J06 HP-59992A time interval calibrator for HP-531xx counters
To do a full and proper calibration of the HP-53131/53132/53181 counters you need a J06 HP-59992A time interval calibrator... lots of luck finding one of those. Looking at the manual, it is actually a fairly simple device which can be greatly simplified for the task of calibrating a 531XX counter.
The main task is to generate 10 MHz square waves with 50% duty cycle. Four versions of the signal are generated (two positive and two with inverted phase). One of four combos of these signals (P1-P2, P2-P1, N1-N2, and N2-N1) are driven to two output connectors. The 59992A uses splitters and phase shifters to generate the signals and can handle analog signals. The 531xx cal uses square waves so those signals can be generated digitally.
My first idea is to take a 20 MHz oscillator and divide it by two to get a 50% duty cycle. One could also do something like squaring a 10 MHz osc with something like the Wenzel squarer... that would provide a more stable signal frequency wise but that might add some asymmetries to the signal. Feeding the 10 Mhz osc through a doubler and dividing the squared signal might provide the best solution.
The 531xx cal procedure uses a +/- 0.50V signal. I need a simple and cheap circuit to level shift the TTL signal to +/- 0.50V It probably needs clean, stable, fast edges and able to drive a 50 ohm load (the manuals don't specify the required edge rates and load). Any ideas for a suitable level shifter / buffer? It would also be super nice if it could work from a single supply...
Also, if such a cal board was laid out would there be any interest in making it available for others to build?
Hi
This may be “inside” the envelope for something like a PIC. If not it’s a pretty
easy task for any of the sub $10 FPGA boards. Given the relatively small
audience, tacking an extra connector or three onto something might be the
better option.
The big unknown (at least to me) is how close the signals need to be to ideal.
If a few ns is “ok” it’s an easy task. If the spec is < 10 ps … not quite as easy.
My guess is the 59992A is overkill, but to what degree?
Bob
On Jul 8, 2017, at 9:31 AM, Mark Sims holrum@hotmail.com wrote:
To do a full and proper calibration of the HP-53131/53132/53181 counters you need a J06 HP-59992A time interval calibrator... lots of luck finding one of those. Looking at the manual, it is actually a fairly simple device which can be greatly simplified for the task of calibrating a 531XX counter.
The main task is to generate 10 MHz square waves with 50% duty cycle. Four versions of the signal are generated (two positive and two with inverted phase). One of four combos of these signals (P1-P2, P2-P1, N1-N2, and N2-N1) are driven to two output connectors. The 59992A uses splitters and phase shifters to generate the signals and can handle analog signals. The 531xx cal uses square waves so those signals can be generated digitally.
My first idea is to take a 20 MHz oscillator and divide it by two to get a 50% duty cycle. One could also do something like squaring a 10 MHz osc with something like the Wenzel squarer... that would provide a more stable signal frequency wise but that might add some asymmetries to the signal. Feeding the 10 Mhz osc through a doubler and dividing the squared signal might provide the best solution.
The 531xx cal procedure uses a +/- 0.50V signal. I need a simple and cheap circuit to level shift the TTL signal to +/- 0.50V It probably needs clean, stable, fast edges and able to drive a 50 ohm load (the manuals don't specify the required edge rates and load). Any ideas for a suitable level shifter / buffer? It would also be super nice if it could work from a single supply...
Also, if such a cal board was laid out would there be any interest in making it available for others to build?
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Mark writes:
lots of luck finding one of those
Actually, you can get J06 HP-59992A calibrators on eBay. You might have to wait a while but I've seen them frequently over time. Note that eBay has an automatic search notification feature so you can get email when one shows up.
If you want I'll lend you one of my J06 HP-59992A for your calibration. Contact me off-list.
Bob writes:
If a few ns is “ok” it’s an easy task. If the spec is < 10 ps … not quite as easy.
The PIC dividers are good to a couple ps. I suspect the larger issue is the PCB and wiring design.
/tvb
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Sims" holrum@hotmail.com
To: time-nuts@febo.com
Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2017 6:31 AM
Subject: [time-nuts] J06 HP-59992A time interval calibrator for HP-531xxcounters
To do a full and proper calibration of the HP-53131/53132/53181 counters you need a J06 HP-59992A time interval calibrator... lots of luck finding one of those. Looking at the manual, it is actually a fairly simple device which can be greatly simplified for the task of calibrating a 531XX counter.
The main task is to generate 10 MHz square waves with 50% duty cycle. Four versions of the signal are generated (two positive and two with inverted phase). One of four combos of these signals (P1-P2, P2-P1, N1-N2, and N2-N1) are driven to two output connectors. The 59992A uses splitters and phase shifters to generate the signals and can handle analog signals. The 531xx cal uses square waves so those signals can be generated digitally.
My first idea is to take a 20 MHz oscillator and divide it by two to get a 50% duty cycle. One could also do something like squaring a 10 MHz osc with something like the Wenzel squarer... that would provide a more stable signal frequency wise but that might add some asymmetries to the signal. Feeding the 10 Mhz osc through a doubler and dividing the squared signal might provide the best solution.
The 531xx cal procedure uses a +/- 0.50V signal. I need a simple and cheap circuit to level shift the TTL signal to +/- 0.50V It probably needs clean, stable, fast edges and able to drive a 50 ohm load (the manuals don't specify the required edge rates and load). Any ideas for a suitable level shifter / buffer? It would also be super nice if it could work from a single supply...
Also, if such a cal board was laid out would there be any interest in making it available for others to build?
Hi
On Jul 8, 2017, at 1:31 PM, Tom Van Baak tvb@leapsecond.com wrote:
Mark writes:
lots of luck finding one of those
Actually, you can get J06 HP-59992A calibrators on eBay. You might have to wait a while but I've seen them frequently over time. Note that eBay has an automatic search notification feature so you can get email when one shows up.
If you want I'll lend you one of my J06 HP-59992A for your calibration. Contact me off-list.
Bob writes:
If a few ns is “ok” it’s an easy task. If the spec is < 10 ps … not quite as easy.
The PIC dividers are good to a couple ps. I suspect the larger issue is the PCB and wiring design.
The jitter on the outputs is indeed good to that level. I’d be surprised if the “DC offset” is that good.
Been wrong before …..
Why do I suspect that data will be forthcoming? :)
Bob
/tvb
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Sims" holrum@hotmail.com
To: time-nuts@febo.com
Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2017 6:31 AM
Subject: [time-nuts] J06 HP-59992A time interval calibrator for HP-531xxcounters
To do a full and proper calibration of the HP-53131/53132/53181 counters you need a J06 HP-59992A time interval calibrator... lots of luck finding one of those. Looking at the manual, it is actually a fairly simple device which can be greatly simplified for the task of calibrating a 531XX counter.
The main task is to generate 10 MHz square waves with 50% duty cycle. Four versions of the signal are generated (two positive and two with inverted phase). One of four combos of these signals (P1-P2, P2-P1, N1-N2, and N2-N1) are driven to two output connectors. The 59992A uses splitters and phase shifters to generate the signals and can handle analog signals. The 531xx cal uses square waves so those signals can be generated digitally.
My first idea is to take a 20 MHz oscillator and divide it by two to get a 50% duty cycle. One could also do something like squaring a 10 MHz osc with something like the Wenzel squarer... that would provide a more stable signal frequency wise but that might add some asymmetries to the signal. Feeding the 10 Mhz osc through a doubler and dividing the squared signal might provide the best solution.
The 531xx cal procedure uses a +/- 0.50V signal. I need a simple and cheap circuit to level shift the TTL signal to +/- 0.50V It probably needs clean, stable, fast edges and able to drive a 50 ohm load (the manuals don't specify the required edge rates and load). Any ideas for a suitable level shifter / buffer? It would also be super nice if it could work from a single supply...
Also, if such a cal board was laid out would there be any interest in making it available for others to build?
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Mark wrote:
I need a simple and cheap circuit to level shift the TTL signal to +/- 0.50V
It probably needs clean, stable, fast edges and able to drive a 50 ohm load
See attached. The resistor values shown assume that the source is a
0-5v rectangular signal able to source +/- 10mA with negligible voltage
drop (a single 74AC or 74HC gate will do that). The edges will be as
fast as the source. The symmetry and stability will be the same, as well.
Best regards,
Charles
