External Source Control Option ESC X-Series Signal Analyzers and EMI Receiver

Technical Overview

Introduction

External Source Control Option ESC X-Series Signal Analyzers and EMI Receiver

- Use for scalar stimulus-response measurements up to 50 GHz

- Controls Keysight Technologies, Inc. signal generators via GPIB, LAN, or USB

- Tracks the external source with a variety of sweep modes: standard, harmonic, sub-harmonic, offset, reverse, and power

- Improves measurement accuracy with normalization and open/short calibration

External Source Control

The Keysight X-Series is an evolutionary approach to signal analysis that spans instrumentation, measurements, and software. The X-Series analyzers and MXE EMI receiver, with upgradeable CPU, data storage devices, and I/O ports, enable you to keep your test assets current and extend instrument longevity.

Proven algorithms, 100% code-compatibility, and a common UI across the X-Series create a consistent measurement framework for signal analysis that ensures repeatable results and measurement integrity so you can leverage your test system software through all phases of product development.

Option ESC expands the X-Series signal analyzers (PXA, MXA, EXA, and CXA) and MXE EMI receiver to perform scalar network analysis. With Option ESC, the X-Series signal analyzers and EMI receiver can control the Keysight PSG, MXG, and EXG signal generators to enable scalar stimulus-response tests for component characterization (see Table 1).

Use the X-Series signal analyzers not only for analyzing and identifying unknown signals, but also for characterizing the behavior of components or subsystems including frequency response, conversion loss, insertion loss/gain, and return loss.

The stimulus-response tests are particularly important in component characterization. While a network analyzer is most commonly used for thorough component characterization, his type of solution is usually very expensive.

When the required characteristic is not complex, such as amplitude versus frequency (scalar measurements), Option ESC enables an X-Series signal analyzer to control an EXG, MXG, or PSG for a cost-effective alternative.

This combination allows you to fulfill the tasks for stimulus-response tests while meeting your measurement demands in general-purpose signal generation and analysis.

Option ESC also allows signal tracking operations between the analyzer and remotely located sources, commonly found in applications such as antenna tests, and EMI tests.

Stimulus-Response Overview

All RF systems, whether they are simple or complex, are comprised of components. To ensure the systems perform as designed, the quality of the components needs to be assured by characterizing the components’ electronic behaviors.

RF stimulus-response measurements are the fundamental tests for RF component characterization.

Stimulus-response measurements require a source to stimulate the device under test (DUT) and a receiver to analyze the signal from the output of the DUT. Network analyzers are primarily designed for the stimulus-response measurements, with a source and a receiver being integrated in one box.

A combination of a signal generator (source) and signal analyzer or receiver can also make the stimulus-response measurements, as long as the source is controlled and synchronized by the analyzer (receiver).

Option ESC Features and Benefits

Easy to set up

Option ESC enables a signal analyzer/receiver to control the signal source so that the sweep of the source is synchronized with the analyzer in a desired pattern for stimulus-response measurements.

Option ESC offers three ways to establish communications via the virtual instrument software architecture (VISA) interfaces between the analyzer and the source. Select the connection method that best fits your working environment.

- USB

The USB connection uses a commercially-available USB cable to link the analyzer/receiver with the controlled source. The analyzer/receiver treats the source as a USB device and automatically installs the driver software for the source. This configuration is most suitable for a local connection.

- LAN

Based on the TCP/IP protocol, the LAN connection can be either local (via the cross-over cable) or an in-office network environment. The latter is particularly useful when the analyzer is remotely located from the source and the DUT.

- GPIB

The legacy GPIB (IEEE-488 bus) interface is also supported. The standard feature of “GPIB controller” enables the X-Series signal analyzer to control a GPIB source.

The graphic user interface (GUI) with Option ESC provides step-by-step instructions to guide you through the proper setup for different connections (Figure 2). Setting up the analyzer/source connection is easy using front panel keys.

The embedded Keysight Connection Expert offers another tool to automatically find the source and establish the link between the analyzer and the controlled source.

Selectable triggering mechanisms

Synchronizations between the analyzer/receiver and controlled source are essential to ensure meaningful stimulus-response measurements. Option ESC offers two types of triggering mechanisms to achieve the accurate synchronizations.