1. Basic Controls
A more elaborate description of the front and rear panels including the user interface with its menu system follows after this introductory survey, the purpose of which is to make you familiar with the layout of the instrument. See also the appendix.
2. Secondary Controls
2.1. Connectors & Indicators
2.2. Rear Panel
Pulse Output [CNT-91(R) only]: User definable to serve as output for built-in pulse generator, gate indicator or alarm.
Optional Main Input Connectors (not with Option 23/90): The front panel inputs can be moved to the rear panel by means of an optional cable kit. Note that the input capacitance will be higher.
Type Plate: Indicates instrument type and serial number.
Fan: A temp. sensor controls the speed of the fan. Normal bench-top use means low speed, whereas rack-mounting and/or options may result in higher speed.
Protective Ground Terminal: This is where the protective ground wire is connected inside the instrument. Never tamper with this screw!
Line Power Inlet: AC 90-265 Vrms, 45-440 Hz, no range switching needed.
Reference Output: 10 MHz derived from the internal or, if present, the external reference.
External Reference Input: Can be automatically selected if a signal is present and approved as timebase source, see Chapter 9.
External Arming Input: See page 5-7.
GPIB Connector: Address set via User Options Menu.
Ext. DC Connector: Part of Option 23/90 for CNT-90(XL). Range: 12-18 V Note the polarity.
USB Connector: Universal Serial Bus (USB) for data communication with PC.
2.3. Rear Panel (CNT-91R/AF)
Pulse Output [CNT-91(R) only]: User definable to serve as output for built-in pulse generator, gate indicator or alarm.
Additional output frequencies Connectors: These connectors provide additional output frequencies which are, from left to right, 100kHz, 1MHz, 5MHz and 10MHz.
Type Plate: Indicates instrument type and serial number.
Fan: A temp. sensor controls the speed of the fan. Normal bench-top use means low speed, whereas rack-mounting and/or options may result in higher speed.
Protective Ground Terminal: This is where the protective ground wire is connected inside the instrument. Never tamper with this screw!
Line Power Inlet: AC 90-265 Vrms, 45-440 Hz, no range switching needed.
Reference Output: 10 MHz derived from the internal or, if present, the external reference.
External Reference Input: Can be automatically selected if a signal is present and approved as timebase source, see Chapter 9.
External Arming Input: See page 5-7.
GPIB Connector: Address set via User Options Menu.
USB Connector: Universal Serial Bus (USB) for data communication with PC.
3. Description of Keys
3.1. Power
The ON/OFF key is a toggling secondary power switch. Part of the instrument is always ON as long as power is applied, and this standby condition is indicated by a red LED above the key. This indicator is consequently not lit while the instrument is in operation.
CNT-91R and CNT-91R/AF only
While the rubidium oscillator is warming up, an open padlock symbol labeled RB is flashing at the top right corner of the display, indicating that the control loop is not locked. Normal time to lock is about 5 min. Do not start measuring until the unlock symbol disappears.
New Message Box
Information exchange between the rubidium oscillator and the CPU takes place over a serial bus. Any malfunction in the UART-con-trolled communication link will be reported in a pop-up message box on the display.
CNT-90(XL) w. Option 23/90
The User Interface Screens have two indicators near the upper right corner of the display. One is a power supply status indicator, and the other is a battery charging level indicator.
The status indicator shows:
- a fixed battery symbol when the internal battery is the active power source
- a charging battery symbol when the internal battery is being charged
- a power plug symbol when the mains is the active power source
- a power plug symbol on top of a battery symbol when the instrument has been prepared for UPS operation and charging is not going on
The charging level indicator shows:
- the relative charging level in percent
3.2. Select Function
This hard key is marked MEAS FUNC.
When you depress it, one of the menus below will open.
The current selection is indicated by text inversion that is also indicating the cursor position. Select the measurement function you want by depressing the corresponding softkey right below the display.
Alternatively, you can move the cursor to the wanted position with the RIGHT/LEFT arrow keys. Confirm by pressing ENTER.
A new menu will appear where the contents depend on the function. If you for instance have selected Frequency, you can then select between Frequency, Frequency Ratio and Frequency Burst. Finally you have to decide which input channel(s) to use.
3.3. Autoset/Preset
By depressing this key once after selecting the wanted measurement function and input channel, you will most probably get a measurement result. The AUTOSET system ensures that the trigger levels are set optimally for each combination of measurement function and input signal amplitude, provided relatively normal signal waveforms are applied. If Manual Trigger has been selected before pressing the AUTOSET key, the system will make the necessary adjustments once (Auto Once) and then return to its inactive condition.
AUTOSET performs the following functions:
- Set automatic trigger levels
- Switch attenuators to 1x
- Turn on the display
- Set Auto Trig Low Freq to
- 100 Hz, if fin >100 Hz, or to
- fin, if 10<fin<100 Hz, or to
- 10 Hz, if fin <10 Hz
A higher value means faster settling time.
By depressing this key twice within two seconds, you will enter the Preset mode, and a more extensive automatic setting will take place. In addition to the functions above, the following functions will be performed:
- Set Meas Time to 200 ms
- Switch off Hold-Off
- Set HOLD/RUN to RUN
- Switch off MATH/LIM
- Switch off Analog and Digital Filters
- Set Timebase Ref to Auto
- Switch off Arming
Default Settings
An even more comprehensive preset function can be performed by recalling the factory default settings. See page 2-16.
3.4. Move Cursor
There are four arrow keys for moving the cursor, normally marked by text inversion, around the menu trees in two dimensions.
3.5. Display Contrast
When no cursor is visible (no active menu selected), the UP/DOWN arrows are used for adjusting the LCD display contrast ratio.
3.6. Enter
The key marked ENTER enables you to confirm a choice without leaving your menu position.
3.7. Save & Exit
This hard key is marked EXIT/OK. You will confirm your selection by depressing it, and at the same time you will leave the current menu level for the next higher level.
3.8. Don't Save & Exit
This hard key is marked CANCEL. By depressing it you will enter the preceding menu level without confirming any selections made at the current level. If the instrument is in REMOTE mode, this key is used for returning to LOCAL mode, unless LOCAL LOCKOUT has been programmed.
3.9. Presentation Modes
VALUE
Value mode gives single line numerical presentation of individual results, where the main parameter is displayed in large characters with full resolution together with a number of auxiliary parameters in small characters with limited resolution.
If Limit Behavior is set to Alarm and Limit Mode is set to Range you can visualize the deviation of your measurements in relation to the set limits. The numerical readout is now combined with a traditional analog pointer-type instrument, where the current value is represented by a “smiley”. The limits are presented as numerical values below the main parameter, and their positions are marked with vertical bars labelled LL (lower limit) and UL (upper limit) on the autoscaled graph.
If one of the limits has been exceeded, the limit indicator at the top of the display will be flashing. In case the current measurement is out of the visible graph area, it is indicated by means of a left or a right arrowhead.
STAT/PLOT
If you want to treat a number of measurements with statistical methods, this is the key to operate. There are three display modes available by toggling the key:
- Numerical
- Histogram
- Trend Plot
Numerical
In this mode the statistical information is displayed as numerical data containing the following elements:
- Mean: mean value
- Max: maximum value
- Min: minimum value
- P-P: peak-to-peak deviation
- Adev: Allan deviation
- Std: Standard deviation
Histogram
The bins in the histogram are always autoscaled based on the measured data. Limits, if enabled, and center of graph are shown as vertical dotted lines. Data outside the limits are not used for autoscaling but are replaced by an arrow indicating the direction where non-displayed values have been recorded.
Trend Plot
This mode is used for observing periodic fluctuations or possible trends. Each plot terminates (if HOLD is activated) or restarts (if RUN is activated) after the set number of samples. The trend plot is always autoscaled based on the measured data, starting with 0 at restart. Limits are shown as horizontal lines if enabled.
Remote
When the instrument is controlled from the GPIB bus or the USB bus, the operating mode changes to Remote, indicated by the label REM on the display. All front panel keys except CANCEL are then disabled. See also page 2-8 for more information on this key.
3.10. Entering Numeric Values
Sometimes you may want to enter constants and limits in a value input menu, for instance one of those that you can reach when you press the MATH/LIMIT key.
You may also want to select a value that is not in the list of fixed values available by pressing the UP/DOWN arrow keys. One example is Meas Time under SETTINGS.
A similar situation arises when the desired value is too far away to reach conveniently by incrementing or decrementing the original value with the UP/DOWN arrow keys. One example is the Trig Lvl setting as part of the INPUT A (B) settings.
Whenever it is possible to enter numeric values, the keys marked with 0-9;. (decimal point) and ± (stands for Change Sign)take on their alternative numeric meaning.
It is often convenient to enter values using the scientific format. For that purpose, the rightmost softkey is marked EE (stands for Enter Exponent), making it easy to switch between the mantissa and the exponent. Press EXIT/OK to store the new value or CANCEL to keep the old one.
3.11. Hard Menu Keys
These keys are mainly used for opening fixed menus from which further selections can be made by means of the softkeys or the cursor/select keys.
Input A (B)
By depressing this key, the bottom part of the display will show the settings for Input A (B).
The active settings are in bold characters and can be changed by depressing the corresponding softkey below the display. You can also move the cursor, indicated by text inversion, to the desired position with the RIGHT/LEFT arrow keys and then change the active setting with the ENTER key.
The selections that can be made using this menu are:
- Trigger Slope: positive or negative, indicated by corresponding symbols
- Coupling: AC or DC
- Impedance: 50 W or 1 MW
- Attenuation: 1x or 10x
- Trigger:1 Manual or Auto
- Trigger Level:2 numerical input via front panel keyboard. If Auto Trigger is active, you can change the default trigger level manually as a percentage of the amplitude.
- Filter:3 On or Off
Notes: Always Auto when measuring risetime or falltime
The absolute level can either be adjusted using the up/down arrow keys or by pressing ENTER to reach the numerical input menu.
Pressing the corresponding softkey or ENTER opens the Filter Settings menu. See Fig. 2-10. You can select a fixed 100 kHz analog filter or an adjustable digital filter. The equivalent cutoff frequency is set via the value input menu that opens if you select Digital LP Frequency from the menu.
Input B
The settings under Input B are equal to those under Input A.
Settings
This key accesses a host of menus that affect the measurement. The figure above is valid after changing the default measuring time to 10 ms.
Meas Time
This value input menu is active if you select a frequency function. Longer measuring time means fewer measurements per second and gives higher resolution.
Burst
This settings menu is active if the selected measurement function is BURST – a special case of FREQUENCY – and facilitates measurements on pulse-modulated signals. Both the carrier frequency and the modulating frequency – the pulse repetition frequency (PRF) – can be measured, often without the support of an external arming signal.
Arm
Arming is the general term used for the means to control the actual start/stop of a measurement. The normal free-running mode is inhibited and triggering takes place when certain pretrigger conditions are fulfilled.
The signal or signals used for initiating the arming can be applied to three channels (A, B, E), and the start channel can be different from the stop channel. All conditions can be set via this menu.
NOTE: Stop Delay can only be used for realizing the function Timed Totalize in the CNT-91(R).
Trigger Hold-Off
A value input menu is opened where you can set the delay during which the stop trigger conditions are ignored after the measurement
start. A typical use is to clean up signals generated by bouncing relay contacts.
Statistics
In this menu you can do the following:
- Set the number of samples used for calculation of various statistical measures.
- Set the number of bins in the histogram view.
- Pacing
The delay between measurements, called pacing, can be set to ON or OFF, and the time can be set within the range 2 ms – 500 s.
Timebase Reference
Here you can decide if the counter is to use an Internal or an External timebase. A third alternative is Auto. Then the external timebase will be selected if a valid signal is present at the reference input. The EXT REF indicator at the upper right corner of the display shows that the instrument is using an external timebase reference.
Miscellaneous
The options in this menu are:
- Smart Measure with submenus:
- Smart Time Interval (valid only if the selected measurement function is Time Interval) The counter decides by means of timestamping which measurement channel precedes the other.
- Smart Frequency (valid only If the selected measurement function is Frequency or Period Average) By means of continuous timestamping and regression analysis, the resolution is increased for measuring times between 0.2 s and 100 s.
- Input C Acquisition (CNT-90XL only) Auto means that the whole specified frequency range is scanned for valid input signals.
Manual means that a narrow band around the manually entered center frequency is monitored for valid input signals. This mode is compulsory when measuring burst signals but is also recommended for FM signals, when the approximate frequency is known. An additional feature is that the measurement results are presented much faster, as the acquisition process is skipped.
NOTE: Signal frequencies outside the manual capture range may cause erroneous results. In order to draw the operator’s attention to this eventuality, the sign “M.ACQ” is visible in the upper right corner of the display.
- Auto Trig Low Freq: In a value input menu you can set the lower frequency limit for automatic triggering and voltage measurements within the range 1 Hz – 100 kHz. A higher limit means faster settling time and consequently faster measurements.
- Timeout: From this submenu you can activate/deactivate the timeout function and set the maximum time the instrument will wait for a pending measurement to finish before outputting a zero result. The range is 10 ms to 1000 s.
- Interpolatator Calibration: By switching off the interpolator calibration, you can increase the measurement speed at the expense of accuracy.
- TIE (CNT-91 only): From a submenu you can either let the counter choose the reference frequency automatically (Auto) or enter it manually.
Math/Limit
You enter a menu where you can choose between inputting data for the Mathematics or the Limits postprocessing unit.
The Math branch is used for modifying the measurement result mathematically before presentation on the display. Thus you can make the counter show directly what you want without tedious recalculations, e.g. revolutions/min instead of Hz.
The Limits branch is used for setting numerical limits and selecting the way the instrument will report the measurement results in relation to them.
Let us explore the Math submenu by pressing the corresponding softkey below the display.
The display tells you that the Math function is not active, so press the Math Off key once to open the formula selection menu.
Select one of the five different formulas, where K, L and M are constants that the user can set to any value. X stands for the current non-modified measurement result.
Each of the softkeys below the constant labels opens a value input menu like the one below.
Use the numeric input keys to enter the mantissa and the exponent, and use the EE key to toggle between the input fields. The key marked X0 is used for entering the display reading as the value of the constant.
The Limit submenu is treated in a similar way, and its features are explored beginning on page 6-6.
User Options
From this menu you can reach a number of submenus that do not directly affect the measurement. You can choose between a number of modes by pressing the corresponding softkey.
Save/Recall Menu
Twenty complete front panel setups can be stored in non-volatile memory. Access to the first ten memory positions is prohibited when Setup Protect is ON. Switching OFF Setup Protect releases all ten memory positions simultaneously.
The different setups can be individually labeled to make it easier for the operator to remember the application.
The following can be done:
- Save current setup
Browse through the available memory positions by using the RIGHT/LEFT arrow keys. For faster browsing, press the key Next to skip to the next memory bank. Press the softkey below the number (1-20) where you want to save the setting.
- Recall setup
Select the memory position from which you want to retrieve the contents in the same way as under Save current setup above. You can also choose Default to restore the preprogrammed factory settings. See the table on page 2-19 for a complete list of these settings.
- Modify labels
Select a memory position to which you want to assign a label. See the descriptions under Save/Recall setup above. Now you can enter alphanumeric characters from the front panel. See the figure below.
The seven softkeys below the display are used for entering letters and digits in the same way as you write SMS messages on a cell phone.
- Setup protection
Toggle the softkey to switch between the ON/OFF modes. When ON is active, the memory positions 1-10 are all protected against accidental overwriting.
Dataset Menu
This feature is available in statistics mode only, and if HOLD has been pressed prior to initiating a measurement with RESTART. Up to 8 different datasets can be saved in FLASH memory, each containing up to 32000 samples. If the pending measurement has more than 32000 samples, only the last 32000 will be saved. A default label will be assigned to the dataset. It can be changed in a similar way as the setup labels. See Modify labels above.
- Save: Select a memory position, accept or change the name, and press OK.
- Recall: Select a memory position and press OK.
- Total Reset: The safety screen below will appear. Pressing OK will restore all factory settings and erase all user information.
Calibrate Menu
This menu entry is accessible only for calibration purposes and is password-protected.
Interface Menu
Select the active bus interface. The alternatives are GPIB and USB. If you select GPIB, you are also supposed to select the GPIB Mode and the GPIB Address. See the next two paragraphs.
GPIB Mode
There are two command systems to choose from.
- Native: The SCPI command set used in this mode fully exploits all the features of this instrument series.
- Compatible: The SCPI command set used in this mode is adapted to be compatible with Agilent 53131/132/181.
GPIB Address
Value input menu for setting the GPIB address.
Test
A general self-test is always performed every time you power-up the instrument, but you can order a specific test from this menu at any time.
Press Test Mode to open the menu with available choices.
Select one of them and press Start Test to run it.
Digits Blank
Jittery measurement results can be made easier for an operator to read by masking one or more of the LSDs on the display.
Place the cursor at the submenu Digits Blank and increment/decrement the number by means of the UP/DOWN arrow keys, or press the soft key beneath the submenu and enter the desired number between 0 and 13 from the keyboard. The blanked digits will be represented by dashes on the display. The default value for the number of blanked digits is 0.
Misc (CNT-90XL & CNT-90 with Option 23/90)
The CNT-90XL without Option 23/90 has a single submenu called Units. By pressing this softkey you get to the submenu Power. Press Power and then select dBm or W as the unit of measurement, when either of the functions Frequency C or Power C is selected from the MEAS FUNC menu.
The CNT-90 with Option 23/90 has a single submenu called Use Battery in Standby. By toggling this softkey you can decide if the internal OCXO will remain powered or not when you turn off the instrument in battery operation mode.
The CNT-90XL with Option 23/90 has a combination of the two submenus mentioned above. See the figure below.
Output [CNT-91(R) only]
The rear panel pulse output can be used for three different purposes:
- pulse generator
- gate indicator
- alarm
Press the softkey Output to open the submenu below.
Off is the default mode and inhibits all activity on the output connector.
The pulse generator parameters Period and Width can be entered by first pressing the corresponding softkeys, then setting the numerical values as usual. By placing the cursor over the parameter, you can also set the values directly in 1-2-5 steps with the UP/DOWN arrow keys.
Press Output Mode to enter the mode selection menu below:
- Gate Open indicates to external equipment when a measurement is in progress.
- Pulse Generator activates a continuous pulse train having the parameters entered in the previous menu.
- Alarm can be set to be active low or active high. The MATH/LIM menu is used for setting up the behavior and the numerical limits that trigger the alarm.
The amplitude is fixed at TTL levels into 50 Ω irrespective of the output mode.
About
- Here you can find information on:
- model
- serial number
- instrument firmware version
- timebase option & calibration date
- The CNT-91R reports “Rubidium” in this field.
- RF input option
- The CNT-90XL reports the upper frequency limit.
Hold/Run
This key serves the purpose of manual arming. A pending measurement will be finished and the result will remain on the display until a new measurement is triggered by pressing the RESTART key.
Restart
Often this key is operated in conjunction with the HOLD/RUN key (see above), but it can also be used in free-running mode, especially when long measuring times are being used, e.g. to initiate a new measurement after a change in the input signal. RESTART will not affect any front panel settings.
4. Default Settings
See page 2-16 to see how the following preprogrammed settings are recalled by a few keystrokes.
PARAMETER | VALUE/SETTING |
Input A & B | |
Trigger Level | AUTO |
Trigger Slope | POS |
Impedance | 1 MW |
Attenuator | 1x |
Coupling | AC |
Filter | OFF |
Arming | |
Start | OFF |
Start Slope | POS |
Start Arm Delay | 0 |
Stop | OFF |
Stop Slope | POS |
Hold-Off | |
Hold-Off State | OFF |
Hold-Off Time | 200 ms |
Time-Out | |
Time-Out State | OFF |
Time-Out Time | 100 ms |
Statistics | |
Statistics | OFF |
No. of Samples | 100 |
No. of Bins | 20 |
Pacing State | OFF |
Pacing Time | 20 ms |
Mathematics | |
Mathematics | OFF |
Math Constants | K=1, L=0, M=1 |
Limits | |
Limit State | OFF |
Limit Mode | RANGE |
Lower Limit | 0 |
Upper Limit | 0 |
Burst | |
Sync Delay | 400 ms |
Start Delay | 0 |
Meas. Time | 200 ms |
Freq. Limit | 400 MHz |
Miscellaneous | |
Function | FREQA |
Smart Frequency | AUTO |
Smart Time Interval | OFF |
Meas. Time | 200 ms |
Auto Trig Low Freq | 100 Hz |
Timebase Reference | AUTO |
Blank Digits | 0 |
Interpolator calibration | ON |
Output (CNT-91(R)) | OFF |