Most Common Instrument Problems
#1 Oscilloscope screen capture & printing: Setup Agilent IntuiLink Data Capture software
#2 The oscilloscope is measuring x2 what the signal generator output is set to: How to fix
Instrument Manuals and How To Tutorials
Oscilloscope Manuals
Agilent DSO7012B Website
Agilent 54621A Manual | Website
Agilent 54603B Manual | Website
Agilent 54645D Manual | Website
Oscilloscope Probe Fundamentals
Probe Fundamentals
- Probes - The Critical Link to Measurement Quality
- Different Probes for Different Needs
- A Guide to Probe Selection
- How Probes Affect Your Measurements
- Understanding Probe Specifications
- Advanced Probing Techniques
- Explanation of Safety Precautions
Oscilloscope Probe Hints
8 Hints for Better Scope Probing
- Passive or active probe?
- Probe loading check with two probes
- Compensate probe before use
- Low current measurement tips
- Make safe floating measurements with a differential probe
- Check the common mode rejection
- Check the probe coupling
- Damp the resonance
Meters
Signal Generators
Every time you turn on the Agilent 33220A or 33120A signal generator, you must set the output termination to HIGH-Z mode. If you fail to do this, you may accidentally produce voltages twice as high as you intend, and this may damage your chip. <How to set this>
Agilent 33120A Manual | Website
Agilent 33220A Manual | Website
The waveforms contained in the Arbitrary Waveform Library are:
1. DTMF_0 - dual tone multiple frequency number 0
2. DTMF_9 - dual tone multiple frequency number 9
3. Full Rectify - full wave rectified sine
4. Half Rectify -have wave rectified sine
5. Gaussian - Gaussian pulse
6. PSK - 180 degree phase shift keying using sine wave
7. Ringing Square - square wave with damped sine wave ringing
8. SCR - SCR firing profile
9. Trapezoid - trapezoidal wave shape
10. Staircase - increasing and decreasing staircase waveform
11. RS-232 - serial bit stream spelling "Agilent" at 115.2 kBaud
...more is available
Power Supplies
Power Supplies in Parallel for Higher Current Output: http://www.home.agilent.com/agilent/faqDetail.jspx?cc=US&lc=eng&ckey=520808&nid=-35673.0.00&id=520808
Not related specifically to the E3630:
E4411B / L1500A ESA-L Series Spectrum Analyzers
http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/t_and_m/spectrum_analyser/rf-analyzer-basics-tutorial.php
HP 4195a Spectrum/Network Analyzer
Tektronics 370A Curve Tracer
Click to view Standard Setup
Feedback Discovery II Antenna Lab
Master the following and you are indeed a master of your EE environment. The following documents contains a variety of instruction and hints to help you understand and improve your troubleshooting skills and use of EE equipment.
Agilent Classroom Resources
Best of 8 Hints for Making Better Oscilloscopes Measurements
Table of Contents
- Tracking down elusive glitches
- Analyze harmonic distortion using FFTs
- Verifying PWM dead time in motor controllers
- Use holdoff to stabilize complex digital waveforms
- Troubleshooting infrequent events
- Using arbitrary waveforms for bit-error testing
- Correlating software and analog outputs in a CAN controller
- A quick, easy way to troubleshoot mixed hardware/software prototypes
8 Hints for Better Scope Probing
Table of Contents
- Passive or active probe?
- Probe loading check with two probes
- Compensate probe before use
- Low current measurement tips
- Make safe floating measurements with a differential probe
- Check the common mode rejection
- Check the probe coupling
- Damp the resonance
8 More Hints for Making Better Scopes Measurements
Table of Contents
- Don't forget to check that probe
- A quick, easy way to troubleshoot mixed hardware/software prototypes
- Using scopes to measure noisy signals
- Getting intimate with your noise
- Looking for EMI and EMC noise sources with your scope probe
- Taking a look at eye patterns
- Custom graticules work for any scope
- How much of the time is my signal on?
Integrated Debugging- A New Approach to Troubleshooting Your Designs with Real-Time Oscilloscopes
Some of the typical analysis software that runs on the oscilloscopes are eye pattern, jitter analysis, compliance test procedures, and protocol decode. These tools are used in different ways to debug and analyze design problems.
Tektronics Classroom Resources
* Oscilloscope Fundamentals http://www2.tek.com/cmswpt/tidownload.lotr?ct=TI&cs=pri&ci=15094&lc=EN
* Probe Fundamentals http://www2.tek.com/cmswpt/tidownload.lotr?ct=TI&cs=afs&ci=15149&lc=EN
* Signal Generator Fundamentals http://www2.tek.com/cmswpt/tidownload.lotr?ct=TI&cs=afs&ci=15148&lc=EN
* Real-time Spectrum Analyzer Fundamentals http://www2.tek.com/cmswpt/tidownload.lotr?ct=TI&cs=afs&ci=15150&lc=EN
* Logic Analyzer Fundamentals http://www2.tek.com/cmswpt/tidownload.lotr?ct=TI&cs=afs&ci=15151&lc=EN
* Signal Integrity Fundamentals http://www2.tek.com/cmswpt/tidownload.lotr?ct=TI&cs=pri&ci=15152&lc=EN
* Jitter and Timing Fundamentals http://www2.tek.com/cmswpt/tidownload.lotr?ct=TI&cs=afs&ci=15153&lc=EN
* Power Supply Measurement and AnalysisFundamentals http://www2.tek.com/cmswpt/tidownload.lotr?ct=TI&cs=pri&ci=15093&lc=EN
* SDRAM Testing Fundamentals http://www2.tek.com/cmswpt/tidownload.lotr?ct=TI&cs=pri&ci=15154&lc=EN
* Low Speed Serial Data Fundamentals http://www2.tek.com/cmswpt/tidownload.lotr?ct=TI&cs=pri&ci=15155&lc=EN
* High Speed Serial Design Fundamentals http://www2.tek.com/cmswpt/tidownload.lotr?ct=TI&cs=pri&ci=15156&lc=EN
* Radar Measurement Fundamentals http://www2.tek.com/cmswpt/tidownload.lotr?ct=TI&cs=pri&ci=15157&lc=EN
* Ultra-wideband Radio Fundamentals http://www2.tek.com/cmswpt/tidownload.lotr?ct=TI&cs=pri&ci=15158&lc=EN
* Digital Modulation Fundamentals http://www2.tek.com/cmswpt/tidownload.lotr?ct=TI&cs=pri&ci=15159&lc=EN
* FPGA Debug Fundamentals http://www2.tek.com/cmswpt/tidownload.lotr?ct=TI&cs=pri&ci=15160&lc=EN
* Pocket Guide to Oscilloscopes http://www2.tek.com/cmswpt/tidownload.lotr?ct=TI&cs=rfg&ci=4864&lc=EN
* The Oscilloscope: Basic Features and Functions http://www2.tek.com/cmswpt/tidownload.lotr?ct=TI&cs=pos&ci=14992&lc=EN
* Pocket Guide to Signal Sources http://www2.tek.com/cmswpt/tidownload.lotr?ct=TI&cs=rfg&ci=15175&lc=EN
* Fundamentals of Floating Measurements http://www2.tek.com/cmswpt/tidownload.lotr?ct=TI&cs=apn&ci=3214&lc=EN
www.tek.com
How to Debug, Decode, Trigger Low-Speed Serial Buses such as CAN, SPI, I2C RS232-RS485
Video Presentation
PDF Version
Application Notes
General Questions
What is the difference between Run/Stop and Single on the front panel?
When the Single key is pressed on the front panel, the current acquisition is cleared and the scope acquires its full deep memory on a single acquisition on the next trigger event. The important fact is that the full deep memory will be filled on one trigger. Note that if only one scope channel is on, 4 MB will be acquired. If two scope channels are on, 2 MB will be acquire on each channel. After the single acquisition, the scope will STOP with the red LED of the Run/Stop coming on. When doing single shot work, it is highly recommended that the SINGLE key be pressed.
A different sequence will occur when the Run/Stop key is pressed. If the scope is stopped (red LED is on), the scope will start to run. If the scope is running and the Run/Stop key is pressed, the scope will halt. Current acquisition data is not cleared; the scope simply halts. The scope's full deep memory may not be filled, with the scope storing only 1 MB of data per channel. If a second trigger occurs quickly enough after the Stop key is pressed, the scope will execute a "deep stop", acquiring another MB of data bringing the memory depth to its max.
It is for this reason that we recommend the use of the SINGLE key when doing single acquisition as it will assure that the full deep memory is utilized.
Why do I see more noise on my oscilloscope when a probe is connected?
TheThe typical noise floor of a digitizing oscilloscope is a few millivolts peak-to-peak. You can measure the noise floor of your oscilloscope by disconnecting all cables and probes from the inputs and changing the volts per division setting to the lowest possible value. Set the scope to Auto trigger and you will see a baseline of the scope's internal noise.
All currently shipping Agilent scopes have an "Auto Probe" feature that automatically identifies connected probes. When a probe is connected, the scope changes its attenuation setting so that it correctly displays the voltage coming from the probe. For example, a typical passive probe has a 10:1 attenuation ratio, which means that the probe divides the signal by a factor of 10 before presenting it to the scope. The scope compensates for this attenuation by multiplying the input signal by a factor of 10.
SinSince the oscilloscope cannot distinguish between the external signal and the internal noise floor, the noise floor is also multiplied by the attenuation factor. Therefore with a 10:1 probe connected to a scope channel you can expect the noise floor to increase by a factor of 10. For this reason it is best to use a 1:1 probe, an active probe, or a simple coaxial cable to view low voltage signals.
How do I check for phase difference between two channels?
Reading Phase Difference Between Two Channels