05 | Keysight | N8834A MultiScope Application - Data Sheet

Calibration Methods

There are three calibration methods available with the N8834A

MultiScope software. Each calibration method provides a

different level of channel-to-channel skew value. Manual

calibration is available for users who are interested in viewing

multi-channel signals but not concerned about the skew factor

across channels. External trigger helps users achieve 100 ps

channel-to-channel skew. The most accurate measurements can

be achieved with the drift correction method with skew in the

range of 200 fs.

1. Manual

Manual calibration requires no cabling and users can achieve

skew correction by manually dialing in the right skew values

between the channels. InfiniiVision scopes supports only manual

calibration.

2. Basic

The trigger out process provides the most basic level of inter-

oscilloscope time synchronization. This process connects the

trigger output signal (Trig Out) from the leader oscilloscope

through each follower oscilloscope (Aux Trig) in a daisy chain

configuration. The followers are each armed in descending order

from furthest from the leader (F{N}) to nearest to the leader (F{1}).

The leader’s trigger is armed last. Once the leader triggers, each

follower will trigger in turn, down through the chain.

3. Precision

The horizontal position of channels within different oscilloscope

frames can drift with temperature (inter-oscilloscope drift). The

drift correction synchronization process corrects for this drift by

monitoring the inter-oscilloscope drift on a separate, dedicated

synchronization channel. The idea is that any “time corrections”

that keep the synchronization channels aligned will also keep

the signals aligned. Precision calibration will consume one of the

channels on each oscilloscope and is only available on 90000 X-,

90000 Q-, V-Series, and Z-Series oscilloscopes. On the Infiniium

90000 X- and V-Series, a maximum of two oscilloscopes can

be connected to perform precision calibration. A sync port is

available for precision calibration on 90000 Q- and Z-Series.