[time-nuts] How to measure Allan Deviation?

Dr Bruce Griffiths bruce.griffiths at xtra.co.nz
Mon Oct 23 04:06:52 UTC 2006


Didier Juges wrote:
> Dr Bruce Griffiths wrote:
>   
>> Didier Juges wrote:
>>   
>>     
>>> Dr Bruce Griffiths wrote:
>>>   
>>>     
>>>       
>>>> In principle this measurement could be made with a time interval counter:
>>>> PPS -> START
>>>> delayed 10KHz -> STOP
>>>>
>>>> Vary the delay and watch the jitter jump when the leading edge of the 
>>>> PPS signal occurs during the 10KHz burst which was phase coherent with 
>>>> the previous PPS pulse.
>>>> The only problem is finding a suitable variable delay device with 
>>>> sufficiently low (<=1ns??) jitter.
>>>>
>>>>   
>>>>     
>>>>       
>>>>         
>>> The delay device can be triggered by the 1 PPS, then will drive the ARM 
>>> input of the counter, so as long as the delay device's jitter  is less 
>>> than the 10 kHz period, if we adjust the delay to 0.99985 second 
>>> (between the last 2 periods of 10 kHz before the 1 PPS), then the TI 
>>> counter will START on the last 10 kHz pulse before the pps, and STOP on 
>>> the 1 PPS.
>>> Tek has some time delay generators in the TM-500 and 7000 plug-in 
>>> series. I knew one day I would need one of those, I now know why :-)
>>>
>>> Didier
>>>
>>>
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>>>   
>>>     
>>>       
>> Since the HP5370 arm input is high impedance(1 Megohm) and its input 
>> range lies betwen -2V and +2V its desirable to drive it from a back 
>> terminated source with an amplitude of 2V or less to avoid overdriving 
>> (the comparators are better behaved if the input signal remains within 
>> the specified range) the input and ensure that the pulse at the ARM is 
>> relatively clean and reflection free. A suitable buffer can be built 
>> using 3 74AC04 inverters as depicted below: The 74AC04 inverters load 
>> currents are well within the specified limits even if the buffer output 
>> is shorted to ground. Thus the driver should have a long service life.
>> ARM driver
>>
>>
>> Bruce
>> ________________
>>     
> The trigger levels on the 5370 are strange. The normal inputs have 
> trigger levels that can be adjusted between -1.5 and +0.6 V or something 
> like that.
> I am not sure where that is coming from.
> For the ARM input, if someone is going to drive it with long coax 
> cables, the best would be a 50 ohm termination right at the instrument's 
> input.
> The schematic did not make it, but I believe I understand what you mean: 
> 3 gates with common input, each output has a 150 ohm series resistor and 
> the outputs (far end of the resistors) are tied together, to provide a 
> good 50 ohm drive to the cable. A series capacitor would probably be 
> recommended to center the signal around ground (assuming it's 50% duty 
> cycle).
>
> Didier
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>   
Didier

The trigger level limits are derived from the input amplifier and 
trigger circuit characteristics for the START and STOP inputs.

The ARM input feeds directly (via a 1X FET buffer) to an  ECL comparator 
((MC1651).
This comparator has an NPN longtailed pair input stage the 
characteristics of which determines the usable input signal range.
Driving an amplifier or comparator input stage into saturation degrades 
its timing characteristics somewhat.

Bruce




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