.. |MLA (TM)| unicode:: MLA U+2122 .. |plus-minus| unicode:: U+00B1 .. index: Analog interfaces .. _analog-interfaces-label: Analog interfaces ================= This chapter gives more detailed information about the analog interfaces of the 3rd generation |MLA (TM)|. The two signal output ports and the four signal input ports are controlled in the :ref:`mla-gui-label` via the :ref:`analog-panel-label`. .. _analog-out-label: signal outputs -------------- **OUT 1** and **OUT 2** are two high speed outputs with 500 MSam/sec and 16 bit resolution. These ports are are always differential and biploar. The output voltage will appear between the + port and ground (SMA shield). The same same voltage with the opposite sign appears between the - port and ground. Therefore, if you use these ports differentially, the voltage difference between and + and - ports will be twice the set value. These ports have 50 Ohm output impedance and they have two ranges: |plus-minus| 2 V range, maximum current 50 mA. |plus-minus| 12 V range, maximum current 350 mA. .. Caution:: The 12 V range is rather powerful and you can burn stuff with it. Be careful with what you are driving when using the 12 V range on these ports. .. _analog-in-label: signal inputs ------------- **IN 1** and **IN 2** are high-speed (250 MSam/sec) with 14 bit resolution. **IN 3** and **IN 4** have moderate speed (50 MSam/sec) with 16 bit resolution. All ports can measure either differential or single-ended signals. When measuring single-ended the - input sees an open circuit (but the - input amplifier is grounded internally). All ports have switchable range settings, AC or DC coupling, 50 ohm or 1M ohm input impedance. Making the optimal measurement involves managing trade-offs that effect the noise, gain, bandwidth and intermodulation distortion. You should test different configurations of the |MLA (TM)|-3 analog interface to see what works best for your measurement. You can configure the signal inputs from the :ref:`mla-gui-label` via the :ref:`analog-panel-label`. When using the :ref:`analog-panel-label` in the ``Configuration`` mode, the check boxes under ``Manual switch control`` display the state of the input relays. To control the input analog interface in your own program via the :ref:`mla-api-label`, use the function :func:`hardware.Hardware.set_input_relay`, setting every input argument (switch name) to its the desired state, as described in the table below. .. image:: figures/schematics/mla3_input_schematic.png ====================== ========= ========= ================ ============= Switch Description Schematic API name state=True state=False ====================== ========= ========= ================ ============= Signal Type K1 se single ended differential Series Resistance [1]_ K2 nodamp no series R 1K series R Input termination K3 term 50 ohm 1M ohm AC/DC Coupling K4 dc DC coupling AC coupling 1st stage gain K5 gain x 1 x 5 Bypass K6 bypass bypass 1st stage use 1st stage 2nd stage gain K7 gain2 x 5 x 0.5 ====================== ========= ========= ================ ============= .. [1] when nodamp=False and term=True, the input impedance is 1kOhm, and the signal is divided by 20. .. Caution:: When the both switches dc=True and bypass=True, both + and - inputs will be pulled up to 1 V. aux outputs ----------- **OUT A** to **OUT D** are four slower ports are controlled by a single four-channel DA-converter with a combined speed of 800 kSamp/sec and 16 bit resolution. **OUT A** is differential, so that a negative copy of the voltage is put between the - port and the shield. When used differentially **OUT A** will supply twice the value of the set voltage. Each port is driven by an operational amplifier with only one output range: |plus-minus| 12 V , maximum current 70 mA. Trigger Output -------------- The trigger output ports are driven by active level shifter circuits for digital signals. The level shifter can be configured to 5 V, 3.3 V or 2.5 V voltage standards by an on-board jumper. The same jumper is used to set the voltage standard for all trigger input and output ports. Trigger output ports have 50 Ω output impedance and are capable of driving 50 Ω inputs at the other end. Trigger Input ------------- The trigger input ports are connected to active level shifter circuits for digital signals. The level shifter can be configured to 5 V, 3.3 V or 2.5 V voltage standards by an on-board jumper. The same jumper is used to set the voltage standard for all trigger input and output ports. The trigger input ports have high input impedance, which is common for trigger circuits. If you have trouble with reflections in long cables, use an T-connector with a 50 Ω terminator at the trigger input port. If you use the T-connector solution, remember to verify that the trigger output at the other end can drive the 50 Ohm load. .. _clock-reference-label: Clock Reference --------------- .. image:: figures/schematics/clock.* The reference clock ports are AC-coupled. The voltage to the REF CLK IN port should be 0.25 to 2.4 Vpp. The type of the REF CLK OUT signal can be modified from the software, see :func:`hardware.Hardware.set_clkout_type`. To set the frequecy of the REF CLK OUT port, see :func:`hardware.Hardware.set_clkout_divisor`. To set up the REF CLK IN to lock to an external 10 MHz input, see :func:`hardware.Hardware.set_clkref_external_10MHz`. To set the frequency that the REF CLK IN should lock to, see functions :func:`hardware.Hardware.set_clkin_parameters`.