ASCEL Electronic AE20401 Istruzioni per l'installazione e il funzionamento
Æ20401
5.8 GHz Frequency Counter
/ Power Meter
Assembly and
Operation Manual
REV 3.1 EN
© 2015 Ascel Electronic
Table o Contents
Safety Information.....................................................................ii
Handover of a evice Built From a Kit....................................iv
Intended Use.............................................................................iv
ES Warning.............................................................................v
AE20401 5.8 GHz Frequency Counter / Power Meter..............1
Circuit escription.....................................................................2
Soldering....................................................................................4
Component Reference................................................................6
Assembly..................................................................................14
Adjustment of the input amplifier............................................18
Troubleshooting Checklist.......................................................20
Power Supply...........................................................................22
Case Mounting.........................................................................23
Operation..................................................................................25
Circuit iagram.......................................................................44
Bill of Materials.......................................................................46
Component Placement iagram..............................................49
ata Interface...........................................................................50
Specifications...........................................................................53
i
Warning
Please read this manual before you assemble and use this kit.
Keep it accessible for all users at all times.
Sa ety In ormation
Know and follow the applicable regulations for
electric devices in your region. In Germany,
these are especially V E 0100, V E
0550/0551, V E 0700, V E 0711 and V E
0860. Pay attention to the following safety
advices:
• isconnect the power supply before opening the case.
• Work on devices only if you made sure that they are
disconnected from any power supply, and any possible charge
inside is discharged.
• evices must only be used if they are mounted in a case in a
way that prevents the user from touching any live wires or
parts. isconnect the device from its power supply during
assembly.
• Always check the power cords for breaks or damaged
insulation. Replace any defective parts immediately.
• Seek advice from a qualified expert if you are not sure about
any specific value of a part, an installation procedure, or how
to connect accessories.
ii
•Always check if the device is suitable for the intended purpose
before putting the unit in use. Seek assistance from a qualified
professional or the manufacturer if you are not sure.
• The manufacturer assumes no liability for errors made during
assembly or operation.
• evices that need a supply voltage greater that 24V may be
assembled by professionals only, to avoid hazards from
improper assembly.
• In schools, educational institutes or workshops, the use of this
unit must take place under the supervision of qualified staff.
• o not put this unit in use in an environment where the risk of
fire or explosion or explosive gas, vapor or dust is present.
• If the unit must be repaired, use original parts only. The use of
inappropriate parts may lead to a safety risk.
• Avoid working alone.
• Keep electronic parts away from children.
• o not replace parts with such that does not meet the required
parameters. For example: never replace a fuse with another one
with higher nominal current!
• Other regulations may apply. Please check the local safety
regulations for assembling electronic devices.
iii
Handover o a Device Built From a Kit
(in countries where applicable)
If you hand over a device built from a kit, you legally become
the manufacturer. This mean you are responsible for complying
with the appropriate regulations for electronic devices. All
accompanying papers, in particular this manual, must also be
passed over. Where necessary (for example in the European
Union) you must also publish your identity to the consignee.
Intended Use
(in countries where applicable)
The intended use of this device is measuring frequencies and
power within the given limits.
• Other uses are not approved!
iv
ESD Warning
What is ESD?
ES (Electrostatic Dis-
charge) is the sudden flow
of electricity between two
objects caused by contact
or an electrical short. It
can reach very high voltages of many kV. In some cases even
over 100kV!
Causes of ESD
The main cause of ES events is static electricity. Static
electricity is usually generated through tribocharging, like
walking on a rug, ascending from a fabric seat, removing some
types of plastic packaging or using non-ES compliant tools.
Danger of ESD
The high voltage pulse can easily destroy electronic parts. ICs
and FETs are very sensitive to high voltage. Even a short,
single touch may destroy a part!
How do I prevent damage due to ESD?
Always ground yourself while working with electronic parts. A
grounded conducting wrist strap and proper anti-static work
surface mat will help prevent ES damage. Also make sure
that the soldering iron is grounded and ES -safe.
v
Warning symbol for an
electrostatic sensitive device
AE20401 5.8 GHz Frequency Counter /
Power Meter
The AE20401 combines three different functions:
- A frequency counter, that range from mHz resolution with
reciprocal counting algorithms to 5.8 GHz with the optional
Channel B Module
- A pulse counter (Channel C)
- And a power meter (optional Channel PWR Modules) that
can measure from -55 dBm (3 nW) to +30 dBm (1 W) / -5 dBm
in the range from C to 500 MHz / 10 MHz to 8 GHz. The
value of external attenuators can be included in the readings.
It can measure Frequency/Period (Channel A/B) and RPM
(Channel A). The number of pulses per revolution is adjustable.
Offset and Smooth functions and selectable Trigger Edge
extends the possible applications even further.
The USB interface1 allows remote control of the frequency
counter with the included software. The easy, plain text
command protocol allows simple integration with external
tools and systems. Every single function of the device can be
remote controlled.
All SM (Surface Mounted evice) components are already
soldered, so the kit is also suitable for beginners in electronics.
The comprehensive manual should help answer all questions
that may arise during assembly.
Please read the complete manual (especially if you are not yet
experienced in electronic engineering) before building the kit.
1optional
1
Circuit Description
The circuit diagram of the AE20401 can be divided into several
parts, which are described here.
The digital part is based on microcontroller IC1. IC1 controls
all functions, computes the readings, and drives the LC . The
USB port is handled by the FT230X UART-USB Bridge (IC5).
IC8 is the 2.5V reference for the A C (analog to digital
converter) that is used to convert the analog output of the
Power Meter Module to a digital value.
The 5V digital supply comes from the linear regulator IC4. 1
protects IC4 from reverse polarity of the input voltage.
ecoupling capacitors are placed next to all ICs. Each module
has their own power regulation and decoupling capacitors on
their own boards.
Channel A/C input circuitry: the C offset is removed from the
signal first. Then it is impedance matched and fed to the input
amplifier. 2/ 3 limit the signal in case of input overload. P1*
is used to attenuate it. A high-speed comparator (IC6) with
hysteresis is then used to compare the signal against a reference
voltage. (see chapter "Adjustment" for details).
Now a 5Vpp square wave that is the same frequency as the
input signal is available which can be processed by the digital
(logic) ICs. Along with the signal from Channel B, which is
already divided by 500 in the module, it is divided by 2 by a
high speed flip-flop (IC2), then further by 8 by a 4bit counter
(IC3).
2
Now, all these signals are routed to a multiplexer (IC7), where
three signals are available: the comparator output from Channel
A, the divided-by-16 signal, and the divided-by-1000 signal
from Channel B.
The microcontroller selects one of these signals, depending on
active channel and mode, which is processed to create a
reading.
The analog output from the Power Meter (Channel PWR) is
converted to a digital value by the microcontroller's internal
A C. This digital value is then used to calculate the power.
Since the Channel B Module uses 3.3V internally, voltage
dividers on the data lines (R17/R19, R23/R20 and R22/R21)
reduce the amplitude from 5V to 3.3V.
The external input (EXT) is protected against overvoltage by
R15 together with 4/ 5.
The separately drawn CLK footprint can accept either a
standard crystal oscillator or the optional 1ppm TCXO Module.
R2 is a high power resistor capable of withstanding short
overload events on Channel A/C without damage – however, it
is important not to exceed the specified maximum limits, as
higher input voltages may damage the frequency counter!
3
Soldering
Please read the following pages if you are not yet experienced
in soldering. Good soldering is a matter of practice! Practice on
old boards until you feel confident before assembling the kit.
• The parts are mounted on the silkscreen side of the PCB
Except parts whose designators ends with an asterisk (like
S1*) These are mounted on the other side!
• Do not inhale the fumes from the flux! Wash your hands
after soldering! Wear protective glasses!
• If you use additional flux, make sure it is suitable for
electronics use! Non-suitable flux may contain acid which will
damage the traces on the PCB over time.
• Try to solder fast. Heating up for too long may damage the
components and the board.
• Solder wire with a diameter between 0.5-0.75mm (0.02"-
0.03") is most suitable for through-hole components. Lead
solder is easier to use than lead-free solder.
• A clean, non-oxidized tip is essential for good soldering. Use
a wet sponge or a metal wool tip cleaner to regularly clean the
tip. The metal wool cleaners are superior to a wet sponge as
there is no temperature shock.
4
Indice
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