Introduction; How Agilent Verifies The Devices In Your Kit - Agilent Technologies 85056A User's And Service Manual

2.4 mm precision calibration kit

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Performance Verification

Introduction

The performance of your calibration kit can only be verified by returning the kit to Agilent Technologies for

recertification. The equipment required to verify the specifications of the devices in the kit has been

specially manufactured and is not commercially available.

Agilent verifies the specifications of these devices as follows:

1. The residual microwave error terms of the test system are verified with precision airlines and shorts that

are directly traced to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The airline and short

characteristics are developed from mechanical measurements. The mechanical measurements and

material properties are carefully modeled to give very accurate electrical representation. The mechanical

measurements are then traced to NIST through various plug and ring gages and other mechanical

measurements.

2. Each calibration device is electrically tested on this system. For the initial (before sale) testing of the

calibration devices, Agilent includes the test measurement uncertainty as a guardband to guarantee

each device meets the published specification. For recertifications (after sale), no guardband is used and

the measured data is compared directly with the specification to determine the pass or fail status. The

measurement uncertainty for each device is, however, recorded in the calibration report that

accompanies recertified kits.

These two steps establish a traceable link to NIST for Agilent to the extent allowed by the institute's

calibration facility. The specifications data provided for the devices in the kit is traceable to NIST through

Agilent Technologies.

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