Synchronize trigger outputs-HP8133A

[jjlee]

I am hoping to get some good advice/response on this.

I am trying to synchronize trigger outputs of eight(8) HP8133A pulse generators with Labview v7.1.

If I just daisy-chain from one trigger-input to another trigger output, there should be some propagation delay due to a number of cables introduced to connect all eight pulse gens. (hooked up to TDS8000 DSO)

Is there any good known way to do this?

Thanks in advance!

[JohnM 64]

Hi jjlee,

I do not have any experience using the HP 8133A, so I'm going to need some information from you about this in order to help out. Does the trigger output from this device come from a voltage signal on the trigger input? Or does it take some command from the instrument driver in order to output this? Have you attempted the daisy-chain method you mentioned in your post? Perhaps the propogation delay would not be enough to matter.

Anyone else have any ideas?

john
Applications Engineer

[jjlee]

Hi John,

Thanks for your message to help me out here.
I have HP 8133A with option 002 (the Channel 2 Pulse/Data channel).
I am trying to use the Labview v7.1 & (downloaded)instrument drivers to control these pulse generators for triggering and deskewing. (A certain level of user inputs would be necessary to complete this initial step).

It is quite possible that there will be a certain phase/delay associated with each pulse generators and I am trying to synchronize with those individual pulse generator triggers. The (pulse generator)channel deskew will work in conjunction with this pulse gen trigger (if I am not mistaken).

I would appreciate that if you or anyone who can help me with the similar situation/experience.

[jjlee]

I am trying to find an example VI for automatic deskewing of pulse generators and digital scope (e.g., TDS8000). I have an external signal generator feeding to 1:9 power divider and that distribues triggers to 8 pulse generators(HP81333A) and TDS8K.

This is a crosstalk test system with 1 to 8 driven lines for measuring victim Near and Far end crosstalks and export/save the outputs in excel file format as well as direct display of waveforms in the front panel.

I would extremely appreciate your guidance/recommendation on how to approach this task.

[JohnM 64]

Hello,

I am still trying to get a better grasp of the overall application.  Does your first sentence imply that you have solved your problem with syncronizing the triggers?  And what do you need help getting LabVIEW to do?  Read from the scope?  Save to an Excel file?  Display the waveforms?  This task has several different steps and I am unsure which part(s) you are needing assistance on.

john m

[jjlee]

Hello John,

Thanks for your response. My main point of interest is how to program to deskew all instruments in the test system using LabVIEW. There are few equipments used for this test (TDS8000, HP8133A).

1. TDS8000

I would like to deskew all available channels since this scope will be used as a receiver to display waveform.

2. HP8133A

- channel-to-channel deskew & - pulse generator triggers deskew

I plan on using phase-trimmers to adjust phase/delay between channels and this will probably require pulse generator triggers simulatenously. Having said that I may need to deskew triggers before deskewing channels(?)

I hope to have a 'deskew' button on the front panel that can perform deskew function (all internally) using LabVIEW.

3. Measure Crosstalk & generate report

Hope to generate crossatlk graphs based on increments of number of aggressors (x-axis) and the crosstalk values (y-axis) (in % relative to the input voltage amplitude). Also, have an option to save/output the (raw) crosstalk data in the user specified path (in excel format?) I would like to show the following button/display options:

'measure crosstalk' / 'number of aggressors' / 'crosstalk (NEXT & FEXT) graph'

I hope that I am making this a bit more clear with my answers above and thank you for all your help.