User`s guide

Agilent E6432A Microwave Synthesizer User’s Guide 5-23
Applications and Example Programs
Synthesizer Switching Speeds
Settling Time
Settling time is the period of time the synthesizer waits, following the
switch/blanking time, before producing a Trig Out trigger or a Sync Out
trigger. Settling time is used every time a new frequency or power is set
up in the synthesizer.
Settling time can be set by an external host computer to different
values. These values of settling time control how close to the final
frequency and power the synthesizer reaches before the Trig Out
trigger and a Sync Out trigger are asserted. As an example, a 50 us
settling time yields a typical settling within 50 kHz of the final
frequency.
Settable Range: 0.5 us to 32.7675 ms
Settling time begins after switch/blanking time is completed. Settling
time is user-definable and can be adjusted between a minimum and
maximum value; longer periods of settling time can be specified in order
to gain additional accuracy. Both switch/blanking time and settling
time are used every time a new frequency or power is set up in the
synthesizer.
Whether or not the RF output is turned off (blanked), there is always a
switch/blanking time. Switch/blanking time is the period of time, prior
to the user-definable settling time, that is required by the synthesizer
to change between frequencies or power or both. Switch/blanking time
can not be turned off.
Switch/blanking time is established by the following criteria:
• 350 us for all frequencies 560 MHz or less
• 350 us for all frequencies above 560 MHz with long switch/blanking
mode set (long blanking is typically used when external leveling is
enabled or when using low ALC bandwidth)
• 150 us for all frequencies above 560 MHz with normal
switch/blanking mode set
• 50 us for all frequencies above 560 MHz with power-only mode set
• 20 ms is added, to each of the times listed above, any time the step
attenuator (Option 1E1) is changed
For complete specifications, refer to: “Specifications and
Characteristics” on page 6-1.