API Weinschel 420 Series Manual

API Weinschel 420 Series Manual

Digital attenuator

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MANUAL IM672
Operation and Installation Manual
Model 420X Series
Digital Attenuators
This documentation may not be reproduced in any form, for
any purpose unless authorized in writing by Weinschel, a
part of API Technologies Corp.
Operation & Installation Manual
Revision C

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Summary of Contents for API Weinschel 420 Series

  • Page 1 MANUAL IM672 Operation and Installation Manual Model 420X Series Digital Attenuators This documentation may not be reproduced in any form, for any purpose unless authorized in writing by Weinschel, a part of API Technologies Corp. Operation & Installation Manual Revision C...
  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    MANUAL IM672 Table of Contents Table of Contents............................2 1. Safety Summary ............................4 1.1. Definitions ............................4 1.2. Detailed Precautions ..........................4 1.3. Electrostatic Discharge Sensitive (ESDS) ....................4 2. General Information ............................ 5 2.1. Purpose ..............................5 2.2. Equipment Overview ..........................5 3.
  • Page 3 MANUAL IM672 5.3. 488.2 Common Commands ........................20 *CLS ..............................20 *IDN? ..............................20 *OPC? ..............................21 *ESR? ..............................21 *RST ..............................21 *TST? ..............................21 ERR? ..............................21 5.4. Setup and Configuration Commands ..................... 22 SET AUX .............................. 22 SET USB ..............................
  • Page 4: Safety Summary

    MANUAL IM672 1. Safety Summary 1.1. Definitions The following definitions apply to WARNINGS, CAUTIONS, and NOTICES may found throughout this manual. WARNING: An operating or maintenance procedure, practice, statement, condition, etc., which, if not strictly observed, could result in injury and/or death of personnel. Do not proceed beyond a WARNING symbol until all the indicated conditions have been fully understood and/or met.
  • Page 5: General Information

    MANUAL IM672 2. General Information 2.1. Purpose This manual contains setup and operation information for the Weinschel Model 420X series, Solid State Programmable Attenuators. This manual is to be used in conjunction with the operation and installation of the Model 420X Series. The manual also provides a description of the assembly and general maintenance procedures. 2.2.
  • Page 6: 420X Series Modules

    MANUAL IM672 Parameter Comments PIO input change to RF Model 4205A 3µs 5µs change Model 4209 3µs 10µs Model 4204 8µs 50% CTRL to 90% RF Model 4205A 1µs Single line input PIOSW input change to RF Model 4209 5µs Single line input SPI mode SCLK clock frequency...
  • Page 7 MANUAL IM672 Figure-2 shows the 4209 series module. Figure-2:4209 Series Attenuator Figure-3 shows the 4204 series module. Figure-3: 4204 Series Attenuator Specifications Page 7...
  • Page 8: Dc Power Input

    MANUAL IM672 3.4. DC Power Input The 420X series attenuators can be powered from either the USB VBUS (5V) or the AUX VDC input. While USB operates at a nominal 4.75V-5.25V range, the AUX VDC supply input can accept a wider range of voltage, from 3.3V-16VDC.
  • Page 9: Usb Mini-B

    MANUAL IM672 4205A and 4 204 Series SIGNAL UART 4205A-31.5 4205A-63.5 4205A-95.5* 4205A- & 4204-95.5 127* TRIG 16dB 16dB RESETN SCLK 16dB 16dB 32dB 32dB 32dB 32dB 64dB BOOTN *0.25dB accessible in serial or USB modes 4209 Series SIGNAL UART 4209-31.5 4209-63 4209-94.5...
  • Page 10: Aux Interface Modes

    MANUAL IM672 AUX connector VDC power to be present. This is usefully in certain AUX application modes (see PULSE and FADE modes). 4.5. AUX Interface Modes 4.5.1 AUX Modes There are four user-selectable digital interface AUX modes: PIO, I2C, SPI, and UART. In addition there are three AUX application modes (PIOSW, PULSE, and FADE) that allow the generation of RF patterns when operating stand- alone.
  • Page 11: Spi And I2C Attenuation Data Format

    MANUAL IM672 I2C messages consist of a device address byte, register select byte, and one or more data bytes depending on the register. The Register address will automatically increment after each byte transferred. Messages are framed using the standard I2C START, STOP, and ACK conditions. The I2C master should support clock stretching as the 4205A will hold the SCL clock low during the byte ACK phase until the data is accepted by the 4205A.
  • Page 12 MANUAL IM672 and sent as two 8-bit bytes. In SPI mode 16-bit data should be written high-byte then low-byte, and the value will be loaded on the rising edge of the SSN signal. In I2C mode the ATTN_LB low-byte register should be written prior to setting the ATTN_HB register since in this mode accessing the high-byte register loads the value into the attenuator.
  • Page 13 MANUAL IM672 Compute the device address by combining the fixed upper portion, the addr pins, and the R/W bit=0 (write): ADDR = (0b010 << 5) + (0b0010 << 1) + 0 = 0b01000100 = 68 = 0x44 Compute the programming value. Each bit represents 0.25dB, so setting = INT((dB * 100)/25), or simply multiply the dB value by 4 and use the integer result: VAL = 68.75dB * 4 = 275 = 0x0113 Since we require 9-bits of data, left-justify the 16-bit programming word by shifting it left 7 times:...
  • Page 14: Uart Mode

    MANUAL IM672 4.5.6 UART Mode UART mode is an asynchronous full-duplex serial interface consisting of two signals: RXD receive data in and TXD transmit data out. This provides a logic-level "COM port" style interface that can be used directly with most serial terminal emulators and control programs.
  • Page 15: Fade Mode

    MANUAL IM672 WIDTH WIDTH (RF ON) (RF ON) RF LEVEL INTERVAL INTERVAL TIME (RF OFF) (RF OFF) COUNT = 3 COUNT = 3 4.6.3 FADE Mode FADE mode allows the UUT to generate an attenuation ramp RF signal. The programmable settings in this mode include the start and stop attenuation values (FADE START/FADE STOP), the ramp increment value (FADE STEPSIZE), the ramp update interval time (FADE INTERVAL), and dwell and pattern repeat times (FADE DWELL/FADE TIME).
  • Page 16: Usb Mode Aux Pin Usage

    By default, the unit is shipped with Console mode enabled, but this operation can be change by the user (see the CONSOLE command for more details). A typical Console mode display is shown below: API Weinschel 4205A USB Attn V1.40 firmware: 1012532301C serialno: 0004A3DB4AE8 alias: 1234 RF config: 4205A-95.5, 95.75, 0.25, 300KHz-6GHz...
  • Page 17: Command Operation

    MANUAL IM672 SET AUX [PIO|SPI|I2C|UART|PIOSW|PULSE|FADE] SET USB [CONNECT|PMT|RMT] val SET [ALIAS|BAUDRATE|ATTN|I2CADDR|I2CTRIG|PINOUT|WPU] val SET PULSE [WIDTH|INTERVAL|TIME] val[ms|us] SET PULSE COUNT val SET FADE [START|STOP|STEPSIZE|INTERVAL|DWELL|TIME] SHOW [SET|VERSION] FACTORY PRESET SYSTEST [EXT|PIO|PIO?|XSUM] REBOOT RUN [AUX|LOADER] 5. Command Operation Commands are comprised of text-based ASCII strings. The command parser is case-insensitive, so either upper or lower case characters are acceptable.
  • Page 18: Command Reference

    MANUAL IM672 Unless otherwise specified, commands revert to their default setting at system reset/poweron, with the exception of the system setup and configuration commands which store their setting in non-volatile memory (NVM). 5.1. Command Reference In the command descriptions that follow, argument types are described using the following additional conventions to indicate the relative size of the parameter: Argument Type Relative Size...
  • Page 19: Attn

    MANUAL IM672 ATTN? Function: read attenuator setting Syntax: ATTN? Argument(s): none Remarks: This command returns the current setting of the attenuator Return Value: attenuator setting, in dB Example(s): ATTN 10 // sets attn to 10 dB ATTN? // read attn setting 10.00 // returns attn setting (10 dB) STEPSIZE...
  • Page 20: Fade

    This function is used to read the system identification info, which is a string consisting of the following data: manufacturer, model, serial number, and firmware version. idstr Return Value: string id info Example(s): *IDN? API Weinschel, 4205A, 0004A3DB3013, V1.40 Command Operation Page 20...
  • Page 21: Opc

    MANUAL IM672 *OPC? Function: Operation complete query Syntax: *OPC? Argument(s): none Remarks: This function loads a '1' into the output queue when the Program Message Unit is executed. Its primary use is to provide an indication of command completion by including the command as the last one in a series of commands.
  • Page 22: Setup And Configuration Commands

    MANUAL IM672 Example(s): ERR? 101, "invalid command" ERR? 0, "no error" 5.4. Setup and Configuration Commands NOTE: The SET commands are used to update settings which are stored in non-volatile memory (NVM), and do not typically take effect until the next poweron or restart event (see REBOOT) unless otherwise noted. The current SET parameter values can be viewed using SHOW SET.
  • Page 23: Set Baudrate

    MANUAL IM672 SET ALIAS 1234 ALIAS? 1234 SET BAUDRATE Function: AUX UART serial port baud rate setting Syntax: SET BAUDRATE rate rate Argument(s): 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, and 115200 (default) Remarks: This function sets the baud rate for the AUX mode UART serial port. This command takes effect immediately.
  • Page 24: Set Pulse

    MANUAL IM672 Return Value:none Example(s): SET WPU 0x0F // enable pull-ups for pins 1-4 (I2C A0-A3) SET PULSE Function: sets AUX PULSE application mode parameters Syntax: time SET PULSE WIDTH pulse width time (RF ON) time SET PULSE INTERVAL interval time (RF OFF) time SET PULSE TIME time between pulse groups...
  • Page 25: Show Set

    Syntax: SHOW VERSION Argument(s): none Remarks: This command displays the firmware version and serial number information Example(s): >show version API Weinschel 4205A USB Attn V1.40 firmware: 1012532301C serialno: 0004A3DB3013 alias: none FACTORY PRESET Function: initializes non-volatile memory Command Operation...
  • Page 26: Misc. Commands

    (0xFF). On the next reset/reboot, the memory will be initialized with factory default settings. This can be used to clean the device in secure environments. Example(s): >factory preset >reboot API Weinschel 4205A USB Attn V1.40 firmware: 1012532301C serialno: 0004A3DB3013 alias: none RF config: 4205A-95.5, 95.75, 0.25, 300KHz-6GHz...
  • Page 27: Console

    MANUAL IM672 mode Argument(s): byte 0, 1, 2, 3 or OFF, ON, ENABLE, DISABLE Remarks: This function enables/disables the console mode command-line interface and optionally updates mode mode mode the nvm setting. Setting =0 turns console off, =1 turns console on, =2 enables mode the console, and...
  • Page 28: Rfconfig

    MANUAL IM672 RFCONFIG? Function: read current RF configuration Syntax: RFCONFIG? Argument(s): none Remarks: This command displays the current attenuator configuration, including the model, max attn, default stepsize, and frequency range Example(s): RFCONFIG? 4205A-95.5, 95.75, 0.25, 300KHz-6GHz RUN LOADER Function: runs the USB HID bootloader function Syntax: RUN LOADER Remarks:...
  • Page 29 MANUAL IM672 NOTE: This command drives the AUX PIO pins as outputs. >systest pio 0x55 >systest pio 0xAA SYSTEST PIO? Reads the state of the AUX D7-D0 pins. >systest pio? aux pio: 0b11111111 SYSTEST XSUM Performs a checksum on the internal program flash memory. >systest xsum xsum: 0xB108 Command Operation...
  • Page 30: Usb Driver Installation

    MANUAL IM672 6. USB Driver Installation When you connect a 420X to a computers USB port for the first time, you should be presented with the New Hardware Wizard. Follow the steps shown below to install the USB CDC inf file. NOTE: A copy of the INF information is included in paragraph 3-6 of this document.
  • Page 31 MANUAL IM672 Navigate to the drive/folder containing the awusbcdc.inf file, and select 'Next’ USB Driver Installation Page 31...
  • Page 32 MANUAL IM672 To verify that the driver has installed properly, view the Ports section in Device Manager. You should see the 420X listed as a USB COM port. Note the assigned COM port number. Using a terminal emulator, open a connection to the COM port shown above. The default COM port settings should be acceptable, as these are unused by the 420X.
  • Page 33: Awusbcdc.inf Installation File

    MANUAL IM672 The COM port numbers are assigned by Windows based on the device USB VID, PID, and Serial Number. The 420X uses VID 0x25EA and PID 0x106D. The attenuators are shipped with the USB serial number automatically assigned by the microcontroller. This serial number is a different number than that of the unit as a whole. 6.1.
  • Page 34 MANUAL IM672 [DriverInstall.NT.Services] include=mdmcpq.inf AddService=usbser, 0x00000002, LowerFilter_Service_Inst ;------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Windows 64bit OSes Section ;------------------------------------------------------------------------------ [DriverInstall.NTamd64] include=mdmcpq.inf CopyFiles=FakeModemCopyFileSection AddReg=DriverInstall.NTamd64.AddReg [DriverInstall.NTamd64.AddReg] HKR,,DevLoader,,*ntkern HKR,,NTMPDriver,,%DRIVERFILENAME%.sys HKR,,EnumPropPages32,,"MsPorts.dll,SerialPortPropPageProvider" [DriverInstall.NTamd64.Services] include=mdmcpq.inf AddService=usbser, 0x00000002, LowerFilter_Service_Inst ;------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Common Sections ;------------------------------------------------------------------------------ [DestinationDirs] DefaultDestDir=12 [SourceDisksNames] [SourceDisksFiles] [FakeModemCopyFileSection] [LowerFilter_Service_Inst] DisplayName= %SERVICE% ServiceType= 1 StartType ErrorControl = 0 ServiceBinary = %12%\usbser.sys...
  • Page 35: Updating The 420X Firmware Using Usb Hid Bootloader

    MANUAL IM672 6.2. Updating the 420X Firmware using USB HID Bootloader The USB HID Bootloader is a PC application that communicates with the onboard HID Bootloader of the 420X and allows updating the application program firmware of the 420X. In order to use this program, you will need to have the .NET framework version 4 installed on your computer. If you do not have.NET framework 4.0 installed, a non-descript error message will occur when trying to launch the executable, and the program will not open.
  • Page 36: Method 1

    MANUAL IM672 You can use one of two methods to set the 420X into HID bootloader mode: 6.2.1 Method 1 Connect a shorting jumper between the 10-pin TTL header connector pins 8 and 10. When you connect the 420X to the PC USB port it will power up in bootloader mode and the program should detect the device and read the chip configuration setup.
  • Page 37 MANUAL IM672 When the 420X boots into HID loader mode the bootloader app should detect it, retrieve configuration info from the device, and display a screen similar to: To download a new program, click ‘Open Hex File’ and navigate to the location with the HEX update file. Select the .HEX file and click ‘Open’.
  • Page 38 MANUAL IM672 Click the ‘Program/Verify’ button and programming should begin Once programming has completed you can select ‘Reset Device’ and the 4205A will exit HID mode, disconnect, and reboot into CDC mode. USB Driver Installation Page 38...
  • Page 39 MANUAL IM672 When you initially return to CDC mode you may see warning messages about the reset startup and nvm warning messages, depending upon the version update. After rebooting the unit (REBOOT or plug/unplug) these messages should disappear. USB Driver Installation Page 39...
  • Page 40: Factory Service And Repairs

    MANUAL IM672 7. Factory Service and Repairs DO NOT return any instrument or component to Weinschel without receiving prior factory authorization. Please contact the Weinschel Customer Service Department to discuss your product and resolve any issues that may be corrected without returning the product to the factory. If the issue cannot be corrected, you may be issued an RMA number and instructed to return the product.
  • Page 41: Contacting Weinschel

    8.1. Manufacturer Warranty PRODUCTS - Weinschel, a part of API Technologies Corp., warrants each product it manufactures to be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service anywhere in the world. Weinschel’s only obligation under this Warranty is to repair or replace, at its plant, any product or part thereof that is returned with transportation charges prepaid to Weinschel by the original purchaser within TWO YEARS from the date of shipment.
  • Page 42: Revision History

    MANUAL IM672 9. Revision History Revision Date Description of Changes 11/07/2017 ERN xx-xxx: Initial Release Firmware V1.40 Change PULSE time parameters to accept us or ms 8/27/2018 Add Section 6.2 Bootloader operation Correct Table Of Contents 4/1/2019 ECN19-106 Combined manual for model 4205A, 4204, and 4209 series Revision History Page 42...

This manual is also suitable for:

Weinschel 4205aWeinschel 4209Weinschel 4204

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