Material Handler I/O Connector

This rectangular 36-pin female connector provides communication signals between the VNA and a material parts handler. You can change the settings on the Material Handler IO connector using SCPI commands.

The M9341A/B I/O module can be work with the PXIe VNA as Material Handler I/O. The input and output interfaces are compatible with ENA and PNA material handler I/O.

Note: On early VNAs this connector is labeled "GPIO". It is covered to indicate that the connector is not functional.

Overview - Controlling a Material Handler

The VNA is capable of interacting with an external material handler or part handler. This allows the VNA to be used in an automated test environment, where devices to be tested are inserted into a test fixture by a part handler, and sorted into pass/fail bins by the handler after testing is complete. By connecting the part handler to the Material Handler I/O ports, the VNA and part handler can synchronize their activities in a way that makes automated testing possible.

M9341A/B Module Installation

When the M9341A/B I/O module is used with M937xA, M980xA and M9485A, the SMB cables for sync must be connected as shown below.

M9341A/B Location

The M9341A should be placed the following location

Port Connection

M9341A/B

M9371A/72A/73A/74A/75A

M980xA (IO adapter is required)

M9485A

Sync 1

Trig Ready on Port 1,2 module

Ready for Trigger (IO adapter: Sub/port 3, function assignment is necessary, CONT:SIGN:KDMI:SUB3:FUNC "READY_FOR_TRIGGER" )

I/O 1

Sync 2

Trig In on Port 1,2 module

External Trigger (IO adapter: Sub/port 1)

Trig on Port 1

Sync 3

Trig Out on the rightmost module

Index (IO adapter: Sub/port 5, function assignment is necessary, CONT:SIGN:KDMI:SUB5:FUNC "INDEX")

I/O2 on Port 1

Recommended Cables

Number of slot between M9341A/B and VNA module

SMB Cable Part Number

Length

1

8121-5091

120 mm

2 to 3

8121-2169

165 mm

4 to 8

M9485-61605

270 mm

More than 9

M9485-61604

340 mm

 

VNA and Part Handler Preparation

  1. Define the measurements you want to make.

  2. Define limits for each of the measurements.

  3. Configure the VNAs Material Handler port so that it is compatible with your part handler. This usually involves setting the pass/fail logic, pass/fail scope, and pass/fail mode. These settings are made remotely using SCPI commands.

  4. Use a cable to connect the VNA to your part handler.

  5. Put the VNA in External Trigger mode.

  6. Load parts in handler per manufacturer instructions.

Note: The Material Handler configuration settings REMAIN after an Instrument Preset. The settings will revert to their default settings ONLY after the VNA is restarted, or until they are changed by you.

Flow Diagram

The following diagram and descriptions summarizes the events that occur during automated testing. 'DUT' refers to Device Under Test.

Text Descriptions

  1. (Optional). The VNA sends values out the Material Handler to configure external instruments. The A,B,C, and D ports of the Material Handler can be used to control devices used in testing, such as step attenuators, part handlers, or even the DUT itself. If you wish to use the Material Handler for testing, you will need to write a program to send values out the various lines and ports, as there is no activity on these lines by default.

  2. The part handler receives a Ready for Trigger signal from the VNA. This indicates that the VNA is properly configured and ready to take a measurement.

  3. The part handler sends an External Trigger signal to the VNA. This signals that the part handler has settled, and allows the VNA to begin taking measurements.

  4. The VNA takes measurements on all triggerable channels.

  5. The Index line on the material handler goes to a Low state (default), which means that all required data has been collected by the VNA.

  6. The part handler removes the DUT from the test fixture, and inserts a new DUT into the fixture. This operation is often referred to as part handler indexing. The device just tested is staged (removed from the fixture and prepared for binning), and the next part to be tested is put into the fixture. The removed DUT cannot be assigned to a Pass/Fail bin yet, as the Pass/Fail status is not available.

  7. The VNA sends the Pass/Fail Status.

  8. The VNA sends the Pass/Fail Strobe meaning that the Pass/Fail status has been determined.

  9. The part handler reads the Pass/Fail Status line.

  10. The part handler bins the staged part based on the Pass/Fail Status.

  11. The test process repeats at step 1, waiting for Ready for Trigger from the VNA.

 

Material Handler IO Pin Assignments

Pin

Description

1

Ground

2

/ INPUT1

3

/ OUTPUT1

4

/ OUTPUT2

5

/ Output port A0

6

/ Output port A1

7

/ Output port A2

8

/ Output port A3

9

/ Output port A4

10

/ Output port A5

11

/ Output port A6

12

/ Output port A7

13

/ Output port B0

14

/ Output port B1

15

/ Output port B2

16

/ Output port B3

17

/ Output port B4

18

/ Ext. Trigger

19

/ Output port B5

20

/ Output port B6 -or
/ Index Signal

(select by command)

21

/ Output port B7 or
/ Ready for Trigger

(select by command or dialog box)

22

/ In/Out port C0

23

/ In/Out port C1

24

/ In/Out port C2

25

/ In/Out port C3

26

/ In/Out port D0

27

/ In/Out port D1

28

/ In/Out port D2

29

/ In/Out port D3

30

Port C Status

31

Port D Status

32

/ Output Port Write Strobe

33

/ Pass/Fail

34

/ Sweep End

35

+5V

36

/ Pass/Fail Write Strobe

Pin Descriptions

Input1

When this Input line receives a Low pulse from the material handler, data is latched on the OUTPUT1 and OUTPUT2 lines. See OUTPUT1|2 Data Output Write Timing

The Input Line activity can be read:

SCPI

CONTrol:HANDler:INPut?

 

Output1, Output2

See OUTPUT1|2 Data Output Write Timing

The current state of these latched TTL outputs may be set High or Low (Default setting) using the (non-user) SCPI  put_Output (COM) commands.

The next state (following a negative edge on the INPUT1 line) may be pre-loaded to High or Low (Default setting) using the user commands.

For example, on the next negative pulse on the INPUT1 line, you want the OUTPUT1 line to go from 0 to 1.  To do this:

CONT:HAND:OUTP1:DATA 0  'Force the OUTPUT1 line to 0
CONT:HAND:OUTP1:USER 1  'Set the OUTPUT1:USER buffer to 1, indicating the next state

 

SCPI

Write User Data

CONT:HAND:OUTP<pin>:USER

Read last value written

CONT:HAND:OUTP<pin>:USER

Write non-user data

CONT:HAND:OUTP<pin>:DATA

Read last value written

CONT:HAND:OUTP<pin>:DATA

 

How to Control Handler Output

 

Using Hardkey/SoftTab/Softkey

Using a mouse

  1. Press Setup > Internal Hardware > PXI Device...

  2. Click M9341 Handler Setup..

  1. Click Instrument

  2. Select Setup

  3. Select Internal Hardware

  4. Select PXI Device..

  5. Select  M9341A Handler Setup..

 

M9341 Setup dialog box help

You can specify the port A to D output with this dialog box. The setting value is independent for each channel. These values are set before sweep.

Enable Handler Control Enabling the setting for Parts A to D.

Port A to D Sends values to the respective Handler I/O port. Although ports C and D are normally bidirectional, ONLY Output mode is allowed using the Interface Control feature. It cannot read from these, or any other, ports

 

 

Output Ports A and B

These two general purpose, 8-bit output ports are used to write data to the material handler. When any line changes state, all output lines are latched to the I/O connector as the Output Write Strobe goes Low.

The default state for data is Low.

See Data Output Write Timing Diagram

Combine to write data to Port F:

Ports A and B can be virtually combined to write data to one 16-bit I/O port F.

SCPI

CONTrol:HANDler:F <num>

 

Input/Output Ports C and D

These two general purpose 4-bit Input/Output ports are used to write data (Output) or read data (Input). These lines could be used to write to an external device such as a step attenuator.

When any line changes state, all output lines are latched to the I/O connector as the Output Write Strobe goes Low.  See Data Output Write Timing.

 

Set Input | Output Mode:

Each port may be independently defined as Output or Input.

SCPI

CONTrol:HANDler:C:MODE

CONTrol:HANDler:D:MODE

 

Set Port Logic:

The logic for the data lines can be set to either: Positive (1 = High) or Negative (1 = Low). This setting affects all data ports. They cannot be set independently.

SCPI

CONTrol:HANDler:LOGic

Read or write data:

Ports C and D can be virtually combined to read or write data to one 8-bit I/O port E. When combined, both C and D ports must be set to either INPUT or OUTPUT mode.

SCPI

CONTrol:HANDler:<port>[:DATa]>

 

Port C Status, Port D Status

These two output lines indicate the Read / Write mode of the C and D ports.

  • A Low level indicates that the associated port is in INPUT mode (read only).

  • A High level indicates that the associated port is in OUTPUT mode (write only).

These logic of these status outputs cannot be changed.

See Input/Output Ports C and D to learn how to set I/O Mode

See Data Output Write Timing

 

 

Output Port Write Strobe

This Output line goes Low to write data from Ports A and B and Ports C and D when a change is detected on any of the data lines.

These logic of this strobe output cannot be changed.

See Data Output Write Timing

 

 

External Trigger

When trigger source is set to external, this Input line accepts a trigger signal from the material handler. This usually means that a part is in place and ready to be tested.

See Trigger Timing Diagram

 

 

Index  

A Low signal (default) on this Output line indicates to the material handler that the measurement is complete. This usually means that the handler can connect the next device. However, measurement data is not available until data is calculated.  See Trigger Timing Diagram.

Set Function:

This line also serves as a data line. Set the function using the following commands:

SCPI

CONTrol:HANDler:INDex:STATe

 

Ready for Trigger

When this output line goes low (default) , it indicates to the material handler that the VNA is ready for a trigger signal.

See Trigger Timing Diagram

See Pass/Fail Timing Diagram

Set Function:

This line also serves as a data line. Set the function using the following commands:

SCPI

CONTrol:HANDler:RTRigger:STATe

 

Pass/Fail State

This Output line indicates to the handler whether the limit test has passed or failed.

Pass/Fail state is valid only when the limit test function is ON and while Pass/Fail strobe line is Low. See Pass/Fail Timing Diagram

Set Pass / Fail Logic:

  • Positive Logic: High=Pass, Low=Fail. (Default setting)

  • Negative Logic: High=Fail, Low=Pass.

SCPI

CONTrol:HANDler:PASSfail:LOGic

Set Default Conditions:

  • PASS- the line stays in PASS state. When a device fails, then the line goes to fail after the Sweep End line is asserted.

  • FAIL- the line stays in FAIL state. When a device passes, then the line goes to PASS state after the Sweep End line is asserted.

  • No Wait- the line stays in PASS state. When a device fails, then the line goes to fail  IMMEDIATELY. (Default setting)

SCPI

CONTrol:HANDler:PASSfail:MODE

Set Pass / Fail Scope:

  • Channel scope:  The line resets to the default state after the measurements on a channel have completed.

  • Global scope:  The line resets to the default state after the measurements on all triggerable channels have completed. (Default setting)

SCPI

CONTrol:HANDler:PASSfail:SCOPe

 

Pass/Fail Write Strobe

A Low pulse indicates that Pass/Fail line is valid and the Pass / Fail State is output to the material handler.

The Pass/Fail Strobe is fixed in duration and timing. However, when the strobe occurs depends on the Pass/Fail Mode and Pass/Fail Scope (Channel or Global) settings. See Pass/Fail State

See Pass/Fail Timing Diagram

 

 

+5V

+5V nominal output (100mA max).

Protected by self-healing fuse.

 

Sweep End

This output line indicates the status of the VNA sweep. The sweep includes sweeping the source and taking data.

  • Low (falling edge) indicates that the specified sweep event has finished. This does NOT indicate that all calculations have finished.

  • High indicates that the specified sweep event is active.

See Trigger Timing Diagram

Set Sweep Event Mode:

  • Sweep: indicates that a single source sweep has finished.

  • Channel: indicates that a single channel has finished.

  • Global: indicates that all enabled channels have finished.  (Default setting)

SCPI

CONTrol:HANDler:SWEepend

 

Timing Diagrams

Trigger Timing

All signals are active low.

T1 = 0.1 ms  External Trigger pulse width

T2  > 10ms Sweep End pulse width (both High and Low)

 

Pass / Fail Timing

 

T1 = 1 ms  Pulse width and response time of Pass / Fail Strobe

T2 > 10 ms  Ready for Trigger lag

 

Ports A-F(H) Data Output Write Timing

T1 = 1 ms  Write Strobe response time

T2 = 1 ms  Write Strobe pulse width

 

OUTPUT1|2 Data Output Write Timing

The old state to new state transition can be either low to high (as shown) or high to low.

T1 = 0.1 ms  Output1|2 response time

T2 = 0.1 ms  Input1 Strobe pulse width

Input / Output Electrical Characteristics

All Material Handler I/O Input and Output lines are TTL compatible.

Input and Input/Output lines

Lines carrying information IN (or bidirectional) to the VNA from the material handler.

Maximum Input Voltages:

-0.5 V to 5.5 V

TTL High level:

2.0 V to 5.0 V

TTL Low level:

0 V to 0.5 V

 

VNA Input and Input/Output Circuit Diagram

To Handler I/O Port

Note: The INPUT1 line does NOT have the 10K pullup resistor.

Output Lines

Lines carrying information OUT of the VNA to the material handler.

Maximum Output Current:

-10 mA to 10 mA

Output Current

TTL High level:

-5 mA

TTL Low level:

3 mA

Output Voltage

TTL High level:

2.0 V to 3.3 V

TTL Low level:

0 V to 0.8 V

 

VNA Output Circuit Diagram

To Handler I/O Port