Agilent Technologies 54835A, 45A, 46A manual To test time measurement accuracy

Chapter 3: Testing Performance

To test time measurement accuracy

To test time measurement accuracy

This test uses a precise frequency source to check the accuracy of time measurement functions.

Specification Delta-t accuracy

Equivalent Time: (≥16 averages)

±[(0.007% ⋅ delta-t) + (full scale/(2 ⋅ memory depth))+ 30 ps]

Real Time: * ±[(0.007% ⋅ delta-t) + (0.2 ⋅ sample period)]

*The specification applies to bandwidth limited signals (tr ≥ 1.4 ⋅ sample period). The sample period is defined as 1/(sample rate). The specification also applies to those automatic measurements computing time intervals on identical slope edges

(like pos-pos, neg-neg).

Equipment Required

Equipment	Critical Specifications	Recommended Model/Part
Signal Generator	1-100 MHz,	Agilent 8664A
	timebase accuracy - 0.25 ppm
RF Amplifier	40 MHz to 1 GHz, 20 dB gain	Agilent 8447D
Cable	Type-N 24 inch	Agilent 11500B
Cable	BNC	Agilent 10503A
Adapter	Type N (f) to BNC (m)	Agilent 1250-0077

The Agilent 8447D RF Amplifier is used as a saturation amplifier to create a very low-jitter squarewave from the sinewave output of the signal generator. You adjust the signal generator output level to change the risetime of the squarewave.

Equivalent Time Mode Procedure

This test checks time measurement in equivalent time mode with averaging.

1Set the Agilent 8664A signal generator for a 40-MHz sine wave (25.0 ns period) at

250 mVrms.

2Connect the output of the signal generator to the INPUT of the Agilent 8447D RF amplifier.

3Connect the OUTPUT of the RF amplifier to the channel 1 input of the oscilloscope.

4 Press Default Setup to set the oscilloscope to default conditions. 5 Press Input to select 50 Ω. Press Coupling to select dc.

6 Press Autoscale.

7 Set the vertical scale to 500 mV per division.

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