rack Mount Kit, Option 1CM. Also available under Agilent part number 5062-

9240.

• Lock-Link Kit (side-by-side) available under Agilent part number 5061-9694. Also requires Flange Kit, part number 5062-3974.

, Option 060

Support

• 5-year Return to Agilent for Repair, Option W50

• 5-year Return to Agilent for Calibration, Option W52

The two standard input channels (1 and 2) will have both front an d rear terminals. Option 030 Channel 3 will have a rear terminal only. Option 050 and Option 124 Channel 3 will have a front terminal only.

xviii Operating Guide

In This Guide

Accessories Supplied and Available

Accessories Supplied

• Power cord, 2.3 meters

Accessories Available

• Agilent 34161A Accessory Pouch

• Agilent 34131A Transit Case

• Printer RS-232 Interface cables, Agilent 24542G or Agilent 24542H

• GPIB cables, Agilent 10833A/B/C/D

Supplied Manuals

• Agilent 53131A/132A Operating Guide—this guide (Agilent P/N 53131-90055)

• Agilent 53131A/132A Programming Guide (Agilent P/N 53131-90044)

• Agilent 53131A/132A Assembly-Level Service Guide (Agilent P/N 53131-90039)

Operating Guide xix

In This Guide

Differences Between Prior and Current Revisions of the Agilent 53131A/132A

If you have an Agilent 53131A containing one of the prior firmware revisions (3317, 3335, or 3402), read the subsection below titled “Agilent 53131A Containing Firmware Revisions (3317, 3335, or 3402)” to get an overview of the differences between the earlier firmware revisions and current firmware revision.

If you have an Agilent 53132A with a serial number prefix below 3646, read the subsection titled “Agilent 53132A Time Interval Delay Arming” on page xxii.

NOTE Note that throughout the guide, differences between the earlier and current firmware

revisions are noted where applicable.

Agilent 53131A Containing Firmware Revisions (3317, 3335, or

3402)

There are four main areas that differ:

• Calibrations

•Measurements

• Statistics

• GPIB Commands

xx Operating Guide

In This Guide

Calibrations

If your Counter contains other than the current firmware revision, the following calibration features are different:

• The calibration functions are in the Utility menu instead of the Calibration menu, which is accessed by pressing and holding the front-panel Utility key and then cycling POWER key.

• Calibrations are not protected by a security code.

• A calibration count does not exist to aid in monitoring the number of calibrations performed.

• A more accurate Time Interval calibration (FINE TI) is not available.

See the section titled “Using the Calibration Menu” in Chapter 2 of the Agilent 53131A/132A Operating Guide for details.

Measurements

If your Counter contains other than the current firmware revision, the following measurement capabilities are different:

• Ratio channel selections Ratio 2 to 1 and Ratio 3 to 1 (for those counters equipped with Channel 3) are not available.

• Ratio “AUTO-armed” does not automatically extends gate to capture sufficient edges.

If Channel 1 input frequency is less than approximately 10 Hz, the Ratio gate time is not extended to capture sufficient Channel 1 edges to produce a valid measurement. Default gate time is 100 msec, which is not long enough to capture two edges on a low-frequency signal. The user is required to extend the gate by switching to TIME arming, and selecting a gate time appropriately long.

• Sensitivity for firmware revision below does not have adjusted controls to LO and MED sensitivity.

In some Counters that contained firmware revision 3317, LO sensitivity fails to correctly count very high frequency signals.

Operating Guide xxi

In This Guide

Statistics

If your Counter contains other than the current firmware revisions, single-shot statistics are not available using the ON SINGLE: menu item found in the Statistics menu (use Stats key).

GPIB Commands

[:SENSe]:EVENt[1|2}:HYSTeresis:RELative

If your Counter contains firmware revisions 3402 and below, the input hysteresis command and query does not operate in the conventional way. That is, [:SENSe]:EVENt[1|2]:HYSTeresis:RELative sets high sensitivity when the parameter is MINimum or 0 percent, and sets low sensitivity when the parameter is MAXimum or 100 percent.

In the prior firmware revisions (3317, 3335, or 3402), MINimum or 0 percent corresponded to low sensitivity, and MAXimum or 100 percent corresponded to high sensitivity.

:CONFigure:TOTalize:TIMed :CONFigure:TOTalize:CONTinuous :MEASure:TOTalize:TIMed?

If your Counter contains firmware revisions 3402 and below, the Totalize Measurement Instruction commands (shown above) are not available to disable autotrigger.

In the firmware revisions 3402 and below, these commands enabled auto-trigger at the 50% level.

Agilent 53132A Time Interval Delay Arming

Agilent 53131A and Agilent 53132A Counters with a serial number prefix below 3646 are identical in their TI arming modes. Both only offer Time Interval Delay, where the STOP trigger of a time interval measurement can be delayed by a user-specified time.

xxii Operating Guide

Agilent 53131A/132A Quick Reference Guide

The Quick Reference Guide is designed for experienced users of the Agilent 53131A/132A Universal Counter. It is intended to be used as a tool to trigger your memory. If you are using the Agilent 53131A/132A for the first time, Agilent Technologies recommends that you at least read Chapter 1, “Getting Started,” in the Operating Guide first.

The Quick Reference Guide follows this page, and consists of the following items:

• Menu Trees which may be torn out of the guide for external use (pages 1, 2, 3a, and 3b).

• Menu Roadmaps which illustrate via key-press sequences how to navigate through the menus under the menu keys (pages 4 through 11). Key-press sequences are provided for the following menu keys:

– Freq & Ratio

– Time & Period

–Other Meas

–Gate & ExtArm

– Uppr & Lower

– Limit Modes

– Scale & Offset

–Stats

– Trigger/Sensitivity

Operating Guide xxiii

xxiv Operating Guide

Agilent 53131A/132A

Universal Counter

Freq & Ratio

FREQUENCY 1

FREQUENCY 2

FREQUENCY 3

RAT I O 1 TO 2

RAT I O 1 TO 3

RAT I O 2 TO 1

RAT I O 3 TO 1

Uppr & Lower

UPPR: 0.000000

LOWR: 0.000000

Time & Period

T I 1 TO 2

PERIOD 1

RISETIME

FALLTIME

POS WIDTH 1

NEG WIDTH 1

Limit Modes

LIM TEST: OFF

LIM TEST: ON

ON FAIL:GO ON

ON FAIL:

STOP

SHOW: NUMBER

SHOW:

GRAPH

Scale & Offset

SCALE:1.000000

OFFS: 0.000000

SET OFFSET ?

MATH: OFF

MATH: ON

MATH HELP?

Other Meas

T O T A L I Z E 1

PHASE 1 TO 2

DUTYCYCLE 1

VOLT PEAKS 1

VOLT PEAKS 2

Stats

SHOW: MEAS

SHOW: STD DEV

SHOW:

MEAN

SHOW:

MAX

SHOW:

MIN

N: 100

STATS: OFF

STATS: ON

USE: ALL MEAS

LIMIT

USE: IN

ON SINGLE: 1

ON SINGLE: N

(Agilent 53131A and Agilent 53132A)

Agilent

53131A/132A

Universal Counter

Recall

NO REGISTERS

RECALL 0

RECALL 1

RECALL 2

RECALL 3

RECALL 4

RECALL 5

RECALL 20

50Ω 1MΩ

CH 1: 50 OHM

CH 1: 1M OHM

Save & Print

SAVE:

UNSAVE:

PRINT: OFF

PRINT: ON

PRINT HELP?

DC AC

CH 1: DC

CH 1: AC

Trigger Sensitivity

AUTO TRG: ON AUTO TRG: OFF

LEVEL: 50 PCT

SLOPE: POS

SLOPE: NEG

SENSTVTY: HI

SENSTVTY: LO

SENSTVTY:MED

COMMON 1: OFF

COMMON 1: ON

X10 Attenuate

CH 1: X10 ATT

CH 1: X1 ATT

LEVEL: 0.000V

SLOPE: POS

SLOPE: NEG

SENSTVTY: HI

SENSTVTY: LO

SENSTVTY:MED

COMMON 1: OFF

COMMON 1: ON

100kHz Filter

CH 1:

LP FILT

CH 1:

NO FILT

(Agilent 53131A and Agilent 53132A)

Agilent 53131A and

Agilent 53132A

Universal Counter

(Serial Number Prefix below 3646)

Gate & ExtArm

Time & Period

T I 1 TO 2

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Gate & ExtArm

ARM: AUTO

DELAY : NONE

DELAY : TIME

T IME : .01000

GATE:

TIME

TIME: .100 s

ARM : EXTERNL

SLOPE : POS

DELAY: NONE

GATE: AUTO

SLOPE : NEG

DELAY: TIME

TIME : .01000

GATE: EXTERNL

START: POS

START: NEG

STOP: AUTO

STOP: NEG

STOP: POS

STOP: TIME

TIME: .100 s

GATE: DIGITS

DIGITS: 4

(Agilent 53131A and Agilent 53132A S/N below 3646)

Agilent 53132A

Universal Counter

(Serial Number Prefix 3646 and above)

Gate & ExtArm

GATE:

Time & Period

T I 1 TO 2

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

TIME: .100 s

Gate & ExtArm

START: AUTO

DELAY : NONE

T : .1 E : 1

DELAY :TIME

DELAY : EVENT

TIME

GATE: AUTO

SLOPE : POS

DELAY: NONE

T : .1 E : 1

STOP : AUTO

SLOPE : POS

DELAY : NONE

GATE: EXTERNL

START: POS

START: NEG

STOP: AUTO

STOP: NEG

STOP: POS

STOP: TIME

TIME: .100 s

START: EXT

SLOPE : NEG

DELAY: TIME

STOP : EXT

DELAY : TIME

T : .1 E : 1

GATE: DIGITS

DIGITS: 4

DELAY: EVENT

SLOPE : NEG

DELAY : EVENT

(Agilent 53132A S/N 3646 and above)

Agilent 53131A/132A

Universal Counter

Freq & Ratio

MEASURE

Time & Period

Other Meas

Freq & Ratio

FREQUENCY 1

FREQUENCY 2

FREQUENCY 3

RATIO 1 TO 2

RATIO 1 TO 3

RATIO 2 TO 1

RATIO 3 TO 1

Time & Period

T I 1 TO 2

PERIOD 1

RISETIME 1

FALLTIME 1

POS WIDTH 1

NEG WIDTH 1

Other Meas

TOTALIZE 1

PHASE 1 TO 2

DUTYCYCLE 1

VOLT PEAKS 1

VOLT PEAKS 2

(Agilent 53131A and Agilent 53132A)

Agilent 53131A/132A

niversal Counter

Freq & Ratio

FREQUENCY 1

MEASURE

– – – – – – – – – – – –

Gate & ExtArm

GATE: TIME

GATE: AUTO

GATE

: EXTERNL

Gate & ExtArm

GATE: DIGITS

STOP:

TIME: .100

Gate &

TIME: .100

ExtArm

TIME: .200

Gate &

START:

ExtArm

START: POS

START: NEG

STOP: AUTO

STOP: NEG

STOP: POS

STOP: TIME

TIME: .2000

Gate &

DIGITS: 10

ExtArm

Enter

Gate & ExtArm

RUN

DIGITS: 5

Enter

RUN

(Agilent 53131A and Agilent 53132A)

Agilent 53131A and

Agilent 53132A

(Serial Number Prefix below 3646)

niversal Counter

Time & Period

TI 1 TO 2

MEASURE

– – – – – – – – – – – –

Gate & ExtArm

ARM:

Gate & ExtArm

SLOPE:

DELAY:

TIME: .01000

ARM: AUTO

ARM: EXTERNL

SLOPE: POS

SLOPE: NEG

DELAY: NONE

DELAY:

TIME

TIME: .02000

RUN

Enter

(Agilent 53131A and Agilent 53132A S/N below 3646)

Agilent 53132A

(Serial Number Prefix 3646 and above)

Universal Counter

Time & Period

TI 1 TO 2

MEASURE

- - - - - - - - - - -

Gate & ExtArm

START:

Gate & ExtArm

SLOPE:

START: EXT

START: AUTO

Gate & ExtArm

SLOPE: POS

SLOPE: NEG

Gate &

DELAY:

ExtArm

DELAY :NONE

DELAY :TIME

DELAY :EVENT

Gate &

T : .1

ExtArm

T : 100.1

Gate &

E : 1

ExtArm

E : 1000

Enter

B C

(Agilent 53132A S/N 3646 and above)

Agilent 53132A

(Serial Number Prefix 3646 and above)

Universal Counter

Gate & ExtArm

STOP :

STOP :EXT

B C

STOP :AUTO

Gate &

SLOPE :

ExtArm

SLOPE : POS

SLOPE : NEG

Gate &

DELAY :

ExtArm

DELAY :NONE

Run

DELAY :TIME

DELAY :EVENT

Gate & ExtArm

T : .1

T : 100.1

E : 1

E : 1000

Run

Enter

Run

Enter

(Agilent 53132A S/N 3646 and above)

Agilent 53131A/132A

niversal Counter

Uppr & Lower

LIMITS

Uppr & Lower

Limit Modes

Uppr & Lower

Limit Modes

UPPR: 0.000000

Uppr &

LOWR: 0.000000

Lower

LIM TEST:

Limit

ON FAIL:GO ON

Modes

Limit

SHOW: NUMBER

Modes

UPPR: 5.100000

LOWR: 4.900000

LIM TEST: OFF

LIM TEST: ON

ON FAIL:GO ON

ON FAIL: STOP

SHOW: NUMBER

SHOW: GRAPH

Enter

RUN

(Agilent 53131A and Agilent 53132A)

Agilent 53131A/132A

niversal Counter

Scale & Offset

MATH

Scale & Offset

SCAL:

1.000000

OFFS:

0.000000

SET OFFSET?

MATH:

MATH HELP ?

SCAL:

2.000000

OFFS:

0.500000

Enter

OFFS:-

nnnnnnn

MATH: OFF

MATH: ON

Enter

(MEAS X SCALE) + OFFS = RESULT

Enter

RUN

(Agilent 53131A and Agilent 53132A)

Agilent 53131A/132A

niversal Counter

Stats

MATH

Stats

SHOW:

SHOW: MEAS

SHOW:

STD

DEV

SHOW: MEAN

SHOW: MAX

SHOW: MIN

Stats

N: 100

N: 200

STATS:

STATS: OFF

STATS: ON

USE:

USE: ALL MEAS

USE: IN LIMIT

ON SINGLE:

ON SINGLE: 1

ON SINGLE: N

Enter

RUN

Run

(Agilent 53131A and Agilent 53132A)

Agilent 53131A/132A

niversal Counter

Freq & Ratio

– – – – – – – – – – – –

Trigger Sensitivity

CHANNEL 1 CHANNEL 2

Trigger Sensitivity

FREQUENCY 1

FREQUENCY 2

FREQUENCY 3

RATIO 1 TO 2

RATIO 1 TO 3

RATIO 2 TO 1

RATIO 3 TO 1

Time & Period

PERIOD 1

RISETIME 1

FALLTIME 1

POS WIDTH 1

NEG WIDTH 1

Other Meas

TOTALIZE

PHASE 1 TO 2

DUTY CYCLE 1

Trigger Sensitivity

AUTO TRG:

Enter

Trigger Sensitivity

AUTO TRG: ON

AUTO TRG: OFF

LEVEL: 0.000V

LEVEL: 2.000V

LEVEL: 50 PCT

LEVEL: 75 PCT

SLOPE:

SLOPE: POS

SLOPE: NEG

SENSTVTY:

SENSTVTY: HI

SENSTVTY: LO

SENSTVTY: MED

RUN

(Agilent 53131A and Agilent 53132A)

Agilent 53131A/132A

niversal Counter

Time & Period

TI 1 TO 2

CHANNEL 1 CHANNEL 2

– – – – – – – – – – – –

Trigger Sensitivity

AUTO TRG:

LEVEL: 0.000V

LEVEL: 50 PCT

SLOPE:

SENSTVTY:

COMMON 1:

AUTO TRG: ON

AUTO TRG: OFF

LEVEL: 2.000V

LEVEL: 75 PCT

SLOPE: POS

SLOPE: NEG

SENSTVTY: HI

SENSTVTY: LO

SENSTVTY: MED

COMMON 1: OFF

COMMON 1: ON

RUN

Enter

RUN

(Agilent 53131A and Agilent 53132A)

Getting Started

Chapter 1 Getting Started

567

The Front Panel at a Glance

Remote

SRQ

POWER

Utility Menu: Hold at power up

53131 A

UNIVERSAL COUNTER

Period Freq +Wid -Wid Rise Fall Time Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 ExtRef

MEASURE LIMITS MATH CHANNEL 1 CHANNEL 2

Freq & Ratio

Other Meas

Recall

Time & Period

Gate & ExtArm

LocalUtility Save & Print

225 MHz

Uppr & Lower

Limit Modes

Run

Scale & Offset

Stats

Stop/ Single

Limit

Trigger Sensitivity

50Ω 1M Ω

DC AC

X10 Attenuate

MHz µs

Gate

Damage Lvl: 5V rms MAX.50Ω

100kHz Filter

+/–

Trigger Sensitivity

50Ω 1M Ω

DC AC

X10 Attenuate

12 13

Enter

CHANNEL 3

100 MHz − 3 GHz

Damage Lvl: 5V rms MAX.50Ω

100kHz Filter

Note: Unit shown with Option 030.

1 Measurement function menu keys

2 Limits menu keys

3 Math menu keys 4 Sign (+ or −) selection toggle key

5 Data Entry/Select (or arrow) keys

6 Enter numeric data (terminate) key

7 3.0/5.0/12.4 GHz RF input channel

(optional)

8 Utility menu key (Hold during power-up

to access Utility functions.)

9 Recall, Save and Print menu keys

10 Gate and External Arm menu key

11 Measurement control keys

12 Channel 1 Trigger/Sensitivity menu key

and input conditioning keys

13 Channel 2 Trigger/Sensitivity menu key

and input conditioning keys

14 Calibration menu key (Hold Scale &

Offset key during power-up to access Calibration functions.)

NOTE It is normal operation for the fan in the Counter to continue to run after the Counter is

placed in Standby mode. Power to the timebase is continuous to maintain long term measurement reliability, and the fan helps maintain timebase temperature stability.

1-2 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

The Front Panel Indicators at a Glance

There are eight different groups of indicators or LEDs. They are listed and described in the following table.

Indicators Description of the Indicators

Freq & Ratio

Other Meas

Scale & Offset

Stats

Time & Period

Limit Modes

Local

Save & Print

Trigger Sensitivity

When one of these indicators is lit, it simultaneously indicates which key’s menu (for example, Time & Period key) and its menu item (for example, TI 1 to 2) is enabled.

When these indicators are lit, the key’s “enable” menu item (that is, Limit Modes/LIM TEST, Scale & Offset/MATH, Stats/STATS, and Save & Print/PRINT) is enabled.

When this indicator is lit, it indicates that you are in the Trigger/Sensitivity menu for the corresponding channel.

When this indicator flashes, it indicates that the arrow keys can be used to modify or enter data.

+/–

Run

Enter

Stop/ Single

When one of these indicators is lit, it indicates that the Run or Single function is enabled.

Operating Guide 1-3

Chapter 1 Getting Started

The Front Panel Indicators at a Glance (Cont.)

Indicators Description of the Indicators

When this indicator flashes, it indicates that the Counter is triggering on the input signal. If the input signal is too high, this indicator remains ON. If the input signal is too low, this indicator is OFF.

50Ω 1MΩ

X10 Attenuate

SRQ

DC AC

100kHz Filter

When one of these indicators is lit, it indicates that the adjacent choice (that is, 50Ω, DC, X10, or 100kHz Filter) is enabled or active. Note that when these indicators are not lit, then the other choice (that is, 1MΩ, AC, X1, or no filter) is active.

A lit Remote indicator indicates that the Counter is in remote mode (Note: In the remote mode, the Save & Print key becomes the Local key.)

If (while in remote) an error occurs, the Remote indicator will flash. The indicator will continue flashing until the controller has read or cleared the error queue, or until the front panel returns to local mode.

An unlit Remote indicator indicates that the Counter is in local mode.

The SRQ indicator indicates that the Counter has requested service from the controller. The SRQ indicator will remain lit until the controller has recognized the service request and serial polled the Counter, or taken specific action to cancel the request (for example, *CLS command).

1-4 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

The Front Panel Menus at a Glance

Freq & Ratio

Time & Period

Other Meas

Gate & ExtArm

FREQUENCY 1

FREQUENCY 2

FREQUENCY 3

RAT I O 1 TO 2

RAT I O 1 TO 3

RAT I O 2 TO 1

RAT I O 3 TO 1

Uppr & Lower

UPPR: 0.000000

LOWR: 0.000000

T I 1 TO 2

PERIOD 1

RISETIME

FALLTIME

POS WIDTH 1

NEG WIDTH 1

Limit Modes

LIM TEST: OFF

LIM TEST: ON

ON FAIL:GO ON

ON FAIL:

STOP

SHOW: NUMBER

SHOW:

GRAPH

T O T A L I Z E 1

PHASE 1 TO 2

DUTYCYCLE 1

VOLT PEAKS 1

VOLT PEAKS 2

Scale & Offset

SCALE:1.000000

OFFS: 0.000000

SET OFFSET ?

MATH: OFF

MATH: ON

MATH HELP?

GATE:

TIME

GATE: AUTO

GATE: EXTERNL

GATE: DIGITS

Stats

SHOW: MEAS

SHOW: STD DEV

SHOW:

MEAN

SHOW:

MAX

SHOW:

MIN

N: 100

STATS: OFF

STATS: ON

USE: ALL MEAS

LIMIT

USE: IN

ON SINGLE: 1

ON SINGLE: N

These menu items appear only if your Coun ter contains the optional Input Channel.

Refer to the Menu Tree in the Quick Reference Guide (which precedes this chapter) and/or th e Gate/External Arming table in Chapter 2 for details on the Gate & ExtArm menu.

Operating Guide 1-5

Chapter 1 Getting Started

The Front Panel Menus at a Glance (Cont.)

Recall

NO REGISTERS

RECALL 0

RECALL 1

RECALL 2

RECALL 3

RECALL 4

RECALL 5

RECALL 20

50Ω 1MΩ

CH 1: 50 OHM

CH 1: 1M OHM

Save & Print

SAVE:

UNSAVE:

PRINT: OFF

PRINT: ON

PRINT HELP?

Trigger Sensitivity

AUTO TRG: ON

LEVEL: 50 PCT

SLOPE: POS

SLOPE: NEG

SENSTVTY: HI

AUTO TRG: OFF

LEVEL: 0.000V

SENSTVTY: LO

SENSTVTY:MED

COMMON 1: OFF

COMMON 1: ON

DC AC

777

CH 1: DC

CH 1: AC

X10 Attenuate

CH 1: X10 ATT

CH 1: X1 ATT

100kHz Filter

CH 1:

LP FILT

CH 1:

NO FILT

This appears when nothing can be recalled.

Only registers which can be recalled will appear in this menu.

This menu item only appears if an instrument setup has been saved.

COMMON 1 only appears when the Counter is operating in the Time Interval measurement function (TI 1 TO 2).

Channel 2 is the same, except “CH 2” instead of “CH 1” is displayed. These menus will terminate after two seconds.

1-6 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

POWER

The Front Panel Menus at a Glance (Cont.)

NOTE Turn power off, press and hold Recall (Utility) key, then press POWER key to access

this menu.

Utility

Recall

On / Stby

REV:

HP-IB: 3

TIMEBAS:

AUTO

INT

TIMEBAS: EXT

CAL: HELP?

TEST LOOP: OFF

TEST LOOP: ON

TST PRINT:OFF

TST PRINT: ON

ALL?

TEST:

DISP?

CPU?

TEST:

TEST: ROM?

TEST: RAM?

TEST:

EEPROM?

TEST:

HP-IB?

TEST: QSPI?

TEST: FPGA?

TEST: FR END?

TEST: MEAS?

TEST: INTERP?

TEST:

KEYPAD?

TEST:

PRINT?

BAUD: 9600

BAUD:

19200

BAUD: 300

BAUD: 1200

BAUD: 2400

PARITY: OFF

PARITY:

EVEN

PARITY: ODD

SW PACE: XON

SW PACE: NONE

DTR: HIGH

DTR: LIMIT

HW PACE

DTR:

SHOW 9 AS: 9.0

TEST:

SHOW 9 AS: 9,0

These menu items appear only if TEST LOOP is OFF.

Operating Guide 1-7

Chapter 1 Getting Started

The Front Panel Menus at a Glance (Cont.)

NOTE Turn power off, press and hold Scale & Offset key, then press POWER key to access

this menu. (This menu does not exist in early versions of the Counter. In the early versions of the Counter, the CAL: menu item resides in the Utility menu, and there is no calibration security capability.)

POWER

Scale & Offset

On / Stby

CAL SECURE CAL UNSECURE

CAL: OFFS1?

CAL: OFFS2?

CAL: GAIN1?

CAL: GAIN2?

CAL: TI QUIK?

CAL: TI FINE?

CAL: TIMEBAS?

CODE: 0

CAL COUNT?

HELP: CAL?

HELP: SECURE?

HELP: CODE?

This menu item appears and calibration is permitted only if calibration is unsecure. E nter in the correct code to change calibration to se cure; refer to the section titled “Using the Calibration Menu” in Chapter 2 in this guide for more information.

Timebase can be automatically calibrated only if the timebase option is installed.

1-8 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

The Display Annunciators at a Glance

MHz

µs

Period Freq +Wid -Wid Rise Fall Time Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 Limit ExtRef

Annunciator Indication

Period Counter is set to measure Period.

Freq Counter is set to measure Frequency.

+Wid Counter is set to measure Positive Pulse Width.

−Wid Counter is set to measure Negative Pulse Width.

Rise Counter is set to measure Rise Time. (The Time annunciator is also

turned on when the Rise annunciator is on.)

Fall Counter is set to measure Fall Time. (The Time annunciator is also

turned on when Fall annunciator is on.)

Time Counter is set to measure Time Interval. (The Time annunciator is

also turned on when the Rise or Fall annunciator are on.)

Ch 1 Counter’s channel 1 is selected to measure an input signal.

Ch 2 Counter’s channel 2 is selected to measure an input signal.

Ch 3 Counter’s channel 3 is selected to measure an input signal.

Limit Counter is limit testing and the current measurement exceeds the

user-entered limits.

ExtRef Counter is set to use the signal connected at rear panel Ref In

connector as the timebase (TIMEBAS: EXT); or Counter is set to automatically (TIMEBAS: AUTO) select the timebase and has chosen the signal connected at the rear panel Ref In connector.

Hz The displayed data is in units of Hertz.

M The prefix for the units of the displayed data is mega (10

µ The prefix for the units of the displayed data is micro (10

s The displayed data is in units of seconds.

Gate The gate is open. Before a measurement starts, this annunciator is

OFF, indicating the gate is closed. During a measurement, the annunciator is ON, indicating the gate is open.

Gate

−6

Operating Guide 1-9

Chapter 1 Getting Started

The Display Special Character at a Glance

MHz

µs

Period Freq +Wid -Wid Rise Fall Time Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 Limit ExtRef

Special Character Description

A placeholder that indicates this digit is not significant.

Gate

The Limit Test Graph Characters at a Glance

Freq Ch 1

Special Character Description

The colons represent the lower and upper limits.

The asterisk represents the last measurement.

These marks indicate that the last measurement was

significantly past the limit in the direction indicated.

1-10 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

1 2

The Rear Panel at a Glance

WARNING:

I N P U T

Ext

Arm

WARNING:

NO OPERATOR SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE, REFER SERVICING TO SERVICE TRAINED PERSONNEL.

50/60 Hz

50/60/400 Hz

60 VA

100 - 120 VAC

200 - 240 VAC

10 MHz Out

AC LINE:

ISM 1-A

FOR LABORATORY USE BY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL FOUR USAGE EN LABORATOIRE PAR PERSONNEL QUALIFIE

OPTIONS

001 MS Oven

HP-IB

Talk Only

010 HS Oven

To Configure: Hold Recall during turn-on.

Osc Adjust

SERIAL PLATE

RS - 232

Ref In

FOR CONTINUED FIRE PROTECTION, USE SPECIFIED ~ LINE FUSE.

5 6 7 8 9

1 Rear-panel input connectors (optional)

2 Power module (Senses incoming voltage

and automatically selects proper setup.)

3 Fan

4 External Arm input connector

5 External Reference Input connector

6 10 MHz Output connector

7 GPIB (IEEE-488.1)

interface connector

8 Oscillator Adjust potentiometer (This

potentiometer is not present for options 001, 010, and 012.)

9 RS-232 interface or Limit

Output connector

NOTE It is normal operation for the fan in the Counter to continue to run after the Counter is

placed in Standby mode. Power to the timebase is continuous to maintain long term measurement reliability, and the fan helps maintain timebase temperature stability.

Operating Guide 1-11

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

One of the first things you will want to do with your Agilent 53131A/132A Universal Counter is to become acquainted with its front panel. Therefore, we have written the procedures in this section to familiarize you with some of its controls. The following procedures are provided:

• First you are shown how to turn on the Counter and measure the frequency of a signal applied to the Counter’s input channels.

• Second, you are shown how to use the input coupling, impedance, and trigger/sensitivity keys to set the input conditions of the appropriate input channel to match the signal being measured.

• Third, you are shown how to scale and offset the measurement result.

• Fourth, you are shown how to set upper and lower limits for measurements.

• Fifth, you are shown how to enable the Counter to compute statistics (such as standard deviation) and display statistics of measurements.

• Last, you are shown how to use the Run and Stop/Single keys to control measurements.

The order of the procedures in this chapter is the recommended order for making measurements with this Counter.

Study and refer to the following legend, as needed, to understand the meaning of the icons which are used throughout this chapter.

1-12 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Legend

1 Press key one time and

release

2 Press key two times and

release

3 Repeated key presses

To Measure Frequency

POWER

On / Stby

4 Press and hold

5 Result

6 Auto operation

7 Connect signal

Period Freq +Wid -Wid Rise Fall Time Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 Limit ExtRef

91110

8 Disconnect signal

9 Indicator off

10 Indicator on

11 Indicator flashing

MHz

µs

Gate

Freq Ch 1

Operating Guide 1-13

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

NOTE Earlier versions of the Counter do not momentarily display the GPIB address at

turn-on.

Connect (for demonstration purposes) the Counter’s rear-panel 10 MHz Out signal to CHANNEL 1 input as shown in the illustrated procedure, below.

CHANNEL 1

MHz

Damage Lvl: 5V rms MAX.50Ω

Freq Ch 1

Gate

The Counter will automatically display the measured frequency of the input signal.

Disconnect the demonstration signal from CHANNEL 1, and connect it to CHANNEL 2 as shown in the following steps.

MEASURE

Freq & Ratio

Other Meas

Time & Period

Gate & ExtArm

CHANNEL 1

Damage Lvl: 5V rms MAX.50Ω

CHANNEL 2

Damage Lvl: 5V rms MAX.50Ω

Freq & Ratio

Freq Ch 1

Freq & Ratio

Freq Ch 2

Freq

MHz

Ch 2

Gate

1-14 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Again, the Counter will automatically display the measured frequency of the input signal.

CHANNEL 2

Trigger Sensitivity

50Ω 1MΩ

DC AC

X10 Attenuate

Damage Lvl: 5V rms MAX. 50Ω

100kHz Filter

If you need or want to change CHANNEL 2’s coupling, impedance, and triggering conditions to match the input signal you are trying to measure, the next procedures “To Select Input Coupling and Impedance” and “To Set Input Channel Trigger Level/Sensitivity” demonstrate this. Perform these procedures whether or not you want to customize the Counter’s input conditions to measure your signal; doing this will help you become familiar with the DC/AC, 50Ω/1MΩ, and Trigger/Sensitivity keys.

To Select Input Coupling and Impedance

Remember, the input signal is still connected to CHANNEL 2.

Selecting Input Coupling

Channel 2’s input coupling is now set to dc.

If you want to change the coupling back to the default ac coupling, perform the following step.

Display 1, 7/13/92

DC AC

Operating Guide 1-15

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Selecting Input Impedance

50Ω

Channel 2’s input impedance is now set to 50Ω.

NOTE The “arrow” keys can also be used to toggle the state of toggle keys (DC/AC,

50Ω/1MΩ, etc.) as indicated by the flashing indicator within the arrow keys. However, for simplicity in this procedure, use the corresponding toggle key to change states.

If you want to change the input impedance back to the default 1 MΩimpedance, perform the following step.

1MΩ

50Ω 1MΩ

MHz

Freq

Ch 2

Gate

1-16 Operating Guide

+/–

Enter

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

To Set Input Channel Trigger Level/Sensitivity

Changing Trigger Mode

Trigger Sensitivity

Press any one of these arrow keys to toggle to the next state of Auto Trigger.

Modifying Input Trigger Level

The leftmost “0” digit in the LEVEL display is highlighted, indicating that if you press the d key once the displayed value will increase to 1.000 volt as shown in the following step.

NOTE BE SURE to always press the Enter key to complete numeric data entries.

Channel 2’s trigger level is now set to +1V.

Operating Guide 1-17

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

To set the trigger level to −0.05V, perform the following steps.

+/–

Enter

NOTE BE SURE to always press the Enter key to complete numeric data entries.

Channel 2’s trigger level is now set to −0.05V.

Selecting Input Trigger Slope

Trigger Sensitivity

Display 1, 7/13/92

1-18 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Selecting Input Sensitivity

Trigger Sensitivity

Display 1, 7/13/92

Starting the Measurement

Run

Freq

Ch 2

The Run key initiates repetitive measurements, and is described in the section titled “To Control Measurement” at the end of this chapter.

MHz

Gate

To Select Scale and Offset

The Scale & Offset key allows for multiplication and addition, respectively, of the measurement by user-specified constants. Modification of the displayed measurement by these Math operations is represented by the following equation:

(Measurement × Scale) + Offset = Displayed Results

The Scale and Offset Math operations can be used, for example, to subtract systematic errors or display the percentage difference between signals.

Operating Guide 1-19

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Entering the Scale Value

Scale &

To demonstrate the Scale Math operation, set Scale to 10 as shown in the following steps.

Press and hold the d key until the value of Scale is 10 as shown in the following step.

Offset

Enter

NOTE BE SURE to press the Enter key to enter the value of 10.

The Scale is now set to 10, and MATH has been enabled. The Scale & Offset indicator is now lit to show that MATH is enabled. Since MATH is enabled, the results are being scaled and offset.

1-20 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Entering the Offset Value

To demonstrate the Offset Math operation, set the Offset to 1 MHz as shown in the following steps.

Scale & Offset

At this point, pressing the s key will cause the Counter to display the full display of the Offset value as shown in the following step.

Press the s key six more times to cause the Counter to display your entry in Mega units as shown in the following step.

The leftmost “0” digit in the OFFSet display is highlighted, indicating that if you press d key once the displayed value will increase to 1 Mega (that is, 1E6) as shown in the following step.

Enter

NOTE BE SURE to press the Enter key to enter the 1 Mega value.

The Offset is now set to 1 Mega.

Operating Guide 1-21

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Displaying the Math Results

Run

Freq Ch 2

The Counter displays the modified measurement results, which are based on the scale and offset values that you selected in the previous steps. That is, the 101 represents the original 10, scale multiplied by 10, then offset by 1.

(For more details and real applications of the Math Scale and Offset operations, refer to the appropriate section in Chapter 2, “Operating Your Universal Counter.”)

Disabling Math

Scale & Offset

Display 1, 7/13/92

Note that the Scale & Offset key indicator is now off.

NOTE DO NOT cycle POWER because you will need to use these Scale and Offset values

in the following procedure “To Set Limits of Measurements.” Continue to the following procedure.

1-22 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

To Set Limits of Measurements

To demonstrate how Math and Limits work together, use the Scale (10) and Offset (1 Mega) values selected in the previous procedure “To Select Scale and Offset.” Enable Math by performing the following steps.

Scale & Offset

Display 1, 7/13/92

Run

Freq Ch 2

The result of this Math operation is a measurement of 101 MHz.

(Measurement × Scale) + Offset = Result

(10 MHz × 10) + 1Mega = 101 Mega

Now, set the upper limit to 102 Mega and the lower limit to 100 Mega by performing the following procedures. (Figure 1-1 and Figure 1-2 illustrate the limits settings.)

Operating Guide 1-23

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Setting the Upper Limit

LIMITS

Uppr & Lower

Limit Modes

Press the s key six more times to cause the Counter to display your entry in Mega units as shown in the following step.

The leftmost “0” digit in the UPPR display is highlighted as shown above, indicating that each press of the d key will increase the displayed value.

1-24 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Enter

NOTE BE SURE to press the Enter key to enter the 102 Mega value.

1 102 Mega Upper Limit

2 101 Mega Scale/Offset Measurement

Figure 1-1. 102 Mega Upper Limit Setting

Operating Guide 1-25

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Setting the Lower Limit

Uppr & Lower

Press the arrow keys as shown in the following steps to set the lower limit value.

Press the s key six more times to cause the Counter to display your entry in Mega units as shown in the following step.

Enter

1-26 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

NOTE BE SURE to press the Enter key to enter the 100 Mega value.

Limits should now be set as shown in Figure 1-2.

1 102 Mega Upper Limit

2 101 Mega Scale/Offset Measurement

3 100 Mega Lower Limit

234

Figure 1-2. 100 Mega Lower and 102 Mega Upper Limits Settings

Figure 1-3 represents what transpired during this Math and Limits procedure.

1 Raw Measurements

2 Math

3 Limits

4 Measurements (Scale/Offset Results)

within Limits

Figure 1-3. Math and Limits Results

Operating Guide 1-27

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Setting the Counter to Flag and Stop Measuring On Out-of-Limit Measurements

If you want the Counter to stop measuring when the signal exceeds the limits (102 to

100 Mega) that you entered in the previous procedure, perform the following steps to select the STOP choice in the ON FAIL display. (Note that ON FAIL: GO ON is the default state after power-up.)

Limit Modes

Run

Freq Ch 2

Gate

The current modified measurement of the input signal applied to CHANNEL 2 is displayed.

Since the Counter is now in the stop-on-fail mode, the Limit annunciator in the display will light and the Counter will stop making measurements when a measurement exceeds the limits you set.

1-28 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Setting the Counter to Flag On Limits But Continue Measuring

Perform the following steps to select the GO ON choice in the ON FAIL display if you want the Counter to continue measuring even though an measurement result exceeds the limits previously entered.

Limit Modes

Run

Freq Ch 2

Gate

The current modified measurement of the input signal applied to CHANNEL 2 is displayed.

Since the Counter is now in the go-on-fail mode, the Limit annunciator in the display will light each time a measurement exceeds the limits you set. However, the Counter will continue to make measurements.

Operating Guide 1-29

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Disabling Limit Testing

Limit

Modes

The Counter is now making measurements without limit testing.

Disabling Math

The Counter is now making measurements without the scale/offset values calculated into the measurements.

1-30 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

To Perform Statistics on Measurements

Selecting the Type of Statistics (Stats)

MATH

Scale & Offset

Stats

Suppose you want the Counter to compute and display the standard deviation of the current input data (which is the 10 MHz signal applied to CHANNEL 2). Also, you want the Counter to make 20 measurements before it computes the standard deviation. Perform the following steps.

Stats

Updating the SHOW configuration caused Stats to be enabled. The Stats indicator is now lit.

Stats

Operating Guide 1-31

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

NOTE BE SURE to press the Enter key to enter the value of 20.

The Counter is now set to make statistics based on 20 measurements.

Run

Freq Ch 2

Gate

In this case, the displayed standard deviation value is computed on all measurements of the 10 MHz signal since no limits were set.

Computing Stats on Filtered Data Only

A special feature of the Counter allows you to use the upper and lower limits to filter data before statistical processing or computation as shown in Figure 1-4.

1 Raw Measurements

2 Limits

3 Filtered data (USE: IN LIMIT)

4 Statistics

Figure 1-4. Filtering Data Before Statistical Computation

1-32 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Perform the following steps to select the IN LIMIT choice in the USE display if you want the Counter to compute statistics on only frequency measurements within the limits you set.

Stats

Display 1, 7/13/92

Since the Limits were set to 101 Mega and 102 Mega values that are based on a scale of 10 and offset of 1 Mega, you must re-enable Math now to get the measurements to be within the limits. Perform the following steps.

Scale & Offset

Display 1, 7/13/92

Operating Guide 1-33

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Displaying Stats After Filtering Data of Input Signal

Let’s assume you have set the upper and lower limits for the input signal, and selected the IN LIMIT (filtering) choice. Now, perform the following steps to display the

standard deviation of the filtered measurements. (Note that the first step in the following procedure is optional since you should have already set Stats to show standard deviation at the beginning of this Stats procedure. But, you may want to perform the step anyway to verify that the Counter is displaying the standard deviation of the measurement.)

Stats

Display 1, 7/13/92

Run

Freq Ch 2

Gate

The standard deviation value shown in the previous illustration is for demonstration purposes. The statistic is computed using only those measurements which fell within the limits you set.

(For more details on the Stats and Limits functions, refer to the appropriate sections in Chapter 2, “Operating Your Universal Counter.”)

Now, disable Math and Stats as shown in the following procedure.

1-34 Operating Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

Disabling Stats and Math

Stats

Scale & Offset

Display 1, 7/13/92

Run

Freq

Ch 2

MHz

Gate

The Counter is now making and displaying normal measurements (that is, the Counter is not showing statistics or scale/offset results).

Operating Guide 1-35

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Making Measurements

To Control Measurement

Run Single/

Stop

repetitive measurements, whereas the Stop/Single key allows you to make one measurement.

With the 10 MHz signal still connected to CHANNEL 2, perform the following steps so you can better understand the Run and Stop/Single operations.

Use these two keys to control the measurement of the Counter. The Run key provides

Run

Freq

Ch 2

MHz

Gate

The Counter is now making repetitive measurements (continuously making “live” measurements).

The Counter stopped making measurements. The Gate annunciator is not lit. Hence, pressing the Stop/Single key while the Counter is making measurements (in Run) causes the Counter to stop after the measurement in progress is completed. If you press the Stop/Single key again while the Counter is stopped, the Counter will make a single measurement and then stop—the Gate annunciator will light one time, momentarily.

If you press the Stop/Single key while the Counter is stopped and when the Stats menu item ON SINGLE is set to N, the Counter will make N measurements and then stop. This enables a set of statistics to be computed.

While the Counter is still stopped, perform the following step.

Run

Freq

Ch 2

MHz

Gate

The Counter is making repetitive measurements again.

1-36 Operating Guide

Operating Your Universal Counter

Operator’s Reference

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Introduction

This is the operator’s reference chapter which contains information and procedures for the front-panel keys, operating functions, and menus of the Agilent 53131A/132A 225 MHz Universal Counter.

Chapter Summary

• How this Counter Works for You page 2-4

• Using the Measurement Control Keys (Run and Stop/Single) page 2-5

• Using Entry/Select (Arrow) Keys page 2-8

• Using the MEASURE Menu Keys page 2-10

• Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key page 2-16

• Using the MATH Menu Keys page 2-27

• Using the LIMITS Menu Keys page 2-37

• Using CHANNEL 1 and CHANNEL 2 Input Conditioning Keys page 2-44

• Using the Save and Recall Menus page 2-52

• Using the Print Menu page 2-56

• Using the Utility Menu page 2-57

• Using the Calibration Menu page 2-67

• Front Panel Display Messages page 2-73

• Preset Values After Power-Up and *RST page 2-78

• Summary of the Measurement Sequence page 2-93

• Common Questions page 2-94

2-2 Operating Guide

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Introduction

Where to Find Some Key Working Examples

• Example Procedure for Gate and External Arm page 2-24

• Example Procedure for Changing the Number of Digits of Resolution Displayed for More Precise Measurements

• Example Procedure for Scale Function page 2-28

• Example Procedure for Offset Function page 2-29

• Example Procedure for Turning Off Math Mode page 2-30

• Example Procedure for Setting the Offset From the Last Measurement Value

• Example Procedure for Computing Stats page 2-33

• Example Procedure for Easy Viewing of Stats page 2-34

• Limits Testing Example 1—Flag and Stop Measuring On Limits page 2-38

• Limits Testing Example 2—Flag On Limits but Continue Measuring

• Limits Testing Example 3—Use Analog Graph Display While Adjusting Input Signal

• Limits Testing Example 4—Selecting Filtering Conditions of Stats Computation

• Limits Testing Example 5—Sending the Limit-Detect Output to the RS-232 Serial Port

page 2-25

page 2-31

page 2-40

page 2-42

page 2-43

Operating Guide 2-3

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

How this Counter Works for You

The following text lists some of the key things the Counter does for you.

• The Counter presets the menus to default states and values at power-up (refer to Table 2-7A for a detailed list of the preset values). Cycling the POWER key presets the Counter.

• The Counter’s Utility menu allows you to select such things as timebase source, GPIB configuration, and RS-232 serial port configuration. After your selections,

the Counter automatically stores all these selections in non-volatile memory (except the timebase source); thus, these settings (except timebase source) will not change when power has been off or after a remote interface reset.

• The Counter automatically displays measurement(s) in a couple of seconds after you select a measurement function (e.g., Period).

• The Counter accepts your numeric entry for a menu item after you press the Enter key. You MUST press the Enter key to complete numeric entry.

• The Counter automatically enables Limits when you enter a numeric value for upper and/or lower limits, or update any menu item in the Limit Modes menu.

• The Counter automatically enables Math after you enter a numeric value for scale and offset.

• The Counter performs Statistical analyses for you, and will enable Stats when you update any item in the Stats menu.

• The Counter automatically disables Limits, Math, and Stats when you select another measurement function.

• The Counter saves measurement setup(s).

• The Counter instantly recalls the measurement setup you want to use.

• The Counter prints out your measurement and analysis data.

2-4 Operating Guide

Run Stop/

Single

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using the Measurement Control Keys (Run and Stop/Single)

Overview of the Measurement Control Keys

Two measurement control keys are provided on the Agilent 53131A/132A Counter: Run and Stop/ Singl e. In general, the Run key provides repetitive measurements while the Stop/Single key allows you to make single-shot measurements.

The Run key allows you to:

• put the Counter into a continuous measurement loop.

• exit any measurement after your selection of another measurement function.

• abort the current measurement by starting a new measurement (if already in Run mode or in Single mode with a measurement in progress). This also clears any statistics being processed.

The Stop/Single key allows you to:

• put the Counter into Single mode (if the Counter was in Run mode) where one measurement is taken with each Stop/Single keypress. (Stats menu item ON SINGLE should be set to 1.)

• put the Counter into Single mode (if the Counter was in Run mode) where N measurements are taken with each Stop/Single keypress. (Stats menu item ON SINGLE should be set to N.)

• stop (abort) the current measurement (if the Counter was in Single mode).

Operating Guide 2-5

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using the Measurement Control Keys (Run and Stop/Single)

To Use the Measurement Control Keys

The following procedure demonstrates how these keys function.

1 Connect power source to Counter, and turn on Counter.

All segments of the front-panel display will light up while the Counter performs its power-on self-test, and then dashes are displayed. The Counter is now ready to measure frequency of a signal applied to CHANNEL 1 input. Note that the Freq and

Ch1 annunciators light.

2 Connect an input signal to CHANNEL 1.

The Counter automatically displays the measured frequency of the input signal. Note that the Run key indicator is ON.

3 Press Stop/ Sin gle key.

The Counter is put into Single mode and the current measurement is completed. One measurement is taken with each press of Stop/Single key. Note that the Stop/Single key indicator is ON.

4 Press Run key.

The Counter aborts any measurement in progress, and starts making repetitive measurements. That is, the Counter is in a continuous measurement loop.

5 Press Stop/ Sin gle key.

The Counter is put into Single mode.

6 Press Stats key until ON SINGLE menu item appears, then press any one of the

arrow keys to set ON SINGLE menu item to N.

The Counter is set to take N measurements on each Stop/Single keypress. The state of ON SINGLE menu item affects the Stop/Single key operation while statistics are enabled.

Observe that the Stats indicator is ON. This indicates statistical processing is enabled.

2-6 Operating Guide

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using the Measurement Control Keys (Run and Stop/Single)

7 Press Stop/ Sin gle key.

One set of N frequency measurements is taken with each press of the Stop/Single key. One set of statistics is computed with each press of the Stop/Single key.

8 Press Stats key until SHOW menu item appears.

9 Press any one of the arrow keys to select a statistical result to display, and press Enter

key.

The Counter is now displaying one of the statistical results.

10 Press St op/ Singl e key.

One set of N frequency measurements is taken with each press of the Stop/Single key. At the completion of the Nth measurement, the Counter displays the statistical result selected in step 9.

11 Press Stats key until ON SINGLE menu item appears, then press any one of the

arrow keys to set ON SINGLE menu item to 1.

The Counter is set to take one measurement on each Stop/Single keypress.

Disabling the statistics (with the STATS: OFF menu item) is another way to cause the Stop/Single key to initiate one measurement at time.

Operating Guide 2-7

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using Entry/Select (Arrow) Keys

There are six entry/select keys of which four are “arrow” keys. The function of the four arrow keys and the Enter key depends on the Counter’s operating mode (that is, numeric entry, state changing, sequencing through choices in a menu, etc.). This section describes how the keys perform in the different operating modes.

To Use During Numeric Entry

• Use the s key to move left to select adjustable digits (it does not wrap around).

+/–

Enter

• Use the g key to move right to select adjustable digits (it does not wrap around).

• Use the d key to increment the selected (highlighted) digit of the displayed value.

• Use the f key to decrement the selected (highlighted) digit of the displayed value.

•Use the +/− key to change the sign of the numeric value.

•Use the Enter key to complete a numeric entry. (If a numeric entry is changed and the Enter key is NOT pressed, then the value is not changed.)

To Use When Sequencing Through the Measurement Function Menus (Freq & Ratio, Time & Period, Other Meas) and the Recall Menu

• Use the d or s key to go back to the previous choice in a function or recall menu. Repeatedly pressing this key will cycle through (and loop around) the list of choices.

• Use the f or g key to go forward or to the next choice in a function or recall menu. Repeatedly pressing this key will cycle through (and loop around) the list of choices.

•Use the Enter key to select the function or execute the recall, or wait for the menu to time out for automatic selection/execution.

2-8 Operating Guide

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using Entry/Select (Arrow) Keys

To Use During State Changing (ON/OFF, LO/MED/HI, etc.)

•Press any of the arrow keys to toggle or change to the next state of the parameters found in the following menus:

– Gate & ExtArm

– Limit Modes

–Scale & Offset

– Stats

– Trigger/Sensitivity –50Ω/1MΩ

–DC/AC

–X10 Attenuate

– 100kHz Filter

–Save & Print

– Utility Menu

•The Enter and +/− keys are ignored during the state changing operating mode.

To Use on Prompted Event Messages (SET OFFSET ?, CAL: OFFS n ?, TEST: ALL?, etc.)

•For SET OFFSET ?, and all the TEST: ? prompted event messages, press Enter key to start the event.

•For CAL: OFFS n ? and GAIN n ?, press Enter key to display instructions. Press Enter key again to start the event.

To Use on Prompted Help Messages (MATH HELP ?, PRINT HELP ?)

• When MATH HELP ? is displayed, press Enter key to display the “(MEAS x SCALE) + OFFS = RESULT” message.

• When PRINT HELP ? is displayed, press Enter key to display the “CONFIGURE PORT ON UTILITY MENU; REMEMBER TO SAVE SETUP FIRST” instruction.

Operating Guide 2-9

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using the MEASURE Menu Keys

Overview of the MEASURE Menus

The measurement function menus are divided into three categories:

MEASURE

Freq & Ratio

Other Meas

Time & Period

Gate & ExtArm

• Frequency measurements on channel 1, 2, or 3 (optional) and ratio of frequencies between channels.

• Time interval, period, and pulse characterization measurements. (The Agilent 53131A/132A provides one key-press operation for such pulse measurements as risetime, falltime, pulse width, etc., which have traditionally required multiple key presses or operations.)

• Other measurements (dutycycle, phase, peak voltage, and totalize).

Table 2-1. Menus of the MEASUREment Keys

Freq & Ratio Key Time & Period Key Other Meas Key

FREQUENCY 1 REQUENCY 2 REQUENCY 3 (optional) ATIO 1 TO 2 ATIO 1 TO 3 (optional) AT I O 2 T O 1 RATIO 3 TO 1 (optional)

TI 1 TO 2 PERIOD 1 RISETIME 1 FALLTIME 1 POS WIDTH 1 NEG WIDTH 1

TOTALIZE 1 PHASE 1 TO 2 DUTYCYCLE 1 VOLT PEAKS 1 VOLT PEAKS 2

To sequence through the menus of the MEASUREment function keys (Freq & Ratio, Time & Period, and Other Meas keys), you simply need to repeatedly press the appropriate MEASURE key to cycle through (and loop around) the menus under the key. Each press of a MEASURE key will advance the Counter to the next measurement function in the menu.

NOTE The menus under the MEASURE keys will terminate (select function and return to

measurement result display) after two seconds.

2-10 Operating Guide

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using the MEASURE Menu Keys

To Measure Frequency

1 Connect power source to Counter, and turn on Counter.

Ch1 annunciators light.

2 Connect an input signal to CHANNEL 1.

The Counter should automatically display the measured frequency of the input signal. The trigger levels are set to the 50% points of the signal. However, you may disable auto triggering, and change the trigger levels and slopes.

To set up CHANNEL 1’s coupling, impedance, and triggering conditions to match the input signal you are trying to measure, refer to the procedures “To Select Input Coupling and Impedance” and “To Set Input Channel Trigger Level/Sensitivity” in Chapter 1, “Getting Started,” or the section titled “Using CHANNEL 1 and CHANNEL 2 Input Conditioning Keys” in this chapter.

3 Press the Freq/Ratio key until FREQUENCY 2 is displayed to measure the

frequency of an input signal applied to CHANNEL 2.

FREQUENCY 2 is momentarily displayed, the Freq and Ch2 annunciators light, and the Counter is ready to measure frequency of a signal applied to CHANNEL 2 input. The trigger levels are set to the 50% points of the signal. However, you may disable auto triggering, and change the trigger levels and slopes.

4 To measure the frequency of a signal applied to optional CHANNEL 3 input, repeat

step 3 until FREQUENCY 3 is displayed.

FREQUENCY 3 will be momentarily displayed and the Freq and Ch3 annunciators will light. The Counter will be ready to measure the frequency of a signal applied to CHANNEL 3 input.

Note that the Frequency 3 menu item is not available in Counters that do not contain optional Channel 3.

Operating Guide 2-11

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using the MEASURE Menu Keys

To Measure Frequency Ratio

1 Press Freq & Ratio key until RATIO 1 TO 2 is displayed.

RATIO 1 TO 2 is momentarily displayed, the Freq, Ch1, and Ch2 annunciators light, and the Counter is ready to measure and display the frequency ratio of a signal applied to CHANNEL 1 in relation to a signal applied to CHANNEL 2 (Ch1/Ch2). The trigger levels are set to the 50% points of each signal. However, you may disable auto triggering, and change the trigger levels and slopes.

Note the result is not scaled by 100; it is not a percentage.

Note that RATIO 2 TO 1 is also available (Ch2/Ch1).

2 To measure the frequency ratio between a signal applied to CHANNEL 1 input and a

signal applied to Option 030/050 CHANNEL 3 input, repeat step 1, above.

RATIO 1 TO 3 will be momentarily displayed and the Freq, Ch1, and Ch3 annunciators will light. The Counter will be ready to measure the frequency ratio of a signal applied to CHANNEL 1 in relation to a signal applied to CHANNEL 3 (Ch1/Ch3).

Note that the Ratio 1 to 3 menu item is not available in Counters that do not contain optional Channel 3.

Note the result is not scaled by 100; it is not a percentage.

Note that RATIO 3 TO 1 is also available (Ch3/Ch1).

By pressing the Freq & Ratio key, the Counter will return to the Frequency 1 measurement mode; this demonstrates the loop around feature of the measurement function menu keys.

The front-panel “arrow” (or entry/select) keys can also be used when sequencing through the measurement function menus. Refer to the section titled “Using Entry/Select (Arrow) Keys” for details.

2-12 Operating Guide

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using the MEASURE Menu Keys

To Measure Time Interval

Press Time & Period key until TI 1 TO 2 is displayed.

TI 1 TO 2 is momentarily displayed, the Time, Ch1, and Ch2 annunciators light, and

the Counter is ready to measure the length of time between a start event on CHANNEL 1 and a stop event on CHANNEL 2. The Counter is automatically set to measure from separate signal sources. (The start and stop events may be derived

from separate signal sources, or they may be from a single source. Refer to the section in this chapter titled “Using CHANNEL 1 and CHANNEL 2 Input Conditioning Keys” for specifics in performing Time Interval measurements on a single source—COMMON 1: ON). Independent slope, trigger level, and

sensitivity controls for the start and stop events allow variable triggering on either positive- or negative-going slopes.

The trigger levels are set to the 50% points of each signal. However, you may disable auto triggering, and change the trigger levels and slopes.

To Measure Period

Press Time & Period key until Period 1 is displayed.

Period 1 is momentarily displayed, the Period and Ch1 annunciators light, and the

Counter is ready to measure the period of a signal applied to CHANNEL 1.

To Measure Rise/Fall Times

Press Time & Period key until RISETIME 1 or FALLTIME 1, depending on which measurement you want to make, is displayed.

RISETIME 1 or FALLTIM E 1 is momentarily displayed, and the Rise or Fall, Time, and Ch1 annunciators light. The risetime and falltime modes of operation

automatically configure the Counter to perform risetime or falltime measurements through CHANNEL 1 input. The triggering is automatically set to AUTO TRIG: ON. In the risetime and falltime modes, AUTO TRIG automatically locates the 10% and 90% points of the input signal, and sets the trigger levels accordingly. You may override these automatic selections if you want.

Operating Guide 2-13

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using the MEASURE Menu Keys

To Measure Positive/Negative Pulse Widths

Press Time & Period key until POS WIDTH 1 or NEG WIDTH 1, depending on which measurement you want to make, is displayed.

POS WIDTH 1 or NEG WIDTH 1 is momentarily displayed, and the +Wid or − Wid, and Ch1 annunicators light. The pulse width measurement automatically

configures the Counter to perform positive or negative pulse width measurements through CHANNEL 1 input. The AUTO TRIG is set to trigger at the 50% point of the signal.

To Measure Duty Cycle

Press Other Meas key until DUTYCYCLE 1 is displayed.

DUTYCYCLE 1 is momentarily displayed, the Ch1 annunciator lights. The

dutycycle mode of operation is ready to measure a continuous waveform applied to CHANNEL 1 input. The input is automatically set to common-channel 1, and triggering set to AUTO TRIG: ON. The trigger levels are set to the 50% points of each signal. However, you may disable auto triggering, and change the trigger levels.

Results will range from 0 to 1. The dutycycle is defined as the positive pulse width divided by the period. (Note that the result is not scaled by 100; it is not a percentage.)

To Make Totalize Measurements

Press Other Meas key until TOTALIZE 1 is displayed.

TOTALIZE 1 is momentarily displayed, the Ch1 annunciator lights, and the Counter

is in its totalize mode. Auto-triggering is automatically disabled on CHANNEL 1 since there may not be a suitable signal at the beginning of the measurement. The totalize mode of operation displays the number of counts (events) received through CHANNEL 1. The count is continuously displayed if GATE: AUTO is selected.

The totalize measurement is cleared to zero when the totalize function is first invoked, when the front-panel Run key is pressed, or when the Stop/Single key is pressed.

2-14 Operating Guide

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using the MEASURE Menu Keys

To Make Phase Measurements

Press Other Meas key until PHASE 1 TO 2 is displayed.

PHASE 1 TO 2 is momentarily displayed, the Ch1 and Ch2 annunicators light, and

the Counter is ready to measure the phase of a signal applied to CHANNEL 1 input relative to a signal applied to CHANNEL 2 input. The phase difference is displayed in degrees. If auto triggering is enabled, the trigger levels are set to the 50% points of each signal. However, you may disable auto triggering, and change the trigger levels and slopes.

Use CHANNEL 2 as the reference. One period on CHANNEL 2 will define 360°. If CHANNEL 1 is leading CHANNEL 2, the pulse result is positive.

To Measure Positive/Negative Voltage Peaks

Press Other Meas key until VOLT PEAKS 1 or VOLT PEAKS 2, depending on which measurement you want to make, is displayed.

VOLT PEAKS 1 or VOLT PEAKS 2 is momentarily displayed, the Ch1 or Ch2 annunciator lights, and the Counter is ready to measure minimum and maximum voltage peaks of signals applied to CHANNEL 1 or CHANNEL 2, respectively.

NOTE In Voltage Peaks function, the Counter measures the input signal after the signal has

been conditioned by the input settings (impedance, coupling, attenuation, and filter). One reminder of this is the (AC COUPLED) message, which is displayed when Voltage Peaks is selected and the measurement channel is ac coupled.

The result is corrected for X10 attenuation.

Note that Arming is not used for Voltage Peaks measurements, and that neither Limits nor Math is available.

Operating Guide 2-15

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key

Overview of Gate/External Arming Functions

MEASURE

Freq & Ratio

Other Meas

Time & Period

Gate & ExtArm

Table 2-2 for the Agilent 53131A (and Agilent 53132A with a serial number prefix below 3646) and Table 2-3 for the Agilent 53132A with a serial number prefix 3646 and above (on page 2-19 and page 2-23, respectively) list the menus for all the arming configurations, and shows how the Gate and External Arming menu changes as a function of the measurement and the arming mode.

The Agilent 53131A/132A Counter has four arming modes: auto, external, digits, and time. However, the Agilent 53131A (or Agilent 53132A with a serial number prefix below 3646) and Agilent 53132A have different arming capabilities for Time Interval measurements. Thus, for simplicity, their Time Interval arming capabilities are discussed in separate subsections.

• If you are using an Agilent 53131A (or Agilent 53132A with a serial number prefix below 3646), read the Time Interval Delay arming information starting on page 2-17.

• If you are using an Agilent 53132A (with a serial number prefix 3646 and above), read the Time Interval Delay arming information starting on page 2-20.

Gate/External Arming Capabilities

AUTO Arming

For frequency, period, frequency ratio, risetime, falltime, pulse width, dutycycle, and phase, auto arming means make individual measurements as fast as possible.

For totalize, auto arming means the Counter starts to count when it is enabled by the pressing of either the Run or Stop/Single key. The Counter stops counting when the Stop/Single key is pressed.

2-16 Operating Guide

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key

EXTERNAL Arming

For frequency, period, frequency ratio, and totalize, external arming means you can control the start of a measurement by using an external signal.

NOTE When external arming mode is enabled, a signal must be connected to the Counter’s

rear-panel Ext Arm connector.

TIME Arming

For frequency, period, ratio, and totalize, time arming means you can set the gate time—the length of time for which your signal is measured.

NOTE Gate time and resolution are linked: the longer the gate time, the greater the

resolution. With an increase in resolution, you get a larger number of digits on the display.

Time arming is demonstrated in the sub-section titled “Example Procedure for Gate and External Arm.”

DIGITS Arming

For frequency, period, and ratio, digits arming means you can set the number of digits of resolution that you require your result to provide.

Digits arming is demonstrated in the sub-section titled “Example Procedure for Changing the Number of Digits of Resolution Displayed for More Precise Measurements.”

Agilent 53131A (and Agilent 53132A With S/N Prefix Below 3646) Time Interval DELAY Arming

The DELAY capability (specified in the Time Interval arming menu) provides a variable delay between the start event (Channel 1) and the enabling of the stop event (Channel 2) as shown Figure 2-1. Potential stop events are ignored during the specified delay time.

External arming can also be used to control the start of a measurement by using an external signal.

Operating Guide 2-17

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

START STOP

ARM: EXTERNL, SLOPE: POS, DELAY: TIME, TIME: (specified)

Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key

NOTE When external arming mode is enabled, a signal must be connected to the Counter’s

rear-panel Ext Arm connector.

DESIRED T.I. MEASUREMENT

ACTUAL T.I. MEAS

ARM: AUTO, DELAY: NONE

START STOP

DESIRED T.I. MEASUREMENT

DELAY TIME

(standard T.I. measurement)

ACTUAL T.I. MEAS

ARM: AUTO, DELAY: TIME, TIME: (specified)

EXT ARM INPUT

START STOP

DESIRED T.I. MEASUREMENT

ACTUAL T.I. MEAS

DELAY TIME

Figure 2-1. Agilent 53131A (Agilent 53132A S/N Prefix Below 3646) Time

Interval Delay

NOTE The examples in Figure 2-1 have the input signal applied to Channel 1 with

COMMON 1: ON, Channel 1 SLOPE: POS, and Channel 2 SLOPE: POS.

2-18 Operating Guide

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key

Table 2-2. *Agilent 53131A (Agilent 53132A S/N Prefix Below 3646) Gate & External Arm Key

Menus as a Function of the Measurement and Arming Mode

Freq, Period, Ratio

Auto Arming:

GATE: AUTO

Digits Arming:

GATE: DIGITS DIGITS: <digits> _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________

Time Arming:

GATE: TIME TIME: <time>

External Arming:

GATE: EXTERNL

START: POS

NEG

STOP: AUTO

NEG POS TIME

TIME: <time>

* There is no Gate an d External Arm menu available for Voltage Peaks measurements.

Phase Totalize RiseTime, Fall Time,

+/−Width, Dutycycle

Auto Arming:

ARM: AUTO

_______________

External Arming:

ARM: EXTERNL

SLOPE: POS

NEG

Auto Arming:

GATE: AUTO

Time Arming:

GATE: TIME TIME: <time>

External Arming:

GATE: EXTERNL

START: POS

NEG

STOP: NEG

POS TIME

TIME: <time>

Auto Arming:

ARM: AUTO

_______________ _______________

External Arming:

ARM: EXTERNL

SLOPE: POS

NEG

Time Interval

Auto Arming:

ARM: AUTO

DELAY: NONE

TIME

TIME: <time>

External Arming:

ARM: EXTERNL

SLOPE: POS

NEG

DELAY: NONE

TIME

TIME: <time>

Operating Guide 2-19

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key

Agilent 53132A (With S/N Prefix 3646 and Above) Time Interval DELAY Arming

In the following subsections, a leading star (✴) means the parameter affects the START event. A trailing star means the parameter affects STOP event.

AUTO ARMING (✴START: AUTO)

The DELAY✴ (stop delay) capability (specified in the Time Interval arming menu) provides a variable delay between the start event (Channel 1) and the enabling of the stop event (Channel 2) as shown in Figure 2-2. Two types of delay are possible: 1) TIME—potential stop events are ignored during the specified delay time, or

2) EVENT—the measurement is stopped when the specified number of stop events

has occurred.

EXTERNAL ARMING (✴START: EXT)

External arming can be used to control the start, or start and stop, of a measurement by using an external signal as shown in Figure 2-3.

Set STOP✴ and/or ✴START to EXT to activate.

NOTE When external arming mode is enabled, a signal must be connected to the Counter’s

rear-panel Ext Arm connector.

The ✴DELAY (start delay) capability (specified when ✴START is set to EXT) provides a variable delay between the arming event (Ext Arm) and the enabling of the start of the measurement. Two types of delay are possible: 1) TIME—potential start events (Channel 1) are ignored during the specified delay time, or 2) EVENT—the measurement is started after the specified number of Channel 2 events has occurred. ADELAY✴ (stop delay) as described in AUTO ARMING above can also be used in conjunction with ✴DELAY (start delay) as shown in Figure 2-3.

2-20 Operating Guide

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

START STOP

Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key

DESIRED T.I. MEASUREMENT

ACTUAL T.I. MEAS

NOTE The examples in Figure 2-2 have the input signal applied to Channel 1 with

START: AUTO, DELAY : NONE

START STOP

START: AUTO, DELAY : TIME, T : (specified)

START STOP

START: AUTO, DELAY : EVENT, E : 4

DESIRED T.I. MEASUREMENT

ACTUAL T.I. MEAS

DELAY TIME

DESIRED T.I. MEASUREMENT

ACTUAL T.I. MEAS

DELAY STOP TO 4th EVENT

12 3 4

(standard T.I. measurement)

Figure 2-2. Agilent 53132A (With S/N Prefix 3646 and Above) Auto Arming

COMMON 1: ON, Channel 1 SLOPE: POS, and Channel 2 SLOPE: POS.

Operating Guide 2-21

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

EXT ARM INPUT

START: EXT, SLOPE: POS, DELAY: EVENT, E: 5, STOP : EXT, SLOPE : NEG, DELAY : NONE

Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key

START STOP

START DELAY TIME

DESIRED T.I. MEASUREMENT

ACTUAL T.I. MEAS

DELAY STOP TO 4th EVENT

234 5

START: EXT, SLOPE: POS, DELAY: TIME, T: (specified), STOP : AUTO, DELAY : EVENT, E :

EXT ARM INPUT

DELAY START BY 4 CHAN 2 EVENTS

23 4

START STOP

DESIRED T.I. MEASUREMENT

ACTUAL T.I. MEAS

Figure 2-3. Agilent 53132A (With S/N Prefix 3646 and Above) External Arming

NOTE The examples in Figure 2-3 have the input signal applied to Channel 1 with

COMMON 1: ON, Channel 1 SLOPE: POS, and Channel 2 SLOPE: NEG. Thus, the signals applied to Channel 1 and Channel 2 are identical, however, the channel events occur on opposite slopes.

2-22 Operating Guide

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter

Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key

Table 2-3. *Agilent 53132A (S/N Prefix 3646 and Above) Gate & External Arm Key Menus as a

Function of the Measurement and Arming Mode

Freq, Period, Ratio

Auto Arming:

GATE: AUTO

Digits Arming:

GATE: DIGITS DIGITS: <digits>

Time Arming:

GATE: TIME TIME: <time>

External Arming:

GATE: EXTERNL

START: POS

NEG

STOP: AUTO

NEG POS TIME

TIME: <time>

* There is no Gate an d External Arm menu available for Voltage Peaks measurements. ** A leading star (✴) means the parameter affects the START event. A trailing star means the parameter affects the STOP event.

Phase Totalize RiseTime, Fall Time,

+/−Width, Dutycycle

Auto Arming:

ARM: AUTO

_______________ _______________ _______________ _______________

_______________

External Arming:

ARM: EXTERNL

SLOPE: POS

NEG

Auto Arming:

GATE: AUTO

Time Arming:

GATE: TIME TIME: <time>

External Arming:

GATE: EXTERNL

START: POS

NEG

STOP: NEG

POS TIME

TIME: <time>

Auto Arming:

ARM: AUTO

_______________ _______________

External Arming:

ARM: EXTERNL

SLOPE: POS

NEG

Time Interval

Auto Arming:

✴START: AUTO

DELAY✴:NONE

TIME EVENT

T✴:<time> E✴:<events>

External Arming:

✴START: EXT

✴SLOPE: POS

NEG

✴DELAY: NONE

TIME EVENT

✴T: < t im e >

✴E: <events>

STOP✴:AUTO

EXT

SLOPE✴:POS

NEG

DELAY✴:NONE

TIME EVENT

T✴:<time> E✴:<events>

Operating Guide 2-23

Used Agilent Agilent Used 53131A Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual