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Operati ng

Gui de
HP 53131A/132A 225 MHz
Univer sal Count er
HP 53131A/132A 225 MHz
Univer sal Count er
Oper at ing Guide
This guide descr ibes how t o use t he HP 53131A/132A 225 MHz Univer sal
Count er . The infor mat ion in t his guide applies t o inst r ument s having t he
number pr efix list ed below, unless accompanied by a Manual Updat ing
Changes package indicat ing ot her wise.
SERIAL PREFIX NUMBER: 3313A to 3736A (HP 53131A)
3352A to 3736A (HP 53132A)
Hewlet t -Packar d Company 7.NC.NL.A.11.03.97.R1.P.CW6FC
Sant a Clar a Division
5301 St evens Cr eek Boulevar d
Sant a Clar a, Califor nia 95052-8059
Copyr ight Hewlet t -Packar d
Company 1999
All Right s Reser ved.
Repr oduct ion, adapt at ion, or
t r anslat ions wit hout pr ior
wr it t en per mission is
pr ohibit ed, except as allowed
under t he copyr ight laws.
Print ed: May 1999
Print ed in USA
Manual part number
53131-90055
Certi fi cat i on
and Warranty
Certi fi cat i on
Hewlet t -Packar d Company
cer t ifies t hat t his pr oduct met
it s published specificat ion at t he
t ime of shipment fr om t he
fact or y. Hewlet t -Packar d
fur t her cert ifies t hat it s
calibrat ion measurement s ar e
t r aceable t o t he Unit ed St at es
Nat ional Inst it ut e of St andar ds
and Technology (for mer ly
Nat ional Bur eau of St andar ds),
t o t he ext ent allowed by t he
Inst it ut es calibr at ion facilit y,
and t o t he calibr at ion facilit ies
of ot her Int ernat ional
St andar ds Or ganizat ion
member s.
Warranty
HP warr ant s HP hardware,
accessories and supplies against
defect s in mat er ials and
wor kmanship for a per iod of
t hree years fr om dat e of
shipment . If HP r eceives not ice
of such defect s dur ing t he
war r ant y per iod, HP will, at it s
opt ion, eit her r epair or r eplace
pr oduct s which pr ove t o be
defect ive. Replacement pr oduct s
may be eit her new or like-new.
HP warr ant s t hat HP soft war e
will not fail t o execut e it s
pr ogr amming inst r uct ions, for
t he per iod specified above, due
t o defect s in mat er ial and
wor kmanship when proper ly
inst alled and used. If HP
r eceives not ice of such defect s
dur ing t he war r ant y period, HP
will r eplace soft war e media
which does not execut e it s
pr ogr amming inst r uct ions due
t o such defect s.
For detailed warranty
information, see back mat ter.
Safe ty Conside rati ons
Gene ral
This pr oduct and r elat ed
document at ion must be
r eviewed for familiarizat ion
wit h t his safet y mar kings and
inst r uct ions befor e oper at ion.
Be fore Cleani ng
Disconnect t he pr oduct from
operat ing power befor e
cleaning.
Warni ng Symbol s That May
Be Used In Thi s Book
Inst r uct ion manual symbol; t he
pr oduct will be mar ked wit h
t his symbol when it is necessar y
for t he user t o refer t o t he
inst r uct ion manual.
Indicat es hazar dous volt ages.
Indicat es ear t h (gr ound)
t erminal.
or
Indicat es t er minal is connect ed
t o chassis when such connect ion
is not apparent .
Indicat es Alt er nat ing curr ent .
Indicat es Dir ect cur r ent .
Safe ty Cons i de rati ons
(cont d)
WARNING
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.
CAUTION
Damage t o equipment , or
incor r ect measur ement dat a,
may r esult fr om failur e t o
heed a caut ion. Do not
pr oceed beyond a CAUTION
unt il t he indicat ed condit ions
ar e fully under st ood and met .
Safe ty Earth Ground
An unint er r upt ible safet y ear t h
gr ound must be maint ained
fr om t he mains power sour ce t o
t he pr oduct s gr ound cir cuit r y.
WARNING
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 PRODUCTS
FRONT AND REAR PANELS
ARE TYPCIALLY AT EARTH
GROUND. THUS, NEVER TRY
TO MEASURE AC POWER
LINE SIGNALS WITHOUT AN
ISOLATION TRANSFORMER.
For addit ional safety and
acoust ic noise information, see
back matt er.
Cont ent s
Operating Guide iii
In Thi s Gui de
Contents and Organi zati on xi i
Re late d Docume nts xi i i
Types of Servi ce Avai labl e i f Your Instrume nt Fai ls xi v
St andar d Repair Ser vices (Wor ldwide) xiv
Expr ess Repair /Per for mance Calibr at ion Ser vice
(USA Only) xiv
Assembly-Level Ser vice Guide xiv
Re packagi ng for Shi pment xv
De scri pti on of the 225 MHz Uni versal Counter xvi
Opti ons xvi i i
Har dwar e xviii
Suppor t xviii
Acce ssori es Suppli e d and Avai l able xi x
Accessor ies Supplied xix
Accessor ies Available xix
Supplied Manuals xix
Di ffe re nce s Be twe en Pri or and Current Re vi si ons of the
HP 53131A/132A xx
HP 53131A Cont aining Fir mwar e Revisions (3317, 3335, or
3402) xx
Calibr at ions xxi
Measur ement s xxi
St at ist ics xxii
HP-IB Commands xxii
HP 53132A Time Int er val Delay Ar ming xxii
Contents
iv Operating Guide
HP 53131A/132A Qui ck Re fe re nce Gui de xxi i i
1 Ge tti ng Starte d
The Front Pane l at a Glance 1-2
The Front Pane l Indi cators at a Glance 1-3
The Front Pane l Indi cators at a Glance (Cont.) 1-4
The Front Pane l Me nus at a Glance 1-5
The Front Pane l Me nus at a Glance (Cont.) 1-6
The Front Pane l Me nus at a Glance (Cont.) 1-7
The Front Pane l Me nus at a Glance (Cont.) 1-8
The Di spl ay Annunci ators at a Glance 1-9
The Di spl ay Spe ci al Characte r at a Glance 1-10
The Li mi t Test Graph Characters at a Gl ance 1-10
The Re ar Panel at a Gl ance 1-11
Maki ng Me as ureme nts 1-12
To Measur e Fr equency 1-13
To Select Input Coupling and Impedance 1-15
Select ing Input Coupling 1-15
Select ing Input Impedance 1-16
To Set Input Channel Tr igger Level/Sensit ivit y 1-17
Changing Tr igger Mode 1-17
Modifying Input Tr igger Level 1-17
Select ing Input Tr igger Slope 1-18
Select ing Input Sensit ivit y 1-19
St ar t ing t he Measur ement 1-19
To Select Scale and Offset 1-19
Ent er ing t he Scale Value 1-20
Ent er ing t he Offset Value 1-21
Displaying t he Mat h Result s 1-22
Disabling Mat h 1-22
To Set Limit s of Measur ement s 1-23
Set t ing t he Upper Limit 1-24
Set t ing t he Lower Limit 1-26
Contents
Operating Guide v
Set t ing t he Count er t o Flag and St op Measur ing On
Out -of-Limit Measur ement s 1-28
Set t ing t he Count er t o Flag On Limit s But Cont inue
Measur ing 1-29
Disabling Limit Test ing 1-30
Disabling Mat h 1-30
To Per for m St at ist ics on Measur ement s 1-31
Select ing t he Type of St at ist ics (St at s) 1-31
Comput ing St at s on Filt er ed Dat a Only 1-32
Displaying St at s Aft er Filt er ing Dat a of Input
Signal 1-34
Disabling St at s and Mat h 1-35
To Cont r ol Measur ement 1-36
2 Ope rati ng Your Uni versal Counte r
Introducti on 2-2
Chapt er Summar y 2-2
Wher e t o Find Some Key Wor king Examples 2-3
How thi s Counte r Works for You 2-4
Usi ng the Me asureme nt Control Ke ys (Run and Stop/
Si ngl e) 2-5
Over view of t he Measur ement Cont r ol Keys 2-5
To Use t he Measur ement Cont r ol Keys 2-6
Usi ng Entry/Sel ect (Arrow) Ke ys 2-8
To Use Dur ing Numer ic Ent r y 2-8
To Use When Sequencing Thr ough t he Measur ement
Funct ion Menus (Fr eq & Rat io, Time & Per iod, Ot her Meas)
and t he Recall Menu 2-8
To Use Dur ing St at e Changing (ON/OFF, LO/MED/HI,
et c.) 2-9
To Use on Pr ompt ed Event Messages (SET OFFSET ?, CAL:
OFFS n ?, TEST: ALL?, et c.) 2-9
To Use on Pr ompt ed Help Messages (MATH HELP ?,
PRINT HELP ?) 2-9
Contents
vi Operating Guide
Usi ng the MEASURE Menu Ke ys 2-10
Over view of t he MEASURE Menus 2-10
To Measur e Fr equency 2-11
To Measur e Fr equency Rat io 2-12
To Measur e Time Int er val 2-13
To Measur e Per iod 2-13
To Measur e Rise/Fall Times 2-13
To Measur e Posit ive/Negat ive Pulse Widt hs 2-14
To Measur e Dut y Cycle 2-14
To Make Tot alize Measur ement s 2-14
To Make Phase Measur ement s 2-15
To Measur e Posit ive/Negat ive Volt age Peaks 2-15
Usi ng the Gate & Exte rnal Arm Me nu Ke y 2-16
Over view of Gat e/Ext er nal Ar ming Funct ions 2-16
Gat e/Ext er nal Ar ming Capabilit ies 2-16
AUTO Ar ming 2-16
EXTERNAL Ar ming 2-17
TIME Ar ming 2-17
DIGITS Ar ming 2-17
HP 53131A (and HP 53132A Wit h S/N Pr efix Below
3646) Time Int er val DELAY Ar ming 2-17
HP 53132A (Wit h S/N Pr efix 3646 and Above) Time
Int er val DELAY Ar ming 2-20
To Use t he Gat e and Ext er nal Ar m 2-24
Example Pr ocedur e for Gat e and Ext er nal Ar m 2-24
Example Pr ocedur e for Changing t he Number of
Digit s of Resolut ion Displayed for Mor e
Pr ecise Measur ement s 2-25
Usi ng the MATH Me nu Ke ys 2-27
Over view of Scale/Offset Mat h Menu 2-27
To Use t he Scale/Offset Mat h Menu 2-28
Example Pr ocedur e for Scale Funct ion 2-28
Example Pr ocedur e for Offset Funct ion 2-29
Contents
Operating Guide vii
Example Pr ocedur e for Tur ning Off Mat h Mode 2-30
Example Pr ocedur e for Set t ing t he Offset Fr om
t he Last Measur ement Value 2-31
Over view of St at ist ics (St at s) Menu 2-32
To Use t he St at s Menu for Aut omat ic and Cont inuous
St at ist ical Analysis 2-33
Example Pr ocedur e for Comput ing St at s 2-33
Example Pr ocedur e for Easy Viewing of St at s 2-34
Example Pr ocedur e for Filt er ing Dat a (Using Limit s)
Dur ing St at s 2-35
Example Pr ocedur e for Configur ing SINGLE t o Init iat e
N Measur ement s 2-36
Example Pr ocedur e for Tur ning Off St at s Mode 2-36
Usi ng the LIMITS Menu Keys 2-37
Over view of Limit s Menus 2-37
To Set and Use Aut omat ic Limit Test ing 2-38
Limit s Test ing Example 1Flag and St op Measur ing
On Limit s 2-38
Limit s Test ing Example 2Flag On Limit s but
Cont inue Measur ing 2-40
Limit s Test ing Example 3Use Analog Gr aph
Display While Adjust ing Input Signal 2-40
Limit s Test ing Example 4Select ing Filt er ing
Condit ions of St at s Comput at ion 2-42
Limit s Test ing Example 5Sending t he Limit -Det ect
Out put t o t he RS-232 Ser ial Por t 2-43
Usi ng CHANNEL 1 and CHANNEL 2 Input
Condi ti oni ng Keys 2-44
Over view of Tr igger /Sensit ivit y Menu 2-44
To Use t he Tr igger /Sensit ivit y Keys t o Adjust Count er s
Tr igger ing Level 2-48
Example Pr ocedur e for Set t ing Tr igger Volt age and
Sensit ivit y Levels 2-48
Contents
viii Operating Guide
Example Pr ocedur e for Using Common 1 t o Make Time
Int er val (TI) Measur ement s on a Single Signal 2-51
Over view of Input Condit ioning Toggle Keys 2-51
Usi ng the Save and Recall Menus 2-52
Over view of Save and Recall Funct ions 2-52
To Use t he Save Funct ion 2-53
To Use t he Recall Funct ion 2-54
To Unsave a Measur ement Set up 2-55
Usi ng the Pri nt Menu 2-56
Over view of t he Pr int Menu 2-56
To Use t he Pr int Menu 2-56
Usi ng the Uti l i ty Me nu 2-57
Over view of t he Ut ilit y Menu 2-57
To Set t he HP-IB Addr ess 2-58
Select ing Oper at ing Mode (Talk/List en, Talk-
Only) 2-58
Set t ing t he HP-IB Addr ess 2-58
To Choose t he Timebase Sour ce 2-59
To Run t he Self-Test Rout ines 2-59
Over view of t he Self-Test Rout ines 2-59
Example Pr ocedur e for Running t he Self Test 2-61
To Configur e t he RS-232 Ser ial Por t for Pr int ing 2-61
Set t ing t he Har dwar e Pacing 2-62
Set t ing t he Baud Rat e 2-62
Set t ing t he Par it y 2-63
Set t ing t he Soft war e Pace 2-63
To Configur e t he RS-232 Ser ial Por t for Sending
Limit -Det ect Out put 2-64
To Select t he Numer ical Convent ion for t he Display 2-65
To Connect t he Count er t o a Ser ial Pr int er via t he RS-232
Por t 2-65
To Connect t he Count er t o a Pr int er via HP-IB 2-66
To Select t he HP-IB Talk-Only Mode for Pr int ing 2-66
Contents
Operating Guide ix
Usi ng the Cal i brati on Menu 2-67
Over view of t he Calibr at ion Menu 2-67
To View t he Calibr at ion Menu and Secur it y St at us 2-68
To Unsecur e for Calibr at ion 2-68
To Init iat e t he Calibr at ion Rout ines 2-69
To Secur e Against Calibr at ion 2-71
To Change t o a New Secur it y Code 2-72
To View t he Calibr at ion Count 2-72
To Get Help Wit h t he Calibr at ion Menu 2-72
Front Panel Di splay Messages 2-73
Measur ement Result Displays 2-73
Power -Up/Self Test Messages 2-74
Menu Messages 2-75
HP-IB Messages 2-77
Prese t Val ue s Afte r Powe r-Up and *RST 2-78
HP 53131A (and HP 53132A Wit h S/N Pr efix Below 3646)
Pr eset Values for Funct ions Accessible Via Fr ont Panel or
HP-IB 2-79
HP 53132A (Wit h S/N Pr efix 3646 and Above) Pr eset Values
for Funct ions Accessible Via Fr ont Panel or HP-IB 2-85
Pr eset Values for Funct ions Accessible Via HP-IB
Only 2-91
Summary of the Meas ure me nt Seque nce 2-93
Common Que sti ons 2-94
Why is St at s r esult not available yet ? 2-94
Why wont pr int er wor k? 2-94
Why did Count er st op measur ing? 2-94
Why did Count er go t o it s default st at e aft er I set up my
RS-232 por t ? 2-94
Count er s numer ic display does not follow t he numer ical
convent ion for my count r y. 2-94
How do I display t he 13t h digit in my numer ical
r esult ? 2-94
Contents
x Operating Guide
3 Speci fi cati ons
Introducti on 3-2
Inst r ument Input s 3-2
Inst r ument Input s (Cont inued) 3-3
Time Base 3-4
Measur ement Specificat ions 3-5
Measur ement Specificat ions (Cont inued) 3-6
Measur ement Definit ions 3-12
Measur ement Definit ions (Cont inued) 3-13
Measur ement Ar ming and Pr ocessing 3-14
Measur ement Ar ming and Pr ocessing (Cont inued) 3-15
Gener al Infor mat ion 3-16
Inde x
Operating Guide xi
In This Guide
This book is t he oper at ing guide for t he HP 53131A and HP 53132A
225 MHz Univer sal Count er s. It consist s of a t able of cont ent s,
t his pr eface, a quick r efer ence guide, t hr ee chapt er s, and an index.
This pr eface cont ains t he following infor mat ion:
Cont ent s and Or ganizat ion page xii
Relat ed Document s page xiii
Types of Ser vice Available if Your Inst r ument Fails page xiv
Repackaging for Shipment page xv
Descr ipt ion of t he 225 MHz Univer sal Count er page xvi
Opt ions page xviii
Accessor ies Supplied and Available page xix
Supplied Manuals page xix
Differ ences Bet ween Pr ior and Cur r ent Revisions of t he
HP 53131A/132A
page xx
In This Guide
xii Operating Guide
Cont ent s and Or ganizat ion
Table of Conte nts
The Qui ck Reference Gui de consist s of a Menu Tr ee (cut -out sheet ) t hat
ser ves as a device t o t r igger your memor y or get you quickly r eacquaint ed
wit h t he inst r ument , and Menu Roadmaps t hat illust r at e how t o navigat e
t hr ough t he menus. It is locat ed aft er t his pr eface.
Chapt er 1, Gett i ng St arte d, is a quick st ar t guide t hat gives you a br ief
over view of t he Count er s keys, indicat or s, menus, display, and
connect or s. Last , a gr aphical pr ocedur e for per for ming a complet e
measur ement is pr ovided.
Chapt er 2, Operati ng Your Uni versal Counter, is an oper at or s
r efer ence. You ar e given an over view of each gr oup of fr ont -panel keys,
oper at ing funct ions, and menus followed by a ser ies of exer cises t hat guide
you t hr ough t he oper at ion of t he Count er .
Chapt er 3, Speci fi cati ons, list s t he specificat ions and char act er ist ics of
t he Count er .
Index
In This Guide
Operating Guide xiii
Relat ed Document s
For mor e infor mat ion on univer sal count er s r efer t o t he following
Ser ies 200 Applicat ion Not es:
Fundamentals of Electronic Frequency Counters
Applicat ion Not e 200HP par t number 02-5952-7506.
Fundamentals of Time Interval Measurements
Applicat ion Not e 200-3HP par t number 02-5952-7561.
Understanding Frequency Counter S pecifications
Applicat ion Not e 200-4HP par t number 02-5952-7522.
In This Guide
xiv Operating Guide
Types of Ser vice Available if Your Inst r ument
Fails
If your HP 53131A/132A fails wit hin t hr ee year s of or iginal pur chase,
HP will r epair it fr ee of char ge. If your inst r ument fails aft er your 3-year
war r ant y expir es HP will r epair it , or you can r epair it your self by
or der ing t he ser vice guide.
Ther e ar e t hr ee t ypes of r epair ser vices:
St andar d r epair ser viceif downt ime is not cr it ical.
Expr ess Repair /Per for mance Calibr at ion Ser viceif downt ime is
cr it ical.
Or der t he Assembly-Level Ser vice Guide and r epair unit your self.
Standard Repai r Se rvi ce s (Worldwi de )
Cont act your near est HP Ser vice Cent er . They will ar r ange t o have your
HP 53131A/132A Univer sal Count er r epair ed.
Expre ss Repai r/Pe rformance Cali brati on Servi ce
(USA Only)
If downt ime is cr it ical, you can r eceive your r epair ed HP 53131A/132A via
over night shipment . J ust call 1-800-403-0801 and ask for Express
Repair/ Performance Calibration S ervice. When your Count er is r epair ed,
it will be r et ur ned via over night shipment .
Assembly-Leve l Servi ce Gui de
If your HP 53131A/132A 3-year war r ant y has expir ed and you choose t o
r epair t he inst r ument your self or would like mor e det ails on self t est and
calibr at ion, r efer t o t he HP 53131A/132A Assembly-Level Ser vice Guide,
HP par t number 53131-90023.
In This Guide
Operating Guide xv
Repackaging for Shipment
For t he Expr ess Repair /Per for mance Calibr at ion Ser vice descr ibed above,
r et ur n your failed HP 53131A/132A t o t he designat ed HP Ser vice Cent er ,
using t he shipping car t on of t he inst r ument . HP will not ify you when your
failed inst r ument has been r eceived.
If t he inst r ument is t o be shipped t o HP for ser vice or r epair , be sur e you
do t he following:
At t ach a t ag t o t he inst r ument ident ifying t he owner and indicat ing
t he r equir ed ser vice or r epair . Include t he inst r ument model number
and full ser ial number .
Place t he inst r ument in it s or iginal cont ainer wit h appr opr iat e
packaging mat er ial.
Secur e t he cont ainer wit h st r ong t ape or met al bands.
If t he or iginal shipping cont ainer is not available, place your unit in a
cont ainer which will ensur e at least 4 inches of compr essible packaging
mat er ial ar ound all sides of t he unit . Use st at ic fr ee packaging mat er ials
t o avoid addit ional damage t o your unit .
HP suggest s that you always insure shipment s.
In This Guide
xvi Operating Guide
Descr ipt ion of t he 225 MHz Univer sal
Count er
The HP 53131A and HP 53132A ar e univer sal count er s capable of
measur ing fr equencies t o 225 MHz on Channels 1 and 2. Wit h an opt ional
Channel 3 Opt ion 030, Opt ion 050, or Opt ion 124, t his capabilit y is
ext ended t o 3.0, 5.0, or 12.4 GHz, r espect ively.
For t he HP 53131A, fr equency and t ime int er val r esolut ions ar e 10 digit s
in one second and 500 picoseconds, r espect ively. The HP 53131A pr ovides
user s wit h a HP-IB measur ing speed of up t o 200 measur ement s
per second, and is suit able for bench-t op oper at ion and lower -volume ATE
oper at ion. The fr equency and t ime int er val r esolut ions for t he HP 53132A
ar e up t o 12 digit s in one second and 150 picoseconds, r espect ively.
The HP 53132A pr ovides user s wit h except ional r esolut ion, and is ideal
for ATE syst ems oper at ion.
The HP 53131A/132A basic measur ement funct ions include Fr equency,
Per iod, Pulse Widt h, Dut y Cycle, Rise/Fall Time, Time Int er val,
Fr equency Rat io, Tot alize, Phase, and Peak Volt age.
The HP 53131A/132A Count er has four ar ming modes: aut o, ext er nal,
digit s and t ime. However , t he HP 53132A wit h ser ial number pr efix 3646
and above has expanded ar ming capabilit ies for Time Int er val
measur ement s.
In This Guide
Operating Guide xvii
The HP 53131A/132A include addit ional measur ement funct ions and
feat ur es t hat ar e designed specifically for manufact ur ing and ser vice
applicat ions:
1, 5, 10 MHz ext er nal r efer ence capabilit yt o mat ch cust omer s house
st andar d (however , t he HP 53132As ext er nal r efer ence capabilit y is
10 MHz only),
opt ional ult r a high, high, or medium st abilit y oven oscillat or s for high
accur acy needs and lengt hened calibr at ion cycles,
ext er nal gat ing,
st at ist ics,
aut omat ic limit t est ing,
SCPI pr ogr amming capabilit y, and
analog display mode limit t est ing
Pr ogr ammable cont r ol is per for med via an HP-IB. The HP-IB and a
t alk-only RS-232C ser ial por t ar e st andar d for t he HP 53131A and
HP 53132A. The ser ial por t is for pr int ing measur ed and analyzed dat a on
ser ial pr int er s, or for out put t ing an out -of-limit signal.
In This Guide
xviii Operating Guide
Opt ions
The opt ions available for t he HP 53131A/132A 225 MHz Univer sal
Count er ar e list ed following t his par agr aph. Specificat ions for t he opt ions
ar e list ed in Chapt er 3, Specificat ions. If youve pur chased an opt ion
wit h t he init ial or der , it will be inst alled at t he fact or y and r eady for
oper at ion at deliver y. Refer t o t he Ret r ofit t ing Opt ions chapt er in t he
Assembly-Level Ser vice Guide for inst r uct ions on field inst allat ion of t he
opt ions.
NOTE The 0s and 1s in t he following opt ion number s ar e numer ic char act er s
(t hat is, t hey ar e not let t er s).
Hardware
Medium St abilit y Oven Timebase, Opt ion 001
DC Power Input , Opt ion 002
High St abilit y Oven Timebase, Opt ion 010
Ult r a-High St abilit y Oven Timebase, Opt ion 012 (HP 53132A only)
3.0 GHz RF Input Channel (Channel 3), Opt ion 030
5.0 GHz RF Input Channel (Channel 3), Opt ion 050
12.4 GHz RF Input Channel (Channel 3), Opt ion 124
Rear Ter minals
1
, Opt ion 060
Rack Mount Kit , Opt ion 1CM. Also available under HP par t
number 5062-3972.
Lock-Link Kit (side-by-side) available under HP par t
number 5061-9694. Also r equir es Flange Kit , par t number 5062-3974.
Support
5-year Ret ur n t o HP for Repair , Opt ion W50
5-year Ret ur n t o HP for Calibr at ion, Opt ion W52
1
The two standard input channels (1 and 2) will have both front and 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.
In This Guide
Operating Guide xix
Accessor ies Supplied and Available
Accessori es Suppli ed
Power cor d, 2.3 met er s
Accessori es Avai lable
HP 34161A Accessor y Pouch
HP 34131A Tr ansit Case
Pr int er RS-232 Int er face cables, HP 24542G or HP 24542H
HP-IB cables, HP 10833A/B/C/D
Suppli e d Manuals
HP 53131A/132A Oper at ing Guidet his guide
(HP P/N 53131-90055)
HP 53131A/132A Pr ogr amming Guide
(HP P/N 53131-90044)
HP 53131A/132A Assembly-Level Ser vice Guide
(HP P/N 53131-90023)
In This Guide
xx Operating Guide
Differ ences Bet ween Pr ior and Cur r ent
Revisions of t he HP 53131A/132A
If you have an HP 53131A cont aining one of t he pr ior fir mwar e r evisions
(3317, 3335, or 3402), r ead t he subsect ion below t it led HP 53131A
Cont aining Fir mwar e Revisions (3317, 3335, or 3402) t o get an over view
of t he differ ences bet ween t he ear lier fir mwar e r evisions and cur r ent
fir mwar e r evision.
If you have an HP 53132A wit h a ser ial number pr efix below 3646,
r ead t he subsect ion t it led HP 53132A Time Int er val Delay Ar ming
on page xxii.
NOTE Not e t hat t hr oughout t he guide, differ ences bet ween t he ear lier and
cur r ent fir mwar e r evisions ar e not ed wher e applicable.
HP 53131A Contai ni ng Fi rmware Revi si ons (3317, 3335,
or 3402)
Ther e ar e four main ar eas t hat differ :
Calibr at ions
Measur ement s
St at ist ics
HP-IB Commands
In This Guide
Operating Guide xxi
Ca l i br a t i ons
If your Count er cont ains ot her t han t he cur r ent fir mwar e r evision,
t he following calibr at ion feat ur es ar e differ ent :
The calibr at ion funct ions ar e in t he Ut ilit y menu inst ead of t he
Calibr at ion menu, which is accessed by pr essing and holding t he
fr ont -panel Uti li ty key and t hen cycling POWER key.
Calibr at ions ar e not pr ot ect ed by a secur it y code.
A calibr at ion count does not exist t o aid in monit or ing t he number of
calibr at ions per for med.
A mor e accur at e Time Int er val calibr at ion (FINE TI) is not available.
See t he sect ion t it led Using t he Calibr at ion Menu in Chapt er 2 of t he
HP 53131A/ 132A Operating Guide for det ails.
Mea sur ement s
If your Count er cont ains ot her t han t he cur r ent fir mwar e r evision,
t he following measur ement capabilit ies ar e differ ent :
Rat io channel select ions Rat io 2 t o 1 and Rat io 3 t o 1 (for t hose
count er s equipped wit h Channel 3) ar e not available.
Rat io AUTO-ar med does not aut omat ically ext ends gat e t o capt ur e
sufficient edges.
If Channel 1 input fr equency is less t han appr oximat ely 10 Hz,
t he Rat io gat e t ime is not ext ended t o capt ur e sufficient Channel 1
edges t o pr oduce a valid measur ement . Default gat e t ime is 100 msec,
which is not long enough t o capt ur e t wo edges on a low-fr equency
signal. The user is r equir ed t o ext end t he gat e by swit ching t o TIME
ar ming, and select ing a gat e t ime appr opr iat ely long.
Sensit ivit y for fir mwar e r evision below does not have adjust ed
cont r ols t o LO and MED sensit ivit y.
In some Count er s t hat cont ained fir mwar e r evision 3317,
LO sensit ivit y fails t o cor r ect ly count ver y high fr equency signals.
In This Guide
xxii Operating Guide
St a t i st i cs
If your Count er cont ains ot her t han t he cur r ent fir mwar e r evisions,
single-shot st at ist ics ar e not available using t he ON SINGLE: menu it em
found in t he St at ist ics menu (use St ats key).
HP-IB Comma nd s
[:SENSe]:EVENt [1| 2}:HYSTeres i s:RELati ve
If your Count er cont ains fir mwar e r evisions 3402 and below, t he input
hyst er esis command and quer y does not oper at e in t he convent ional way.
That is, [:SENSe]:EVENt [1| 2]:HYSTer esis:RELat ive set s high sensit ivit y
when t he par amet er is MINimum or 0 per cent , and set s low sensit ivit y
when t he par amet er is MAXimum or 100 per cent .
In t he pr ior fir mwar e r evisions (3317, 3335, or 3402), MINimum or
0 per cent cor r esponded t o low sensit ivit y, and MAXimum or 100 per cent
cor r esponded t o high sensit ivit y.
:CONFigure:TOTali ze:TIMed
:CONFigure:TOTali ze:CONTinuous
:MEASure:TOTali ze :TIMed?
If your Count er cont ains fir mwar e r evisions 3402 and below, t he Tot alize
Measur ement Inst r uct ion commands (shown above) ar e not available t o
disable aut o-t r igger .
In t he fir mwar e r evisions 3402 and below, t hese commands enabled
aut o-t r igger at t he 50% level.
HP 53132A Ti me Interval Delay Armi ng
HP 53131A and HP 53132A Count er s wit h a ser ial number pr efix below
3646 ar e ident ical in t heir TI ar ming modes. Bot h only offer Time Int er val
Delay, wher e t he STOP t r igger of a t ime int er val measur ement can be
delayed by a user -specified t ime.
Operating Guide xxiii
HP 53131A/132A Quick Refer ence Guide
The Quick Refer ence Guide is designed for exper ienced user s of t he
HP 53131A/132A Univer sal Count er . It is int ended t o be used as a t ool t o
t r igger your memor y. If you ar e using t he HP 53131A/132A for t he fir st
t ime, HP r ecommends t hat you at least r ead Chapt er 1, Get t ing St ar t ed,
in t he Oper at ing Guide fir st .
The Quick Refer ence Guide follows t his page, and consist s of t he following
it ems:
Menu Tr ees which may be t or n out of t he guide for ext er nal use
(pages 1, 2, 3a, and 3b).
Menu Roadmaps which illust r at e via key-pr ess sequences how t o
navigat e t hr ough t he menus under t he menu keys (pages 4
t hr ough 11). Key-pr ess sequences ar e pr ovided for t he following
menu keys:
Freq & Rati o
Ti me & Peri od
Ot he r Me as
Gate & ExtArm
Uppr & Lowe r
Li mi t Mode s
Scale & Offse t
St ats
Tri gger/Sensi ti vi ty
xxiv Operating Guide
PHASE 1 TO 2
DUTYCYCLE 1
VOLT PEAKS 1
VOLT PEAKS 2
T O T A L I Z E 1
PERIOD 1
RI SETI ME 1
FALLTIME 1
POS WIDTH 1
T I 1 TO 2
NEG WIDTH 1
FREQUENCY 2
RATI O 1 TO 2
FREQUENCY 1
RATI O 1 TO 3
FREQUENCY 3
RATI O 2 TO 1
RATI O 3 TO 1
LOWR: 0.000000
UPPR: 0.000000
N: 100
OFFS: 0.000000
SET OFFSET ?
SCALE:1.000000
MATH HELP?
MATH: OFF
MATH: ON
STATS: OFF
STATS: ON
LIM TEST: OFF
LIM TEST: ON
ON FAIL:GO ON
ON FAIL: STOP
SHOW: NUMBER
SHOW: GRAPH
SHOW: STD DEV
SHOW: MEAN
SHOW: MAX
SHOW: MEAS
SHOW: MIN
USE: ALL MEAS
USE: I N LI MI T
ON SINGLE: 1
ON SINGLE: N
Other
Meas
Time &
Period
Freq &
Ratio
Limit
Modes
Uppr &
Lower
Scale &
Offset
Stats
HP 53131A/132A
Uni versal Counter
(HP 53131A and HP 53132A)
1
50
1M
HP 53131A/132A
Uni versal Counter
Recall
RECALL 1
RECALL 3
RECALL 0
RECALL 5
RECALL 2
RECALL 4
NO REGISTERS
RECALL 20
UNSAVE:
SAVE:
PRINT HELP?
PRINT: OFF
PRINT: ON
AUTO TRG: ON AUTO TRG: OFF
LEVEL: 0.000V
COMMON 1: OFF
COMMON 1: ON
SENSTVTY: HI
SENSTVTY: LO
SENSTVTY:MED
SLOPE: POS
SLOPE: NEG
COMMON 1: OFF
COMMON 1: ON
SENSTVTY: HI
SENSTVTY: LO
SENSTVTY:MED
SLOPE: POS
SLOPE: NEG
CH 1: NO FI LT
CH 1: LP FI LT
CH 1: X1 ATT
CH 1: X10 ATT
CH 1: AC
CH 1: DC
CH 1: 1M OHM
CH 1: 50 OHM
Trigger
Sensitivity
DC
AC
X10
Attenuate
100kHz
Filter
Save &
Print
(HP 53131A and HP 53132A)
2
LEVEL: 50 PCT
HP 53131A and
HP 53132A
Uni versal Counter
Gate &
ExtArm
TIME: .100 s
TIME: .100 s
DIGITS: 4
GATE: DIGITS GATE: EXTERNL GATE: AUTO GATE: TIME
START: NEG
START: POS
STOP: TIME
STOP: POS
STOP: NEG
STOP: AUTO
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
T I 1 TO 2
Time &
Period
Gate &
ExtArm
ARM : EXTERNL ARM: AUTO
T IME : .01000
DELAY : TIME DELAY : NONE
TIME : .01000
DELAY: TIME DELAY: NONE
SLOPE : NEG SLOPE : POS
(HP 53131A and HP 53132A S/N below 3646)
3a
(Serial Number Prefix below 3646)
HP 53132A
Uni versal Counter
Gate &
ExtArm
TIME: .100 s
TIME: .100 s
DIGITS: 4
GATE: DIGITS GATE: EXTERNL GATE: AUTO GATE: TIME
START: NEG
START: POS
STOP: TIME
STOP: POS
STOP: NEG
STOP: AUTO
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
T I 1 TO 2
Time &
Period
Gate &
ExtArm
START: EXT START: AUTO
T : .1 E : 1
DELAY : EVENT DELAY :TIME DELAY : NONE
T : .1 E : 1
DELAY : EVENT DELAY : TIME DELAY : NONE
DELAY: EVENT DELAY: TIME DELAY: NONE
SLOPE : NEG SLOPE : POS
STOP : EXT STOP : AUTO
(HP 53132A S/N 3646 and above)
3b
(Serial Number Prefix 3646 and above)
SLOPE : NEG SLOPE : POS
T : .1 E : 1
Freq &
Ratio
FREQUENCY 2
RATIO 1 TO 2
RATIO 1 TO 3
FREQUENCY 1
Freq &
Ratio
FREQUENCY 3
Freq &
Ratio
Freq &
Ratio
Freq &
Ratio
Time &
Period
T I 1 TO 2
PERIOD 1
FALLTIME 1
POS WIDTH 1
RISETIME 1
NEG WIDTH 1
Time &
Period
Time &
Period
Time &
Period
Time &
Period
Other
Meas
Other
Meas
Other
Meas
Other
Meas
PHASE 1 TO 2
DUTYCYCLE 1
VOLT PEAKS 1
VOLT PEAKS 2
TOTALIZE 1
MEASURE
Freq &
Ratio
Time &
Period
Other
Meas
Time &
Period
Other
Meas
Other
Meas
Time &
Period
HP 53131A/132A
Uni versal Counter
Freq &
Ratio
RATIO 2 TO 1
Freq &
Ratio
RATIO 3 TO 1
Freq &
Ratio
1
(HP 53131A and HP 53132A)
4
GATE: AUTO
GATE: EXTERNL
GATE: DIGITS
GATE: TIME
Gate &
ExtArm
Gate &
ExtArm
Gate &
ExtArm
START: POS
START: NEG
START:
TIME: .100
Enter
Gate &
ExtArm
STOP: NEG
STOP: POS
STOP:
STOP: TIME
Gate &
ExtArm
TIME: .100
Enter
Gate &
ExtArm DIGITS: 10
Gate &
ExtArm
Gate &
ExtArm
TIME: .200
TIME: .2000
DIGITS: 5
Enter
RUN
RUN
RUN
RUN
MEASURE
Freq &
Ratio
FREQUENCY 1

Gate &
ExtArm
Gate &
ExtArm
HP 53131A/132A
Uni versal Counter
STOP: AUTO
(HP 53131A and HP 53132A)
5
MEASURE
ARM:
Gate &
ExtArm
Gate &
ExtArm
DELAY:
Gate &
ExtArm
TIME: .01000
Enter
RUN
ARM: EXTERNL
DELAY: NONE
DELAY: TI ME
TIME: .02000
ARM: AUTO
RUN
RUN
RUN
Gate &
ExtArm
SLOPE:
SLOPE: POS
SLOPE: NEG
Time &
Period
TI 1 TO 2

Gate &
ExtArm
Gate &
ExtArm
HP 53131A and
HP 53132A
Uni versal Counter
(HP 53131A and HP 53132A S/N below 3646)
6a
(Serial Number Prefix below 3646)
MEASURE
TI 1 TO 2
Gate &
ExtArm
START:
Gate &
ExtArm
Time &
Period
START: AUTO
START: EXT
Gate &
ExtArm
Gate &
ExtArm
SLOPE:
Gate &
ExtArm DELAY:
Enter
SLOPE: POS
SLOPE: NEG
- - - - - - - - - - -
(HP 53132A S/N 3646 and above)
HP 53132A
Uni versal Counter
Gate &
ExtArm T : .1
T : 100.1
Gate &
ExtArm E : 1
DELAY :EVENT
DELAY :NONE
DELAY :TIME
Enter
E : 1000
A B C
6b
(Serial Number Prefix 3646 and above)
Gate &
ExtArm
Run
Run Gate &
ExtArm T : .1
T : 100.1
Enter
Gate &
ExtArm
Enter
Run
DELAY :
E : 1
DELAY :EVENT
DELAY :NONE
DELAY :TIME
Gate &
ExtArm
E : 1000
(HP 53132A S/N 3646 and above)
HP 53132A
Uni versal Counter
STOP :
Gate &
ExtArm
SLOPE :
SLOPE : POS
SLOPE : NEG
Gate &
ExtArm
STOP :AUTO
STOP :EXT
A B C
6c
(Serial Number Prefix 3646 and above)
UPPR: 0.000000
Uppr &
Lower
RUN
LOWR: 0.000000
UPPR: 5.100000
LOWR: 4.900000
Enter
Enter
ON FAIL:GO ON
LIM TEST:
Limit
Modes
SHOW: NUMBER
Limit
Modes
RUN
LIM TEST: OFF
LIM TEST: ON
ON FAIL:GO ON
ON FAIL: STOP
SHOW: NUMBER
SHOW: GRAPH
RUN
RUN
LIMITS
Limit
Modes
Limit
Modes
Uppr &
Lower
Uppr &
Lower
Limit
Modes
HP 53131A/132A
Uni versal Counter
Uppr &
Lower
RUN
(HP 53131A and HP 53132A)
7
OFFS: 0.000000
MATH:
MATH HELP ?
SCAL: 1.000000
Scale &
Offset
SET OFFSET?
Scale &
Offset
Scale &
Offset
Scale &
Offset
Scale &
Offset
SCAL: 2.000000
Enter
RUN
OFFS: 0.500000
RUN
OFFS:-nnnnnnn
Enter
MATH: OFF
MATH: ON
RUN
Enter
(MEAS X SCALE) + OFFS = RESULT
RUN
Enter
MATH
Scale &
Offset
Scale &
Offset
HP 53131A/132A
Uni versal Counter
(HP 53131A and HP 53132A)
8
SHOW: STD DEV
SHOW: MEAN
SHOW: MAX
SHOW: MIN
SHOW: N: 100
STATS:
STATS: OFF
STATS: ON
USE:
USE: ALL MEAS
USE: IN LIMIT
Stats Stats
Stats
Enter
Stats
Run
RUN
N: 200
RUN
MATH
Stats
SHOW: MEAS
Stats
HP 53131A/132A
Uni versal Counter
ON SINGLE:
ON SINGLE: 1
ON SINGLE: N
Stats
Run
(HP 53131A and HP 53132A)
9
CHANNEL 1
CHANNEL 2
AUTO TRG:
RUN
SENSTVTY:
RUN
SLOPE: POS
SLOPE: NEG
Trigger
Sensitivity
AUTO TRG: ON
AUTO TRG: OFF
SENSTVTY: HI
SENSTVTY: LO
SENSTVTY: MED
SLOPE:
RUN
LEVEL: 0.000V
LEVEL: 50 PCT
LEVEL: 75 PCT
Enter
RUN
RUN
LEVEL: 2.000V
Trigger
Sensitivity
Trigger
Sensitivity
Trigger
Sensitivity
Trigger
Sensitivity
Trigger
Sensitivity
Freq &
Ratio

FREQUENCY 1
RATIO 1 TO 2
PERIOD 1
RISETIME 1
FALLTIME 1
POS WIDTH 1
NEG WIDTH 1
TOTALIZE
PHASE 1 TO 2
DUTY CYCLE 1
Time &
Period
Other
Meas
FREQUENCY 2
FREQUENCY 3
RATIO 1 TO 3
HP 53131A/132A
Uni versal Counter
Trigger
Sensitivity
RATIO 2 TO 1
RATIO 3 TO 1
(HP 53131A and HP 53132A)
10
AUTO TRG:
RUN
SENSTVTY:
RUN
SLOPE: POS
SLOPE: NEG
Trigger
Sensitivity
AUTO TRG: ON
AUTO TRG: OFF
SENSTVTY: HI
SENSTVTY: LO
SENSTVTY: MED
SLOPE:
RUN
LEVEL: 0.000V
LEVEL: 50 PCT LEVEL: 75 PCT
Enter
RUN
LEVEL: 2.000V
Trigger
Sensitivity
Trigger
Sensitivity
Trigger
Sensitivity
Trigger
Sensitivity
Trigger
Sensitivity
Time &
Period
TI 1 TO 2
COMMON 1: COMMON 1: OFF
COMMON 1: ON
Trigger
Sensitivity
RUN
RUN
CHANNEL 1
CHANNEL 2
HP 53131A/132A
Uni versal Counter
Trigger
Sensitivity
(HP 53131A and HP 53132A)
11
1
Get t ing St ar t ed
Chapter 1 Getting Started
The Front Panel at a Glance
1-2 Operating Guide
1
The Fr ont Panel at a Glance
Note: Unit shown wit h Opt ion 030.
NOTE It is nor mal oper at ion for t he fan in t he Count er t o cont inue t o r un aft er
t he Count er is placed in St andby mode. Power t o t he t imebase is
cont inuous t o maint ain long t er m measur ement r eliabilit y, and t he fan
helps maint ain t imebase t emper at ur e st abilit y.
Recall Utility Menu:
Hold at power up
Save &
Print
Run
Local Utility
Other
Meas
Limit
Modes
Stats
Time &
Period
Gate &
ExtArm
Uppr &
Lower
Scale &
Offset
Stop/
Single
MEASURE LIMITS MATH CHANNEL 1 CHANNEL 2
CHANNEL 3
Trigger
Sensitivity
X10
Attenuate
100kHz
Filter
Damage Lvl:
5V rms MAX.50
!
Trigger
Sensitivity
X10
Attenuate
100kHz
Filter
Damage Lvl:
5V rms MAX.50
!
Damage Lvl:
5V rms MAX.50
!
100 MHz 3 GHz
Enter
53131 A 225 MHz
UNIVERSAL COUNTER
+/
Freq &
Ratio
POWER
SRQ
Remote
50
1M
DC
AC
DC
AC
50
1M
2 3 4 5 6 7 1
12 13 9
Period Freq +Wid -Wid Rise Fall Time Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 ExtRef
MHz
s
Gate
Limit
11 8 10
14
1 Measur ement funct ion menu keys
2 Limit s menu keys
3 Mat h menu keys
4 Sign (+ or ) select ion t oggle key
5 Dat a Ent r y/Select (or ar r ow) keys
6 Ent er numer ic dat a (t er minat e) key
7 3.0/5.0/12.4 GHz RF input channel
(opt ional)
8 Ut ilit y menu key (Hold dur ing
power -up t o access Ut ilit y funct ions.)
9 Recall, Save and Pr int menu keys
10 Gat e and Ext er nal Ar m menu key
11 Measur ement cont r ol keys
12 Channel 1 Tr igger /Sensit ivit y menu
key and input condit ioning keys
13 Channel 2 Tr igger /Sensit ivit y menu
key and input condit ioning keys
14 Calibr at ion menu key (Hold Scale &
Offset key dur ing power -up t o access
Calibr at ion funct ions.)
Chapter 1 Getting Started
The Front Panel Indicators at a Glance
Operating Guide 1-3
1
The Fr ont Panel Indicat or s at a Glance
Ther e ar e eight differ ent gr oups of indicat or s or LEDs. They ar e list ed and
descr ibed in t he following t able.
Indi cators Descri pti on of the Indi cators
When one of t hese indicat or s is lit , it simult aneously
indicat es which keys menu (for example, Time &
Per iod key) and it s menu it em (for example, TI 1
t o 2) is enabled.
When t hese indicat or s ar e lit , t he keys enable
menu it em (t hat is, Limit Modes/LIM TEST,
Scale & Offset /MATH, St at s/STATS, and
Save & Pr int /PRINT) is enabled.
When t his indicat or is lit , it indicat es t hat you ar e in
t he Tr igger /Sensit ivit y menu for t he cor r esponding
channel.
When t his indicat or flashes, it indicat es t hat t he
ar r ow keys can be used t o modify or ent er dat a.
When one of t hese indicat or s is lit , it indicat es t hat
t he Run or Single funct ion is enabled.
Other
Meas
Time &
Period
Freq &
Ratio
Limit
Modes
Stats Save &
Print
Local
Scale &
Offset
Trigger
Sensitivity
Enter +/
Run
Stop/
Single
Chapter 1 Getting Started
The Front Panel Indicators at a Glance (Cont.)
1-4 Operating Guide
1
The Fr ont Panel Indicat or s at a Glance (Cont .)
Indi cators Descri pti on of the Indi cators
When t his indicat or flashes, it indicat es t hat t he
Count er is t r igger ing on t he input signal. If t he
input signal is t oo high, t his indicat or r emains ON.
If t he input signal is t oo low, t his indicat or is OFF.
When one of t hese indicat or s is lit , it indicat es t hat
t he adjacent choice (t hat is, 50, DC, X10, or
100kHz Filt er ) is enabled or act ive. Not e t hat when
t hese indicat or s ar e not lit , t hen t he ot her choice
(t hat is, 1M, AC, X1, or no filt er ) is act ive.
A lit Remot e indicat or indicat es t hat t he Count er is
in r emot e mode (Note: In t he r emot e mode, t he Save
& Pr int key becomes t he Local key.)
If (while in r emot e) an er r or occur s, t he Remot e
indicat or will flash. The indicat or will cont inue
flashing unt il t he cont r oller has r ead or clear ed t he
er r or queue, or unt il t he fr ont panel r et ur ns t o local
mode.
An unlit Remot e indicat or indicat es t hat t he
Count er is in local mode.
The SRQ indicat or indicat es t hat t he Count er has
r equest ed ser vice fr om t he cont r oller . The SRQ
indicat or will r emain lit unt il t he cont r oller has
r ecognized t he ser vice r equest and ser ial polled t he
Count er , or t aken specific act ion t o cancel t he
r equest (for example, *CLS command).
100kHz
Filter
X10
Attenuate
DC
AC
50
1M
Remote
SRQ
Chapter 1 Getting Started
The Front Panel Menus at a Glance
Operating Guide 1-5
1
The Fr ont Panel Menus at a Glance
1
These menu items appear only if your Counter contains the optional Input Channel.
2
Refer to the Menu Tree in the Quick Reference Guide (which precedes this chapter) and/or the Gate/External
Arming table in Chapter 2 for details on the Gate & ExtArm menu.
PHASE 1 TO 2
DUTYCYCLE 1
VOLT PEAKS 1
VOLT PEAKS 2
T O T A L I Z E 1
Other
Meas
PERIOD 1
RI SETI ME 1
FALLTIME 1
POS WIDTH 1
T I 1 TO 2
NEG WIDTH 1
Time &
Period
FREQUENCY 2
RATI O 1 TO 2
FREQUENCY 1
RATI O 1 TO 3
1
FREQUENCY 3
1
2
Freq &
Ratio
RATI O 2 TO 1
RATI O 3 TO 1
1
Limit
Modes
LOWR: 0.000000
UPPR: 0.000000
Uppr &
Lower
Gate &
ExtArm
Stats
N: 100
OFFS: 0.000000
SET OFFSET ?
SCALE:1.000000
MATH HELP?
Scale &
Offset
MATH: OFF
MATH: ON
GATE: DIGITS
GATE: EXTERNL
GATE: AUTO
GATE: TIME
STATS: OFF
STATS: ON
LIM TEST: OFF
LIM TEST: ON
ON FAIL:GO ON
ON FAIL: STOP
SHOW: NUMBER
SHOW: GRAPH
SHOW: STD DEV
SHOW: MEAN
SHOW: MAX
SHOW: MEAS
SHOW: MIN
USE: ALL MEAS
USE: I N LI MI T
ON SINGLE: 1
ON SINGLE: N
Chapter 1 Getting Started
The Front Panel Menus at a Glance (Cont.)
1-6 Operating Guide
1
The Fr ont Panel Menus at a Glance (Cont .)
3
This appears when nothing can be recalled.
4
Only registers which can be recalled will appear in this menu.
5
This menu item only appears if an instrument setup has been saved.
6
COMMON 1 only appears when the Counter is operating in the Time Interval measurement function
(TI 1 TO 2).
7
Channel 2 is the same, except CH 2 instead of CH 1 is displayed. These menus will terminate after
two seconds.
Recall
RECALL 1
RECALL 3
RECALL 0
RECALL 5
RECALL 2
RECALL 4
NO REGISTERS
RECALL 20
Save &
Print
UNSAVE:
SAVE:
PRINT HELP?
PRINT: OFF
PRINT: ON
Trigger
Sensitivity
DC
AC
50
1M
X10
Attenuate
100kHz
Filter
LEVEL: 50 PCT
AUTO TRG: ON AUTO TRG: OFF
LEVEL: 0.000V
COMMON 1: OFF
COMMON 1: ON
SENSTVTY: HI
SENSTVTY: LO
SENSTVTY:MED
SLOPE: POS
SLOPE: NEG
3
7
6
5
CH 1: NO FI LT
CH 1: LP FI LT
CH 1: X1 ATT
CH 1: X10 ATT
CH 1: AC
CH 1: DC
CH 1: 1M OHM
CH 1: 50 OHM
4
7 7 7
Chapter 1 Getting Started
The Front Panel Menus at a Glance (Cont.)
Operating Guide 1-7
1
The Fr ont Panel Menus at a Glance (Cont .)
NOTE Tur n power off, pr ess and hold Recall (Ut ili ty) key, t hen pr ess POWER
key t o access t his menu.
8
These menu items appear only if TEST LOOP is OFF.
HP-IB: 3
REV:
Recall
Utility
On / Stby
POWER
TIMEBAS: AUTO
TIMEBAS: I NT
TIMEBAS: EXT
CAL: HELP?
TEST LOOP: ON
TEST LOOP: OFF
TST PRINT: ON
TST PRINT:OFF
BAUD: 19200
BAUD: 1200
BAUD: 9600
BAUD: 300
BAUD: 2400
PARITY: OFF
PARITY: EVEN
PARITY: ODD
SW PACE: NONE
SW PACE: XON
DTR: HIGH
DTR: LIMIT
DTR: HW PACE
SHOW 9 AS: 9,0
SHOW 9 AS: 9.0
TEST: DI SP?
TEST: ALL?
TEST: ROM?
TEST: CPU?
TEST: HP- I B?
TEST: EEPROM?
TEST: FPGA?
TEST: QSPI?
TEST: FR END?
TEST: INTERP?
TEST: MEAS?
TEST: PRINT?
TEST: KEYPAD?
TEST: RAM?
8
8
Chapter 1 Getting Started
The Front Panel Menus at a Glance (Cont.)
1-8 Operating Guide
1
The Fr ont Panel Menus at a Glance (Cont .)
NOTE Tur n power off, pr ess and hold Scale & Offs et key, t hen pr ess POWER
key t o access t his menu. (This menu does not exist in ear ly ver sions of t he
Count er . In t he ear ly ver sions of t he Count er , t he CAL: menu it em r esides
in t he Ut ilit y menu, and t her e is no calibr at ion secur it y capabilit y.)
9
This menu item appears and calibration is permitted only if calibration is unsecure. Enter in the correct code
to change calibration to secure; refer to the section titled Using the Calibration Menu in Chapter 2 in this guide
for more information.
10
Timebase can be automatically calibrated only if the timebase option is installed.
Scale &
Offset
On / Stby
POWER
CAL SECURE CAL UNSECURE
9
CAL: OFFS2?
CAL: OFFS1?
CAL: GAIN2?
CAL: GAIN1?
CAL: TIMEBAS?
CAL: TI FINE?
CAL: TI QUIK?
CODE: 0
CAL COUNT?
HELP: CAL?
HELP: SECURE?
HELP: CODE?
10
Chapter 1 Getting Started
The Display Annunciators at a Glance
Operating Guide 1-9
1
The Display Annunciat or s at a Glance
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 Counters channel 1 is selected to measure an input signal.
Ch 2 Counters channel 2 is selected to measure an input signal.
Ch 3 Counters 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
6
).
The prefix for the units of the displayed data is micro (10
6
).
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.
Period Freq +Wid -Wid Rise Fall Time Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 Limit ExtRef
MHz
s
Gate
Chapter 1 Getting Started
The Display Special Character at a Glance
1-10 Operating Guide
1
The Display Special Char act er at a Glance
The Limit Test Gr aph Char act er s at a Glance
Speci al Character Descri pti on
A placeholder t hat indicat es t his digit is not
significant .
Period Freq +Wid -Wid Rise Fall Time Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 Limit ExtRef
MHz
s
Gate
Speci al Character Descri pti on
The colons r epr esent t he lower and upper limit s.
The ast er isk r epr esent s t he last measur ement .
These mar ks indicat e t hat t he last measur ement was
significant ly past t he limit in t he dir ect ion indicat ed.
Freq Ch 1
or
Chapter 1 Getting Started
The Rear Panel at a Glance
Operating Guide 1-11
1
The Rear Panel at a Glance
NOTE It is nor mal oper at ion for t he fan in t he Count er t o cont inue t o r un aft er
t he Count er is placed in St andby mode. Power t o t he t imebase is
cont inuous t o maint ain long t er m measur ement r eliabilit y, and t he fan
helps maint ain t imebase t emper at ur e st abilit y.
3
4
WARNING: NO OPERATOR SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE, REFER SERVICING TO SERVICE TRAINED PERSONNEL.
WARNING: FOR CONTINUED FIRE PROTECTION, USE SPECIFIED ~ LINE FUSE.
1
Ext
Arm
Ref
In
I
N
P
U
T
S
!
AC LINE:
10 MHz Out
6
0

V
A
1
0
0

-

1
2
0

V
A
C
2
0
0

-

2
4
0

V
A
C
5
0
/
6
0
/
4
0
0

H
z
5
0
/
6
0

H
z
OPTIONS
001 MS Oven 010 HS Oven
S
E
R
I
A
L

P
L
A
T
E
To Configure:
Hold Recall during turn-on.
Osc Adjust
RS - 232
ISM 1-A
92
FOR LABORATORY USE BY
QUALIFIED PERSONNEL
FOUR USAGE EN LABORATOIRE
PAR PERSONNEL QUALIFIE
5 6 7 8 9
1 2
HP-IB
Talk Only
2
3
1 Rear -panel input connect or s
(opt ional)
2 Power module (Senses i ncomi ng
voltage and automatically
selects proper setup.)
3 Fan
4 Ext er nal Ar m input connect or
5 Ext er nal Refer ence Input connect or
6 10 MHz Out put connect or
7 HP-IB (IEEE-488.1)
int er face connect or
8 Oscillat or Adjust pot ent iomet er
(This pot ent iomet er is not pr esent
for opt ions 001, 010, and 012.)
9 RS-232 int er face or Limit
Out put connect or
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Making Measurements
1-12 Operating Guide
1
Making Measur ement s
One of t he fir st t hings you will want t o do wit h your HP 53131A/132A
Univer sal Count er is t o become acquaint ed wit h it s fr ont panel. Ther efor e,
we have wr it t en t he pr ocedur es in t his sect ion t o familiar ize you wit h
some of it s cont r ols. The following pr ocedur es ar e pr ovided:
Fir st you ar e shown how t o t ur n on t he Count er and measur e t he
fr equency of a signal applied t o t he Count er s input channels.
Second, you ar e shown how t o use t he input coupling, impedance, and
t r igger /sensit ivit y keys t o set t he input condit ions of t he appr opr iat e
input channel t o mat ch t he signal being measur ed.
Thir d, you ar e shown how t o scale and offset t he measur ement r esult .
Four t h, you ar e shown how t o set upper and lower limit s for
measur ement s.
Fift h, you ar e shown how t o enable t he Count er t o comput e st at ist ics
(such as st andar d deviat ion) and display st at ist ics of measur ement s.
Last , you ar e shown how t o use t he Run and St op/Single keys t o
cont r ol measur ement s.
The or der of t he pr ocedur es in t his chapt er is t he r ecommended or der for
making measur ement s wit h t his Count er .
St udy and r efer t o t he following legend, as needed, t o under st and t he
meaning of t he icons which ar e used t hr oughout t his chapt er .
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Making Measurements
Operating Guide 1-13
1
Legend
To Measure Freque ncy
1 Pr ess key one t ime
and r elease
2 Pr ess key t wo t imes
and r elease
3 Repeat ed key pr esses
4 Pr ess and hold
5 Result
6 Aut o oper at ion
7 Connect signal
8 Disconnect signal
9 Indicat or off
10 Indicat or on
11 Indicat or flashing
6
1 2
3 4
5 7 8
9 11 10
On / Stby
POWER
Period Freq +Wid -Wid Rise Fall Time Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 Limit ExtRef
MHz
s
Gate
Freq Ch 1
Freq Ch 1
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Making Measurements
1-14 Operating Guide
1
NOTE Ear lier ver sions of t he Count er do not moment ar ily display t he HP-IB
addr ess at t ur n-on.
Connect (for demonst r at ion pur poses) t he Count er s r ear -panel 10 MHz
Out signal t o CHANNEL 1 input as shown in t he illust r at ed pr ocedur e,
below.
The Count er will aut omat ically display t he measur ed fr equency of t he
input signal.
Disconnect t he demonst r at ion signal fr om CHANNEL 1, and connect it t o
CHANNEL 2 as shown in t he following st eps.
Freq Ch 1
MHz
Gate
Damage Lvl:
5V rms MAX.50
!
CHANNEL 1
Other
Meas
Time &
Period
Gate &
ExtArm
MEASURE
Freq &
Ratio
Freq &
Ratio
Freq &
Ratio
Freq Ch 1
Freq Ch 1
Freq Ch 2
Freq
MHz
Ch 2
Gate
Damage Lvl:
5V rms MAX.50
!
CHANNEL 2
Damage Lvl:
5V rms MAX.50
!
CHANNEL 1
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Making Measurements
Operating Guide 1-15
1
Again, t he Count er will aut omat ically display t he measur ed fr equency of
t he input signal.
If you need or want t o change CHANNEL 2s coupling, impedance, and
t r igger ing condit ions t o mat ch t he input signal you ar e t r ying t o measur e,
t he next pr ocedur es To Select Input Coupling and Impedance and
To Set Input Channel Tr igger Level/Sensit ivit y demonst r at e t his.
Per for m t hese pr ocedur es whet her or not you want t o cust omize t he
Count er s input condit ions t o measur e your signal; doing t his will help you
become familiar wit h t he DC/AC, 50/1M, and Tri gger/Sensit i vity
keys.
To Se lect Input Coupli ng and Impedance
Remember , t he input signal is st ill connect ed t o CHANNEL 2.
Sel ect i ng Input Coupl i ng
Channel 2s input coupling is now set t o dc.
If you want t o change t he coupling back t o t he default ac coupling, per for m
t he following st ep.
CHANNEL 2
Trigger
Sensitivity
DC
AC
50
1M
X10
Attenuate
100kHz
Filter
Damage Lvl:
5V rms MAX. 50
!
Display 1 7/13/92
DC
AC
DC
AC
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Making Measurements
1-16 Operating Guide
1
Sel ect i ng Input Imp ed a nce
Channel 2s input impedance is now set t o 50.
NOTE The ar r ow keys can also be used t o t oggle t he st at e of t oggle keys
(DC/AC, 50/1M, et c.) as indicat ed by t he flashing indicat or wit hin t he
ar r ow keys. However , for simplicit y in t his pr ocedur e, use t he
cor r esponding t oggle key t o change st at es.
If you want t o change t he input impedance back t o t he default
1 M impedance, per for m t he following st ep.
50
1M
50
1M
Freq
MHz
Ch 2
Gate
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Making Measurements
Operating Guide 1-17
1
To Se t Input Channe l Tri gger Leve l/Se nsi ti vi ty
Cha ngi ng Tr i gger Mod e
Pr ess any one of t hese ar r ow keys t o t oggle t o t he next st at e of
Aut o Tr igger .
Mod i fyi ng Input Tr i gger Level
The left most 0 digit in t he LEVEL display is highlight ed, indicat ing t hat
if you pr ess t he key once t he displayed value will incr ease t o 1.000 volt
as shown in t he following st ep.
NOTE BE SURE to always press the Enter ke y to complete numeri c data
e ntri e s.
Channel 2s t r igger level is now set t o +1V.
Trigger
Sensitivity
Enter +/
Trigger
Sensitivity
Enter
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Making Measurements
1-18 Operating Guide
1
To set t he t r igger level t o 0.05V, per for m t he following st eps.
NOTE BE SURE to always press the Enter ke y to complete numeri c data
e ntri e s.
Channel 2s t r igger level is now set t o 0.05V.
Sel ect i ng Input Tr i gger Sl op e
+/
Enter
Display 1, 7/13/92
Trigger
Sensitivity
Display 1, 7/13/92
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Making Measurements
Operating Guide 1-19
1
Sel ect i ng Input Sensi t i vi t y
St a r t i ng t he Mea sur ement
The Run key init iat es r epet it ive measur ement s, and is descr ibed in t he
sect ion t it led To Cont r ol Measur ement at t he end of t his chapt er .
To Se lect Scale and Offset
The Scale & Offs et key allows for mult iplicat ion and addit ion,
r espect ively, of t he measur ement by user -specified const ant s.
Modificat ion of t he displayed measur ement by t hese Mat h oper at ions is
r epr esent ed by t he following equat ion:
(Measur ement Scale) + Offset = Displayed Result s
The Scale and Offset Mat h oper at ions can be used, for example, t o
subt r act syst emat ic er r or s or display t he per cent age differ ence bet ween
signals.
Trigger
Sensitivity
Display 1, 7/13/92
Display 1, 7/13/92
Display 1, 7/13/92
Run
Freq
MHz
Ch 2
Gate
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Making Measurements
1-20 Operating Guide
1
Ent er i ng t he Sca l e Va l ue
To demonst r at e t he Scale Mat h oper at ion, set Scale t o 10 as shown in t he
following st eps.
Pr ess and hold t he key unt il t he value of Scale is 10 as shown in t he
following st ep.
NOTE BE SURE to pre ss the Ent e r ke y to e nte r t he value of 10.
The Scale is now set t o 10, and MATH has been enabled.
The Scale & Offset indicat or is now lit t o show t hat MATH is enabled.
Since MATH is enabled, t he r esult s ar e being scaled and offset .
Scale &
Offset
Stats
Scale &
Offset
MATH
Enter
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Making Measurements
Operating Guide 1-21
1
Ent er i ng t he Offset Va l ue
To demonst r at e t he Offset Mat h oper at ion, set t he Offset t o 1 MHz as
shown in t he following st eps.
At t his point , pr essing t he key will cause t he Count er t o display t he full
display of t he Offset value as shown in t he following st ep.
Pr ess t he key six mor e t imes t o cause t he Count er t o display your ent r y
in Mega unit s as shown in t he following st ep.
The left most 0 digit in t he OFFSet display is highlight ed, indicat ing t hat
if you pr ess key once t he displayed value will incr ease t o 1 Mega
(t hat is, 1E6) as shown in t he following st ep.
NOTE BE SURE to pre ss the Ent e r ke y to e nte r t he 1 Me ga value .
The Offset is now set t o 1 Mega.
Scale &
Offset
M
Enter
M
M
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Making Measurements
1-22 Operating Guide
1
Di spl a yi ng t he Ma t h Resul t s
The Count er displays t he modified measur ement r esult s, which ar e based
on t he scale and offset values t hat you select ed in t he pr evious st eps.
That is, t he 101 r epr esent s t he or iginal 10, scale mult iplied by 10, t hen
offset by 1.
(For mor e det ails and r eal applicat ions of t he Mat h Scale and Offset
oper at ions, r efer t o t he appr opr iat e sect ion in Chapt er 2, Oper at ing Your
Univer sal Count er .)
Di sa bl i ng Ma t h
Not e t hat t he Scale & Offse t key indicat or is now off.
NOTE DO NOT cycle POWER because you will need t o use t hese Scale and
Offset values in t he following pr ocedur e To Set Limit s of Measur ement s.
Cont inue t o t he following pr ocedur e.
Run
Freq Ch 2
M
Display 1, 7/13/92
Scale &
Offset
Display 1, 7/13/92
Run
Freq
MHz
Ch 2
Gate
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Making Measurements
Operating Guide 1-23
1
To Se t Li mi ts of Me asurements
To demonst r at e how Mat h and Limit s wor k t oget her , use t he Scale (10)
and Offset (1 Mega) values select ed in t he pr evious pr ocedur e To Select
Scale and Offset . Enable Mat h by per for ming t he following st eps.
The r esult of t his Mat h oper at ion is a measur ement of 101 MHz.
(Measur ement Scale) + Offset = Result
(10 MHz 10) + 1Mega = 101 Mega
Now, set t he upper limit t o 102 Mega and t he lower limit t o 100 Mega by
per for ming t he following pr ocedur es. (Figur e 1-1 and Figur e 1-2 illust r at e
t he limit s set t ings.)
Display 1, 7/13/92
Scale &
Offset
Display 1, 7/13/92
Run
Freq Ch 2
M
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Making Measurements
1-24 Operating Guide
1
Set t i ng t he Upp er Li mi t
Pr ess t he key six mor e t imes t o cause t he Count er t o display your ent r y
in Mega unit s as shown in t he following st ep.
The left most 0 digit in t he UPPR display is highlight ed as shown above,
indicat ing t hat each pr ess of t he key will incr ease t he displayed value.
Limit
Modes
Uppr &
Lower
LIMITS
Uppr &
Lower
M
M
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Making Measurements
Operating Guide 1-25
1
NOTE BE SURE to pre ss the Ent e r ke y to e nte r t he 102 Mega value .
Figure 1-1. 102 Mega Upper Limit Setting
M
M
Enter
M
M
1 102 Mega Upper Limit
2 101 Mega Scale/Offset Measur ement
1
2
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Making Measurements
1-26 Operating Guide
1
Set t i ng t he Lower Li mi t
Pr ess t he ar r ow keys as shown in t he following st eps t o set t he lower limit
value.
Pr ess t he key six mor e t imes t o cause t he Count er t o display your ent r y
in Mega unit s as shown in t he following st ep.
NOTE BE SURE to pre ss the Ent e r ke y to e nte r t he 100 Mega value .
Uppr &
Lower
M
M
M
Enter
M
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Making Measurements
Operating Guide 1-27
1
Limit s should now be set as shown in Figur e 1-2.
Figure 1-2. 100 Mega Lower and 102 Mega Upper Limits Settings
Figur e 1-3 r epr esent s what t r anspir ed dur ing t his Mat h and Limit s
pr ocedur e.
Figure 1-3. Math and Limits Results
1 102 Mega Upper Limit
2 101 Mega Scale/Offset Measur ement
3 100 Mega Lower Limit
1 Raw Measur ement s
2 Mat h
3 Limit s
4 Measur ement s (Scale/Offset Result s)
wit hin Limit s
1
2
3
1
2 3 4
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Making Measurements
1-28 Operating Guide
1
Set t i ng t he Count er t o Fl a g a nd St op Mea sur i ng On
Out -of-Li mi t Mea sur ement s
If you want t he Count er t o st op measur ing when t he signal exceeds t he
limit s (102 t o 100 Mega) t hat you ent er ed in t he pr evious pr ocedur e,
per for m t he following st eps t o select t he STOP choice in t he ON FAIL
display. (Not e t hat ON FAIL: GO ON is t he default st at e aft er power -up.)
The cur r ent modified measur ement of t he input signal applied t o
CHANNEL 2 is displayed.
Since t he Count er is now in t he st op-on-fail mode, t he Limit annunciat or
in t he display will light and t he Count er will st op making measur ement s
when a measur ement exceeds t he limit s you set .
Limit
Modes
Run
Freq Ch 2
M
Gate
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Making Measurements
Operating Guide 1-29
1
Set t i ng t he Count er t o Fl a g On Li mi t s But Cont i nue
Mea sur i ng
Per for m t he following st eps t o select t he GO ON choice in t he ON FAIL
display if you want t he Count er t o cont inue measur ing even t hough an
measur ement r esult exceeds t he limit s pr eviously ent er ed.
The cur r ent modified measur ement of t he input signal applied t o
CHANNEL 2 is displayed.
Since t he Count er is now in t he go-on-fail mode, t he Limit annunciat or in
t he display will light each t ime a measur ement exceeds t he limit s you set .
However , t he Count er will cont inue t o make measur ement s.
Limit
Modes
Run
Freq Ch 2
M
Gate
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Making Measurements
1-30 Operating Guide
1
Di sa bl i ng Li mi t Test i ng
The Count er is now making measur ement s wit hout limit t est ing.
Di sa bl i ng Ma t h
The Count er is now making measur ement s wit hout t he scale/offset values
calculat ed int o t he measur ement s.
Limit
Modes
Display 1, 7/13/92
Scale &
Offset
Display 1, 7/13/92
Run
Freq
MHz
Ch 2
Gate
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Making Measurements
Operating Guide 1-31
1
To Perform Stati sti cs on Me asure ments
Sel ect i ng t he Type of St a t i st i cs (St a t s)
Suppose you want t he Count er t o comput e and display t he s t andard
de vi ati on of t he cur r ent input dat a (which is t he 10 MHz signal applied
t o CHANNEL 2). Also, you want t he Count er t o make 20 measur ement s
befor e it comput es t he st andar d deviat ion. Per for m t he following st eps.
Updat ing t he SHOW configur at ion caused St at s t o be enabled. The St at s
indicat or is now lit .
NOTE BE SURE to pre ss the Ent e r ke y to e nte r t he value of 20.
Stats
Scale &
Offset
MATH
Stats
Stats
Enter
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Making Measurements
1-32 Operating Guide
1
The Count er is now set t o make st at ist ics based on 20 measur ement s.
In t his case, t he displayed st andar d deviat ion value is comput ed on all
measur ement s of t he 10 MHz signal since no limit s wer e set .
Comp ut i ng St a t s on Fi l t er ed Da t a Onl y
A special feat ur e of t he Count er allows you t o use t he upper and lower
limit s t o filt er dat a befor e st at ist ical pr ocessing or comput at ion as shown
in Figur e 1-4.
Figure 1-4. Filtering Data Before Statistical Computation
1 Raw Measur ement s
2 Limit s
3 Filt er ed dat a (USE: IN LIMIT)
4 St at ist ics
Run
Freq Ch 2
Hz
Freq Ch 2
Hz
Gate
Freq Ch 2
Gate
1 2 3
4
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Making Measurements
Operating Guide 1-33
1
Per for m t he following st eps t o select t he IN LIMIT choice in t he USE
display if you want t he Count er t o comput e st at ist ics on only fr equency
measur ement s wit hin t he limit s you set .
Since t he Limit s wer e set t o 101 Mega and 102 Mega values t hat ar e
based on a scale of 10 and offset of 1 Mega, you must r e-enable Mat h now
t o get t he measur ement s t o be wit hin t he limit s. Per for m t he following
st eps.
Display 1, 7/13/92
Display 1, 7/13/92
Stats
Display 1, 7/13/92
Scale &
Offset
Display 1, 7/13/92
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Making Measurements
1-34 Operating Guide
1
Di spl a yi ng St a t s Aft er Fi l t er i ng Da t a of Input Si gna l
Let s assume you have set t he upper and lower limit s for t he input signal,
and select ed t he IN LIMIT (filt er ing) choice. Now, per for m t he following
st eps t o display t he st andar d deviat ion of t he filt er ed measur ement s.
(Note that the first step in the following procedure is optional since you
should have already set S tats to show standard deviation at the beginning
of this S tats procedure. But, you may want to perform the step anyway to
verify that the Counter is displaying the standard deviation of the
measurement .)
The st andar d deviat ion value shown in t he pr evious illust r at ion is for
demonst r at ion pur poses. The st at ist ic is comput ed using only t hose
measur ement s which fell wit hin t he limit s you set .
(For mor e det ails on t he St at s and Limit s funct ions, r efer t o t he
appr opr iat e sect ions in Chapt er 2, Oper at ing Your Univer sal Count er .)
Now, disable Mat h and St at s as shown in t he following pr ocedur e.
Display 1, 7/13/92
Stats
Run
Freq Ch 2
Gate
Freq Ch 2
Gate
Freq Ch 2
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Making Measurements
Operating Guide 1-35
1
Di sa bl i ng St a t s a nd Ma t h
The Count er is now making and displaying nor mal measur ement s
(t hat is, t he Count er is not showing st at ist ics or scale/offset r esult s).
Stats
Display 1, 7/13/92
Scale &
Offset
Display 1, 7/13/92
Run
Freq
MHz
Ch 2
Gate
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Making Measurements
1-36 Operating Guide
1
To Control Me asurement
Use t hese t wo keys t o cont r ol t he measur ement of t he Count er .
The Run key pr ovides r epet it ive measur ement s, wher eas t he
St op/Si ngle key allows you t o make one measur ement .
Wit h t he 10 MHz signal st ill connect ed t o CHANNEL 2, per for m t he
following st eps so you can bet t er under st and t he Run and St op/Single
oper at ions.
The Count er is now making r epet it ive measur ement s (cont inuously
making live measur ement s).
The Count er st opped making measur ement s. The Gat e annunciat or is not
lit . Hence, pr essing t he Stop/Single key while t he Count er is making
measur ement s (in Run) causes t he Count er t o st op aft er t he measur ement
in pr ogr ess is complet ed. If you pr ess t he St op/Si ngle key again while t he
Count er is st opped, t he Count er will make a single measur ement and t hen
st opt he Gate annunciat or will light one t ime, moment ar ily.
If you pr ess t he St op/Si ngle key while t he Count er is st opped and when
t he St at s menu it em ON SINGLE is set t o N, t he Count er will make
N measur ement s and t hen st op. This enables a set of st at ist ics t o be
comput ed.
While t he Count er is st ill st opped, per for m t he following st ep.
The Count er is making r epet it ive measur ement s again.
Run Single/
Stop
Run
Freq
MHz
Ch 2
Gate
Stop/
Single
Freq Ch 2
MHz
Run
Freq
MHz
Ch 2
Gate
2
Oper at ing Your Univer sal Count er
Oper at or s Refer ence
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Introduction
2-2 Operating Guide
2
Int r oduct ion
This is t he oper at or s r efer ence chapt er which cont ains infor mat ion and
pr ocedur es for t he fr ont -panel keys, oper at ing funct ions, and menus of t he
HP 53131A/132A 225 MHz Univer sal Count er .
Chapte r Summary
How t his Count er Wor ks for You page 2-4
Using t he Measur ement Cont r ol Keys (Run and
St op/Single)
page 2-5
Using Ent r y/Select (Ar r ow) Keys page 2-8
Using t he MEASURE Menu Keys page 2-10
Using t he Gat e & Ext er nal Ar m Menu Key page 2-16
Using t he MATH Menu Keys page 2-27
Using t he LIMITS Menu Keys page 2-37
Using CHANNEL 1 and CHANNEL 2 Input
Condit ioning Keys
page 2-44
Using t he Save and Recall Menus page 2-52
Using t he Pr int Menu page 2-56
Using t he Ut ilit y Menu page 2-57
Using t he Calibr at ion Menu page 2-67
Fr ont Panel Display Messages page 2-73
Pr eset Values Aft er Power -Up and *RST page 2-78
Summar y of t he Measur ement Sequence page 2-93
Common Quest ions page 2-94
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Introduction
Operating Guide 2-3
2
Whe re to Fi nd Some Ke y Worki ng Example s
Example Pr ocedur e for Gat e and Ext er nal Ar m page 2-24
Example Pr ocedur e for Changing t he Number of
Digit s of Resolut ion Displayed for Mor e
Pr ecise Measur ement s
page 2-25
Example Pr ocedur e for Scale Funct ion page 2-28
Example Pr ocedur e for Offset Funct ion page 2-29
Example Pr ocedur e for Tur ning Off Mat h Mode page 2-30
Example Pr ocedur e for Set t ing t he Offset Fr om
t he Last Measur ement Value
page 2-31
Example Pr ocedur e for Comput ing St at s page 2-33
Example Pr ocedur e for Easy Viewing of St at s page 2-34
Limit s Test ing Example 1Flag and St op Measur ing
On Limit s
page 2-38
Limit s Test ing Example 2Flag On Limit s but
Cont inue Measur ing
page 2-40
Limit s Test ing Example 3Use Analog Gr aph
Display While Adjust ing Input Signal
page 2-40
Limit s Test ing Example 4Select ing Filt er ing
Condit ions of St at s Comput at ion
page 2-42
Limit s Test ing Example 5Sending t he Limit -Det ect
Out put t o t he RS-232 Ser ial Por t
page 2-43
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
How this Counter Works for You
2-4 Operating Guide
2
How t his Count er Wor ks for You
The following t ext list s some of t he key t hings t he Count er does for you.
The Count er pr eset s t he menus t o default st at es and values at
power -up (r efer t o Table 2-7A for a det ailed list of t he pr eset values).
Cycling t he POWER key pr eset s t he Count er .
The Count er s Ut ilit y menu allows you t o select such t hings as
t imebase sour ce, HP-IB configur at ion, and RS-232 ser ial por t
configur at ion. Aft er your select ions, t he Count er aut omat ically st or es
all t hese select ions in non-volatile memor y (e xce pt the ti me bas e
source ); t hus, t hese set t ings (except t imebase sour ce) will not change
when power has been off or aft er a r emot e int er face r eset .
The Count er aut omat ically displays measur ement (s) in a couple of
seconds aft er you select a measur ement funct ion (e.g., Per iod).
The Count er accept s your numer ic ent r y for a menu it em aft er you
pr ess t he Enter key. You MUS T press the Enter key to complete
numeric entry.
The Count er aut omat ically enables Limit s when you ent er a numer ic
value for upper and/or lower limit s, or updat e any menu it em in t he
Limit Modes menu.
The Count er aut omat ically enables Mat h aft er you ent er a numer ic
value for scale and offset .
The Count er per for ms St at ist ical analyses for you, and will enable
St at s when you updat e any it em in t he St at s menu.
The Count er aut omat ically disables Limit s, Mat h, and St at s when you
select anot her measur ement funct ion.
The Count er saves measur ement set up(s).
The Count er inst ant ly r ecalls t he measur ement set up you want t o use.
The Count er pr int s out your measur ement and analysis dat a.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Measurement Control Keys (Run and Stop/Single)
Operating Guide 2-5
2
Using t he Measur ement Cont r ol Keys
(Run and St op/Single)
Ove rvi e w of the Measureme nt Control Keys
Two measur ement cont r ol keys ar e pr ovided on t he HP 53131A/132A
Count er : Run and Stop/Si ngle . In gener al, t he Run key pr ovides
r epet it ive measur ement s while t he St op/Si ngle key allows you t o make
single-shot measur ement s.
The Run key allows you t o:
put t he Count er int o a cont inuous measur ement loop.
exit any measur ement aft er your select ion of anot her measur ement
funct ion.
abor t t he cur r ent measur ement by st ar t ing a new measur ement
(if alr eady in Run mode or in Single mode wit h a measur ement in
pr ogr ess). This also clear s any st at ist ics being pr ocessed.
The Stop/Si ngle key allows you t o:
put t he Count er int o Single mode (if t he Count er was in Run mode)
wher e one measur ement is t aken wit h each St op/Si ngle keypr ess.
(St at s menu it em ON SINGLE should be set t o 1.)
put t he Count er int o Single mode (if t he Count er was in Run mode)
wher e N measur ement s ar e t aken wit h each St op/Si ngle keypr ess.
(St at s menu it em ON SINGLE should be set t o N.)
st op (abor t ) t he cur r ent measur ement (if t he Count er was in Single
mode).
Run Stop/
Single
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Measurement Control Keys (Run and Stop/Single)
2-6 Operating Guide
2
To Use the Me asurement Control Keys
The following pr ocedur e demonst r at es how t hese keys funct ion.
1 Connect power sour ce t o Count er , and t ur n on Count er .
All segment s of t he fr ont -panel display will light up while t he Count er
per for ms it s power -on self-t est , and t hen dashes ar e displayed.
The Count er is now r eady t o measur e fr equency of a signal applied t o
CHANNEL 1 input . Not e t hat t he Freq and Ch1 annunciat or s light .
2 Connect an input signal t o CHANNEL 1.
The Count er aut omat ically displays t he measur ed fr equency of t he input
signal. Not e t hat t he Run key indicat or is ON.
3 Pr ess Stop/Si ngle key.
The Count er is put int o Single mode and t he cur r ent measur ement is
complet ed. One measur ement is t aken wit h each pr ess of St op/Si ngle key.
Not e t hat t he St op/Si ngle key indicat or is ON.
4 Pr ess Run key.
The Count er abor t s any measur ement in pr ogr ess, and st ar t s making
r epet it ive measur ement s. That is, t he Count er is in a cont inuous
measur ement loop.
5 Pr ess Stop/Si ngle key.
The Count er is put int o Single mode.
6 Pr ess Stat s key unt il ON SINGLE menu it em appear s, t hen pr ess any one
of t he ar r ow keys t o set ON SINGLE menu it em t o N.
The Count er is set t o t ake N measur ement s on each St op/Si ngle keypr ess.
The st at e of ON SINGLE menu it em affect s t he St op/Si ngle key oper at ion
while st at ist ics ar e enabled.
Obser ve t hat t he St at s indicat or is ON. This indicat es st at ist ical
pr ocessing is enabled.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Measurement Control Keys (Run and Stop/Single)
Operating Guide 2-7
2
7 Pr ess Stop/Si ngle key.
One set of N fr equency measur ement s is t aken wit h each pr ess of t he
St op/Si ngle key. One set of st at ist ics is comput ed wit h each pr ess of t he
St op/Si ngle key.
8 Pr ess Stat s key unt il SHOW menu it em appear s.
9 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys t o select a st at ist ical r esult t o display, and
pr ess Enter key.
The Count er is now displaying one of t he st at ist ical r esult s.
10 Pr ess Stop/Si ngle key.
One set of N fr equency measur ement s is t aken wit h each pr ess of t he
St op/Si ngle key. At t he complet ion of t he Nt h measur ement , t he Count er
displays t he st at ist ical r esult select ed in st ep 9.
11 Pr ess Stat s key unt il ON SINGLE menu it em appear s, t hen pr ess any one
of t he ar r ow keys t o set ON SINGLE menu it em t o 1.
The Count er is set t o t ake one measur ement on each St op/Si ngle
keypr ess.
Disabling t he st at ist ics (wit h t he STATS: OFF menu it em) is anot her way
t o cause t he St op/Single key t o init iat e one measur ement at t ime.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using Entry/Select (Arrow) Keys
2-8 Operating Guide
2
Using Ent r y/Select (Ar r ow) Keys
Ther e ar e six ent r y/select keys of which four ar e ar r ow keys.
The funct ion of t he four ar r ow keys and t he Ent er key depends on t he
Count er s oper at ing mode (t hat is, numer ic ent r y, st at e changing,
sequencing t hr ough choices in a menu, et c.). This sect ion descr ibes how
t he keys per for m in t he differ ent oper at ing modes.
To Use Duri ng Numeri c Entry
Use t he key t o move left t o select adjust able digit s (it does not wr ap
ar ound).
Use t he key t o move r ight t o select adjust able digit s (it does not wr ap
ar ound).
Use t he key t o incr ement t he select ed (highlight ed) digit of t he
displayed value.
Use t he key t o decr ement t he select ed (highlight ed) digit of t he
displayed value.
Use t he +/ key t o change t he sign of t he numer ic value.
Use t he Ent e r key t o complet e a numer ic ent r y. (If a numer ic ent r y is
changed and t he Ente r key is NOT pr essed, t hen t he value is not
changed.)
To Use When Seque nci ng Through the Me asurement
Functi on Menus (Freq & Rati o, Ti me & Peri od, Othe r
Meas) and the Re call Me nu
Use t he or key t o go back t o t he pr evious choice in a funct ion or
r ecall menu. Repeat edly pr essing t his key will cycle t hr ough (and loop
ar ound) t he list of choices.
Use t he or key t o go for war d or t o t he next choice in a funct ion or
r ecall menu. Repeat edly pr essing t his key will cycle t hr ough (and loop
ar ound) t he list of choices.
Use t he Ent e r key t o select t he funct ion or execut e t he r ecall, or wait
for t he menu t o t ime out for aut omat ic select ion/execut ion.
Enter +/
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using Entry/Select (Arrow) Keys
Operating Guide 2-9
2
To Use Duri ng State Changi ng (ON/OFF, LO/MED/HI,
etc.)
Pr ess any of t he ar r ow keys t o t oggle or change t o t he next st at e of t he
par amet er s found in t he following menus:
Gat e & Ext Ar m
Limit Modes
Scale & Offset
St at s
Tr igger /Sensit ivit y
50/1M
DC/AC
X10 At t enuat e
100kHz Filt er
Save & Pr int
Ut ilit y Menu
The Ent e r and +/ keys ar e ignor ed dur ing t he st at e changing
oper at ing mode.
To Use on Prompted Event Messages (SET OFFSET ?,
CAL: OFFS n ?, TEST: ALL?, etc.)
For SET OFFSET ?, and all t he TEST: ? pr ompt ed event messages,
pr ess Enter key t o st ar t t he event .
For CAL: OFFS n ? and GAIN n ?, pr ess Ente r key t o display
inst r uct ions. Pr ess Enter key again t o st ar t t he event .
To Use on Prompted He lp Me ssages (MATH HELP ?,
PRINT HELP ?)
When MATH HELP ? is displayed, pr ess Ent e r key t o display t he
(MEAS x SCALE) + OFFS = RESULT message.
When PRINT HELP ? is displayed, pr ess Enter key t o display t he
CONFIGURE PORT ON UTILITY MENU; REMEMBER TO SAVE
SETUP FIRST inst r uct ion.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the MEASURE Menu Keys
2-10 Operating Guide
2
Using t he MEASURE Menu Keys
Overvi e w of the MEASURE Menus
The measur ement funct ion menus ar e divided int o t hr ee cat egor ies:
Fr equency measur ement s on channel 1, 2, or 3 (opt ional) and r at io of
fr equencies bet ween channels.
Time int er val, per iod, and pulse char act er izat ion measur ement s.
(The HP 53131A/132A pr ovides one key-pr ess oper at ion for such pulse
measur ement s as r iset ime, fallt ime, pulse widt h, et c., which have
t r adit ionally r equir ed mult iple key pr esses or oper at ions.)
Ot her measur ement s (dut ycycle, phase, peak volt age, and t ot alize).
To sequence t hr ough t he menus of t he MEASUREment funct ion keys
(Freq & Rati o, Time & Peri od, and Othe r Meas keys), you simply need
t o r epeat edly pr ess t he appr opr iat e MEASURE key t o cycle t hr ough (and
loop ar ound) t he menus under t he key. Each pr ess of a MEASURE key
will advance t he Count er t o t he next measur ement funct ion in t he menu.
NOTE The menus under t he MEASURE keys will t er minat e (select funct ion and
r et ur n t o measur ement r esult display) aft er t wo seconds.
Table 2-1. Menus of the MEASUREment Keys
Freq & Rati o Key Time & Peri od Key Other Meas Key
FREQUENCY 1
REQUENCY 2
REQUENCY 3 (opt ional)
ATIO 1 TO 2
ATIO 1 TO 3 (opt ional)
ATIO 2 TO 1
RATIO 3 TO 1 (opt ional)
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
Other
Meas
Time &
Period
Gate &
ExtArm
MEASURE
Freq &
Ratio
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the MEASURE Menu Keys
Operating Guide 2-11
2
To Measure Freque ncy
1 Connect power sour ce t o Count er , and t ur n on Count er .
All segment s of t he fr ont -panel display will light up while t he Count er
per for ms it s power -on self-t est , and t hen dashes ar e displayed.
The Count er is now r eady t o measur e fr equency of a signal applied t o
CHANNEL 1 input . Not e t hat t he Freq and Ch1 annunciat or s light .
2 Connect an input signal t o CHANNEL 1.
The Count er should aut omat ically display t he measur ed fr equency of t he
input signal. The t r igger levels ar e set t o t he 50% point s of t he signal.
However , you may disable aut o t r igger ing, and change t he t r igger levels
and slopes.
To set up CHANNEL 1s coupling, impedance, and t r igger ing condit ions t o
mat ch t he input signal you ar e t r ying t o measur e, r efer t o t he pr ocedur es
To Select Input Coupling and Impedance and To Set Input Channel
Tr igger Level/Sensit ivit y in Chapt er 1, Get t ing St ar t ed, or t he sect ion
t it led Using CHANNEL 1 and CHANNEL 2 Input Condit ioning Keys in
t his chapt er .
3 Pr ess t he Freq/Rat i o key unt il FREQUENCY 2 is displayed t o measur e
t he fr equency of an input signal applied t o CHANNEL 2.
FREQUENCY 2 is moment ar ily displayed, t he Freq and Ch2
annunciat or s light , and t he Count er is r eady t o measur e fr equency of a
signal applied t o CHANNEL 2 input . The t r igger levels ar e set t o t he
50% point s of t he signal. However , you may disable aut o t r igger ing, and
change t he t r igger levels and slopes.
4 To measur e t he fr equency of a signal applied t o opt ional CHANNEL 3
input , r epeat st ep 3 unt il FREQUENCY 3 is displayed.
FREQUENCY 3 will be moment ar ily displayed and t he Freq and Ch3
annunciat or s will light . The Count er will be r eady t o measur e t he
fr equency of a signal applied t o CHANNEL 3 input .
Not e t hat t he Fr equency 3 menu it em is not available in Count er s t hat do
not cont ain opt ional Channel 3.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the MEASURE Menu Keys
2-12 Operating Guide
2
To Measure Freque ncy Rati o
1 Pr ess Freq & Rati o key unt il RATIO 1 TO 2 is displayed.
RATIO 1 TO 2 is moment ar ily displayed, t he Fre q, Ch1, and Ch2
annunciat or s light , and t he Count er is r eady t o measur e and display t he
fr equency r at io of a signal applied t o CHANNEL 1 in r elat ion t o a signal
applied t o CHANNEL 2 (Ch1/Ch2). The t r igger levels ar e set t o t he
50% point s of each signal. However , you may disable aut o t r igger ing, and
change t he t r igger levels and slopes.
Not e t he r esult is not scaled by 100; it is not a per cent age.
Not e t hat RATIO 2 TO 1 is also available (Ch2/Ch1).
2 To measur e t he fr equency r at io bet ween a signal applied t o CHANNEL 1
input and a signal applied t o Opt ion 030/050 CHANNEL 3 input , r epeat
st ep 1, above.
RATIO 1 TO 3 will be moment ar ily displayed and t he Freq, Ch1, and
Ch3 annunciat or s will light . The Count er will be r eady t o measur e t he
fr equency r at io of a signal applied t o CHANNEL 1 in r elat ion t o a signal
applied t o CHANNEL 3 (Ch1/Ch3).
Not e t hat t he Rat io 1 t o 3 menu it em is not available in Count er s t hat do
not cont ain opt ional Channel 3.
Not e t he r esult is not scaled by 100; it is not a per cent age.
Not e t hat RATIO 3 TO 1 is also available (Ch3/Ch1).
By pr essing t he Fre q & Ratio key, t he Count er will r et ur n t o t he
Fr equency 1 measur ement mode; t his demonst r at es t he loop ar ound
feat ur e of t he measur ement funct ion menu keys.
The fr ont -panel ar r ow (or ent r y/select ) keys can also be used when
sequencing t hr ough t he measur ement funct ion menus. Refer t o t he
sect ion t it led Using Ent r y/Select (Ar r ow) Keys for det ails.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the MEASURE Menu Keys
Operating Guide 2-13
2
To Measure Ti me Inte rval
Pr ess Ti me & Peri od key unt il TI 1 TO 2 is displayed.
TI 1 TO 2 is moment ar ily displayed, t he Ti me , Ch1, and Ch2
annunciat or s light , and t he Count er is r eady t o measur e t he lengt h of t ime
bet ween a st ar t event on CHANNEL 1 and a st op event on CHANNEL 2.
The Count er is aut omat ically set t o measur e fr om s e parat e signal
sour ces. (The start and stop eve nts may be de ri ve d from separate
si gnal sources, or they may be from a si ngle source . Re fer to the
secti on i n thi s chapter titled Usi ng CHANNEL 1 and CHANNEL 2
Input Condi ti oni ng Keys for speci fi cs i n performi ng Time
Interval measurement s on a si ngle sourceCOMMON 1: ON).
Independent slope, t r igger level, and sensit ivit y cont r ols for t he st ar t and
st op event s allow var iable t r igger ing on eit her posit ive- or negat ive-going
slopes.
The t r igger levels ar e set t o t he 50% point s of each signal. However ,
you may disable aut o t r igger ing, and change t he t r igger levels and slopes.
To Measure Pe ri od
Pr ess Ti me & Peri od key unt il Period 1 is displayed.
Period 1 is moment ar ily displayed, t he Peri od and Ch1 annunciat or s
light , and t he Count er is r eady t o measur e t he per iod of a signal applied t o
CHANNEL 1.
To Measure Ri se/Fall Ti mes
Pr ess Ti me & Peri od key unt il RISETIME 1 or FALLTIME 1, depending
on which measur ement you want t o make, is displayed.
RISETIME 1 or FALLTIME 1 is moment ar ily displayed, and t he Ri s e or
Fall , Ti me , and Ch1 annunciat or s light . The r iset ime and fallt ime modes
of oper at ion aut omat ically configur e t he Count er t o per for m r iset ime or
fallt ime measur ement s t hr ough CHANNEL 1 input . The t r igger ing is
aut omat ically set t o AUTO TRIG: ON. In t he r iset ime and fallt ime modes,
AUTO TRIG aut omat ically locat es t he 10% and 90% point s of t he input
signal, and set s t he t r igger levels accor dingly. You may over r ide t hese
aut omat ic select ions if you want .
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the MEASURE Menu Keys
2-14 Operating Guide
2
To Measure Posi ti ve/Negati ve Pulse Wi dths
Pr ess Ti me & Peri od key unt il POS WIDTH 1 or NEG WIDTH 1,
depending on which measur ement you want t o make, is displayed.
POS WIDTH 1 or NEG WIDTH 1 is moment ar ily displayed, and t he +Wid
or Wi d, and Ch1 annunicat or s light . The pulse widt h measur ement
aut omat ically configur es t he Count er t o per for m posit ive or negat ive pulse
widt h measur ement s t hr ough CHANNEL 1 input . The AUTO TRIG is set
t o t r igger at t he 50% point of t he signal.
To Measure Duty Cycle
Pr ess Othe r Me as key unt il DUTYCYCLE 1 is displayed.
DUTYCYCLE 1 is moment ar ily displayed, t he Ch1 annunciat or light s.
The dut ycycle mode of oper at ion is r eady t o measur e a cont inuous
wavefor m applied t o CHANNEL 1 input . The input is aut omat ically set t o
common-channel 1, and t r igger ing set t o AUTO TRIG: ON. The t r igger
levels ar e set t o t he 50% point s of each signal. However , you may disable
aut o t r igger ing, and change t he t r igger levels.
Result s will r ange fr om 0 t o 1. The dut ycycle is defined as t he posit ive
pulse widt h divided by t he per iod. (Not e t hat t he r esult is not scaled
by 100; it is not a per cent age.)
To Make Totali ze Me asure ments
Pr ess Othe r Me as key unt il TOTALIZE 1 is displayed.
TOTALIZE 1 is moment ar ily displayed, t he Ch1 annunciat or light s,
and t he Count er is in it s t ot alize mode. Aut o-t r igger ing is aut omat ically
disabled on CHANNEL 1 since t her e may not be a suit able signal at t he
beginning of t he measur ement . The t ot alize mode of oper at ion displays
t he number of count s (event s) r eceived t hr ough CHANNEL 1. The count is
cont inuously displayed if GATE: AUTO is select ed.
The t ot alize measur ement is clear ed t o zer o when t he t ot alize funct ion is
fir st invoked, when t he fr ont -panel Run key is pr essed, or when t he
St op/Si ngle key is pr essed.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the MEASURE Menu Keys
Operating Guide 2-15
2
To Make Phase Measureme nts
Pr ess Othe r Me as key unt il PHASE 1 TO 2 is displayed.
PHASE 1 TO 2 is moment ar ily displayed, t he Ch1 and Ch2 annunicat or s
light , and t he Count er is r eady t o measur e t he phase of a signal applied t o
CHANNEL 1 input r elat ive t o a signal applied t o CHANNEL 2 input .
The phase differ ence is displayed in degr ees. If aut o t r igger ing is enabled,
t he t r igger levels ar e set t o t he 50% point s of each signal. However , you
may disable aut o t r igger ing, and change t he t r igger levels and slopes.
Use CHANNEL 2 as t he r efer ence. One per iod on CHANNEL 2 will
define 360. If CHANNEL 1 is leading CHANNEL 2, t he pulse r esult is
posit ive.
To Measure Posi ti ve/Negati ve Voltage Pe aks
Pr ess Othe r Me as key unt il VOLT PEAKS 1 or VOLT PEAKS 2,
depending on which measur ement you want t o make, is displayed.
VOLT PEAKS 1 or VOLT PEAKS 2 is moment ar ily displayed, t he Ch1 or
Ch2 annunciat or light s, and t he Count er is r eady t o measur e minimum
and maximum volt age peaks of signals applied t o CHANNEL 1 or
CHANNEL 2, r espect ively.
NOTE In Volt age Peaks funct ion, t he Count er measur es t he input signal after
t he signal has been condit ioned by t he input set t ings (impedance,
coupling, at t enuat ion, and filt er ). One r eminder of t his is t he
(AC COUPLED) message, which is displayed when Volt age Peaks is
select ed and t he measur ement channel is ac coupled.
The r esult is cor r ect ed for X10 at t enuat ion.
Not e t hat Ar ming is not used for Volt age Peaks measur ement s, and t hat
neit her Limit s nor Mat h is available.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key
2-16 Operating Guide
2
Using t he Gat e & Ext er nal Ar m Menu Key
Overvi e w of Gate/External Armi ng Functi ons
Table 2-2 for t he HP 53131A (and HP 53132A wit h a ser ial number pr efix
below 3646) and Table 2-3 for t he HP 53132A wit h a ser ial number pr efix
3646 and above (on page 2-19 and page 2-23, r espect ively) list t he menus
for all t he ar ming configur at ions, and shows how t he Gat e and Ext er nal
Ar ming menu changes as a funct ion of t he measur ement and t he ar ming
mode.
The HP 53131A/132A Count er has four ar ming modes: aut o, ext er nal,
digit s, and t ime. However , t he HP 53131A (or HP 53132A wit h a ser ial
number pr efix below 3646) and HP 53132A have differ ent ar ming
capabilit ies for Time Int er val measur ement s. Thus, for simplicit y, t heir
Time Int er val ar ming capabilit ies ar e discussed in separ at e subsect ions.
If you ar e using an HP 53131A (or HP 53132A wit h a ser ial number
pr efix below 3646), r ead t he Time Int er val Delay ar ming infor mat ion
starting on page 2-17.
If you ar e using an HP 53132A (wit h a ser ial number pr efix 3646 and
above), r ead t he Time Int er val Delay ar ming infor mat ion starting
on page 2-20.
Gate/External Armi ng Capabi li ti es
AUTO Ar mi ng
For fr equency, per iod, fr equency r at io, r iset ime, fallt ime, pulse widt h,
dut ycycle, and phase, auto armi ng means make individual
measur ement s as fast as possible.
For t ot alize, aut o ar ming means t he Count er st ar t s t o count when it is
enabled by t he pr essing of eit her t he Run or St op/Si ngle key.
The Count er st ops count ing when t he Stop/Single key is pr essed.
Other
Meas
Time &
Period
Gate &
ExtArm
MEASURE
Freq &
Ratio
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key
Operating Guide 2-17
2
EXTERNAL Ar mi ng
For fr equency, per iod, fr equency r at io, and t ot alize, exte rnal arming
means you can cont r ol t he st ar t of a measur ement by using an ext er nal
signal.
NOTE When ext er nal ar ming mode is enabled, a signal must be connect ed t o t he
Count er s r ear -panel Ext Arm connect or .
TIME Ar mi ng
For fr equency, per iod, r at io, and t ot alize, t ime armi ng means you can set
t he gat e t imet he lengt h of t ime for which your signal is measur ed.
NOTE Gat e t ime and r esolut ion ar e linked: t he longer t he gat e t ime, t he gr eat er
t he r esolut ion. Wit h an incr ease in r esolut ion, you get a lar ger number of
digit s on t he display.
Time ar ming is demonst r at ed in t he sub-sect ion t it led Example
Pr ocedur e for Gat e and Ext er nal Ar m.
DIGITS Ar mi ng
For fr equency, per iod, and r at io, di gi ts armi ng means you can set t he
number of digit s of r esolut ion t hat you r equir e your r esult t o pr ovide.
Digit s ar ming is demonst r at ed in t he sub-sect ion t it led Example
Pr ocedur e for Changing t he Number of Digit s of Resolut ion Displayed for
Mor e Pr ecise Measur ement s.
HP 53131A (a nd HP 53132A Wi t h S/N Pr efi x Bel ow 3646)
Ti me Int er va l DELAY Ar mi ng
The DELAY capabilit y (specified in t he Time Int er val ar ming menu)
pr ovides a var iable delay bet ween t he st ar t event (Channel 1) and t he
enabling of t he st op event (Channel 2) as shown Figur e 2-1. Pot ent ial st op
event s ar e ignor ed dur ing t he specified delay t ime.
Ext er nal ar ming can also be used t o cont r ol t he st ar t of a measur ement by
using an ext er nal signal.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key
2-18 Operating Guide
2
NOTE When ext er nal ar ming mode is enabled, a signal must be connect ed t o t he
Count er s r ear -panel Ext Arm connect or .
Figure 2-1. HP 53131A (HP 53132A S/N Prefix Below 3646) Time Interval
Delay
NOTE The examples in Figur e 2-1 have t he input signal applied t o Channel 1
wit h COMMON 1: ON, Channel 1 SLOPE: POS, and Channel 2 SLOPE:
POS.
DESIRED T.I. MEASUREMENT
START STOP
ACTUAL T.I. MEAS
ARM: AUTO, DELAY: NONE
DESIRED T.I. MEASUREMENT
START STOP
ACTUAL T.I. MEAS
DELAY TIME
ARM: AUTO, DELAY: TIME, TIME: (specified)
(standard T.I. measurement)
DESIRED T.I. MEASUREMENT
START STOP
ACTUAL T.I. MEAS
ARM: EXTERNL, SLOPE: POS, DELAY: TIME, TIME: (specified)
DELAY TIME
EXT ARM INPUT
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key
Operating Guide 2-19
2
Table 2-2.
*
HP 53131A (HP 53132A S/N Prefix Below 3646) Gate & External Arm Key Menus as
a Function of the Measurement and Arming Mode
Freq, Period,
Ratio
Phase Totalize RiseTime, Fall Time,
+/Width, Dutycycle
Time Interval
Auto Arming:
GATE: AUTO
Auto Arming:
ARM: AUTO
Auto Arming:
GATE: AUTO
Auto Arming:
ARM: AUTO
Auto Arming:
ARM: AUTO
DELAY: NONE
TIME
TIME: <time>
Digits Arming:
GATE: DIGITS
DIGITS: <digits> _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________
Time Arming:
GATE: TIME
TIME: <time>
_______________
Time Arming:
GATE: TIME
TIME: <time>
_______________ _______________
External Arming:
GATE: EXTERNL
START: POS
NEG
STOP: AUTO
NEG
POS
TIME
TIME: <time>
External Arming:
ARM: EXTERNL
SLOPE: POS
NEG
External Arming:
GATE: EXTERNL
START: POS
NEG
STOP: NEG
POS
TIME
TIME: <time>
External Arming:
ARM: EXTERNL
SLOPE: POS
NEG
External Arming:
ARM: EXTERNL
SLOPE: POS
NEG
DELAY: NONE
TIME
TIME: <time>
* There is no Gate and External Arm menu available for Voltage Peaks measurements.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key
2-20 Operating Guide
2
HP 53132A (Wi t h S/N Pr efi x 3646 a nd Above) Ti me Int er va l
DELAY Ar mi ng
In t he following subsect ions, a leading st ar (G) means t he par amet er
affect s t he START event . A t r ailing st ar means t he par amet er affect s
STOP event .
AUTO ARMING (GSTART: AUTO)
The DELAYG (st op delay) capabilit y (specified in t he Time Int er val
ar ming menu) pr ovides a var iable delay bet ween t he st ar t event
(Channel 1) and t he enabling of t he st op event (Channel 2) as shown in
Figur e 2-2. Two t ypes of delay ar e possible: 1) TIMEpot ent ial st op
event s ar e ignor ed dur ing t he specified delay t ime, or 2) EVENT
t he measur ement is st opped when t he specified number of st op event s has
occur r ed.
EXTERNAL ARMING (GSTART: EXT)
Ext er nal ar ming can be used t o cont r ol t he st ar t , or st ar t and st op, of a
measur ement by using an ext er nal signal as shown in Figur e 2-3.
Set STOPG and/or GSTART t o EXT t o act ivat e.
NOTE When ext er nal ar ming mode is enabled, a signal must be connect ed t o t he
Count er s r ear -panel Ext Arm connect or .
The GDELAY (st ar t delay) capabilit y (specified when GSTART is set t o
EXT) pr ovides a var iable delay bet ween t he ar ming event (Ext Ar m) and
t he enabling of t he st ar t of t he measur ement . Two t ypes of delay ar e
possible: 1) TIMEpot ent ial st ar t event s (Channel 1) ar e ignor ed dur ing
t he specified delay t ime, or 2) EVENTt he measur ement is st ar t ed aft er
t he specified number of Channel 2 event s has occur r ed. A DELAYG
(st op delay) as descr ibed in AUTO ARMING above can also be used in
conjunct ion wit h GDELAY (st ar t delay) as shown in Figur e 2-3.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key
Operating Guide 2-21
2
Figure 2-2. HP 53132A (With S/N Prefix 3646 and Above) Auto Arming
NOTE The examples in Figur e 2-2 have t he input signal applied t o Channel 1
wit h COMMON 1: ON, Channel 1 SLOPE: POS, and Channel 2 SLOPE:
POS.
DESIRED T.I. MEASUREMENT
START STOP
ACTUAL T.I. MEAS
START: AUTO, DELAY : NONE
DESIRED T.I. MEASUREMENT
START STOP
ACTUAL T.I. MEAS
DELAY TIME
DESIRED T.I. MEASUREMENT
START STOP
ACTUAL T.I. MEAS
DELAY STOP TO 4th EVENT
1 2 3 4

START: AUTO, DELAY : TIME, T : (specified)
START: AUTO, DELAY : EVENT, E : 4

(standard T.I. measurement)

Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key
2-22 Operating Guide
2
Figure 2-3. HP 53132A (With S/N Prefix 3646 and Above) External Arming
NOTE The examples in Figur e 2-3 have t he input signal applied t o Channel 1
wit h COMMON 1: ON, Channel 1 SLOPE: POS, and Channel 2
SLOPE: NEG. Thus, t he signals applied t o Channel 1 and Channel 2 ar e
ident ical, however , t he channel event s occur on opposit e slopes.
DESIRED T.I. MEASUREMENT
START STOP
ACTUAL T.I. MEAS
START: EXT, SLOPE: POS, DELAY: TIME, T: (specified), STOP : AUTO, DELAY : EVENT, E : 5
DELAY STOP TO 4th EVENT
2 3 4 5
START DELAY TIME
EXT ARM INPUT
DESIRED T.I. MEASUREMENT
START STOP
ACTUAL T.I. MEAS
2 3 4
DELAY START BY 4 CHAN 2 EVENTS
EXT ARM INPUT
1
5
START: EXT, SLOPE: POS, DELAY: EVENT, E: 5, STOP : EXT, SLOPE : NEG, DELAY : NONE
1
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key
Operating Guide 2-23
2
Table 2-3.
*
HP 53132A (S/N Prefix 3646 and Above) Gate & External Arm Key Menus as a
Function of the Measurement and Arming Mode
Freq, Period,
Ratio
Phase Totalize RiseTime, Fall Time,
+/Width, Dutycycle
**
Time Interval
Auto Arming:
GATE: AUTO
Auto Arming:
ARM: AUTO
Auto Arming:
GATE: AUTO
Auto Arming:
ARM: AUTO
Auto Arming:
GSTART: AUTO
DELAYG: NONE
TIME
EVENT
TG: <time>
EG: <events>
Digits Arming:
GATE: DIGITS
DIGITS: <digits>
_______________ _______________ _______________ _______________
Time Arming:
GATE: TIME
TIME: <time>
_______________
Time Arming:
GATE: TIME
TIME: <time>
_______________ _______________
External Arming:
GATE: EXTERNL
START: POS
NEG
STOP: AUTO
NEG
POS
TIME
TIME: <time>
External Arming:
ARM: EXTERNL
SLOPE: POS
NEG
External Arming:
GATE: EXTERNL
START: POS
NEG
STOP: NEG
POS
TIME
TIME: <time>
External Arming:
ARM: EXTERNL
SLOPE: POS
NEG
External Arming:
GSTART: EXT
GSLOPE: POS
NEG
GDELAY: NONE
TIME
EVENT
GT: <time>
GE: <events>
STOPG: AUTO
EXT
SLOPEG: POS
NEG
DELAYG: NONE
TIME
EVENT
TG: <time>
EG: <events>
* There is no Gate and External Arm menu available for Voltage Peaks measurements.
** A leading star (G) means the parameter affects the START event. A trailing star means the parameter affects the STOP event.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key
2-24 Operating Guide
2
To Use the Gate and Exte rnal Arm
Exa mpl e Pr oced ur e for Ga t e a nd Ext er na l Ar m
For demonst r at ion pur poses, you want t o set up t he Count er so t hat it
uses an ext er nal ar m t o st ar t a measur ement . You want t o make a
Tot alize measur ement on t he posit ive edges (t hat is, count t he number of
posit ive edges) of a pulse-t r ain signal applied t o channel 1. Also, you want
t o per for m t he measur ement dur ing an int er val of 5 milliseconds as shown
in t he following figur e.
Per for m t he following pr ocedur e t o accomplish t his t ask.
1 Tur n on t he Count er , and pr ess St op/Si ngle t o put t he Count er int o t he
single measur ement mode.
2 Connect t he pulse-t r ain signal t o channel 1 input , and pr ess Ot her Meas
key unt il TOTALIZE 1 is displayed.
3 Connect an ext er nal TTL signal t o t he Count er s r ear -panel Ext Arm
connect or .
4 Pr ess Gate & ExtArm key.
GATE: TIME is displayed.
5 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys unt il GATE: EXTERNL is displayed.
6 Pr ess Gate & ExtArm key.
START: POS is displayed. (If START: NEG is displayed inst ead, t hen
pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys t o t oggle t o t he next st at ePOS).
Gate
Ext
Arm
CHANNEL 1
5 ms
Ext
Arm
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key
Operating Guide 2-25
2
7 Pr ess Gate & ExtArm key.
STOP: NEG is displayed.
8 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys unt il STOP: TIME is displayed.
9 Set t he Gat e Time t o 5 ms by per for ming t he following st eps:
a. Pr ess Gate & ExtArm key.
TIME: .100 seconds (t he default t ime) is displayed.
b. Pr ess t he appr opr iat e ar r ow keys t o unt il TIME: .00500 seconds is
displayed.
c. Pr ess Enter key.
NOTE BE SURE to pre ss the Ent e r ke y to comple t e t he nume ri c e ntry.
The count er will now gat e for a dur at ion of 5 ms.
10 Pr ess Stop/Si ngle key t o st ar t t he measur ement .
The measur ement is st ar t ed aft er t he ext er nal ar m pulse occur s.
Exa mpl e Pr oced ur e for Cha ngi ng t he Number of
Di gi t s of Resol ut i on Di spl a yed for Mor e
Pr eci se Mea sur ement s
1 Tur n POWER key OFF t hen ON again (cycle POWER key) t o pr eset t he
Count er .
2 Connect (for demonst r at ion pur poses) t he 10 MHz Out signal t o t he
channel 1 input .
3 Pr ess Ti me & Peri od key unt il PERIOD 1 is displayed.
Aft er a few seconds, 0.10000000000 s is displayed. Hence, t he default
number of digit s (or r esolut ion) displays a pr ecise measur ement .
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Gate & External Arm Menu Key
2-26 Operating Guide
2
4 To demonst r at e how t o use digit s ar ming t o change t he number of digit s
displayed, per for m t he following st eps fir st .
a. Pr ess Gate & ExtArm key
GATE: TIME is displayed.
b. Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys unt il AUTO is displayed.
c. Pr ess Run key.
0.1000 s is displayed. Not e t hat fewer digit s ar e displayed.
In aut o ar ming you pr oduce r esult s quickly. The shor t gat e t ime
pr oduces a lower -r esolut ion r esult .
5 To change t he display t o t he bet t er measur ement r esolut ion using digit s
ar ming, per for m t he following st eps:
a. Pr ess Gate & ExtArm key
GATE: AUTO is displayed.
b. Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys unt il DIGITS is displayed.
c. Pr ess Gate & ExtArm key.
DIGITS: 4 is displayed (t he default number of digit s)
d. To set t he number of digit s displayed t o 8, pr ess t he appr opr iat e ar r ow
keys unt il DIGITS: 8 is displayed.
e . Pr ess Enter key.
f. Pr ess Run key.
0.10000000 s is displayed. Not e t hat 8 digit s of r esolut ion ar e
displayed.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the MATH Menu Keys
Operating Guide 2-27
2
Using t he MATH Menu Keys
Not e t hat Mat h and Limit s ar e not available for Tot alize and Volt age
Peaks measur ement s.
Ove rvi e w of Scale /Offset Math Me nu
The Scale and Offset funct ions wit hin t he Mat h menu allow you t o
per for m simple mat hemat ical oper at ions on t he measur ement r esult
befor e it is displayed. The Scale and Offset funct ions allow for
mult iplicat ion and addit ion. Modificat ion of t he displayed measur ement
by t hese mat h oper at ions is r epr esent ed by t he following equat ion:
(Measur ement Scale) + Offset = Displayed Result
The mat h oper at ions can be used, for example, t o subt r act syst emat ic
er r or s or display t he per cent age differ ence bet ween signals. Also, t he
over all mat h oper at ion can be disabled and t hen r e-est ablished wit hout
having t o r e-ent er const ant s.
The menu it ems of t he Scale and Offset Mat h funct ions allow you t o:
ent er a desir ed mult iplicat ion fact or for a measur ement (SCAL:).
ent er a desir ed addit ion or subt r act ion value for a measur ement
(OFFS:).
get and display t he last measur ement value, and use it as t he offset
(SET OFFSET ?).
disable or enable t he Mat h mode (MATH: OFF or ON)Not e t hat
t he Mat h mode is aut omat ically enabled when you ent er t he scale
and/or offset value(s); t hus, t he pr imar y funct ion of t his menu it em is
t o allow you t o t ur n t he Mat h mode off.
get Help, which displays t he equat ion (MEAS X SCALE) +
OFFS = RESULT t o t ell you how t he scale and offset r esult s ar e
comput ed by t he Count er (MATH HELP ?).
Stats
Scale &
Offset
MATH
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the MATH Menu Keys
2-28 Operating Guide
2
To Use the Scale/Offset Math Me nu
Exa mpl e Pr oced ur e for Sca l e Funct i on
For demonst r at ion pur poses, you have a mot or t hat has a t achomet er
at t ached t o it s r ot at ing shaft t hat gener at es a pulse for ever y r evolut ion of
t he shaft .
Your t ask is t o measur e t he speed or r evolut ions per minut e (r pm) of t he
t achomet er s sinusoidal out put , and make t he Count er dir ect ly display t he
measur ement in r pm (which is fundament ally a fr equency measur ement ).
The equat ion for t his t ask is:
Per for m t he following pr ocedur e t o accomplish t his t ask.
1 Connect t he sinusoidal out put t o channel 1 input , and set up t he Count er
t o measur e fr equency of t he signal. (Refer t o t he sect ion in t his chapt er
t it led To Measur e Fr equency if needed.)
2 Pr ess Scale & Offs et key unt il SCAL: 1.000000 is displayed.
3 Set t he Scale t o 60 (since t her e ar e sixt y seconds in a minut e) by
per for ming t he following st eps:
a. Pr ess appr opr iat e ar r ow keys t o set Scale t o 60.
b. Pr ess Enter key.
NOTE BE SURE to pre ss the Ent e r ke y to comple t e t he nume ri c e ntry.
The scale is now set t o 60.
When t he scale fact or is set , bot h scale and offset ar e applied t o t he
measur ement r esult . Ver ify t hat t he offset value is zer o for applicat ions
r equir ing only scale by per for ming t he following st ep.
Fr equ en cy
Res ol u t i on
Sec
--------------------------------
,
_
Sca l e
60Sec
Min
--------------
,
_
Res u l t s
Res ol u t i on
Mi n
--------------------------------
,
_
=
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the MATH Menu Keys
Operating Guide 2-29
2
4 Pr ess Scale & Offs et key unt il OFFS: is displayed.
OFFS: 0.000000 should be displayed. If t he Offset value is not set t o
0.000000:
a. Pr ess t he appr opr iat e ar r ow keys t o set t he Offset t o 0.000000.
b. Pr ess Enter key.
NOTE BE SURE to pre ss the Ent e r ke y to comple t e t he nume ri c e ntry.
The offset is now set t o 0.
5 Pr ess Run key.
The r pm measur ement is displayed.
Exa mpl e Pr oced ur e for Offset Funct i on
Your t ask is t o measur e t he Per iod of a signal connect ed t o channel 1,
and t o offset t he measur ement by 100 nanoseconds. Per for m t he following
pr ocedur e t o accomplish t his t ask.
1 Cycle POWER key t o pr eset t he Count er .
2 Connect a signal t o channel 1, and set up t he Count er t o measur e t he
per iod of t he signal, using t he Ti me & Peri od key. (Re fe r to the se ct i on
i n thi s chapter ti tled To Meas ure Peri od if needed.)
3 Pr ess Scale & Offs et key unt il SCAL: is displayed.
4 Set Scale t o 1 by pr essing t he appr opr iat e ar r ow keys t o ent er t he value
1.000000 if Scale is not alr eady set t o 1.
5 Pr ess Enter key.
NOTE BE SURE to pre ss the Ent e r ke y to comple t e t he nume ri c e ntry.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the MATH Menu Keys
2-30 Operating Guide
2
6 Pr ess Scale & Offs et key unt il OFFS: is displayed.
OFFS: 0.000000 seconds should be displayed. This is t he default value.
7 Set t he Offset t o .1000000 s.
Refer t o t he sub-sect ion t it led Ent er ing t he Offset Value in Chapt er 1,
Get t ing St ar t ed, for det ails on how t o per for m numer ic ent r y for Offset .
a. Use t he appr opr iat e combinat ion of t he ar r ow keys t o display a value
of .1000000 s.
b. Pr ess +/ key, which is locat ed below t he ar r ow keys, t o change t he
plus sign t o minus.
OFFS: .1000000 s is displayed.
c. Pr ess Enter key.
NOTE BE SURE to pre ss the Ent e r ke y to comple t e nume ri c e ntry.
The count er will add .1000000 s t o each measur ement .
8 Pr ess Run key.
The r esult ant per iod measur ement is displayed wit h 100 nanoseconds
subt r act ed fr om each r esult .
Exa mpl e Pr oced ur e for Tur ni ng Off Ma t h Mod e
1 Pr ess Scale & Offs et key unt il MATH: ON is displayed.
2 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys.
MATH: OFF is displayed. Now, Scale and Offset no longer ar e used t o
modify t he displayed r esult .
3 Pr ess Run key t o r et ur n t he Count er t o it s nor mal oper at ion.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the MATH Menu Keys
Operating Guide 2-31
2
Exa mpl e Pr oced ur e for Set t i ng t he Offset Fr om
t he La st Mea sur ement Va l ue
The SET OFFSET ? menu it em uses t he negat ive of t he last measur ement
value, r ounded t o eleven digit s, t o set t he OFFSET. Thus, any differ ence
in t he offset (or now t he r efer ence value) and t he cur r ent measur ement
value is displayed.
Let s assume you ar e measur ing t he fr equency of a st able sour ce, but you
ar e only int er est ed in t he least significant digit s of t he measur ement .
Use t he SET OFFSET ? menu it em t o configur e t he appr opr iat e OFFSET
value.
Your t ask is t o measur e a st able sour ce t o obt ain t he changes in t heleast
significant digit s.
1 Cycle POWER key t o pr eset t he Count er .
2 Change gat e t ime t o 15.0 seconds on GATE menu.
3 To demonst r at e SET OFFSET?, connect a 10 MHz sine wave signal t o
channel 1 of t he Count er , and set up t he Count er t o measur e t he
fr equency of t he signal. (Refer t o t he sect ion in t his chapt er t it led
To Measur e Fr equency if needed.)
10.0000000001 MHz is displayed.
4 Pr ess Scale & Offs et key unt il SET OFFSET ? is displayed.
5 Pr ess Enter key.
OFFS:10.00000 MHz is displayed, for example.
Not e t hat t his value r epr esent s t he last measur ement of t he input signal
r ounded t o eleven digit s. The Count er uses it as t he r efer ence offset value,
and r ever ses t he sign fr om + t o .
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the MATH Menu Keys
2-32 Operating Guide
2
6 Pr ess Run key.
12* is displayed, for example, at t he complet ion of t he next
measur ement .
This value (0.00012) is t he small differ ence bet ween t he signal being
measur ed and t he r efer ence value (OFFS: 10.00000 MHz) obt ained in
st ep 5.
Using t he r efer ence allows you t o obser ve small differ ences in t he
13t h15t h digit s which would not be obser vable in t he 12-digit display.
Overvi e w of Stati sti cs (Stats) Menu
The St at s menu allows you t o:
select which comput ed st at ist ics you want displayed
(SHOW: STD DEV, MEAN, MAX, or MIN).
choose bet ween having t he act ual measur ement or st at ist ical r esult
displayed (SHOW: MEAS).
select t he number of measur ement s you want t o make for each
comput ed st at ist ic (N:).
enable or disable t he St at s mode (STATS: ON or OFF).
enable t he Count er t o per for m st at ist ical comput at ion on only
measur ement s t hat ar e wit hin t he user -ent er ed limit s; t hat is, filt er
dat a (USE: IN LIMIT), or
enable t he Count er t o per for m st at ist ical comput at ion on all
measur ement s, whet her t hey fall in or out of t he user -ent er ed limit s
(USE: ALL MEAS).
configur e St op/Si ngle key t o init iat e a set of N measur ement s
(ON SINGLE: 1 or N).
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the MATH Menu Keys
Operating Guide 2-33
2
To Use the Stats Menu for Automati c and Conti nuous
Stati sti cal Analysi s
Exa mpl e Pr oced ur e for Comput i ng St a t s
For demonst r at ion pur poses, let s say you need t o know t he mean
(aver age) and minimum r iset ime values of a digit al signal.
Also, you want t he Count er t o make 20 measur ement s befor e it per for ms
t hese st at ist ical comput at ions.
Per for m t he following pr ocedur e t o accomplish t his t ask.
1 Connect t he digit al signal t o channel 1 input , and set up t he Count er t o
measur e r iset ime of t he signal, using t he Ti me & Peri od key. (Refer t o
t he sect ion in t his chapt er t it led To Measur e Rise/Fall Times if needed.)
2 Pr ess Stat s key unt il N: is displayed.
N: 100 is displayed (100 is t he default value).
3 Set N t o 20 (since you want t he Count er t o make 20 measur ement s befor e
comput ing t he mean and minimum values) by pr essing t he appr opr iat e
ar r ow keys.
N: 20 is displayed.
4 Pr ess Enter key.
NOTE BE SURE to pre ss the Ent e r ke y to comple t e nume ri c e ntry.
The Count er is now set t o make 20 measur ement s befor e comput ing
st at ist ics.
5 Pr ess Stat s key unt il SHOW: is displayed.
6 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys unt il SHOW: MEAN is displayed.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the MATH Menu Keys
2-34 Operating Guide
2
7 Pr ess Run key.
Immediat ely aft er t he Run key is pr essed, t he Count er moment ar ily
displays DOING STATS. When t he Count er has made 20 valid
measur ement s, it t hen displays t he mean r iset ime value of t he digit al
input signal.
NOTE The Count er will display updat ed st at ist ics r esult s ever y
20 measur ement s.
8 Pr ess Stop/Si ngle key aft er you have a mean value displayed.
9 To display t he mi ni mum r iset ime value, per for m t he following:
a. Pr ess Stat s key.
b. Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys unt il SHOW: MIN is displayed.
c. Pr ess Enter key.
CAUTION Pr essing t he Run key now would clear t he pr esent st at ist ics r esult s and
calculat e a new set of r esult s aft er N measur ement s.
Exa mpl e Pr oced ur e for Ea sy Vi ewi ng of St a t s
The and ar r ow keys pr ovide a shor t cut t o viewing each of t he st at s
(t hat is, st andar d deviat ion, mean, maximum, and minimum) when t he
Count er is alr eady displaying a st at ist ic measur ement . These keys allow
you t o cycle t hr ough t he differ ent St at s r esult s and aut omat ically view
t hem.
While the Counte r i s di splayi ng a stat i sti cs me as ure me nt, press
either the or arrow ke y to cycle through and di splay each of
the four computed stat i st i cs, and the current measurement.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the MATH Menu Keys
Operating Guide 2-35
2
Exa mpl e Pr oced ur e for Fi l t er i ng Da t a (Usi ng Li mi t s) Dur i ng
St a t s
1 Using t he pr ocedur e in t he pr evious sub-sect ion t it led Example
Pr ocedur e for Easy Viewing of St at s, set up t he Count er t o display t he
minimum r iset ime value of an input signal.
2 Set t he upper and lower limit s. (Refer t o t he sect ion in Chapt er 1 t it led
To Set Limit s of Measur ement s if needed.)
3 Pr ess Stat s key unt il USE: is displayed.
4 Pr ess one of t he ar r ow keys t o t oggle t o IN LIMIT st at e.
USE: IN LIMIT is displayed.
5 Pr ess Run key.
The Count er will now per for m t he st at ist ical comput at ions (t hat is,
st andar d deviat ion, mean, maximum, and minimum) on only t hose
measur ement s t hat ar e wit hin t he user -ent er ed limit s. The Count er t hen
displays t he st at ist ics you picked (minimum, in t his case).
6 Pr ess Stat s key unt il USE: is displayed.
7 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys t o t oggle t o ALL MEAS st at e.
USE: ALL MEAS is displayed.
8 Pr ess Run key.
The Count er will now per for m t he st at ist ical comput at ions (t hat is,
st andar d deviat ion, mean, maximum, and minimum) on all
measur ement s, whet her t hey fall in or out of t he user -ent er ed limit s.
The Count er t hen displays t he st at ist ic you picked (minimum, in t his
case).
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the MATH Menu Keys
2-36 Operating Guide
2
Exa mpl e Pr oced ur e for Confi gur i ng SINGLE t o Ini t i a t e
N Mea sur ement s
Please r efer t o t he pr ocedur e t it led To Use t he Measur ement Cont r ol
Keys on page 2-6 for an example use of ON SINGLE.
Exa mpl e Pr oced ur e for Tur ni ng Off St a t s Mod e
1 Pr ess Stat s key unt il STATS: ON is displayed.
2 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys.
STATS: OFF is displayed.
3 Pr ess Run key t o r et ur n t he Count er t o it s nor mal oper at ion.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the LIMITS Menu Keys
Operating Guide 2-37
2
Using t he LIMITS Menu Keys
Not e t hat Mat h and Limis menus ar e not available for Tot alize and
Volt age Peaks measur ement s.
Ove rvi e w of Li mi ts Menus
The menu it ems under t he Limit s keys allow you t o:
select t he desir ed upper and lower measur ement limit s (UPPR:,
LOWR:).
disable or enable Limit Test ing (LIM TEST: OFF or ON)Not e t hat
t he Limit Test ing is aut omat ically enabled when you set t he upper
and lower limit s, or updat e any menu it em in t he Limit Modes menu;
t hus, t he pr imar y funct ion of t he LIM TEST menu it em is t o allow you
t o t ur n Limit Test ing off.
set t he Count er t o st op making measur ement s when a measur ement
exceeds t he user -ent er ed limit s (ON FAIL: STOP). (St op on limit s
does not have any effect if t he Count er is in t he single measur ement
mode.)
enable t he Count er t o cont inue t aking measur ement s aft er a
measur ement exceeds t he user -ent er ed limit s (ON FAIL: GO ON).
change t he Count er display fr om numer ic t o analog gr aph t o quickly
visualize changes in t he signal (or t o quickly see when measur ement s
ar e in or out of limit s) (SHOW: NUMBER or GRAPH).
Limit
Modes
Uppr &
Lower
LIMITS
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the LIMITS Menu Keys
2-38 Operating Guide
2
To Se t and Use Automati c Li mi t Testi ng
Li mi t s Test i ng Exa mp l e 1Fl a g a nd St op Mea sur i ng
On Li mi t s
For demonst r at ion pur poses, you want t o fir st measur e t he r at io bet ween
signals applied t o channels 1 and 2 of t he Count er . Next , you want t o set
limit s t hat would cause t he Count er t o flag (t ur n on t he Limit s
annunciat or in t he fr ont -panel display) and st op making measur ement s if
t hese signals dr ift mor e t han 10% apar t .
1 Connect input signals t o channels 1 and 2 of t he Count er , and set up t he
Count er t o measur e t he r at io bet ween t hese signals. (Refer t o t he sect ion
in t his chapt er t it led To Measur e Fr equency Rat io if needed.)
Assume that the rati o me as ure d betwe e n the two si gnals i s 2.
If t he dr ift is not t o be lar ger t han 10%, t hen t he upper limit should be
set t o 2.2 and t he lower limit t o 1.8. Let s set t hese values in t he following
st eps.
2 Pr ess Uppr/Lower key unt il UPPR: is displayed.
UPPR: 0.000000 is displayed (0 is t he default value).
3 Set UPPR t o 2.2. (Refer t o t he sect ion in Chapt er 1 t it led To Set Limit s of
Measur ement s if needed.)
NOTE After you enter the value 2.2, BE SURE to press the Enter ke y to
comple te the e ntry.
4 Pr ess Uppr/Lower key unt il LOWR: is displayed.
LOWR: 0.000000 is displayed (0 is t he default value).
5 Set LOWR t o 1.8.
NOTE After you enter the value 1.8, BE SURE to press the Enter ke y to
comple te the e ntry.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the LIMITS Menu Keys
Operating Guide 2-39
2
6 Pr ess Li mi t Mode s key unt il LIM TEST: ON is displayed.
Not e t hat once eit her t he upper or lower limit s have been set , t he limit
t est ing is aut omat ically enabled as indicat ed by t he LIM TEST: ON
display, and t he Limit Modes indicat or .
7 Pr ess Li mi t Mode s key.
ON FAIL: GO ON is displayed.
8 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys t o t oggle t o t he next st at e.
ON FAIL: STOP is displayed. The ON FAIL: STOP funct ion t ells t he
Count er t o st op making measur ement s when t he input signals dr ift mor e
t han 10% apar t .
9 Pr ess Run key t o st ar t making measur ement s wit h t his limit s-t est ing
choice select ed.
Now, if a measur ement dr ift s out of t he user -ent er ed limit s t he Li mi t
annunciat or in t he display will light . The Count er will st op making
measur ement s.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the LIMITS Menu Keys
2-40 Operating Guide
2
Li mi t s Test i ng Exa mpl e 2Fl a g On Li mi t s but
Cont i nue Mea sur i ng
If you decide t hat you want t he Count er t o flag measur ement s t hat ar e out
of limit s but t o cont inue t aking measur ement s, t hen per for m t he following
st eps.
1 Pr ess Li mi t Mode s key unt il ON FAIL: STOP is displayed.
2 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys t o t oggle t o t he next st at e.
ON FAIL: GO ON is displayed.
3 Pr ess Run key t o st ar t making measur ement s wit h t his limit s-t est ing
choice select ed.
Now, each t ime a measur ement dr ift s out of t he user -ent er ed limit s t he
Li mi t annunciat or in t he display will light , but t he Count er will cont inue
t o make measur ement s.
The Limit annunciat or will go on whenever a r esult is out of limit s.
As soon as a r esult is wit hin limit s, t he Limit annunciat or will go off.
Li mi t s Test i ng Exa mp l e 3Use Ana l og Gr a p h Di sp l a y Whi l e
Ad j ust i ng Input Si gna l
1 For demonst r at ion pur poses, connect a 10 MHz signal t o channel 1 and set
up t he Count er t o measur e t he fr equency of t he signal, using t he
Freq & Rat i o key. (Refer t o sect ion in t his chapt er t it led To Measur e
Fr equency if needed.)
2 Using t he Uppr & Lower key, set t he upper limit t o 10.2 MHz and t he
lower limit t o 9.8 MHz. (Refer t o t he sect ion in Chapt er 1 t it led To Set
Limit s of Measur ement s if needed.)
3 Pr ess Li mi t Mode s key unt il SHOW: NUMBER is displayed.
4 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys t o t oggle t o t he next st at e.
SHOW: GRAPH is displayed.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the LIMITS Menu Keys
Operating Guide 2-41
2
5 Pr ess Run key t o display t he gr aph as shown below.
The ast er isk (*) or st ar r epr esent s t he measur ement and t he colons (:)
r epr esent t he limit s you set . This gr aph indicat es t hat t he measur ement is
wit hin t he limit s. The colon t o t he left r epr esent s t he lower limit , and t he
colon t o t he r ight r epr esent s t he upper limit .
6 Adjust your signal down t o 9.7 MHz.
The st ar is now out of t he limit s as it is below t he ent er ed 9.8 MHz lower
limit . (Not e t he Li mi t annunciat or light s since t he signal is out of limit s.)
7 Now, adjust your signal up t o 10.3 MHz.
The st ar is now out of t he limit s as it has exceeded t he ent er ed 10.2 MHz
upper limit . (Not e t he Li mi t annunciat or light s since t he signal is out of
limit s.)
8 To change t he Count er back t o displaying number s, pr ess Li mi t Modes
key unt il SHOW: GRAPH is displayed.
9 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys t o t oggle t o SHOW: NUMBER.
10 Pr ess Run key t o display measur ement s as number s.
Freq Ch 1
Freq Ch 1 Limit
Freq Ch 1 Limit
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the LIMITS Menu Keys
2-42 Operating Guide
2
Li mi t s Test i ng Exa mpl e 4Sel ect i ng Fi l t er i ng Cond i t i ons of
St a t s Comput a t i on
Let s assume you have set t he upper and lower limit s t o r easonable values
as in t he pr evious pr ocedur e.
NOTE Since t he Limit Test ing and St at s funct ions ar e independent , LIM TEST:
doesnt have t o be ON in or der t o filt er measur ement s for st at ist ics.
1 Pr ess Stat s key unt il USE: ALL MEAS is displayed.
2 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys t o display USE: IN LIMIT.
3 Pr ess Run key t o st ar t t he measur ement .
The Count er will comput e st at ist ics using only measur ement s t hat ar e
wit hin t he user -ent er ed limit s.
4 Pr ess Stat s key unt il USE: IN LIMIT is displayed.
5 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys t o display USE: ALL MEAS.
The Count er will comput e st at ist ics using all measur ement s, whet her
t hey fall in or out of t he user -ent er ed limit s.
6 Pr ess Run key t o st ar t t he measur ement .
7 To t ur n off t he Limit Test ing, per for m t he following st eps:
a. Pr ess Li mi t Mode s key unt il LIM TEST: ON is displayed.
b. Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys t o t oggle Limit s OFF.
LIM TEST: OFF is displayed.
When Limit Test ing is off, t he Limit annunciat or , t he st op-on limit
capabilit y, t he limit gr aph, and t he r ear panel RS-232 Limit Out put
(if DTR: LIMIT choice was select ed as descr ibed in t he following
Example 5 pr ocedur e) ar e disabled.
NOTE St at s will st ill filt er dat a using your upper and lower limit s if you set St at s
t o USE: IN LIMIT.
8 Pr ess Run key t o r et ur n t he Count er t o comput ing st at ist ics on all
measur ement s.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the LIMITS Menu Keys
Operating Guide 2-43
2
Li mi t s Test i ng Exa mpl e 5Send i ng t he Li mi t -Det ect Out p ut
t o t he RS-232 Ser i a l Por t
NOTE If you cycle power , you will lose ever yt hing except saved measur ement
set ups and special par amet er s saved t o non-volat ile memor y; t her efor e,
make sur e you use t he Save and Recall funct ions of t he Count er t o r et ain
t he measur ement set up pr ior t o power ing down t o set up t he t he
Limit -Det ect Out put line (pin 4) of t he RS-232 ser ial connect or . Refer t o
t he appr opr iat e sect ion in t his chapt er for det ails on how t o use Save and
Recall.
1 To use t he Limit -det ect out put fr om t he ser ial por t , per for m t he following
st eps:
a. Save your measur ement set up t hat includes your Limit Test ing
choices, by simply pr essing t he Save & Pri nt key unt il SAVE: 1 is
displayed, t hen Enter key t o save t o r egist er 1.
b. Tur n off t he Count er .
c. Pr ess and hold Re call (Ut i li ty) key, t hen pr ess POWER key.
d. Pr ess Re call (Ut i li ty) key unt il DTR: is displayed.
e . Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys unt il DTR: LIMIT is displayed.
2 Pr ess Run key.
3 Pr ess Re call (Uti li t y) key unt il RECALL 1 is displayed, t hen wait a few
seconds t o r ecall t he measur ement set up saved in r egist er 1.
Since your measur ement set up included your set t ings for upper and lower
limit s, and LIM TEST: was set t o ON, t he Count er is now set for limit
t est ing wit h t he Limit -det ect out put .
If a measur ement dr ift s out of t he user -ent er ed limit s, t he Limit
annunciat or in t he display will light . Also, pin 4 on t he RS-232 connect or
will change st at e (t o a low-volt age RS-232 level) t o flag each t ime a
measur ement dr ift s out of t he limit s. (RS-232 volt age levels swing
fr om 12V.)
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using CHANNEL 1 and CHANNEL 2 Input Conditioning Keys
2-44 Operating Guide
2
Using CHANNEL 1 and CHANNEL 2 Input
Condit ioning Keys
The Trigge r/Se nsi ti vi ty keys ar e menu keys, while t he ot her keys in t his
gr oup (t hat is, 50/1 M, DC/AC, X10 Attenuate , and 100 kHz Filte r)
ar e t oggle keys.
Use t he CHANNEL 1 and CHANNEL 2 gr oup of keys (which ar e
ident ical) t o set up t he Count er s input condit ions for measur ing input
signals applied t o channels 1 and 2. Each channel can be set up
independent ly. (The Tr igger /Sensit ivit y menu is unavailable for Volt age
Peaks measur ement s.)
Overvi e w of Tri gger/Sensi ti vi ty Menu
NOTE Many of t he measur ement funct ions (t hat is, fr equency, per iod, et c.)
aut omat ically set t he aut o t r igger mode and t r igger level.
The Tr igger /Sensit ivit y menu it ems allow you t o over r ide t he aut omat ic
set t ings.
The menu it ems under t he Tr igger /Sensit ivit y keys allow you t o manually:
select t he aut o t r igger mode (AUTO TRIG: ON or OFF).
If aut o t r igger is OFF, you ar e allowed t o:
select t he volt age level at which t he cor r esponding input channel will
t r igger (LEVEL: n V, wher e n is a numer ic value).
If aut o t r igger is ON, you ar e allowed t o:
select t he per cent age of an input signal at which t he Count er will
t r igger (LEVEL: n PCT, wher e n is a numer ic value).
Set t ing AUTO TRIG: t o ON causes t he Count er t o measur e and comput e a
t r igger level cor r esponding t o t he aut o-t r igger per cent age of t he select ed
channel.
CHANNEL 1
Trigger
Sensitivity
DC
AC
50
1M
X10
Attenuate
100kHz
Filter
Damage Lvl:
5V rms MAX. 50
!
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using CHANNEL 1 and CHANNEL 2 Input Conditioning Keys
Operating Guide 2-45
2
While AUTO TRIG: is ON, t he Count er will, for each measur ement , check
t hat t he measur ement signal(s) ar e t r igger ing at t he cur r ent level(s). If no
t r igger ing is found, t he Count er will measur e and comput e new t r igger
level(s). (While AUTO TRIG: is ON, t he Count er also measur es and
comput es new t r igger level(s) whenever measur ing is invoked wit h t he
fr ont -panel St op/Si ngle and Run keys, or whenever t he aut o-t r igger
per cent age is updat ed.)
The menu it ems under t he Tr igger /Sensit ivit y keys also allow you t o
manually:
select what slope or edge (posit ive or negat ive) of an input signal will
t r igger t he Count er (SLOPE: POS or NEG).
select medium, high, or low sensit ivit y levels (t hus, var ying t he
hyst er esis window or t r igger band) for t he opt imum sensit ivit y for
cer t ain measur ement applicat ions (SENSTVTY: MED, HI, or LOW).
Sensit ivit y is defined in t he par agr aph t it led Definit ion of
Sensit ivit y starting on page 2-46.
select a common input signal t o make a Time Int er val (TI)
measur ement (COMMON 1: ON or OFF). In COMMON 1: ON,
an input signal applied t o CHANNEL 1 is split t o allow t he Count er t o
use it for bot h CHANNEL 1 and CHANNEL 2 input amplifier s when
t he Count er is oper at ing in it s Time Int er val (TI 1 TO 2) measur ement
funct ion. By independent ly adjust ing CHANNEL 1 and CHANNEL 2
keys, t he Count er per for ms a TI measur ement on a single input signal
as shown in t he following figur e.
COMMON 1: ON, CHAN 1 SLOPE: POS, CHAN 2 SLOPE: NEG
CHANNEL 1
CHANNEL 2
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using CHANNEL 1 and CHANNEL 2 Input Conditioning Keys
2-46 Operating Guide
2
DEFINITION OF SENSITIVITY. Sensit ivit y is t he lowest amplit ude
signal at a par t icular fr equency t hat t he Count er will count . The amplifier
gain and t he volt age differ ence bet ween t he input t r igger hyst er esis levels
det er mine t he Count er s sensit ivit y. Sensit ivit y is specified wit h t he
t r igger level set at a value equal t o t he midpoint of t he input signal.
The input wavefor m must cr oss bot h t he upper and lower hyst er esis levels
t o gener at e a count as shown in t he following figur e.
Signal crosses through both hysteresis levels to effect a count.
If t he signal peaks do not exceed beyond bot h hyst er esis limit s, t he input
signal will not gener at e a count . For example, t he peak-t o-peak amplit ude
is insufficient , or t r igger level is set above or below t he midpoint of t he
input signal as shown in t he following figur es.
Signal will not generate a count because the peak-to-peak amplitude of
the signal is insufficient.
Upper
Hysteresis
Level
Peak-to-Peak
Sensitivity
Trigger
Level
Lower
Hysteresis
Level
Input signal
to Counter
Trigger
Level
Upper
Hysteresis
Level
Peak-to-Peak
Sensitivity
Lower
Hysteresis
Level
Input signal
to Counter
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using CHANNEL 1 and CHANNEL 2 Input Conditioning Keys
Operating Guide 2-47
2
Signal will not generate a count because the trigger level is set below
the midpoint of the signal, causing the lower hysteresis level to not be
crossed.
The sensit ivit y specificat ion is given in t er ms of volt s r ms for applicat ions
t hat involve measur ing a sine wave signal, t hough it should be not ed t hat
a differ ent wavefor m wit h t he same r ms volt age may not t r igger a count .
Since t he Count er input does not r espond t o t he r ms value of t he
wavefor m but only t o t he peak-t o-peak value, t he sensit ivit y specificat ion
is also given for volt s peak-t o-peak wit h a minimum pulse widt h.
As pr eviously ment ioned, t he sensit ivit y of t he Count er can be changed by
using t he SENSTVTY: MED, HI, or LOW menu choices in t he
Tri gger/Sensi ti vi ty key menu for opt imum sensit ivit y for cer t ain
measur ement applicat ions. For example, low sensit ivit y set t ing is ver y
useful when measur ing noisy signals.
Upper
Hysteresis
Level
Peak-to-Peak
Sensitivity
Trigger
Level
Lower
Hysteresis
Level
Input signal
to Counter
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using CHANNEL 1 and CHANNEL 2 Input Conditioning Keys
2-48 Operating Guide
2
To Use the Tri gger/Sensi ti vi ty Keys to Adjust Counters
Tri ggeri ng Level
Exa mpl e Pr oced ur e for Set t i ng Tr i gger Vol t a ge a nd
Sensi t i vi t y Level s
1 Connect a signal t o channel 1 input , and set up t he Count er t o measur e
t he fr equency of t he signal. (Refer t o sect ion in t his chapt er t it led
To Measur e Fr equency if needed.)
2 Pr ess CHANNEL 1 Tri gger/Sensi tivi ty key.
AUTO TRG: ON is displayed.
3 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys t o t oggle t o t he aut o t r igger off mode.
AUTO TRG: OFF is displayed.
4 Pr ess Trigge r/Se nsi ti vi ty key.
LEVEL: 0.000V is displayed. (Act ual value may be differ ent .)
5 Suppose you want t o set t he t r igger level t o 1V (act ual value may be
differ ent ). Per for m t he following st eps:
a. Pr ess t he appr opr iat e ar r ow keys unt il LEVEL: 1.000V is displayed.
b. Pr ess Enter key.
NOTE BE SURE to pre ss the Ent e r ke y to comple t e t he nume ri c e ntry.
The t r igger volt age level for channel 1 is now set t o 1V as shown in t he
following figur e.
1V
0V
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using CHANNEL 1 and CHANNEL 2 Input Conditioning Keys
Operating Guide 2-49
2
6 Pr ess Trigge r/Se nsi ti vi ty key.
SLOPE: POS is displayed. The t r igger slope is set at posit ive; t hus, t he
Count er t r igger s on t he r ising edge of t he input signal as shown in t he
following figur e.
If you want t o t r igger on t he negat ive (or falling) edge of t he input signal,
t hen per for m t he following st ep.
7 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys unt il SLOPE: NEG is displayed.
The t r igger is set at negat ive; t hus, t he Count er t r igger s on t he falling
edge of t he input signal as shown in t he following figur e.
8 Pr ess Trigge r/Se nsi ti vi ty key t o set t he input channel sensit ivit y level.
1V
0V
* * * *
1V
0V
* * * *
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using CHANNEL 1 and CHANNEL 2 Input Conditioning Keys
2-50 Operating Guide
2
9 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys unt il SENSTVTY: HI is displayed.
The Count er s CHANNEL 1 sensit ivit y is set high as shown in t he
following figur e.
The Count er should now be t r igger ing as det er mined by t he sensit ivit y
level, and displaying t he input signals fr equency if t he input signal
peak-t o-peak volt age is lar ge enough for t he select ed sensit ivit y level.
The signal must t r avel complet ely t hr ough t he t r igger band befor e a valid
t r igger is r ecognized.
10 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys unt il SENSTVTY: LO is displayed.
The Count er s CHANNEL 1 sensit ivit y is set low as shown in t he
following figur e.
1 2 3 4
Trigger
Band
0V
1 2
Trigger
Band
0V
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using CHANNEL 1 and CHANNEL 2 Input Conditioning Keys
Operating Guide 2-51
2
Exa mpl e Pr oced ur e for Usi ng Common 1 t o Ma ke Ti me
Int er va l (TI) Mea sur ement s on a Si ngl e Si gna l
1 Connect a signal t o channel 1 of t he Count er .
2 Pr ess Ti me & Peri od key unt il TI 1 TO 2 is moment ar ily displayed.
(Not e t hat t he Time, Ch1, and Ch2 annunciat or s light .)
3 Pr ess Trigge r/Se nsi ti vi ty key unt il COMMON 1: OFF is displayed.
4 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys unt il COMMON 1: ON is displayed.
When t he Count er is oper at ing in Common 1 mode, t he signal applied t o
CHANNEL 1 is used for bot h st ar t and st op event . The t r igger level, slope,
and sensit ivit y for t he st ar t signal can be modified by using t he
CHANNEL 1 input condit ioning keys. Wher eas, t he t r igger level, slope,
and sensit ivit y of t he st op signal can be modified by using CHANNEL 2
input condit ioning keys. (See t he figur e locat ed at t he end of t he
sub-sect ion of t his sect ion t it led Over view of Tr igger /Sensit ivit y Menu.)
Ove rvi e w of Input Condi ti oni ng Toggle Keys
NOTE Ident ical funct ions ar e available on CHANNEL 1 and CHANNEL 2.
The following t ext descr ibes only CHANNEL 1 funct ions (as indicat ed by
t he 1 in t he display) for simplicit y.
The t oggle keys of t he input channels allow you t o:
select 50 input impedance or 1 M input impedance for t he input
channel (CH 1: 50 OHM, or 1M OHM).
select dc coupling or ac coupling for t he input channel (CH 1: DC,
or AC).
select t he at t enuat ion of signals at t he input channel. The nor mal or
no at t enuat ion st at e (key indicat or OFF) connect s t he input signal
dir ect ly t o t he input amplifier . The X10 st at e at t enuat es t he input
signal by a fact or of 10.
inser t a low pass filt er int o t he input channel, which at t enuat es
fr equencies above 100 kHz. When t he 100 kHz filt er is enabled, t he
key indicat or is ON. When t he filt er is disabled (key indicat or OFF),
t he Count er r esumes nor mal oper at ion over t he ent ir e bandwidt h
(CH 1: LP FILT, or NO FILT).
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Save and Recall Menus
2-52 Operating Guide
2
Using t he Save and Recall Menus
Overvi e w of Save and Re call Functi ons
The combined use of t he Save and Recall funct ions allows you t o save and
r ecall t he measur ement set ups which det er mine how t he Count er
measur es, analyzes, and r epor t s answer s. A set up can include t he
measur ement t o be made, t he pr ecision desir ed, offset and scaling fact or t o
apply, limit s t o be met , and st at ist ics t o comput e. Set ups can also cont r ol
pr int ing of har dcopy. Set ups saved t o memor y r egist er s ar e pr eser ved
when t he Count er is power ed down or disconnect ed fr om a power sour ce.
1

The Save and Recall funct ions enable fast er and easier oper at ion, fewer
oper at or er r or s, and minimum t r aining.
The Save and Re call keys allow you t o:
cr eat e and save up t o 20 differ ent inst r ument measur ement set ups
int o int er nal non-volat ile memor y (SAVE:).
r ecall up t o 20 user -select ed measur ement set ups t hat wer e pr eviously
saved (RECALL 1, 2, 3, ... 20). Wit h a t ot al of 21 save/r ecall
r egist er s, t her e ar e 20 r egist er s available t o you for save/r ecall
oper at ions. The Count er aut omat ically saves t he cur r ent set up t o
r egist er 0 (RECALL 0) befor e execut ing a r ecall funct ion.
1
delet e any of t he saved set ups (UNSAVE:).
1
For firmware revisions 3622 and above, RECALL 0 is stored in volatile memory. RECALL 0 is not preserved
if you cycle power.
Recall Save &
Print
Local Utility
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Save and Recall Menus
Operating Guide 2-53
2
To Use the Save Functi on
The following st ep-by-st ep pr ocedur e descr ibes how t o SAVE a simple
measur ement set up t o quickly get you familiar wit h t he Save funct ion.
You will SAVE t he following in r egist er 1 (SAVE: 1):
t he Per iod measur ement funct ion,
t he input condit ioning par amet er s:
aut o t r igger t o off
t r igger level t o 1.5V
input impedance t o 50
input coupling t o DC
1 Cycle POWER key t o pr eset t he Count er set up.
The Count er is now r eady t o measur e t he frequency of a signal applied t o
CHANNEL 1 input as indicat ed by t he Freq and Ch1 annunciat or s.
2 Pr ess Othe r Me as key unt il PERIOD 1 is displayed.
The Count er is now r eady t o measur e t he peri od of a signal applied t o
CHANNEL 1 input as indicat ed by t he Peri od and Ch1 annunciat or s.
3 Pr ess Trigge r/Se nsi ti vi ty key.
AUTO TRG: ON is displayed.
4 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys.
AUTO TRG: OFF is displayed.
5 Pr ess Trigge r/Se nsi ti vi ty key, or Enter key.
LEVEL: 0.000V is displayed.
6 Using t he appr opr iat e ar r ow keys, set t he t r igger level t o 1.5V.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Save and Recall Menus
2-54 Operating Guide
2
7 Pr ess Enter key t o complet e t he 1.5V ent r y.
8 Pr ess 50/1M key t o set input impedance t o 50.
9 Pr ess DC/AC key t o set input coupling t o DC.
10 To save t hese set t ings, which make up your measur ement set up, simply
per for m t he following st eps:
a. Pr ess Save & Print key.
SAVE: NO is displayed.
b. Pr ess t he appr opr iat e ar r ow key unt il SAVE: 1 is displayed.
c. Pr ess Enter key.
The measur ement set up is now saved in r egist er 1. To r ecall t his
measur ement set up, per for m t he r ecall pr ocedur e in t he following
sect ion.
To Use the Recall Functi on
This pr ocedur e descr ibes how t o RECALL t he measur ement set up youve
saved in t he pr evious pr ocedur e.
NOTE You cannot save a set up t o r egist er 0 (RECALL 0). The Count er
aut omat ically saves t he cur r ent set up t o r egist er 0 befor e execut ing a
r ecall funct ion. You can, however , r ecall t he set up in t he r egist er 0 if you
need t o, which is t he pur pose of t his backup st or age r egist er .
1 Cycle POWER key t o pr eset t he Count er .
Not e t he Count er is set t o measur e t he frequency of a signal applied t o
channel 1 as indicat ed by t he Freq and Ch1 annunciat or s.
2 Pr ess Re call key unt il RECALL 1 is displayed, and pr ess Enter key or
let t he Count er t ime out .
Not e t hat t he measur ement set up has been r ecalled as indicat ed by t he
Peri od and Ch1 annunciat or s, and 50 and DC LEDs.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Save and Recall Menus
Operating Guide 2-55
2
To Unsave a Me asure ment Setup
1 To unsave t he measur ement set up youve saved in t he pr evious pr ocedur e,
pr ess Save & Pri nt key unt il UNSAVE: NO is displayed.
2 Pr ess t he appr opr iat e ar r ow keys t o select UNSAVE: 1, t hen pr ess Ent er
key.
The measur ement set up t hat was saved in r egist er 1 (RECALL: 1)
is delet ed or unsaved.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT UNSAVE
If t he UNSAVE: display DOES NOT show up aft er t he SAVE: display, t hen
no set ups have been saved; all r egist er s ar e empt y.
If UNSAVE: display is pr esent in t he Save & Pri nt key menu, t hen at
least one set up has been saved. (To det er mine how many set ups ar e saved,
cont inuously pr ess t he key while UNSAVE: n is displayed and count
t he number of r egist er s t hat ar e pr esent .) Per for m st ep 2, below, t o delet e
a measur ement set up.
1 Suppose t her e ar e t wo r egist er s (1 and 2) t hat have set ups saved in t hem.
To r emove t hese set ups, per for m t he following:
a. At t he UNSAVE: 1 display, pr ess Ent e r key.
UNSAVE: 2 is displayed, indicat ing t hat r egist er 1 has been clear ed.
To check if t he clear ing was done, pr ess t he key; t he 1 display
should not exist .
b. At t he UNSAVE: 2 display, pr ess Ent e r key.
All r egist er s ar e clear ed when t he UNSAVE menu it em is NOT pr esent
in t he Save & Print key menu.
2 Now, suppose in t he pr evious st ep (2) you want ed t o leave r egist er 1 alone,
but you want t o delet e r egist er 2. Per for m t he following st eps:
a. At t he UNSAVE: 1 display, pr ess key.
UNSAVE: 2 is displayed.
b. Pr ess Enter key t o delet e r egist er 2.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Print Menu
2-56 Operating Guide
2
Using t he Pr int Menu
Overvi e w of the Pri nt Menu
The Pr int menu allows you t o:
enable or disable pr int ing (PRINT: OFF or ON).
get help on how t o pr int (PRINT HELP ?).
To Use the Pri nt Menu
1 Pr ess Save & Print key unt il PRINT: is displayed.
2 If PRINT: OFF is displayed, pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys t o t oggle t he
next st at e.
PRINT: ON is displayed.
When PRINT is enabled, t he Count er displays and pr int s t he r esult s for
each measur ement . In addit ion, if STATS: ON, all st at ist ics (t hat is,
st andar d deviat ion, mean, maximum, and minimum) will be pr int ed.
NOTE Pr int ing may slow t he updat e r at e of t he Count er because t he Count er
may have t o wait for t he pr int er .
3 Pr ess Save & Print key.
PRINT HELP ? is displayed.
4 Pr ess Enter key.
The inst r uct ion CONFIGURE PORT ON UTILITY MENU; REMEMBER TO
SAVE SETUP FIRST is displayed.
5 Save your cur r ent set up as shown in t he sect ion t it led To Use t he Save
Funct ion.
6 Refer t o t he sect ion in t his chapt er t it led To Configur e t he RS-232 Ser ial
Por t for Pr int ing for infor mat ion on how t o configur e and connect t he
Count er t o a pr int er .
Save &
Print
Local
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Utility Menu
Operating Guide 2-57
2
Using t he Ut ilit y Menu
Ove rvi e w of the Uti li ty Me nu
The Ut ilit y menu is accessed by holding t he Re call key and cycling
POWER key.
The Ut ilit y menu allows you t o:
view t he fir mwar e r evision of your Count er (REV: n).
select and/or display t he cur r ent HP-IB addr ess (HP-IB: 1, ... 30, or
TALK).
choose t imebase sour ce (TIMEBAS: AUTO, INT, or EXT).
execut e sever al self t est s (r efer t o t he par agr aph in t his sect ion t it led
To Run t he Self-Test Rout ines for det ails).
configur e t he following par amet er s for t he RS-232 por t :
set t he pr int baud r at e (BAUD: 9600, 19200, 300, 1200, or 2400).
set pr int par it y (PARITY: OFF, EVEN, or ODD).
set t he soft war e pace (SW PACE: XON or NONE).
set t he har dwar e pace t o send dat a t o a ser ial pr int er , or t o send
t he Limit -det ect out put t o a comput er or cont r oller , via t he
RS-232 por t (DTR: HIGH, HW PACE, or LIMIT).
change t he numer ical convent ion of t he Count er s displayed
measur ement values. The numer ic convent ion used in t he USA
separ at es t he int egr al and fr act ional por t ions of a number wit h a
per iod (a decimal point ), and separ at es gr oups of t hr ee digit s in
t he int eger por t ion wit h a comma. You can r ever se t his set t ing t o
confor m t o t he numer ical convent ion used in many ot her count r ies
(SHOW 9 AS: 9.0 or 9,0).
Ear ly r evisions of t he Count er allowed calibr at ion fr om t he Ut ilit y menu
wit h CAL: menu it em. Calibr at ion and t he CAL: menu it em now r eside on
t he Calibr at ion menu; t he CAL HELP? menu it em r esides on t he Ut ilit y
menu as a point er t o t he Calibr at ion menu.
Recall Utility Menu:
Hold at power up
Utility
POWER
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Utility Menu
2-58 Operating Guide
2
To Se t the HP-IB Address
Each device on t he HP-IB must have a unique addr ess. You can set t he
Count er s addr ess t o any value bet ween 0 and 30. The addr ess is set t o 3
when t he Count er is shipped fr om t he fact or y.
Sel ect i ng Op er a t i ng Mod e (Ta l k /Li st en, Ta l k -Onl y)
The Count er has t wo HP-IB oper at ing modes:
Addr essed (t alk/list en)This mode is for bi-dir ect ional
communicat ion. The Count er can r eceive commands and set ups fr om
t he comput er , and can send dat a and measur ement r esult s.
To se lect the talk/li sten operating mode, se t the Counters
HP-IB addre ss from 0 to 30. Refer t o t he following sub-sect ion t it led
Set t ing t he HP-IB Addr ess for inst r uct ions on how t o select an
HP-IB addr ess fr om t he fr ont panel.
Talk-onlyIn t his mode, t he Count er can send dat a t o a pr int er .
It cannot r eceive commands or set ups fr om t he comput er .
To select the talk-only operati ng mode, set the Counters
HP-IB mode t o TALK. Refer t o t he sect ion t it led To Select t he
HP-IB Talk-Only Mode for Pr int ing for inst r uct ions on how t o select
t alk-only oper at ing mode.
Set t i ng t he HP-IB Ad d r ess
1 Pr ess and hold Re call (Ut i li ty) key, t hen cycle POWER key.
REV: n is displayed; wher e n r epr esent s t he numer ic fir mwar e r evision
code.
2 Pr ess Re call (Ut i li ty) key unt il HP-IB: is displayed.
HP-IB: 3 is displayed, for example.
3 To set t he addr ess t o 15 (for example), use t he appr opr iat e ar r ow keys t o
ent er t he value 15, t hen pr ess Ent e r key.
NOTE BE SURE to pre ss the Ent e r ke y to comple t e t he nume ri c e ntry.
The addr ess is now st or ed in non-volatile memor y, and does not change
when power has been off or aft er a r emot e int er face r eset .
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Utility Menu
Operating Guide 2-59
2
To Choose the Ti mebase Source
1 Pr ess and hold Re call (Ut i li ty) key, t hen cycle POWER key.
2 Pr ess Re call (Ut i li ty) key unt il TIMEBAS: is displayed.
3 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys unt il desir ed choice (t hat is, AUTO, INT, or
EXT) is displayed.
To Run the Self-Te st Routi nes
Over vi ew of t he Sel f-Test Rout i nes
The Ut ilit y menu includes t he following t hr ee self-t est menu it ems:
TEST LOOP:
TST PRINT:
TEST:
The Count er includes sever al self-t est s. Some self t est s ar e per for med at
t he power up of t he Count er . Some of t hese self t est s can also be invoked
fr om t he Ut ilit y menu. Ot her t est s can also be invoked fr om t he Ut ilit y
menu, but a slight ly differ ent t est is per for med. For example, a power up
self t est might wor k r egar dless of connect ions t o t he input s while a Ut ilit y
menu self t est may r equir e a specific signal t o be connect ed. Some self t est s
can only be invoked fr om t he Ut ilit y menu, for example, t he keypad t est .
You can specify t hat t he t est s should loop for ever (TEST LOOP: ON or
OFF) or unt il any key is pr essed.
You can also specify t hat failur e messages be sent t o a pr int er , t he RS-232,
and t he HP-IBif in t alk-only (TST PRINT: ON or OFF).
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Utility Menu
2-60 Operating Guide
2
Ther e ar e 13 choices for t he TEST: menu it em. They ar e list ed and
descr ibed in t he following t ext .
TEST: ALL? r un all t est s, except display, keypad and pr int er t est s.
DISP? illuminat e t he indicat or s and vacuum-fluor escent
display (VFD) segment s. Note, this test is not available
if TEST LOOP: is ON. TEST LOOP: must be OFF.
CPU? t est pr ocessor (s).
ROM? checksum t he ROM.
RAM? t est RAM.
EEPROM? checksum t he EEPROM, which is used for non-volat ile
memor y.
HP-IB? t est HP-IB chip.
QSPI? t est ser ial har dwar e cont r ol loops.
FPGA? int er nally measur e t he t imebase t o t est count
cir cuit r y.
FR END? check fr ont end cir cuit s, eit her by swinging t r igger
levels (dur ing power on t est and ALL t est ) or asking
you t o connect t he t imebase out put t o channels 1 and 2
using a BNC-T connect or t o split t he signal.
MEAS? make a measur ement , eit her by swinging t r igger
levels (dur ing power on t est and ALL t est ) or asking
you t o connect t he t imebase out put t o channel 1.
INTERP? t est int er polat or s.
KEYPAD? r equest user t o pr ess all keys. Note, this test is not
available if TEST LOOP: is ON. TEST LOOP: must be
OFF.
PRINT? send t hr ee t est lines t o a pr int er via t he RS-232. If in
t alk-only, also send t hr ee t est lines t o a pr int er via t he
HP-IB.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Utility Menu
Operating Guide 2-61
2
Exa mpl e Pr oced ur e for Runni ng t he Sel f Test
1 Pr ess and hold Re call (Ut i li ty) key, t hen cycle POWER key.
2 Pr ess Re call (Ut i li ty) key unt il TEST: is displayed.
3 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys t o select t he desir ed menu choice in t he
menu it em (for example, t he ALL? menu choice).
4 Pr ess Enter key t o st ar t t he t est .
5 If you ar e asked t o do somet hing, pr ess Ent er key when you have
complet ed t he r equest ed t ask.
A pass or fail message will be displayed.
To Confi gure the RS-232 Se ri al Port for Pri nti ng
Soft war e pacing, baud r at e, par it y, dat a bit s, and st op bit s par amet er s for
each por t ar e user -select able and independent of configur at ion of t he
ot her .
The t able below list s t he configur at ion fact or y-default values for t he
RS-232 por t .
1
When parity is EVEN or ODD, data bits are fixed at 7. When parity is NONE, data bits are fixed at 8.
Parameter Default Possible Choices
Software Pacing XON XON or NONE
Baud Rate 9600 300, 1200, 2400, 9600, or 19200
Parity NONE EVEN or ODD
1
NONE
Data Bits 8 FIXED at 7 FIXED at 8
Stop Bits 1 FIXED
Full Duplex ON ON or OFF
DTR HIGH PACE, HIGH, LIMIT
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Utility Menu
2-62 Operating Guide
2
Configur ing t he RS-232 ser ial por t for pr int ing r equir es t hat you:
set t he har dwar e pacing in t he DTR (Dat a Ter minal Ready) menu it em,
t ur n PRINT:ON in t he SAVE&PRINT menu,
set t he baud r at e in t he BAUD menu it em,
set t he par it y t ype in t he PARITY menu it em, and
set t he soft war e pacing in t he SW PACE menu it em.
Set t i ng t he Ha r d wa r e Pa ci ng
1 Pr ess and hold Re call (Ut i li ty) key, t hen cycle POWER key.
2 Pr ess Re call (Ut i li ty) key unt il DTR: is displayed.
3 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys unt il t he desir ed har dwar e pacing is
displayed.
NOTE Choose HW PACE t o use t he DTR line for pacing.(CAUTION: You
should only choose thi s option i f your pri nter and cable
support DTR handshaki ng.)
Choose HIGH t o disable har dwar e pacing.
The Count er s t alk-only RS-232 por t is now set t o be t he dr iver for a
RS-232 ser ial pr int er . The har dwar e pacing choice is st or ed in non-volatile
memor y, and does not change when power has been off or aft er a r emot e
int er face r eset .
Set t i ng t he Ba ud Ra t e
You can select one of five baud r at es for RS-232 oper at ion. The r at e is set
t o 9600 baud when t he Count er is shipped fr om t he fact or y.
1 Pr ess Re call (Ut i li ty) key unt il BAUD: is displayed.
2 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys unt il t he desir ed baud r at e is displayed.
The baud r at e is st or ed in non-volatile memor y, and does not change when
power has been off or aft er a r emot e int er face r eset .
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Utility Menu
Operating Guide 2-63
2
Set t i ng t he Pa r i t y
You can select t he par it y for RS-232 oper at ion. The Count er is configur ed
for par it y off when shipped fr om t he fact or y.
1 Pr ess Re call (Ut i li ty) key unt il PARITY: is displayed.
2 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys unt il t he desir ed par it y is displayed.
The par it y choice is st or ed in non-volatile memor y, and does not change
when power has been off or aft er a r emot e int er face r eset .
Set t i ng t he Soft wa r e Pa ce
You can select t he soft war e pace for RS-232 oper at ion.
1 Pr ess Re call (Ut i li ty) key unt il SW PACE: is displayed.
2 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys unt il t he desir ed soft war e pacing is
displayed.
The soft war e pacing choice is st or ed in non-volatile memor y, and does not
change when power has been off or aft er a r emot e int er face r eset .
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Utility Menu
2-64 Operating Guide
2
To Confi gure the RS-232 Se ri al Port for Sendi ng
Li mi t-De te ct Output
NOTE If you cycle power , you will lose ever yt hing except saved measur ement
set ups and special par amet er s st or ed in non-volat ile memor y; t her efor e,
make sur e you use t he Save funct ion of t he Count er t o r et ain t he
measur ement set up pr ior t o power ing down t o set up t he Limit -Det ect
Out put line (pin 4) of RS-232 ser ial connect or . Refer t o t he appr opr iat e
sect ion in t his chapt er for det ails on how t o use Save and Recall.
1 To use t he Limit -det ect out put fr om t he ser ial por t , per for m t he following
st eps:
a. Save your measur ement set up t hat includes your Limit Test ing
choices, by simply pr essing t he Save & Pri nt key unt il
SAVE: 1 is displayed, t hen Enter key t o save t o r egist er 1.
b. Tur n off t he Count er .
c. Pr ess and hold Re call (Ut i li ty) key, t hen pr ess POWER key.
d. Pr ess Re call (Ut i li ty) key unt il DTR: is displayed.
e . Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys unt il DTR: LIMIT is displayed.
2 Pr ess Run key.
3 Pr ess Re call (Uti li t y) key unt il RECALL 1 is displayed, t hen wait a few
seconds t o r ecall t he measur ement set up saved in r egist er 1.
Since your measur ement set up included your set t ings for upper and lower
limit s, and LIM TEST: was set t o ON, t he Count er is now set for limit
t est ing wit h t he Limit -det ect out put .
If a measur ement dr ift s out of t he user -ent er ed limit s, t he Limit
annunciat or in t he display will light . Also, pin 4 on t he RS-232 connect or
will change st at e (t o a low-volt age RS-232 level) t o flag each t ime a
measur ement dr ift s out of t he limit s. (RS-232 volt age levels swing
fr om 12V.)
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Utility Menu
Operating Guide 2-65
2
To Se lect the Nume ri cal Conventi on for the Di splay
1 Pr ess and hold Re call (Ut i li ty) key, t hen cycle POWER key.
2 Pr ess Re call (Ut i li ty) key unt il SHOW 9 AS: is displayed.
3 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys unt il your menu choice is displayed.
If you choose SHOW 9 AS: 9.0, t he Count er will display a fr equency
measur ement similar t o 12.0000000001 MHz, for example. Not e t hat t he
int egr al por t ion (12) is separ at ed fr om t he fr act ional por t ion of t he
number by a period (or decimal point ). This numer ical convent ion is used
in t he USA.
If you choose SHOW 9 AS: 9,0, t he Count er will display a fr equency
measur ement similar t o 12,0000000001 MHz, for example. Not e t hat t he
int egr al por t ion (12) is separ at ed fr om t he fr act ional por t ion of t he
number by a comma. This numer ical convent ion is used in many ot her
count r ies.
Your numer ical convent ion choice for t he display is st or ed in non-volatile
memor y, and does not change when power has been off or aft er a r emot e
int er face r eset .
To Conne ct the Counter to a Seri al Pri nter vi a the
RS-232 Port
The RS-232 por t on t he Count er s r ear panel is a 9-pin connect or (DB-9,
male connect or ). You can connect t he Count er t o any pr int er wit h a
pr oper ly configur ed DTE connect or (DB-25). You can use a st andar d
HP 24542G or 24542H int er face cable.
Connect t he Count er t o a t er minal or pr int er by simply inst alling an
RS-232 cable (such as an AT Pr int er CableHP P/N 24542H cable)
bet ween t he unit s.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Utility Menu
2-66 Operating Guide
2
To Conne ct the Counter to a Pri nter vi a HP-IB
You can connect t he Count er t o a pr int er via HP-IB eit her wit h or wit hout
a comput er . If you connect a comput er , you can oper at e t he pr int er under
pr ogr am cont r ol. In t he absence of a comput er , t he Count er , when in t alk-
only, becomes t he cont r oller for t he pr int er .
To Se lect the HP-IB Talk-Only Mode for Pri nti ng
1 Pr ess and hold Re call (Ut i li ty) key, t hen cycle POWER key.
2 Pr ess Re call (Ut i li ty) key unt il HP-IB: is displayed.
3 To set t he HP-IB t o t alk-only, pr ess t he appr opr iat e ar r ow keys unt il
HP-IB: TALK is displayed.
The TALK choice follows 30 and pr ecedes 0 in t he set of choices for t he
HP-IB menu it em.
NOTE BE SURE to pre ss the Ent e r ke y to comple t e t he nume ri c e ntry.
The t alk-only oper at ing mode is now st or ed in non-volatile memor y, and
does not change when power has been off or aft er a r emot e int er face r eset .
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Calibration Menu
Operating Guide 2-67
2
Using t he Calibr at ion Menu
Ove rvi e w of the Cali brati on Menu
The Calibr at ion menu is accessed by holding t he Scale & Offset key and
cycling t he POWER key. All of t he calibr at ion fact or s and secur it y
set t ings ar e st or ed in non-volatile memor y, and do not change when power
has been off or aft er a r emot e int er face r eset .
The secur it y code is set t o 53131 or 53132 (cor r esponding t o t he model)
when t he Count er is shipped fr om t he fact or y. If you for get your secur it y
code, you can r eset t he secur it y code t o t he model-number default by
r eset t ing all of t he non-volat ile memor y t o a default st at e. See t he
HP 53131A/132A Assembly-Level Ser vice Guide for mor e infor mat ion.
The Calibr at ion menu allows you t o:
view t he calibr at ion secur it y st at us of t he Count er (CAL SECURE or
CAL UNSECURE)
init iat e t he Count er s calibr at ion r out ines, which can per for m
aut omat ic calibr at ion of t he volt age offset and gain of t he fr ont -end
input amplifier s (CAL: OFFS 1 / 2 ?, GAIN 1 / 2?), of t he opt ional
t imebase (CAL: TIMEBAS?), and of t he differ ences in elect r ical
pat h-lengt h bet ween channels 1 and 2 (CAL: TI QUIK? and
CAL: TI FINE?)
secur e against calibr at ion by ent er ing t he secur it y code while t he
Count er is unsecur ed (CODE:)
unsecur e for calibr at ion by ent er ing t he secur it y code while t he
Count er is secur ed (CODE:)
change t he secur it y code by ent er ing a new code while t he Count er is
unsecur ed (CODE:)
Scale &
Offset
On / Stby
POWER
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Calibration Menu
2-68 Operating Guide
2
view t he calibr at ion count , which indicat es t he number of t imes t hat
t he Count er has been calibr at ed (CAL COUNT?). The calibr at ion
count incr ement s up t o a maximum of 32,767 aft er which it wr aps
ar ound t o 1. A calibr at ion count of 0 indicat es t hat t he Count er is
complet ely uncalibr at ed. (The calibr at ion count is unaffect ed by
int er polat or calibr at ion.)
get Help (HELP:) wit h any of t he following:
how t o calibr at e (CAL?),
how t o secur e (SECURE?), and
how t o change t he code (CODE?)
NOTE A good pr ecaut ion is t o use an HP-IB pr ogr am (see t he pr ogr amming
example t it led To Read and St or e Calibr at ion Dat a in Chapt er 3 of t he
Pr ogr amming Guide) t o r ead and st or e t he calibr at ion fact or s pr ior t o
init iat ing any calibr at ion.
To Vi ew the Cali brati on Menu and Securi ty Status
The Calibr at ion menu is accessed by holding t he Scale & Offset key and
cycling t he POWER key. The fir st it em in t he Calibr at ion menu is a
message indicat ing t he calibr at ion secur it y st at us: CAL SECURE or
CAL UNSECURE.
To Unsecure for Cali brati on
1 Pr ess and hold Scale & Offs et key, t hen cycle POWER key.
CAL SECURE is displayed.
If CAL UNSECURE is displayed, t hen t he Count er is alr eady unsecur ed
for calibr at ion, and t he r emaining st eps ar e not applicable.
2 Pr ess Scale & Offs et key unt il CODE: is displayed.
3 Pr ess t he appr opr iat e ar r ow keys t o ent er t he secur it y code, t hen pr ess
Ent er key.
CAL UNSECURE is displayed.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Calibration Menu
Operating Guide 2-69
2
To Ini ti ate the Cali brati on Routi ne s
1 Pr ess and hold Scale & Offs et key, t hen cycle POWER key.
2 Unsecur e for calibr at ion by per for ming t he pr eceding pr ocedur e.
3 Pr ess Scale & Offs et key unt il CAL: OFFS1? is displayed.
4 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys unt il your calibr at ion choice (t hat is,
CAL: OFFS2?, CAL: GAIN 1?, CAL: GAIN 2?, CAL: TI QUIK?,
CAL: TI FINE?, or CAL: TIMEBAS?) is displayed.
Not e t hat t he t imebase choice (CAL: TIMEBAS?) only appear s when a
Timebase Opt ion is inst alled.
CAL:TI QUIK? and CAL:TI FINE? ar e t wo differ ent ways t o calibr at e
out t he differ ences in elect r ical pat h lengt h bet ween Channel 1 and
Channel 2. When you pr ovide t he calibr at ion signal, t he inst r ument
measur es how t he differ ence in pat h lengt h t r anslat es t o an aver age delay
bet ween t he t wo channels.
The Quick Time Int er val Calibr at ion r equir es a simple input signal.
You pr ovide on Channel 1 a clean squar e wave wit h a r apid r ise t ime and
an appr oximat e fr equency of 10 MHz. The inst r ument r out es t he
calibr at ion signal in COMMON t o bot h channels 1 and 2, and measur es
t he aver age delay bet ween t he t wo channels so configur ed. The advant age
of t he Quick Calibr at ion is t hat it is easy, quick, and r equir es lit t le special
equipment . The disadvant age is t hat t he calibr at ion t er m is best fit for
TI measur ement s configur ed COMMON and measur ed fr om r ising t o
r ising edge; it leaves uncor r ect ed a small syst emat ic er r or for all ot her
configur at ions. The Fine Time Int er val Calibr at ion minimizes syst emat ic
er r or by calibr at ing t he inst r ument in each configur at ion.
The Fine Time Int er val Calibr at ion r equir es a special calibr at or signal
sour ce t o pr ovide input because it pr oduces eight calibr at ion t er ms, each
t ailor ed t o a differ ent combinat ion of input condit ions. It r equir es t he
synt hesizer dr iving t he calibr at or t o pr oduce a ver y accur at e 10 MHz
wavefor mbecause it calibr at es t he pulse widt h configur at ion against t he
50-nanosecond pulse widt h so pr ovided. It minimizes syst emat ic er r or by
calibr at ing t he inst r ument in each of t he eight configur at ions: falling t o
falling edges, falling t o r ising edges, et c., and bot h SEPARATE and
COMMON r out ing.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Calibration Menu
2-70 Operating Guide
2
5 Pr ess Enter key t o display t he set up inst r uct ions.
Not es Per t a i ni ng t o t he CAL: TI QUIK?
Advantage: Calibr at ion signal is simple.
Di sadvantage: One cor r ect ion t er m for all slope and r out ing
configur at ions.
Input signal: clean squar e wave, fast r ise t ime, appr oximat ely 10 MHz,
1 volt peak-t o-peak, no dc offset (oscillat ing about 0.0 volt s), dr iving 50.
Ti mebase: Any ext er nal t imebase you pr ovide is ignor ed dur ing
calibr at ion.
Procedure: Fr om t he fr ont -panel calibr at ion menu, one keypr ess
invokes t he calibr at ion.
Not es Per t a i ni ng t o t he CAL: TI FINE?
Advantage: Calibr at ion minimizes syst emat ic er r or for any
suppor t ed combinat ion of input slope and r out ing.
Di sadvantage: Calibr at ion signal is mor e complex. If you perform a
calibration that you feel is erroneous and do not feel you can perform
the fine calibration, perform t he CAL: TI QUIK? calibration instead,
or restore the calibration factors that you saved prior to starting.
Equi pment : HP 8130A Pulse Gener at or or equivalent .
HP 59992A J 06 Time Int er val Calibr at or or equivalent .
Equi pment and Count er Se tup: See Figur e 2-4.
Figure 2-4. Calibration Setup for CAL: TI FINE?
HP 53131A/132A
Counter
1 2 3 4
In A B
HP 59992A J06
Time Interval Calibrator
Start Stop
HP 8130A
Pulse Generator
Output
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Calibration Menu
Operating Guide 2-71
2
Out of HP 8130A, i nto HP 59992A J 06 Cali brator Si gnal:
PERIOD: 100 ns
WIDTH: 50 ns
High: 0.50 V Low: 0.50 V
Input Mode: Nor mal
Ti mebase: Any ext er nal t imebase you pr ovide is ignor ed dur ing
calibr at ion.
Procedure: Fr om t he fr ont -panel calibr at ion menu, one keypr ess
invokes t he calibr at ion. You ar e pr ompt ed t o pr ess but t ons on t he
HP 59992A J 06 Calibr at or for each par t of a four -par t calibr at ion.
Not e t hat CAL: TI FINE? r equir es t he complet ion of four st eps in
or der .
To Se cure Agai nst Cali brati on
1 Pr ess and hold Scale & Offs et key, t hen cycle POWER key.
CAL UNSECURE is displayed. If CAL SECURE is displayed, t hen t he
Count er is alr eady secur ed against calibr at ion and t he r emaining st eps
ar e not applicable.
2 Pr ess Scale & Offs et key unt il CODE: is displayed.
3 Pr ess t he appr opr iat e ar r ow keys t o ent er t he secur it y code, t hen pr ess
Ent er key.
CAL SECURE is displayed.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Using the Calibration Menu
2-72 Operating Guide
2
To Change to a New Securi ty Code
1 Pr ess and hold Scale & Offs et key, t hen cycle POWER key.
2 Unsecur e for calibr at ion by t he using t he pr ocedur e descr ibed in t he
sect ion t it led To Unsecur e for Calibr at ion.
3 Pr ess Scale & Offs et key unt il CODE: is displayed.
4 Pr ess t he appr opr iat e ar r ow keys t o ent er t he new or cust omized secur it y
code, t hen pr ess Ent er key.
A scr olling message will appear , indicat ing what t he new code is.
For example, t he Count er displays t he NEW CODE IS 5 if you ent er ed 5
as t he new code.
To Vi ew the Cali brati on Count
1 Pr ess and hold Scale & Offs et key, t hen cycle POWER key.
2 Pr ess Scale & Offs et key unt il CAL COUNT? is displayed.
3 Pr ess any one of t he ent r y keys (ar r ow, +/, Ent e r) t o have a scr olling
message appear , indicat ing what t he calibr at ion count is.
Your Count er was calibr at ed befor e it left t he fact or y. When you r eceive
your Count er , r ead t he calibr at ion count t o det er mine it s init ial value.
To Get Help With the Cali brati on Menu
1 Pr ess and hold Scale & Offs et key, t hen cycle POWER key.
2 Pr ess Scale & Offs et key unt il HELP: CAL? is displayed.
3 Pr ess any one of t he ar r ow keys unt il your help choice (t hat is,
HELP: CAL?, HELP: SECURE?, HELP: CODE?) is displayed.
4 Pr ess Enter key t o display t he help infor mat ion.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Front Panel Display Messages
Operating Guide 2-73
2
Fr ont Panel Display Messages
Ther e ar e four t ypes of displays:
Measur ement Result Displays
Power -Up/Self Test Messages
Menu Messages
HP-IB Messages
Measureme nt Result Di splays
1
If this condition recurs, your Counter may need servicing.
Table 2-4. Measurement Result Displays
Di splay Mess age Probable Cause
NEW TIMEBASE You have selected the auto reference mode (TIMEBAS: AUTO) and the Counter
detected that the external reference became invalid during the measurement.
Therefore, the current result is not valid, and the Counter switches to using the
internal reference.
NO TIMEBASE You have selected external reference (TIMEBAS: EXT) and there is no external
reference applied to the rear-panel Ref In connector, or the external signal is not
an allowed frequency.
1
INTERP FAIL Interpolator calibration failed on the last measurement; therefore, no valid
measurement was taken.
1
MEAS FAIL A measurement calibration failed on the last measurement.
DOING STATS You have chosen to see a statistics result and the Counter is calculating
statistics, but does not have valid statistics results yet.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ There is no valid measurement available to display. The Counter may be stopped
between measurements while in Single mode, and you need to press the
Stop/Single key; or trigger level or input conditioning may need adjustment.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Front Panel Display Messages
2-74 Operating Guide
2
Power-Up/Self Test Messages
The following sequence occur s when you t ur n on t he Count er :
1. All of t he vacuum-fluor escent display segment s and t he indicat or s
(or LEDs) ar e illuminat ed for t he power -up t est .
2. If all t est s pass: SELFTST: PASS will be displayed (See NOTE below).
3. HP-IB AT X will be moment ar ily displayed (wher e X r epr esent s t he
HP-IB addr ess number ), t hen t he Count er will st ar t t aking
measur ement s. (Note : Ear lier ver sions of t he Count er do not display
t he HP-IB addr ess.)
NOTE If t her e is a failur e, each t est t hat fails will display a failur e message, and
SELFTST: FAIL will be displayed. You must pr ess any key in or der for t he
Count er t o go on.
Possible individual failur e messages ar e:
FAIL: DISP display t est
FAIL:CPU pr ocessor t est
FAIL: ROM ROM t est
FAIL:RAM RAM t est
FAIL: EEPROM EEPROM t est
FAIL: HP-IB HP-IB har dwar e t est
FAIL: QSPI ser ial har dwar e loops t est
FAIL: FPGA count cir cuit t est
FAIL: FR END fr ont end t est
FAIL: MEAS measur ement t est
FAIL: INTERP int er polat or t est
In addit ion, t he following power -up message may be displayed:
UNCALIBRATED
This means t hat at least one t ype of calibr at ion has NOT been per for med.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Front Panel Display Messages
Operating Guide 2-75
2
Menu Message s
Table 2-5. Menu Messages
Di splay Mess age Descri pti on
(AC COUPLED) You have selected the VOLT PEAKS function to be measured on a channel which
is ac coupled.
BAD CODE The Counters calibration is secured and you have entered an incorrect code.
CAL ABORTED Calibration was aborted because of HP-IB or the user pressing a key besides the
Enter key.
CAL SECURE You are in the Calibration menu, and the first menu item indicates that the
Counter is secure against calibration.
CAL UNSECURE You are in the Calibration menu, and the first menu item indicates that the
Counter is unsecure for calibration.
CALIBRATING You have invoked calibration from the Calibration menu item CAL:, and the
Counter is currently performing the calibration.
1
EEPROM FAIL You have requested that a Counter setting which is stored in the EEPROM
(HP-IB:, BAUD:, PARITY:, SW PACE:, DTR:, SHOW 9 AS:, or CAL:) be
updated, and a hardware failure has resulted.
GAIN 1 FAIL You have invoked the GAIN 1 ? choice from the Calibration menu item CAL:, and
the calibration failed.
GAIN 1 PASS You have invoked the GAIN 1 ? choice from the Calibration menu item CAL:, and
the calibration passed.
GAIN 2 FAIL You have invoked the GAIN 2 ? choice from the Calibration menu item CAL:, and
the calibration failed.
GAIN 2 PASS You have invoked the GAIN 2 ? choice from the Calibration menu item CAL:, and
the calibration passed.
IN REMOTE You have pressed a key (other than Local) while in remote.
LOCAL LCKOUT You have pressed the Local (Save & Print) key while in remote with local lockout.
OFFS 1 FAIL You have invoked the OFFS 1 ? choice from the Calibration menu item CAL:,
and the calibration failed.
OFFS 1 PASS You have invoked the OFFS 1 ? choice from the Calibration menu item CAL:,
and the calibration passed.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Front Panel Display Messages
2-76 Operating Guide
2
1
If this condition recurs, your Counter may need servicing.
OFFS 2 FAIL You have invoked the OFFS 2 ? choice from the Calibration menu item CAL:,
and the calibration failed.
OFFS 2 PASS You have invoked the OFFS 2 ? choice from the Calibration menu item CAL:,
and the calibration passed.
NO GATE MENU You currently have the VOLT PEAKS function selected and requested the Gate &
Ext Arm menu.
NO LIM MENU You currently have the VOLT PEAKS or TOTALIZE function selected and
requested the Upper & Lower or Limit Modes menu.
NO MATH MENU You currently have the VOLT PEAKS or TOTALIZE function selected and
requested the Scale & Offset menu.
NO REGISTERS There are no registers which can be recalled and you selected the Recall menu.
NO STAT MENU You currently have the VOLT PEAKS or TOTALIZE function selected and
requested the Stats menu.
NO TRIG MENU You currently have the VOLT PEAKS function selected and requested the
Trigger/Sensitivity menu.
1
RECALL FAIL You have requested the Counter to perform a recall (from the Recall menu) and a
hardware failure has resulted.
1
SAVE FAIL You have requested the Counter to perform a save (from the Save & Print menu)
and a hardware failure has resulted.
TB CAL FAIL You have invoked the TIMEBAS? choice from the Calibration menu item CAL:,
and the calibration failed.
TB CAL PASS You have invoked the TIMEBAS? choice from the Calibration menu item CAL:,
and the calibration passed.
TI CAL FAIL You have invoked the TI QUIK? or TI FINE? choice from the Calibration menu
item CAL:, and the calibration failed.
TI CAL PASS You have invoked the TI QUIK? or TI FINE? choice from the Calibration menu
item CAL:, and the calibration passed.
Table 2-5. Menu Messages (continued)
Di splay Mess age Descri pti on
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Front Panel Display Messages
Operating Guide 2-77
2
HP-IB Message s
1
+nnnn and nnn represent HP-IB error code numbers that would actually be displayed.
Table 2-6. HP-IB Messages
Di splay Mess age Descri pti on
1
HP-IB +nnnn You have generated the HP-IB error corresponding to the indicated error number.
Refer to Chapter 5, Errors, in the Programming Guide for a list of the error
descriptions.
1
HP-IB nnn You have generated the HP-IB error corresponding to the indicated error number.
Refer to Chapter 5, Errors, in the Programming Guide for a list of the error
descriptions.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Preset Values After Power-Up and *RST
2-78 Operating Guide
2
Pr eset Values Aft er Power -Up and *RST
This sect ion pr ovides separ at e pr eset value list s for t he HP 53131A and
t he HP 53132A wit h a ser ial number pr efix below 3646 (Table 2-7A) and
HP 53132A wit h a ser ial number pr efix of 3646 and above (Table 2-7B) t o
make it easy for you t o differ ent iat e fr om t he count er s, which have
differ ent ar ming capabilit ies for t he Time Int er val measur ement s.
This sect ion cont ains t he following pr eset value sect ions or t ables:
HP 53131A (and HP 53132As with serial number prefixes below 3646)
Pr eset Values for Funct ions Accessible Via Fr ont Panel or HP-IB,
starts on page 2-79.
HP 53132A (with serial number prefixes 3646 and above) Pr eset
Values for Funct ions Accessible Via Fr ont Panel or HP-IB, starts on
page 2-85.
HP 53131A/132A (all HP 53131As and HP 53132As) Pr eset Values for
Funct ions Accessible Via HP-IB Only, starts on page 2-91.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Preset Values After Power-Up and *RST
Operating Guide 2-79
2
HP 53131A (and HP 53132A Wi th S/N Pre fix Below
3646) Preset Value s for Functi ons Accessi ble Vi a Front
Pane l or HP-IB
Table 2-7A list s pr eset values for t he HP 53131A (and t he HP 53132A
wit h ser ial number pr efix below 3646).
Table 2-7A. HP 53131A (and HP 53132A With S/N Prefix Below 3646) Preset Values
Descripti on
In
Save/Recall
Value at *RST
(HP-IB Reset )
Value at
Power-Up
In
Non-Volatile
Memory
Function-Select Parameters
Measur ement funct ion yes FREQ1 FREQ1 no
Frequency, Period, and Ratio
Arming Parameters
Fr equency ar m yes ________ TIME no
Fr equency st ar t ar m yes IMMediat e ________ no
Fr equency st op ar m yes TIMer ________ no
Fr equency st op ar m digit s yes 4 4 no
Fr equency gat e t ime yes 100.E-3s 100.E-3s no
Fr equency ext st ar t ar m slope yes POS POS no
Fr equency ext st op ar m yes ________ AUTO no
Totalize Arming Parameters
Tot alize ar m yes ________ TIME no
Tot alize st ar t ar m yes IMMediat e ________ no
Tot alize st op ar m yes TIMer ________ no
Tot alize gat e t ime yes 100.E-3s 100.E-3s no
Tot alize ext st ar t ar m slope yes POS POS no
Tot alize ext st op ar m yes ________ EDGE no
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Preset Values After Power-Up and *RST
2-80 Operating Guide
2
Phase Arming Parameters
Phase ar m yes IMMediat e AUTO no
Phase ext st ar t ar m slope yes POS POS no
Time Interval, Rise, Fall, Pulse,
Dutycycle Arming Parameters
Time Int er val ar m yes ________ AUTO no
Time Int er val st ar t ar m yes IMMediat e ________ no
Time Int er val ext st ar t ar m slope yes POS POS no
Time Interval Only Arming
Parameters
Time Int er val delay enable yes ________ OFF no
Time Int er val st op ar m yes IMMediat e ________ no
Time Int er val delay yes 10.E-3s 10.E-3s no
Input Coupling Parameters
Channel 1 input coupling yes AC AC no
Channel 2 input coupling yes AC AC no
Input Impedance Parameters
Channel 1 input impedance yes 1E+6 Ohms 1E+6 Ohms no
Channel 2 input impedance yes 1E+6 Ohms 1E+6 Ohms no
Input Attenuation Parameters no
Channel 1 input at t enuat ion yes X1 X1 no
Channel 2 input at t enuat ion yes X1 X1 no
Table 2-7A. HP 53131A (and HP 53132A With S/N Prefix Below 3646) Preset Values (continued)
Descripti on
In
Save/Recall
Value at *RST
(HP-IB Reset )
Value at
Power-Up
In
Non-Volatile
Memory
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Preset Values After Power-Up and *RST
Operating Guide 2-81
2
Display Parameters
Display blank no disabled disabled no
Display mode (r esult /menu) no r esult s r esult s no
Trigger Level Parameters
Channel 1 t r igger level (volt s) yes 0.000V
1
0.000V
1
no
Channel 2 t r igger level (volt s) yes 0.000V
1
0.000V
1
no
Channel 1 t r igger level (per cent ) yes 50% 50% no
Channel 2 t r igger level (per cent ) yes 50% 50% no
Trigger Slope Parameters
Channel 1 t r igger slope yes POS POS no
Channel 2 t r igger slope yes POS POS no
Sensitivity Parameters
Channel 1 sensit ivit y yes 100% HIGH no
Channel 2 sensit ivit y yes 100% HIGH no
Input Routing Parameters
Input r out e for Time Int er val yes SEPARATE SEPARATE no
Measurement Control
Parameters
Run/Single select ion yes SINGLE RUN
2
no
Math Operation Parameters
Mat h on/off yes OFF OFF no
Scale yes 1.000000 1.000000 no
Offset yes 0.0000000000 0.0000000000 no
Table 2-7A. HP 53131A (and HP 53132A With S/N Prefix Below 3646) Preset Values (continued)
Descripti on
In
Save/Recall
Value at *RST
(HP-IB Reset )
Value at
Power-Up
In
Non-Volatile
Memory
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Preset Values After Power-Up and *RST
2-82 Operating Guide
2
Limits Parameters
Limit t est on/off yes OFF OFF no
On fail st op/go on yes GO ON GO ON no
Lower limit yes 0.0000000000 0.0000000000 no
Upper limit yes 0.0000000000 0.0000000000 no
Limit display number /gr aph yes NUMBER NUMBER no
Stats Parameters
St at s on/off yes OFF OFF no
St at s measur ement count , N yes 100 100 no
Display measur ement /st at s yes MEAS MEAS no
St at s use all/in limit s yes USE ALL USE ALL no
On-single measur ement count yes 1 (AUTO OFF) 1 (AUTO OFF) no
Print Parameters
Pr int ing on/off yes OFF OFF no
Timebase Parameters
Timebase aut o/int er nal/ext er nal yes AUTO AUTO no
Expected Frequency Parameters
Channel 1 expect ed fr equency no ________
3
________
3
no
Channel 2 expect ed fr equency no ________
3
________
3
no
Channel 3 expect ed fr equency no ________
3
________
3
no
Table 2-7A. HP 53131A (and HP 53132A With S/N Prefix Below 3646) Preset Values (continued)
Descripti on
In
Save/Recall
Value at *RST
(HP-IB Reset )
Value at
Power-Up
In
Non-Volatile
Memory
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Preset Values After Power-Up and *RST
Operating Guide 2-83
2
Auto-Frequency Parameters
Channel 1 aut o-fr equency on/off no ON ON no
Channel 2 aut o-fr equency on/off no ON ON no
Channel 3 aut o-fr equency on/off no ON ON no
Trigger Offset Cal Parameters
Channel 1 t r igger offset cal no ________
4
________
4
yes, (2048)
Channel 2 t r igger offset cal no ________
4
________
4
yes, (2048)
Trigger Gain Cal Parameters
Channel 1 t r igger gain cal no ________
4
________
4
yes, (1700)
Channel 2 t r igger gain cal no ________
4
________
4
yes, (1700)
Time Interval Offset Cal
Parameters no ________
4
________
4
yes, (2100)
Utility Menu Parameters
Opt ion Timebase cal no ________
4
________
4
yes, (2048)
HP-IB addr ess no ________
4
________
4
yes,(3)
Digit separ at or (r adix) no ________
4
________
4
yes,
(USA STYLE)
Baud r at e, (RS-232) no ________
4
________
4
yes, (9600)
Par it y, (RS-232) no ________
4
________
4
yes, (OFF)
Pacing, (RS-232) no ________
4
________
4
yes, (XON)
DTR, (RS-232) no ________
4
________
4
yes,
(DTR_HIGH)
Table 2-7A. HP 53131A (and HP 53132A With S/N Prefix Below 3646) Preset Values (continued)
Descripti on
In
Save/Recall
Value at *RST
(HP-IB Reset )
Value at
Power-Up
In
Non-Volatile
Memory
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Preset Values After Power-Up and *RST
2-84 Operating Guide
2
1
At power-up, the trigger level is defaulted. The default value is shown in the table. The Counter retains this
value until the first auto-trigger cycle runs. Since the Counter powers up on Run mode with auto-trigger ON,
the auto-trigger cycle runs almost immediately. The default value is overwritten by a measured result almost
immediately.
At *RST, the trigger level variable is defaulted. The default value is shown in the table. Same as for power-up,
the Counter retains this value until the first auto-trigger cycle runs. However, on *RST, the Counter is set up in
Single mode, (not Run mode), with auto-trigger ON. The auto-trigger cycle runs only on initiation of a
measurement. The default value for the variable persists until overwritten by a measured result, but it may be
a long time before you request a measurement; therefore, it may be a long time that the default value
persists.
2
At power-up, you can bring up the Counter either in the Utility menu, or in the results display. The default
behavior of the Run/Single variable differs according to that choice.
When the Counter powers up in the result display, it powers up in Run mode and begins making
measurements immediately.
The Counter does not make measurements when the Utility menu is selected. (This is to reduce confusion
while the user configures major attributes of the instrument.) When you power up on the Utility menu, the
Counter is in Single. Upon exit of the Utility menu, the Counter transitions to Run automatically.
3
At *RST and at power-up, this value is undefined. The frequency-estimation routine, (auto-frequency
routine), is enabled. When you select auto-frequency OFF, and provide a value, the variable takes on that
value.
4
Fundamental instrument settings are stored in non-volatile RAM. These settings persist even if the Counter is
powered down and back up again. They persist if the Counter is reset over HP-IB with *RST. You can change
these settings, and the changed value is stored so that it is unaffected if the Counter is powered down or
reset over HP-IB with *RST.
The default values for these special features are indicated in the table. The default values are used when
new EPROMs are installed; they remain in effect until you overwrite them.
An example is the trigger calibration setting. Calibration values are defaulted until calibration is performed at
the factory. Another example is the RS-232 BAUD rate. BAUD rate is defaulted until you pick a different rate.
Calibration Security Parameters
Secur e st at e no ________
4
________
4
yes, (SECURE)
Secur it y code no ________
4
________
4
yes, (53131 or
53132)
Calibr at ion count no ________
4
________
4
yes, (0)
Table 2-7A. HP 53131A (and HP 53132A With S/N Prefix Below 3646) Preset Values (continued)
Descripti on
In
Save/Recall
Value at *RST
(HP-IB Reset )
Value at
Power-Up
In
Non-Volatile
Memory
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Preset Values After Power-Up and *RST
Operating Guide 2-85
2
HP 53132A (Wi th S/N Prefi x 3646 and Above) Preset
Value s for Functi ons Acce ssi ble Via Front Pane l or
HP-IB
Table 2-7B list s pr eset values for t he HP 53132A (wit h ser ial number
pr efix 3646 and above).
Table 2-7B. HP 53132A (S/N 3646 and above) Preset Values
Descripti on
In
Save/Recall
Value at *RST
(HP-IB Reset )
Value at
Power-Up
In
Non-Volatile
Memory
Function-Select Parameters
Measur ement funct ion yes FREQ1 FREQ1 no
Frequency, Period, and Ratio
Arming Parameters
Fr equency ar m yes ________ TIME no
Fr equency st ar t ar m yes IMMediat e ________ no
Fr equency st op ar m yes TIMer ________ no
Fr equency st op ar m digit s yes 4 4 no
Fr equency gat e t ime yes 100.E-3s 100.E-3s no
Fr equency ext st ar t ar m slope yes POS POS no
Fr equency ext st op ar m yes ________ AUTO no
Totalize Arming Parameters
Tot alize ar m yes ________ TIME no
Tot alize st ar t ar m yes IMMediat e ________ no
Tot alize st op ar m yes TIMer ________ no
Tot alize gat e t ime yes 100.E-3s 100.E-3s no
Tot alize ext st ar t ar m slope yes POS POS no
Tot alize ext st op ar m yes ________ EDGE no
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Preset Values After Power-Up and *RST
2-86 Operating Guide
2
Phase Arming Parameters
Phase ar m yes IMMediat e AUTO no
Phase ext st ar t ar m slope yes POS POS no
Pulse, Rise, Fall, Dutycycle
Arming Parameters
Pulse Arming Parameters
Pulse st ar t ar m yes IMMediat e AUTO no
Pulse ext st ar t ar m slope yes POS POS no
Time Interval Arming
Parameters
Time Int er val st ar t ar m yes IMMediat e AUTO no
Time Int er val ext st ar t ar m slope yes POS POS no
Time Int er val st ar t ar m delay yes IMMediat e NONE no
Time Int er val st ar t ar m delay
t ime
yes 100 E-9s 100 E-9s no
Time Int er val st ar t ar m delay
event s
yes 1 1 no
Time Int er val st op ar m yes IMMediat e AUTO no
Time Int er val ext st op ar m slope yes POS POS no
Time Int er val st op ar m delay yes IMMediat e NONE no
Time Int er val st op ar m delay
t ime
yes 100 E-9s 100 E-9s no
Time Int er val st op ar m delay
event s
yes 1 1 no
Input Coupling Parameters
Channel 1 input coupling yes AC AC no
Channel 2 input coupling yes AC AC no
Table 2-7B. HP 53132A (S/N 3646 and above) Preset Values (continued)
Descripti on
In
Save/Recall
Value at *RST
(HP-IB Reset )
Value at
Power-Up
In
Non-Volatile
Memory
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Preset Values After Power-Up and *RST
Operating Guide 2-87
2
Input Impedance Parameters
Channel 1 input impedance yes 1E+6 Ohms 1E+6 Ohms no
Channel 2 input impedance yes 1E+6 Ohms 1E+6 Ohms no
Input Attenuation Parameters no
Channel 1 input at t enuat ion yes X1 X1 no
Channel 2 input at t enuat ion yes X1 X1 no
Display Parameters
Display blank no disabled disabled no
Display mode (r esult /menu) no r esult s r esult s no
Trigger Level Parameters
Channel 1 t r igger level (volt s) yes 0.000V
1
0.000V
1
no
Channel 2 t r igger level (volt s) yes 0.000V
1
0.000V
1
no
Channel 1 t r igger level (per cent ) yes 50% 50% no
Channel 2 t r igger level (per cent ) yes 50% 50% no
Trigger Slope Parameters
Channel 1 t r igger slope yes POS POS no
Channel 2 t r igger slope yes POS POS no
Sensitivity Parameters
Channel 1 sensit ivit y yes 100% HIGH no
Channel 2 sensit ivit y yes 100% HIGH no
Input Routing Parameters
Input r out e for Time Int er val yes SEPARATE SEPARATE no
Measurement Control
Parameters
Run/Single select ion yes SINGLE RUN
2
no
Table 2-7B. HP 53132A (S/N 3646 and above) Preset Values (continued)
Descripti on
In
Save/Recall
Value at *RST
(HP-IB Reset )
Value at
Power-Up
In
Non-Volatile
Memory
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Preset Values After Power-Up and *RST
2-88 Operating Guide
2
Math Operation Parameters
Mat h on/off yes OFF OFF no
Scale yes 1.000000 1.000000 no
Offset yes 0.0000000000 0.0000000000 no
Limits Parameters
Limit t est on/off yes OFF OFF no
On fail st op/go on yes GO ON GO ON no
Lower limit yes 0.0000000000 0.0000000000 no
Upper limit yes 0.0000000000 0.0000000000 no
Limit display number /gr aph yes NUMBER NUMBER no
Stats Parameters
St at s on/off yes OFF OFF no
St at s measur ement count , N yes 100 100 no
Display measur ement /st at s yes MEAS MEAS no
St at s use all/in limit s yes USE ALL USE ALL no
On-single measur ement count yes 1 (AUTO OFF) 1 (AUTO OFF) no
Print Parameters
Pr int ing on/off yes OFF OFF no
Timebase Parameters
Timebase aut o/int er nal/ext er nal yes AUTO AUTO no
Expected Frequency Parameters
Channel 1 expect ed fr equency no ________
3
________
3
no
Channel 2 expect ed fr equency no ________
3
________
3
no
Channel 3 expect ed fr equency no ________
3
________
3
no
Table 2-7B. HP 53132A (S/N 3646 and above) Preset Values (continued)
Descripti on
In
Save/Recall
Value at *RST
(HP-IB Reset )
Value at
Power-Up
In
Non-Volatile
Memory
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Preset Values After Power-Up and *RST
Operating Guide 2-89
2
Auto-Frequency Parameters
Channel 1 aut o-fr equency on/off no ON ON no
Channel 2 aut o-fr equency on/off no ON ON no
Channel 3 aut o-fr equency on/off no ON ON no
Trigger Offset Cal Parameters
Channel 1 t r igger offset cal no ________
4
________
4
yes, (2048)
Channel 2 t r igger offset cal no ________
4
________
4
yes, (2048)
Trigger Gain Cal Parameters
Channel 1 t r igger gain cal no ________
4
________
4
yes, (1700)
Channel 2 t r igger gain cal no ________
4
________
4
yes, (1700)
Time Interval Offset Cal
Parameters no ________
4
________
4
yes, (2100)
Utility Menu Parameters
Opt ion Timebase cal no ________
4
________
4
yes, (2048)
HP-IB addr ess no ________
4
________
4
yes, (3)
Digit separ at or (r adix) no ________
4
________
4
yes, (USA
STYLE)
Baud r at e, (RS-232) no ________
4
________
4
yes, (9600)
Par it y, (RS-232) no ________
4
________
4
yes, (OFF)
Pacing, (RS-232) no ________
4
________
4
yes, (XON)
DTR, (RS-232) no ________
4
________
4
yes,
(DTR_HIGH)
Table 2-7B. HP 53132A (S/N 3646 and above) Preset Values (continued)
Descripti on
In
Save/Recall
Value at *RST
(HP-IB Reset )
Value at
Power-Up
In
Non-Volatile
Memory
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Preset Values After Power-Up and *RST
2-90 Operating Guide
2
1
At power-up, the trigger level is defaulted. The default value is shown in the table. The Counter retains this
value until the first auto-trigger cycle runs. Since the Counter powers up on Run mode with auto-trigger ON,
the auto-trigger cycle runs almost immediately. The default value is overwritten by a measured result almost
immediately.
At *RST, the trigger level variable is defaulted. The default value is shown in the table. Same as for power-up,
the Counter retains this value until the first auto-trigger cycle runs. However, on *RST, the Counter is set up in
Single mode, (not Run mode), with auto-trigger ON. The auto-trigger cycle runs only on initiation of a
measurement. The default value for the variable persists until overwritten by a measured result, but it may be
a long time before you request a measurement; therefore, it may be a long time that the default value
persists.
2
At power-up, you can bring up the Counter either in the Utility menu, or in the results display. The default
behavior of the Run/Single variable differs according to that choice.
When the Counter powers up in the result display, it powers up in Run mode and begins making
measurements immediately.
The Counter does not make measurements when the Utility menu is selected. (This is to reduce confusion
while the user configures major attributes of the instrument.) When you power up on the Utility menu, the
Counter is in Single. Upon exit of the Utility menu, the Counter transitions to Run automatically.
3
At *RST and at power-up, this value is undefined. The frequency-estimation routine, (auto-frequency
routine), is enabled. When you select auto-frequency OFF, and provide a value, the variable takes on that
value.
4
Fundamental instrument settings are stored in non-volatile RAM. These settings persist even if the Counter is
powered down and back up again. They persist if the Counter is reset over HP-IB with *RST. You can change
these settings, and the changed value is stored so that it is unaffected if the Counter is powered down or
reset over HP-IB with *RST.
The default values for these special features are indicated in the table. The default values are used when
new EPROMs are installed; they remain in effect until you overwrite them.
An example is the trigger calibration setting. Calibration values are defaulted until calibration is performed at
the factory. Another example is the RS-232 BAUD rate. BAUD rate is defaulted until you pick a different rate.
Calibration Security Parameters
Secur e st at e no ________
4
________
4
yes, (SECURE)
Secur it y code no ________4 ________4
yes, (53131 or
53132)
Calibr at ion count no ________4 ________4 yes, (0)
Table 2-7B. HP 53132A (S/N 3646 and above) Preset Values (continued)
Descripti on
In
Save/Recall
Value at *RST
(HP-IB Reset )
Value at
Power-Up
In
Non-Volatile
Memory
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Preset Values After Power-Up and *RST
Operating Guide 2-91
2
Preset Values for Functi ons Accessi ble Vi a HP-IB Only
Table 2-8. HP 53131A/132A Preset ValuesAccessible Via HP-IB Only
Descripti on
In
Save/Recall
Value at *RST
(HP-IB Reset )
Value at
Power-Up
In
Non-Volatile
Memory
Arming Parameters
Fr equency ext st op ar m slope yes NEG NEG no
Tot alize ext st op ar m slope yes NEG NEG no
Math, Limit Parameters
Mat h, limit -t est r ecalculat e yes OFF ON no
Reset limit -t est fail count on
INITiat e yes ON ON no
Statistics Parameters
St at ist ics t ype yes MEAN MEAN no
Miscellaneous Measurement
Parameters
Monit or ext er nal t imebase no TRUE TRUE no
Int er polat or calibr at ion on/off no ON ON no
Status Reporting Parameters
Event st at us enable no ________ 0 no
Ser vice r equest enable no ________ 0 no
OSR enable no ________ 0 no
OSR negat ive t r ansit ion filt er no ________ 0 no
OSR posit ive t r ansit ion filt er no ________ 1809 no
QSR enable no ________ 0 no
QSR posit ive t r ansit ion filt er no ________ 18277 no
QSR negat ive t r ansit ion filt er no ________ 0 no
Er r or queue no ________ clear ed no
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Preset Values After Power-Up and *RST
2-92 Operating Guide
2
Miscellaneous HP-IB Parameters
Response for mat yes ASCii ASCii no
Device t r igger definit ion yes INIT INIT no
Macr os no disabled disabled no
CONFigur e? r esponse no ________ undefined no
READ, FETCh funct ion memor y no ________ ________ no
Table 2-8. HP 53131A/132A Preset ValuesAccessible Via HP-IB Only (continued)
Descripti on
In
Save/Recall
Value at *RST
(HP-IB Reset )
Value at
Power-Up
In
Non-Volatile
Memory
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Summary of the Measurement Sequence
Operating Guide 2-93
2
Summar y of t he Measur ement Sequence
Use Uti li ty menu t o:
choose t he t imebase sour ce.
configur e t he HP-IB if you int end t o oper at e t he Count er r emot ely.
set RS-232 ser ial por t if you int end for t he Count er t o per for m
pr int ing and/or limit -det ect ing.
Use MEASURE menu keys t o select t he measur ement funct ion.
Use CHANNELs 1 and 2 keys t o set up input condit ioning.
Use Gat e & Ext Arm key t o:
set t he gat e t ime and r esolut ion.
set ar ming.
Use Scale & Offs et key t o set up mat h oper at ions.
Use Uppr & Lower key t o set limit s.
Use Li mi t Modes key t o set up limit t est ing.
Use Stats key t o set up st at ist ics and limit filt er ing.
Use Save & Pri nt key t o enable or disable pr int ing.
Use Run and Stop/Single keys t o cont r ol measur ement s.
Chapter 2 Operating Your Universal Counter
Common Questions
2-94 Operating Guide
2
Common Quest ions
Why i s Stats re sult not avai lable yet?
Your Count er has not complet ed N measur ement s yet .
Why wont pri nte r work?
Go t o t he Ut ilit y menu and set up ser ial por t .
Why di d Counte r stop measuri ng?
Did you set t he Count er t o st op on limit s?
Ar e all measur ement s out side t he limit s?
Why di d Counte r go to i ts de fault state afte r I se t up
my RS-232 port?
Did you save your st at e befor e you cycled power ?
Did you r est or e your st at e aft er configur ing t he por t ?
Counte rs numeri c di splay does not follow the
numeri cal conventi on for my country.
Go t o t he Ut ilit y menu and change t he numer ical convent ion t o be
displayed (use t he SHOW 9 AS: menu it em).
How do I di splay the 13th di gi t i n my numeri cal re sult?
Use t he Offset feat ur e. Inst r uct ions appear on page 2-31 and
page 2-32 in t he sect ion t it led Using t he MATH Menu Keys.
3
Specificat ions
Chapter 3 Specifications
Instrument Inputs
3-2 Operating Guide
3
Int r oduct ion
The specificat ions of t he HP 53131A/132A Univer sal Count er ar e pr ovided
in t his chapt er .
1
Specifications and Characteristics for Channels 1 and 2 are identical for both Common and Separate configurations.
2
Values shown are for X1 attenuator setting. Multiply all values by 10 (nominal) when using the X10 attenuator setting. Note that it may be
necessary to recalibrate the input offset in the application environment (especially at high temperature) to achieve maximum sensitivity.
3
When ordered with optional rear terminals, the Channel 1 and 2 inputs are active on both the front and rear of the universal counter though the
specifications provided only apply to the rear terminals. Performance for the front terminals is degraded, but may be improved by terminating
the rear terminals into 50 .
Instrument Inputs
Channel 1 & 2 Input Specifications
1
Channel 1 & 2 Input Characteristics
1
Frequency Range
DC Coupled: DC to 225 MHz
AC Coupled: 1 MHz to 225 MHz (50 )
30 Hz to 225 MHz (1 M)
FM Tolerance: 25%
Voltage Range and Sensitivity (Sinusoid)
2
DC to 100 MHz: 20 mVrms to 5 V ac + dc
(75 mVrms with optional rear connectors)
3
100 MHz to 200 MHz: 30 mVrms to 5 V ac + dc
(75 mVrms with optional rear connectors)
3
200 MHz to 225 MHz: 40 mVrms to 5 V ac + dc
(75 mVrms with optional rear connectors)
3
Voltage Range and Sensitivity (Single-Shot Pulse)
2
4.5 ns to 10 ns Pulse Width: 100 mVpp to 10 Vpp
(150 mVpp with optional rear connectors)
3
>10 ns Pulse Width: 50 mVpp to 10 Vpp
(100 mVpp with optional rear connectors)
3
Trigger Level
2
Range: 5.125 V
Accuracy: (15 mV + 1% of trigger level)
Resolution: 5 mV
Damage Level
50 : 5 Vrms
0 to 3.5 kHz, 1 M: 350 V dc + ac pk
3.5 kHz to 100 kHz, 1 M: 350 V dc + ac pk linearly derated to 5 Vrms
>100 kHz, 1 M: 5 Vrms
Impedance: 1 M or 50
1 M Capacitance: 30 pF
Coupling: AC or DC
Low-Pass Filter: 100 kHz (or disabled)
20 dB at > 1 MHz
Input Sensitivity: Selectable between
Low, Medium, or High (default).
Low is approximately
2x High Sensitivity.
Trigger Slope: Positive or Negative
Auto Trigger Level
Range: 0 to 100% in 10% steps
Frequency: > 100 Hz
Input Amplitude: > 100 mVpp
(No amplitude modulation)
Attenuator
Voltage Range: x10
Trigger Range: x10
0 Hz 3.5 KHz 100 KHz
5 Vrms
350 Vdc + acpk
50
1 M
Chapter 3 Specifications
Instrument Inputs (Continued)
Operating Guide 3-3
3
4
Channel 3 is available as an option.
5
When ordered with optional rear terminals, the Channel 3 connector on the front panel for Option 030 will be routed to the rear panel (rear
panel only). There is no degradation in specifications for this input. Option 050 and Option 124 input connectors are available on the front
panel only.
6
53131AApplies to Serial Number Prefix 3710A and above.
53132AApplies to Serial Number Prefix 3546A and above.
Below these Serial Number Prefixes, the specification is :
High-level input: >3.0 V
Low-level input: <1.5 V.
Instrument Inputs (Conti nued)
Channel 3 Input Specifications
4, 5
Channel 3 Input Characteristics
Frequency Range
Option 030 100 MHz to 3 GHz
Option 050 200MHz to 5 GHz
Option 124 200 MHz to 12.4 GHz
Power Range and Sensitivity (Sinusoid)
Option 030
100 MHz to 2.7 GHz: 27 dBm to +19 dBm
2.7 GHz to 3 GHz: 21 dBm to +13 dBm
Option 050
200 MHz to 5 GHz: 23 dBm to +13 dBm
Option 124
200 MHz to 12.4 GHz 23 dBm to +13 dBm
Damage Level:
Option 030 5 Vrms
Option 050 +25 dBm
Option 124 +25 dBm
Impedance: 50
Coupling: AC
VSWR: < 2.5:1
External Arm Input Specifications External Arm Input Characteristics
Signal Input Range:
TTL compatible
6
Timing Restrictions:
Pulse Width: > 50 ns
Transition Time: < 250 ns
Start-to-Stop Time: > 50 ns
Damage Level: 10 Vrms
Impedance: 1 k
Input Capacitance: 17 pF
Start Slope: Positive or Negative
Stop Slope: Positive or Negative
Notes:
External Arm is available for all measurements except Peak Volts.
External Arm is referred to as External Gate for some
measurements.
Chapter 3 Specifications
Time Base
3-4 Operating Guide
3
Note that power to the time base is maintained when the counter is placed in standby via the front panel switch. The internal fan will continue to
operate under this condition, to maintain long-term instrument reliability.
Ti me Base
Internal Time Base Stability
Standard
(0 to 50C)
Medium Stability
Oven (Option 001)
High Stability Oven
(Option 010)
Ultra High Stability
Oven (Option 012)
Temperature Stability:
(referenced to 25C)
< 5 x 10
6
< 2 x 10
7
< 2.5 x 10
9
< 2.5 x 10
9
Aging Rate
(after 30 days)
Per Day:
Per Month:
Per Year:
< 3 x 10
7
< 4 x 10
8
< 2 x 10
7
< 5 x 10
10
< 1.5 x 10
8
< 1 x 10
10
< 3 x 10
9
< 2 x 10
8
Turn-on stability vs. time:
(in 30 minutes)
< 2 x 10
7
(referenced to 2 hours)
< 5 x 10
9
(referenced to 24 hours)
< 5 x 10
9
(referenced to 24 hours)
Calibration: Manual Adjust Electronic Electronic Electronic
External Time Base Input Specifications External Time Base Input Characteristics
Voltage Range: 200 mVrms to 10 Vrms
Damage Level: 10 Vrms
Threshold: 0 V
Impedance: 1 k
Input Capacitance: 23 pF
Frequency (53131A): 1 MHz, 5 MHz or 10 MHz
(automatic selection)
Frequency (53132A): 10 MHz
Internal vs. External Time Base Selection:
Manual: Select Internal or External
Automatic: Internal used when External not present
(default)
Time Base Output Specifications
Output Frequency: 10 MHz
Voltage: > 1 Vpp into 50
(centered around 0 V)
Chapter 3 Specifications
Measurement Specifications
Operating Guide 3-5
3
The following graphs may also be used to compute errors for Period Measurements. To find the Period error (P), calculate the frequency of the
input signal ( ) and find the frequency error (F) from the chart. Then, calculate the period error as:
Measurement Speci fi cati ons
Frequency, Period
Channel 1 and 2 Range: 0.1 Hz to 225 MHz 4.44 ns to 10 s
Channel 3 Range:
Option 030 100 MHz to 3 GHz 0.33 ns to 10 ns
Option 050 200 MHz to 5 GHz 0.2 ns to 5 ns
Option 124 200 MHz to 12.4 GHz 80 ps to 5 ns
(Period 2 or 3 selectable only via the HP-IB interface)
For Automatic or External Arming:
(and signals < 100 Hz using Timed Arming)
For Time or Digits Arming:
LSD Displayed:
RMS Resolution:
HP 53131A HP 53132A
t
res
t
res
typical 650 ps 200 ps
see graphs for worst case resolution performance
For Automatic Arming:
where N = 1 for Ch1 or Ch2 Frequency < 1 MHz
4 for Ch1 or Ch2 Frequency > 1 MHz
128 for Ch3
LSD Displayed:
RMS Resolution:
HP 53131A HP 53132A
t
res
t
jitter
t
res
t
jitter
typical 500 ps 50 ps 225 ps 3 ps
see graphs for worst case resolution performance
Number of Samples =
Gate Time x Frequency (Frequency < 200 kHz)
Gate Time x 200,000 (Frequency > 200 kHz)
Systematic Uncertainty:
HP 53131A HP 53132A
t
acc
t
acc
typical 350 ps 100 ps
worst case 1.25 ns 500 ps
Trigger: Default setting is Auto Trigger at 50%
Systematic Uncertainty:
HP 53131A HP 53132A
t
acc
t
acc
typical 100 ps 10 ps
worst case 300 ps 100 ps
Trigger: Default setting is Auto Trigger at 50%
t
res
Gate Time
----------------------------
,
_
Frequency
or
Period

t
res
2
2 Trigger Error
2
( ) +
Gate Time
----------------------------------------------------------------------
,

_
Frequency
or
Period

Gate Time
N
Frequency
---------------------------- =
2 2 t
res

Gate Time Number or Samples


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
t
j i t t er
Gate Time
---------------------------- +
,

_
Frequency
or
Period

4 t
res
2
2 Trigger Error
2
+
Gate Time Number or Samples
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
t
j i t ter
Gate Time
---------------------------- +
,

_
x
Frequency
or
Period
Time Base Error t
t
acc
Gate Time
---------------------- t
,
_
Frequency
or
Period
Time Base Error t
t
acc
Gate Time
---------------------- t
,
_
Frequency
or
Period

F
1
P
---- = P
F
F
-------
,
_
P =
Chapter 3 Specifications
Measurement Specifications (Continued)
3-6 Operating Guide
3
Me asure ment Spe ci fi cati ons (Conti nue d)
HP 53131AWorst Case RMS Resolution
Automatic or External Arming:
Time or Digit Arming:
The preceding graphs do not reflect the effects of trigger error. To place an upper bound on the added effect of this error term, determine the
frequency error from the appropriate graph and add a trigger error term as follows:
Automatic or External Arming Time or Digit Arming
10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000 1E+07 1E+08 1E+09 1E+10
Input Frequency (Hz)
1E-10
1E-8
1E-6
1E-4
1E-2
1E+00
1E+02
F
r
e
q
u
e
n
c
y

E
r
r
o
r

(
H
z
)
Auto Armed
1ms
1s
10s
Gate
Time
10ms
100ms
10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000 1E+07 1E+08 1E+09 1E+10
Input Frequency
1E-10
1E-8
1E-6
1E-4
1E-2
1E+00
1E+02
F
r
e
q
u
e
n
c
y

E
r
r
o
r

(
H
z
)
1ms
Gate
Time
10ms
100ms
1s
10s
Frequency Error
2 Trigger Error
Gate Time
-----------------------------------------------
,
_
+
Frequency
or
Period
Frequency Error
4 2 Trigger Error
Gate Time Number of Samples
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
,
_
+
Frequency
or
Period

Chapter 3 Specifications
Measurement Specifications (Continued)
Operating Guide 3-7
3
HP 53132AWorst Case RMS Resolution
Automatic or External Arming:
Time or Digit Arming:
The preceding graphs do not reflect the effects of trigger error. To place an upper bound on the added effect of this error term, determine the
frequency error from the appropriate graph and add a trigger error term as follows:
Time or Digit Arming Automatic or External Arming
Me asure ment Spe ci fi cati ons (Conti nue d)
10 100 1000
Auto Armed
1ms
10ms
100ms
1s
10s
Gate
Time
10000 100000
Input Frequency (Hz)
F
r
e
q
u
e
n
c
y


E
r
r
o
r

(
H
z
)
1000000 1E+07 1E+08 1E+09 1E+10
1E-10
1E-8
1E-6
1E-4
1E-2
1E+00
1E+02
10 100 1000
1ms
10ms
100ms
1s
Gate
Time
10s
10000 100000
Input Frequency (Hz)
F
r
e
q
u
e
n
c
y


E
r
r
o
r

(
H
z
)
1000000 1E+07 1E+08 1E+09 1E+10
1E-10
1E-8
1E-6
1E-4
1E-2
1E+00
1E+02
Frequency Error
4 2 Trigger Error
Gate Time Number of Samples
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
,
_
+
Frequency
or
Period
Frequency Error
2 Trigger Error
Gate Time
-----------------------------------------------
,
_
+
Frequency
or
Period

Chapter 3 Specifications
Measurement Specifications (Continued)
3-8 Operating Guide
3
Frequency Measurement Example:
Given an HP 53132A with a High Stability Oven that was calibrated 3 days ago, measure a 15 MHz square wave signal (which has negligible
trigger error) with a 1 second gate time. Compute the measurement error to within 2-sigma confidence.
Which is to say that the HP 53132A would display results in the range 15 MHz 60.2 mHz. Note however that the dominant error is the Time
Base Error. If an even higher stability time base is available or if the instrument can be source locked to the 15 MHz signal, then this error term
can be substantially reduced. The measurement resolution under these conditions is 75 Hz (1 sigma) which determines the number of digits
displayed.
Me asure ment Spe ci fi cati ons (Conti nue d)
Measurement Error Systematic Uncertainty 2 RMS Resolution t =
Time Base Error t
t
acc
Gate Time
---------------------------- t
,
_
2
4 t
res
2
2 Trigger Error
2
( ) +
Gate Time Number of Samples
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
t
j i tt er
Gate Time
---------------------------- +
,

_
t
,

_
= Frequency
Number of Samples 200,000 since Frequency is greater than 200kHz and gate time equals 1 second =
Time Base Error Temperature Stability 3 Days Daily Aging Rate + =
2.5 10
9
3 5 10
10
( ) + =
4.0 10
9
=
Measurement Error 4.0 10
9
t
1 10
11
s
1s
--------------------------- t
,
_
2
4 225 10
12
s ( )
2
2 0 ( ) +
1s 200 000 ,
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 10
12
s
1s
--------------------------- +
,

_
t
,

_
15MHz =
4.0 t 10
9
2 2.01 10
12
3 10
12
+ ( ) t ( ) 15MHz =
4.0 t 10
9
1 10
11
t ( ) 15MHz =
60.2 mHz t =
Chapter 3 Specifications
Measurement Specifications (Continued)
Operating Guide 3-9
3
Time Interval
Measurement is specified over the full signal ranges
7
of Channels 1 and 2.
Results Range: 1 ns to 10
5
s
LSD:
RMS Resolution:
t
res
Systematic Uncertainty: (Time Base Error TI) Trigger Level Timing Error 1.5 ns Differential Channel Error (HP 53131A)
900 ps Differential Channel Error (HP 53132A)
Time Interval Delay
After a Time Interval Measurement has begun by satisfying the trigger conditions on Channel 1, the instrument will wait for the
user-entered delay time to elapse before the end-of-measurement trigger will be accepted on Channel 2. Please refer to Measurement
Arming for additional information.
Frequency Ratio:
Measurement is specified over the full signal range of each input.
Results Range: 10
10
to 10
11
Auto Gate Time: 100 ms (or sufficient cycles on Channel 2 or 3 to make a valid measurement, whichever is longer)
LSD:
RMS Resolution:
To minimize relative phase measurement error, connect the higher frequency signal to Channel 1 when possible.
7
See Specifications for Pulse Width and Rise/Fall Time measurements for additional restrictions on signal timing characteristics.
Me asure ment Spe ci fi cati ons (Conti nue d)
53131A 53132A
500 ps 150 ps
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
t
res
2
Start Trigger Error
2
Stop Trigger Error
2
+ +
53131A 53132A
750 ps 300 ps
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ch1
Ch2
Ch1
Ch3
Ch2
Ch1
Ch3
Ch1
Rat i o
1
2
:
1
Ch2 Freq Gate Time
----------------------------------------------------------- Rat i o
1
3
:
1
Ch3 Freq Gate Time
-----------------------------------------------------------
Rat i o
2
1
:
Ch2 Freq
Ch1 Freq ( )
2
Gate Time
------------------------------------------------------------------ Rat i o
3
1
:
Ch3 Freq
Ch1 Freq ( )
2
Gate Time
------------------------------------------------------------------
Rat i o
1
2
:
2 1 Ch1 Freq Ch2 Trigger Error ( )
2
+
Ch2 Freq Gate Time
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rat i o
1
3
:
2 1 Ch1 Freq Ch3 Trigger Error ( )
2
+
Ch3 Freq Gate Time
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rat i o
2
1
:
2 Ch2 Freq 1 Ch1 Freq Ch2 Trigger Error ( )
2
+
Ch1 Freq ( )
2
Gate Time
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rat i o
3
1
:
2 Ch3 Freq 1 Ch1 Freq Ch3 Trigger Error ( )
2
+
Ch1 Freq ( )
2
Gate Time
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 3 Specifications
Measurement Specifications (Continued)
3-10 Operating Guide
3
Pulse Width
Measurement is specified over the full signal range of Channel 1. The width of the opposing pulse must be greater than 4 ns (e.g., when
measuring the positive pulse width, the negative pulse width must be greater than 4 ns).
Pulse Selection: Positive or Negative
Trigger: Default setting is Auto Trigger
8
at 50%
Results Range: 5 ns to 10
5
s
LSD:
RMS Resolution:
t
res
Systematic Uncertainty:
(Time Base Error Pulse Width) Trigger Level Timing Error 1.5 ns Differential Channel Error (HP 53131A)
900 ps Differential Channel Error (HP 53132A)
Rise/Fall Time
Measurement is specified over the full signal ranges of Channel 1. The interval between the end of one edge and start of a similar edge
must be greater than 4 ns. (e.g., when measuring a rising edge, 4 ns must elapse between the 90% point of one rising edge and the
10% point of the next rising edge).
Edge Selection: Positive or Negative
Trigger: Default setting is Auto Trigger
8
at 10% and 90%
Results Range: 5 ns to 10
5
s
LSD:
RMS Resolution:
t
res
Systematic Uncertainty:
(Time Base Error Transition Time) Trigger Level Timing Error 1.5 ns Differential Channel Error (HP 53131A)
900 ps Differential Channel Error (HP 53132A)
Phase
Measurement is specified over the full signal range of Channels 1 and 2.
Results Range: 180 to +360
RMS Resolution:
t
res
Systematic Uncertainty: ( Trigger Level Timing Error 1.5 ns Differential Channel Error) Frequency (HP 53131A)
( Trigger Level Timing Error 900 ps Differential Channel Error) Frequency (HP 53132A)
8
Restrictions noted on page 3-2 for Auto Trigger apply to the proper operation of these measurements. The Peak Volts measurement is used to
determine the signal amplitude and inaccuracies from this, noted on page 3-11, should be included in calculating the Trigger Level Timing Error.
Me asure ment Spe ci fi cati ons (Conti nue d)
53131A 53132A
500 ps 150 ps
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
t
res
2
Start Trigger Error
2
Stop Trigger Error
2
+ +
53131A 53132A
750 ps 300 ps
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
53131A 53132A
500 ps 150 ps
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
t
res
2
Start Trigger Error
2
Stop Trigger Error
2
+ +
53131A 53132A
750 ps 300 ps
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
t
res
2
2 Trigger Error
2
( ) + ( ) 1
Phase
360
-----------------
,
_
2
+
,
_
Frequency 360
53131A 53132A
750 ps 300 ps
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 3 Specifications
Measurement Specifications (Continued)
Operating Guide 3-11
3
Duty Cycle
Measurement is specified over the full signal range of Channel 1. However, both the positive and negative pulse widths must be greater
than 4 ns.
Results Range: 0 to 1 (e.g. 50% duty cycle would be displayed as .5)
RMS Resolution:
t
res
Totalize
Measurement is specified over the full signal range of Channel 1.
Results Range: 0 to 10
15

Resolution: 1 count
Peak Volts
Measurement is specified on Channels 1 and 2 for DC signals; or for AC signals of frequencies between 100 Hz and 30 MHz with peak-to-
peak amplitude greater than 100 mV. (The measurement will continue to operate up to 225 MHz, though results are for indication only.)
Results Range: 5.1 V to +5.1 V
Resolution: 10 mV
Systematic Uncertainty for AC signals: 25 mV + 10% of V
for DC signals: 25 mV + 2% of V
Use of the input attenuator multiplies all voltage specifications (input range, results range, resolution and systematic uncertainty) by a
nominal factor of 10. For example with AC signals, the Systematic Uncertainty becomes: 250 mV + 10% of V.
Me asure ment Spe ci fi cati ons (Conti nue d)
t
res
2
2 Trigger Error
2
( ) + ( ) 1 Duty Cycle
2
+ ( ) Frequency
53131A 53132A
750 ps 300 ps
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 3 Specifications
Measurement Definitions
3-12 Operating Guide
3
Measureme nt Defi ni ti ons
Definitions of Systematic Uncertainty Terms
Trigger Error
External source and input amplifier noise may advance or delay the trigger points that define the beginning and end of a measurement.
The resulting timing uncertainty is a function of the slew rate of the signal and the amplitude of spurious noise spikes (relative to the input
hysteresis band).
The (rms) trigger error associated with a single trigger point is:
where
E
input
= RMS noise of the input amplifier: 1 mVrms (350 Vrms typical). Note that the internal measurement algorithms significantly
reduce the contribution of this term.
E
signal
= RMS noise of the input signal over a 225 MHz bandwidth (100 kHz bandwidth when the low-pass filter is enabled). Note that
the filter may substantially degrade the signals slew rate at the input of the trigger comparator.
For two-trigger-point measurements (e.g. Rise Time, Pulse Width), the Trigger Errors will be referred to independently as Start Trigger Error
and Stop Trigger Error.
Trigger Level Timing Error
Trigger level timing error results from a deviation of the actual trigger level from the specified (indicated) level. The magnitude of the
measurement timing error depends on several factors, primarily: resolution and accuracy of the trigger level circuit, fidelity of the input
amplifier, slew rate of the input signal at the trigger point, and width of the input hysteresis band (see illustration).
Trigger level timing error is associated with Time Interval, Pulse Width, Rise Time, Fall Time, Phase, and Duty Cycle measurements.
The following equations define the general interpretation of its component error terms for a measurement. These should be summed
together to obtain the overall Trigger Level Timing Error.
Trigger Error
E
i nput
( )
2
E
si gnal
( )
2
+
Input Signal Slew Rate at Trigger Point
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(in seconds) =
Upper Hystersis Limit
Trigger Level Setting
Lower Hystersis Limit
Actual Trigger Point:
Slope
Trigger Level Timing Errors
0.5 Hysteresis Band
0.5 Hysteresis Band
Amplitude
Time
Actual Trigger Point:
Slope
Input Hysteresis:
0.5 Hysteresis Band
Input Signal Slew Rate at Start Trigger Point
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.5 Hysteresis Band
Input Signal Slew Rate at Stop Trigger Point
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trigger Level Setting:
15 mV 1% Start Trigger Level Setting ( ) t
Input Signal Slew Rate at Start Trigger Point
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15 mV 1% Stop Trigger Level Setting ( ) t
Input Signal Slew Rate at Stop Trigger Point
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- t t
Chapter 3 Specifications
Measurement Definitions (Continued)
Operating Guide 3-13
3
Measureme nt Defi ni ti ons (Conti nued)
Fractional Time Base Error
Time base error is the maximum fractional frequency variation of the time base due to aging or fluctuations in ambient temperature or line
voltage:
Multiply this quantity by the measurement result to yield the absolute error for that measurement. Averaging measurements will not reduce
(fractional) time base error. The HP 53131A/132A universal counters exhibit negligible sensitivity to line voltage; consequently this term
may be ignored.
Differential Channel Error
The Differential Channel Error term included in many of the Systematic Uncertainty equations accounts for channel-to-channel mismatch
and internal noise. This error can be substantially reduced by performing the TI Calibration in the temperature environment in which future
measurements are to be made and by careful measurement technique. Calibration is accessible via the Calibration Menu during power-up.
Typical Versus Worst Case Specifications
Specifications identified as Typical represent performance of the instrument that the majority of users will perceive under a wide variety of
conditions and signals. The specifications identified as Worst Case should be used when the instrument is under extreme environmental
conditions or when the accuracy of the measurement results are critically important.
Time Interval Measurement LSD Definition
For the Time Interval, Pulse Width, and Rise/Fall Time measurements, the LSD is the measurement quantization error. t
res
is the LSD
plus the effects of certain internal error producing sources.
Additional Considerations for Digits and Time Arming Modes
For sample rates defined below, resolution will be reduced by up to 1 decade. The instruments display detects this condition and displays a
reduced-resolution result. Resolution is reduced in a band about f
s
, such that
where x is any integer, and y is any fraction in the set:
The width of the band is at most:
The value of f
s
is not available to the user, but the instrument can be queried over HP-IB to determine if this condition exists.
After the measurement completes, use the query :DIAGnostic:MEASure:PRESolution? The response is an ASCII text formatted string
for normal resolution and 1 for reduced resolution. This command is valid only when making frequency measurements in time or digits
arming and the input frequency is greater than 100 Hz.
Time Base Error
f
f
-----
aging rate
f
f
-----
temperature
f
f
-----
line voltage
+ +
,
_
=
x.y
10MHz
f
s
------------------- = For Example:
25.25
10MHz
396 039.6 ,
---------------------------- =
x 25 =
y 0.25
1
4 = =
0
1
2,
1
3,
2
3,
1
4,
2
4,
3
4,
1
5,
2
5,
3
5,
4
5, ...

'

6 10
7
f
input

Gate Time
-------------------------------------- t
Chapter 3 Specifications
Measurement Arming and Processing
3-14 Operating Guide
3
Measureme nt Armi ng and Processi ng
Gate Time
Auto Mode, or 1 ms to 1000 s
Measurement Throughput
HP-IB ASCII: 200 Measurements/s (maximum)
(See examples in the Programming Guide for ways to optimize
measurement throughput)
Measurement Arming
Start Measurement: Free Run, Manual, or External
Stop Measurement: Continuous, Single, External, or Timed
Arming Modes:
(Note that not all arming modes are available for every measurement function.)
Auto Arming: Measurements are initiated immediately and acquired as fast as possible, using a minimum number of signal
edges. Auto arming offers the highest measurement throughput, though measurement resolution may be
reduced.
Timed Arming: The duration of the measurement is internally timed to a user-specified value (also known as the gate time).
This mode should be used when the length of the measurement time must be controlled.
Digits Arming: Measurements are performed to the requested resolution (number of digits) through automatic selection of the
acquisition time. This is the most convenient mode for when a specific measurement resolution is desired.
External Arming: An edge on the External Arm Input enables the start of each measurement. Depending on the measurement
function, Auto Arming, Timed arming modes or another edge on the External Arm Input may be used to complete
the measurement.
Time Interval
Arming Modes: HP 53131A
Time Interval Stop Delay Arming: The Stop Measurement condition on Channel 2 is inhibited (trigger hold-off) for
a user specified time following the Start Measurement on Channel 1.
Time Interval Delay Range: 100 s to 10 s*
Time Interval Delay Resolution: 10 s from 100 s to 100 ms
1 ms from 100 ms to 10 s
HP 53132A
Time Interval Start Delay Arming: The start of a Time Interval measurement is delayed for a user-specified
amount of time, or number of Channel 2 events, from the Start External Arming edge.
Start Delay TimeRange: 100 ns to 999.9999 ms
Start Delay Time Resolution: 100 ns
Start Delay Event Range: 1 to 99,999,999 Channel 2 events
Start Delay Event Rate: 5 MHz maximum
Start Delay Event Setup Time: 30 ns minimum
Time Interval Stop Delay Arming: The Stop Measurement condition on Channel 2 is inhibited (trigger hold-off) for
a user-specified amount of time, or number of Channel 2 stop events, following the Start Measurement on
Channel 1, or, if enabled, the Stop External Arming edge.
Stop Delay Time Range: 100 ns to 10 s**
Stop Delay Time Resolution: 100 ns from 100 ns to 1 s
1 ms from 1 s to 10 s
Stop Delay Event Range: 1 to 99,999,999 Channel 2 events
Stop Delay Event Rate: 5 MHz maximum
Stop Delay Event Setup Time: 30 ns minimum
* For firmware revisions below 3427 the valid range of delay is 1 ms to 10 s.
** For firmware revisions below 3646 the valid range of delay is 1 ms to 10 s.
Chapter 3 Specifications
Measurement Arming and Processing (Continued)
Operating Guide 3-15
3
Measureme nt Armi ng and Processi ng (Conti nued)
Measurement Statistics
Available Statistics: Mean, Minimum, Maximum, Standard Deviation
Number of Measurements: 2 to 1,000,000. Statistics may be collected on all measurements or on only those which are between the limit
bands. When the Limits function is used in conjunction with Statistics, N (number of measurements) refers to the
number of in-limit measurements. In general, measurement resolution will improve in proportion to , up to the
numerical processing limits of the instrument.
Measurements: Statistics may be collected for all measurements except Peak Volts and Totalize.
Measurement Limits
Limit Checking: The measurement value is checked against user-specified limits at the end of each measurement.
Display Modes: The measurement result may be displayed as either the traditional numeric value or graphically as an asterisk
moving between two vertical bars. These bars define the upper and lower limits, and the asterisk represents the
current measurement result relative to these limits.
Out-of-Limits Indication: The out-of-limits condition can be indicated by any of the following methods:
The limits annunciator will light on the front panel display.
The instrument will generate an SRQ if enabled via HP-IB.
The limits hardware signal provided via the RS-232 connector will go low for the duration of the out-of-limit
condition (see the description of this connector under the General Information section of this specifications
table).
If the Analog Display mode is enabled, the asterisk appears outside the vertical bars, which define the upper
and lower limits.
N
Chapter 3 Specifications
General Information
3-16 Operating Guide
3
General Informati on
Save and Recall: Up to 20 complete instrument setups may be saved and recalled later. These setups are retained when
power is removed from the universal counter.
Rack Dimensions (HxWxD): 88.5 mm x 212.6 mm x 348.3 mm
Weight: 3.5 kg maximum
AC Line Supply DC Supply (Option 002 Only)
Power Supply Voltage: 100 to 120 VAC 10% - 50, 60 or 400 Hz 10% 10 to 32 VDC, 3-pin male XLR connector
220 to 240 VAC 10% - 50 or 60 Hz 10%
AC Line Voltage Selection: Automatic Option 002 may not be ordered with Option 060
Power Requirements: 170 VA maximum (30 W typical) 4A initial inrush at 10 VDC
3A max, once stabilized
Operating Environment: 0 C to 55 C
Storage Environment: 40 C to 71 C
Remote Interface: HP-IB (IEEE 488.1-1987, IEEE 488.2-1987)
HP-IB Interface Capabilities: SH1, AH1, T5, TE0, L4, LE0, SR1, RL1, PP0, DC1, DT1, C0, E2
Remote Programming Language: SCPI-1992.0 (Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments)
Safety: Designed in compliance with IEC 1010-1, UL 3111-1 (draft), CAN/CSA 1010.1
EMC: CISPR-11, EN50082-1, IEC 801-2, -3, -4
Electrostatic Discharge and Fast Transient/Burst Immunity Testing: When the product is operated at
maximum sensitivity (20 mVrms) and tested with 8kV AD according to IEC801-2 or with 1kV power line
transients according to IEC 801-4, frequency miscounts may occur that will affect measurement data
made during these disturbances.
Radiated Immunity Testing: When the product is operated at maximum sensitivity (20 mVrms) and tested
at 3 V/m according to IEC 801-3, external 100 to 200 MHz electric fields may cause frequency miscounts.
RS-232C: The rear-panel RS-232 connector is a 9-pin connector (DB-9, male). You can connect the universal
counter to any terminal or printer with a properly configured DTE connector (DB-25). You can use a
standard interface cable (HP part number 24542G or 24542H). Data is output only; the instrument cannot
be programmed via the RS-232 interface.
Note on Pin 4: May be used as either a DTR signal or an indication of measurement in-limit as configured by the Utility menu.
When used as an in-limit indicator, the signal will be high for every measurement within the user set limits.
Pin Number Type Description
2 Input Receive Data (RxD) (for Xon/Xoff only)
3 Output Transmit Data (TxD)
4 Output Data Terminal Ready (DTR)
Measurement In-Limit Signal
5 Signal Ground
6 Input Data Set Ready (DSR)
* All other pins: no connection
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9
Operating Guide Index-1
Index
SYMBOLS
+/- key, 1-18, 2-8
NUMERICS
10 MHz Out put connect or , 1-11
100 kHz Filt er key, 2-44
50W/1 MW key, 1-16, 2-44
A
abor t , 2-5
ac line select ion, 1-11
accessor ies
available, xix
supplied, xix
addr essed (t alk/list en), 2-58
adjust ing t r igger level, 2-48
annunciat or s, fr ont panel, 1-9
ar ming modes
aut o, xvi, 2-16
digit s, xvi, 2-17
ext er nal, xvi, 2-17
t ime, xvi, 2-17
ar r ow keys
ent r y/select keys, 2-8
aut o ar ming, 2-16
aut o t r igger ing, 2-48
available opt ions, xviii
B
baud r at e, 2-62
C
CAL SECURE, 2-71
CAL UNSECURE, 2-68, 2-71
calibr at ion, 2-67
count , 2-72
Help menu, 2-72
init iat e, 2-69
new secur it y code, 2-72
unsecur e, 2-68
Calibr at ion menu, 1-8, 2-67
changing t he numer ical convent ion of
t he display, 2-65
changing t he slope, 2-49
changing t r igger mode, 1-17
char act er s
*, 1-10
X, 1-10
choosing HIGH t o disable har dwar e
pacing., 2-62
choosing HW PACE, 2-62
choosing t he t imebase sour ce, 2-59
COMMON 1
ON, 2-45
common quest ions, 2-94
comput ing St at s on filt er ed dat a
only, 1-32
configur ing t he RS-232 for sending
limit -det ect out put , 2-64
connect ing t o a pr int er via HP-IB, 2-66
connect ing t o a ser ial pr int er via t he
RS-232 por t , 2-65
cont r olling measur ement , 1-36
count er descr ipt ion, xvi
coupling, 2-51
D
dat a ent r y keys
numer ic ent r y, 2-8
DC/AC key, 1-15, 2-44
definit ion of sensit ivit y, 2-46
descr ipt ion of
display annunciat or s, 1-9
ent r y/select (ar r ow) keys, 2-8
Gat e & Ext Ar m Menu key, 2-16
input condit ioning t oggle keys, 2-51
LIMITS keys
Limit Modes, 2-37
Uppr &Lower , 2-37
Local key, 1-4
MATH keys
Index
Index-2 Operating Guide
Scale & Offset key, 2-27
St at s, 2-32
MEASURE keys
Fr eq & Rat io, 2-10
Ot her Meas, 2-10
Time & Per iod, 2-10
Pr int menu, 2-56
Recall menu, 2-52
Remot e indicat or , 1-4
Run key, 2-5
Save menu, 2-52
scale and offset , 1-19
self-t est r out ines, 2-59
special char act er , display, 1-10
St op/Single key, 2-5
Tr igger /Sensit ivit y menu key, 2-44
Ut ilit y menu, 2-57
descr ipt ion of count er , xvi
differ ences bet ween fir mwar e
r evisions, xx
digit s ar ming, 2-17
digit s, displaying mor e, 2-94
digit s, t hir t eent h, 2-94
disabling Limit Test ing, 1-30
disabling Mat h, 1-22
display
menu messages, 2-75
messages, 2-73
numer ical convent ion
ot her count r ies, 2-65
USA, 2-65
power -up/self t est messages, 2-74
SHOW
GRAPH, 2-40
NUMBER, 2-41
display annunciat or s, 1-9
display special char act er, 1-10
display t hir t eent h digit , 2-94
displaying Mat h r esult s, 1-22
displaying St at s aft er filt er ing dat a of
input signal, 1-34
DTR (Dat a Ter minal Ready)
menu, 2-62
dut y cycle, 2-14
E
Ent er key, 2-8
ent er ing numer ic values, 2-8
ent er ing offset value, 1-21
ent er ing scale value, 1-20
ent r y/select keys
ar r ow keys, 2-8
equat ion
scale and offset , 1-19
example pr ocedur e for
changing t he number of digit s of
r esolut ion, 2-25
comput ing St at s, 2-33
easy viewing of St at s, 2-34
filt er ing dat a (using limit s) dur ing
St at s, 2-35
Gat e and Ext er nal Ar m, 2-24
Offset funct ion, 2-29
r unning t he self t est , 2-61
Scale funct ion, 2-28
set t ing t he Offset fr om t he last
measur ement value, 2-31
set t ing t r igger volt age and
sensit ivit y levels, 2-48
t ur ning off Mat h mode, 2-30
t ur ning off St at s mode, 2-36
using t he Common 1 funct ion t o
make t ime int er val
measur ement s, 2-51
Example Pr ocedur e for Tur ning Off
Mat h Mode, 2-30
Ext Ar m connect or , 2-17, 2-18, 2-20,
2-24
Ext er nal Ar m input connect or , 1-11
ext er nal ar ming, 2-16, 2-17
Ext er nal Refer ence Input
connect or , 1-11
F
fallt ime, 2-13
fan, 1-2, 1-11
Feat ur es and Funct ions
Index
Operating Guide Index-3
Recall, 2-52
Save, 2-52
sensit ivit y, 2-46, 2-47
Unsave, 2-55
fine t ime int er val calibr at ion, 2-69
fir mwar e r evisions, xx
Fr eq & Rat io key, 2-10
fr equency, 2-11
fr equency r at io, 2-12
fr ont -panel indicat or s, 1-3, 1-4
fr ont -panel menus, 1-5, 1-6, 1-7, 1-8
funct ion
dut y cycle, 2-14
fall t ime, 2-13
fr equency, 2-11
fr equency r at io, 2-12
per iod, 2-13
phase, 2-15
pulse widt hs, 2-14
r ise t ime, 2-13
t ime int er val, 2-13
t ot alize, 2-14
volt age peaks, 2-15
G
Gat e, 2-16
Gat e and Ext er nal Ar ming menu, 2-16
aut o, 2-16
digit s, 2-17
ext er nal, 2-17
t ime, 2-17
Gat e t ime and r esolut ion, 2-17
H
har dwar e pacing, 2-62
how t o make measur ement s, 1-12
how t o set limit s, 1-23
HP-IB Addr ess, 2-58
HP-IB connect or , 1-11
HP-IB messages, 2-77
HPIB t o t alk-only, 2-66
hyst er esis, 2-46
I
impedance, 2-51
in case of t r ouble, 2-94
indicat or s (LEDs), 1-3, 1-4
init iat ing measur ement s, 2-5
input calibr at ion, 2-69
input condit ioning keys, 2-44
input impedance, 2-51
L
Legend, 1-13
Limit t est ing, 2-38
Limit -det ect out put , 2-43, 2-64
Limit -Det ect Out put connect or, 1-11
Limit s Test ing Example 1Flag and
St op Measur ing On Limit s, 2-38
Limit s Test ing Example 2Flag On
Limit s but Cont inue Measur ing, 2-40
Limit s Test ing Example 3Use Analog
Gr aph Display While Adjust ing Input
Signal, 2-40
Limit s Test ing Example 4Select ing
Filt er ing Condit ions of St at s
Comput at ion, 2-42
Limit s Test ing Example 5Sending
t he Limit -Det ect Out put , 2-43
list of opt ions, xviii
Local key, 1-4, 2-75
low pass filt er , 2-51
M
making a single measur ement , 1-36
making r epet it ive measur ement s, 1-36
making t he Count er flag on limit s but
cont inue measur ing when t he signal
exceeds t he user -ent er ed limit s, 1-28
Mat h
offset , 2-27
scale, 2-27
Mat h menu, 2-27
MEASURE keys
Fr eq & Rat io, 2-10
Ot her & Meas, 2-10
Time & Per iod, 2-10
Index
Index-4 Operating Guide
measur ement cont r ol keys, 2-5
Run key, 2-5
St op/Single key, 2-5
measur ement funct ion menus, 2-10
measur ement sequence, 2-93
measur ing dut y cycle, 2-14
measur ing fallt ime, 2-13
measur ing fr equency, 2-11
measur ing fr equency r at io, 2-12
measur ing per iod, 2-13
measur ing phase, 2-15
measur ing posit ive/negat ive pulse
widt hs, 2-14
measur ing posit ive/negat ive volt age
peaks, 2-15
measur ing r iset ime, 2-13
measur ing t ime int er val, 2-13
common, 2-51
measur ing, t ot alize, 2-14
menu messages, 2-75
menus of
100kHz Filt er key, 1-6
50 Ohm/1M Ohm key, 1-6
Calibr at ion (Scale & Offset ) key, 1-8
DC/AC key, 1-6
Fr eq & Rat io key, 1-5
Gat e & Ext Ar m key, 1-5
Limit Modes key, 1-5
Ot her Meas key, 1-5
Recall key, 1-6
Save & Pr int key, 1-6
Scale & Offset key, 1-5
St at s key, 1-5
Time & Per iod key, 1-5
Tr igger /Sensit ivit y key, 1-6
Uppr & Lower key, 1-5
Ut ilit y key, 1-7
X10 At t enuat e key, 1-6
messages
fr ont panel, 2-73
HP-IB, 2-77
menu, 2-75
power -up/self-t est , 2-74
modifying input t r igger level, 1-17
N
new secur it y code ent r y, 2-72
numer ic ent r y for a menu it em, 2-4
numer ical convent ion, 2-65
O
offset , 1-19, 2-27
ON SINGLE menu it em, 2-6
opt ions, xviii
oscillat or adjust pot ent iomet er , 1-11
Ot her Meas key, 2-10
P
pace
soft war e, 2-63
pacing, 2-62
par it y, 2-63
par it y t ype, 2-62
peaks, 2-15
per for ming st at ist ics on
measur ement s, 1-31
per iod, 2-13
phase, 2-15
pr eface, xi
pr eset value list s, 2-78
pr eset values, 2-78, 2-79, 2-85
pr eset t ing t he Count er , 2-4
PRINT
ON, 2-62
pr int funct ion, 2-56
pr int er
connect Count er t o pr int er , 2-66
pr int ing, 2-56
pulse widt hs, 2-14
Q
quest ions, 2-94
quick r efer ence guide, xxiii
quick t ime int er val calibr at ion, 2-69
R
r at io, 2-12
Recall funct ion, 2-54
Index
Operating Guide Index-5
r ecalling measur ement set ups, 2-52
r elat ed document s, xiii
r emot e, 1-4
Remot e indicat or (LED), 1-4
r epackaging for shipment , xv
r eset t ing t he Count er , 2-4
r esolut ion, 2-17
r evision
fir mwar e, xx
r iset ime, 2-13
RS-232 int er face, 1-11
RS-232 ser ial por t , 2-43
Run key, 2-5
r un mode, 2-5
r unning t he self-t est r out ines, 2-59
S
Save funct ion, 2-53
saving measur ement set ups, 2-52
Scale & Offset key, 1-19
scale and offset equat ion, 1-19
Scale and Offset funct ions, 2-27
Secur ing against calibr at ion, 2-71
secur it y st at us, 2-68
select ing input sensit ivit y, 1-19
select ing input t r igger slope, 1-18
Select ing Oper at ing Mode (Talk/List en,
Talk-Only), 2-58
select ing sensit ivit y, 2-50
select ing t he t ype of St at ist ics
(St at s), 1-31
self t est messages, 2-74
self-t est , 2-59
sending limit -det ect out put , 2-43
sensit ivit y, 1-19, 2-46
ser ial por t , 2-43, 2-62
SET OFFSET ?, 2-31
set t ing lower limit , 1-26
Set t ing t he Baud Rat e, 2-62
Set t ing t he Har dwar e Pacing, 2-62
Set t ing t he HP-IB Addr ess, 2-58, 2-66
Set t ing t he HP-IB addr ess, 2-58
Set t ing t he Par it y, 2-63
Set t ing t he Soft war e Pace, 2-63
set t ing upper limit , 1-24
sign (+/-) key, 1-18
sign key, 2-8
Single key, 2-5
single measur ement , 1-36
single mode, 2-5
soft war e pace, 2-63
soft war e pacing, 2-62
specificat ions, 3-2
dimensions, 3-16
fr equency r ange, 3-2
HP 53131A/132A, 3-2
measur ement t hr oughput , 3-14
power supply volt age, 3-16
RS-232C connect or pin
assignment s, 3-16
t ime base st abilit y, 3-4
volt age r ange and sensit ivit y, 3-2
st ar t ing measur ement s, 1-19
St at s funct ion, 2-32
st op, 2-5
summar y of measur ement
sequence, 2-93
SW PACE, 2-62, 2-63
T
t alk/list en, 2-58
t alk-only, 2-58, 2-66
TEST, 2-59
The Gat e & Ext er nal Ar m Key
Menus, 2-19, 2-23
t hir t eent h digit , 2-94
Time & Per iod key, 2-10
t ime ar ming, 2-17
t ime int er val
common, 2-45
separ at e, 2-13
t ime Int er val delay ar ming, 2-17, 2-20
t imebase
aut o, 2-59
calibr at ion, 2-67, 2-69
ext er nal, 2-59
int er nal, 2-59
t imebase sour ce, 2-59
Index
Index-6 Operating Guide
t ot alize, 2-14
t r igger band, 2-50
t r igger level, 2-48
t r igger slope, 2-49
t ypes of measur ement funct ions, 2-10
t ypes of ser vice available if your
inst r ument fails, xiv
U
Unsave, 2-55
using Ent er key, 2-8
using LIMITS, 2-38
using ON FAIL
GO ON menu it em, 1-29
STOP menu it em, 1-28
using SET OFFSET ?, 2-31
using SHOW
St at s menu it em, 2-33
using St at s key, 2-33
using t he +/- (sign) key, 1-18
using t he ar r ow keys
t o change st at es of menu it ems, 2-9
t o ent er numer ic values, 2-8
t o execut e pr ompt ed event
messages, 2-9
t o execut e pr ompt ed help
messages, 2-9
t o sequence t hr ough t he menus of
t he MEASURE keys, 2-8
using t he Calibr at ion Menu, 2-67
using t he ent r y select keys
t o ent er numer ic values, 2-8
using t he ent r y/select keys
t o change st at es of menu it ems, 2-9
t o execut e pr ompt ed event
messages, 2-9
t o execut e pr ompt ed help
messages, 2-9
t o sequence t hr ough t he menus of
t he MEASURE keys, 2-8
using t he Ext Ar m connect or , 2-24
using t he Gat e & Ext Ar m key, 2-24
using t he input coupling t oggle
keys, 1-15
using t he input impedance t oggle
keys, 1-16
using t he Mat h oper at ions
offset , 2-28
scale, 2-28
using t he measur ement cont r ol keys
Run key, 2-6
St op/Single key, 2-6
using t he Pr int menu, 2-56
using t he Recall funct ion, 2-54
using t he Save funct ion, 2-53
using t he Scale & Offset , 2-28
using t he Scale & Offset key, 2-28
using t he Tr igger /Sensit ivit y key, 2-48
using t he Unsave funct ion, 2-55
Ut ilit y menu, 1-7, 2-4, 2-57
V
volt age peaks, 2-15
X
X10 At t enuat e key, 2-44
Pr int ed in U.S.A
Dat a subject t o change
Rev 11/98
Contacti ng Hewl ett -Packard:
For mor e infor mat ion about Hewlet t -Packar d t est and measur ement pr oduct s, applicat ions, and ser vices, visit our web
sit e at : http://www.hp.com/go/tmdir
HPs Test and Me as urement Fax Servi ce for Uni t ed Stat es and Canada:
Technical infor mat ion for t est and measur ement pr oduct s and ser vices is available 24 hour s a day,
7 days a week, by calling 1-800-800-5281.
Te chni cal Support:
If you need t echnical assist ance wit h a Hewlet t -Packar d t est and measur ement pr oduct or applicat ion, you can cont act
one of t he following cent er s and ask for a t est and measur ement sales r epr esent at ive. For a complet e list of wor ldwide
Hewlet t -Packar d sales offices, r efer t o t he web sit e list ed above.
Afri ca and Mi ddl e Eas t:
Hewlet t -Packar d S.A.
Int er nat ional Sales Br anch
Middle East /Afr ica
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Tel : (41/22) 780-4111
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Tel : (852) 2599-7777
Fax: (852) 2506-9284
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Hewlet t -Packar d Aust ralia Lt d.
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Tel : 1-800-629-485 (Austral i a)
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Fax: (61-3) 9272-0749
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Tel : 877-894-4414
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Test & Measur ement
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The Net herlands
Tel : +31 20 547 9999
Fax: +31 20 547 7799
Japan:
Hewlet t -Packar d J apan Lt d.
Measur ement Assist ance Cent er
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Lati n Ame ri ca:
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Tel : (305) 267-4245
Fax: (305) 267-4288
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Englewood, CO, U.S.A.
Tel : (800) 452-4844
Fax: (303) 662-3726
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
according to ISO/IEC Guide 22 and EN 45014
Manufacturers Name: Hewlett-Packard Company
Manufacturers Address: Santa Clara Division
5301 Stevens Creek Boulevard
Santa Clara, California 95052-8059
U.S.A.
declares, that the product
Product Name: Universal Counter Frequency Counter
Model Number: HP 53131A, 53132A HP 53181A
Product Options: This declaration covers all options of the product.
conforms to the following Product Specifications:
Safety: IEC 1010-1: 1990 + A1 / EN 61010-1: 1993
EMC: CISPR 11: 1990 / EN 55011: 1991 Group 1, Class A
IEC 801-2: 1991 / EN 50082-1: 1992 4 kV CD, 8 kV AD
IEC 801-3: 1984 / EN 50082-1: 1992 3 V/m, 1kHz 80% AM, 271000MHz
IEC 801-4: 1988 / EN 50082-1: 1992 1 kV Power Lines, 0.5 kV Signal Lines
Supplementary Information:
The product models listed above comply with the requirements of the Low
Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC and the EMC Directive 89/336/EEC.
Santa Clara, California, April 15, 1994
Bruce Euler, Quality Engineering Manager
European Contact: Your local Hewlett-Packard Sales and Service Office or Hewlett-Packard GmbH,
Dept. ZQ/Standards Europe, Herrenberger Strae 130, D-71034 Bblingen (FAX: +49-7031-143143)
Continued from front matt er. . .
7.NL.A.11.03.97.R1.P.CW6BC
Warranty (contd)
HP does not war r ant t hat t he
oper at ion of HP pr oduct s will be
unint er rupt ed or er r or fr ee. If
HP is unable, wit hin a
r easonable t ime, t o r epair or
r eplace any pr oduct t o a
condit ion as war r ant ed,
cust omer will be ent it led t o a
r efund of t he pur chase price
upon pr ompt r et ur n of t he
pr oduct .
HP pr oduct s may cont ain
r emanufact ur ed par t s
equivalent t o new in
per for mance or may have been
subject ed t o incident al use.
The war r ant y period begins on
t he dat e of deliver y or on t he
dat e of inst allat ion if inst alled
by HP. If cust omer schedules or
delays HP inst allat ion mor e
t han 30 days aft er delivery,
war r ant y begins on t he 31st day
fr om deliver y.
War r ant y does not apply t o
defect s result ing fr om
(a) impr oper or inadequat e
maint enance or calibr at ion,
(b) soft war e, int er facing, par t s
or supplies not supplied by HP,
(c) unaut hor ized modificat ion or
misuse, (d) oper at ion out side of
t he published envir onment al
specificat ions for t he pr oduct , or
(e) impr oper sit e pr epar at ion or
maint enance.
TO THE EXTENT ALLOWED
BY LOCAL LAW, THE ABOVE
WARRANTIES ARE
EXCLUSIVE AND NO OTHER
WARRANTY OR CONDITION,
WHETHER WRITTEN OR
ORAL, IS EXPRESSED OR
IMPLIED AND HP
SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS
ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES
OR CONDITIONS OF
MERCHANTABILITY,
SATISFACTORY QUALITY,
AND FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
HP will be liable for damage t o
t angible pr opert y per incident
up t o t he gr eat er of $300,000 or
t he act ual amount paid for t he
pr oduct t hat is t he subject of t he
claim, and for damages for
bodily injur y or deat h, t o t he
ext ent t hat all such damages
ar e det er mined by a cour t of
compet ent jurisdict ion t o have
been dir ect ly caused by a
defect ive HP pr oduct .
TO THE EXTENT ALLOWED
BY LOCAL LAW, THE
REMEDIES IN THIS
WARRANTY STATEMENT
ARE CUSTOMERS SOLE AND
EXCLUSIVE REMEDIES.
EXCEPT AS INDICATED
ABOVE, IN NO EVENT WILL
HP OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE
LIABLE FOR LOSS OF DATA
OR FOR DIRECT, SPECIAL,
INCIDENTAL,
CONSEQUENTIAL
(INCLUDING LOST PROFIT
OR DATA), OR OTHER
DAMAGE, WHETHER BASED
IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR
OTHERWISE.
For consumer t r ansact ions in
Aust ralia and New Zealand: t he
war r ant y t erms cont ained in
t his st at ement , except t o t he
ext ent lawfully permit t ed, do
not exclude, r est rict or modify
and ar e in addit ion t o t he
mandat ory st at ut or y r ight s
applicable t o t he sale of t his
pr oduct t o you.
Assi stance
Pr oduct maint enance
agr eement s and ot her cust omer
assist ance agr eement s ar e
available for Hewlet t -Packar d
pr oduct s.
For any assist ance, cont act your
near est Hewlet t -Packar d Sales
and Ser vice Office.
Safety Cons i derati ons
(contd)
WARNING
INSTRUCTIONS FOR
ADJUSTMENTS WHILE
COVERS ARE REMOVED
AND FOR SERVICING ARE
FOR USE BY SERVICE-
TRAINED PERSONNEL
ONLY. TO AVOID
DANGEROUS ELECTRIC
SHOCK, DO NOT PERFORM
SUCH ADJUSTMENTS OR
SERVICING UNLESS
QUALIFIED TO DO SO.
WARNING
ANY INTERRUPTION OF THE
PROTECTIVE GROUNDING
CONDUCTOR (INSIDE OR
OUTSIDE THE PRODUCTS
CIRCUITRY) OR
DISCONNECTING THE
PROTECTIVE EARTH
TERMINAL WILL CAUSE
A POTENTIAL SHOCK
HAZARD THAT COULD
RESULT IN PERSONAL
INJURY. (GROUNDING ONE
CONDUCTOR OF ATWO
CONDUCTOR OUTLET IS
NOT SUFFICIENT
PROTECTION.)
Whenever it is likely t hat t he
pr ot ect ion has been impaired,
t he inst r ument must be made
inoper at ive and be secur ed
against any unint ended
operat ion.
If t his inst r ument is t o be
ener gized via an
aut ot r ansformer (for volt age
r educt ion) make sure t he
common t er minal is connect ed
t o t he ear t hed pole t er minal
(neut r al) of t he power sour ce.
Inst r uct ions for adjust ment s
while cover s are r emoved and
for ser vicing are for use by
t rained-per sonnel only. To avoid
dangerous elect r ic shock, do not
per for m such adjust ment s or
ser vicing unless qualified t o
do so.
For cont inued pr ot ect ion
against fir e, r eplace t he line
fuse(s) of t he same curr ent
r at ing and t ype (for example,
nor mal blow, t ime delay). Do not
use r epair ed fuses or shor t
circuit ed fuseholder s.
Acous ti c Noi se Emi ssi ons
LpA<47 dB at operat or posit ion,
at nor mal operat ion, t est ed per
EN 27779. All dat a ar e t he
r esult s fr om t ype t est .
Gerusche mi s si on
LpA<47 dB am Ar beit s
plat z, nor maler Bet r ieb, geprft
nach EN 27779.
Die Angagen ber uhen auf
Er gebnissen von
Typenpr fungen.

Manual Par t Number 53131-90055 Pr int ed in U.S.A, MAY 1999

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