UK MoD selected the CNT-90 timer/counter analyser configured with the 20GHz input and high stability OCXO options, manufactured in Sweden by Pendulum Instruments and supplied by Aspen Electronics
The CNT-90 is a high performance, multipurpose instrument for the measurement, analysis and calibration of frequency, time interval or phase.
With a rich set of features in a benchtop format, this product outperforms any existing counter currently available on the market, says Aspen Electronics.
In recognition of its capability in meeting all of its specified requirements in a cost effective manner the UK MoD recently selected the CNT-90 configured with the 20GHz input and high stability OCXO options.
Designed and manufactured in Sweden by Pendulum Instruments, this timer/counter analyser is supplied and supported in the UK by Aspen Electronics.
It is said to be ideal for a variety of design, test and measurement applications, whether used in R and D, design, production test, calibration or field service environments.
The CNT-90 offers a measurement capability of 250k measurements/s to internal memory.
Combined with a memory depth of 750k, the instrument can be used for modulation domain analysis by capturing very fast frequency changes in real time.
Alternatively, the Trend mode can be used to view long term drift where the measurement interval can be set by the user.
Up to two billion measurements can be made at, for example, one minute intervals.
The instrument offers high resolution measurements specified at 100ps (time), 12digits/s (freq) and 0.001 (phase), making it particularly useful for detecting small time and frequency changes, vital for R and D as well as production test applications.
The frequency range is 300MHz standard, optionally expandable to 3, 8, 14 or 20GHz.
This covers frequency measurement needs from DC to microwave and removes the need to invest in a separate microwave counter.
For applications requiring high reliability and accuracy measurements, Aspen offers the options of high stability oven oscillators with 0.01ppm/month ageing and ultra high stability oven oscillators with 0.003 ppm/month ageing, as well as the standard crystal oscillator.
The 2k measurements/s GPIB and USB measuring rate increases throughput tenfold compared to most alternative solutions, making the CNT-90 a useful time-saving tool in automated test systems.
The menu-based graphical user interface ensures the instrument is quick to programme and easy to use.
The clear graphical displays show distribution histograms, trends and modulation domain information, which speed interpretation of random signal distribution and measurement changes vs time, from slow drift to fast jitter and modulation.
Further, the instrument provides numerical multi-parameter displays with up to 14 digits resolution, two more digits than most other interpolating counters.
Thus, the CNT-90 can preclude the requirement for additional instruments such as DVMs and oscilloscopes, often used in time and frequency measurements.
USB and GPIB interfaces are supplied as standard.
The GPIB interface comes in two modes: SCPI/1999 plus a 53131A emulation mode for easy integration in existing test systems.
