National Instruments 446 Series Manual

NI 446XCalibration Procedure

This document contains information about calibrating National

Instruments PCI/PXI-4461 and PCI/PXI-4462 (NI 446X) devices.

This document does not discuss programming techniques or compiler

configuration. The National Instruments DAQmx driver includes help files

that have compiler-specific instructions and detailed function explanations.

You can install these help files when you install NI-DAQmx on the

calibration computer.

NI 446X devices should be externally calibrated at a regular interval as

defined by the measurement accuracy requirements of your application.

NI recommends that you perform a complete calibration at least once every

year. Based on your measurement accuracy needs, you can shorten this

interval to 90 days or six months. Self-calibration can be performed as

needed or when the temperature varies by 5 °C or more from the last

external calibration.

Contents

Conventions ............................................................................................ 2

Calibration Options ................................................................................. 3

Self-Calibration................................................................................ 3

External Calibration......................................................................... 3

Software and Documentation Requirements........................................... 3

Software ........................................................................................... 3

Documentation................................................................................. 4

Password and User Information.............................................................. 5

Getting Calibration Information.............................................................. 6

Test Equipment ....................................................................................... 9

Test Conditions ....................................................................................... 9

Calibration Process ................................................................................. 10

Calibration Process Overview ......................................................... 10

Initial Setup...................................................................................... 10

Self-Calibration................................................................................ 11

NI 446XVerification Procedure ...................................................... 11

Verifying Analog Input Performance ....................................... 11

Verifying Analog Output Performance .................................... 19

NI 446X Calibration Procedure 2 ni.com

Verifying Timebase Frequency Accuracy.................................28

NI 446XAdjustment Procedure........................................................32

Adjusting the Analog Input .......................................................32

Adjusting the Analog Output ....................................................34

Adjusting the Timebase.............................................................40

Where to Go for Support .........................................................................42

Conventions

The following conventions appear in this document:

»The »symbol leads you through nested menu items and dialog box options

to a final action. The sequence File»Page Setup»Options directs you to

pull down the File menu, select the Page Setup item, and select Options

from the last dialog box.

This icon denotes a note, which alerts you to important information.

bold Bold text denotes items that you must select or click in the software, such

as menu items and dialog box options. Bold text also denotes parameter

names and hardware labels.

italic Italic text denotes variables, emphasis, a cross-reference, or an introduction

to a key concept. Italic text also denotes text that is a placeholder for a word

or value that you must supply.

monospace Monospace text denotes text or characters that you should enter from the

keyboard, sections of code, programming examples, and syntax examples.

This font is also used for the proper names of disk drives, paths, directories,

programs, subprograms, subroutines, device names, functions, operations,

variables, filenames, and extensions.

ReturnValue A parameter which points to data that is modified by a function call has a

variable name in the form <variableTypeReturnValue>, for example,

uInt32PointerReturnValue. All function calls return a status integer

that you must verify. Because all the functions return this status integer, the

function descriptions in this document omit the status integer.

Number Variable Types The integer variable type used in this document is represented as a whole

number. Any floating point variable type is represented as a number with a

decimal point. For example, the number 1,024 is written as 1024 if it is an

integer, and as 1024.0 if it is a floating point value.

NI 446XNI 446Xrefers to the NI PCI-4461, NI PXI-4461, NI PCI-4462, and

NI PXI-4462 unless otherwise noted.

©National Instruments Corporation 3 NI 446X Calibration Procedure

Calibration Options

NI 446Xdevices support two types of calibration: self-calibration and

external calibration.

Self-Calibration

Self-calibration, also known as internal calibration, uses a software

command and requires no external connections. Self-calibration improves

measurement accuracy by compensating for variables such as temperature

that might have changed since the last external calibration. Self-calibration

retains the traceability of the external calibration.

External Calibration

External calibration is generally performed with high-precision

instruments at either NI or a metrology lab. This procedure replaces all

calibration constants in the EEPROM and is equivalent to a factory

calibration at NI. Because the external calibration procedure changes all

EEPROM constants, it invalidates the original calibration certificate. If an

external calibration is done with traceable instruments, a new calibration

certificate can be issued.

Software and Documentation Requirements

This section describes the software and documentation required for both

self-calibration and external calibration.

Software

Install NI-DAQmx 8.1 or later on the calibration computer. You must have

the proper device driver installed on the calibration system before

calibrating the device.

Note NI recommends that you install the NI-DAQmx driver software before physically

installing the NI 446Xdevice. NI-DAQmx, available at ni.com/downloads, configures

and controls the NI 446X.

NI-DAQmx supports a number of programming languages, including

LabVIEW, LabWindows™/CVI™, Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0, Microsoft

Visual Basic 6.0, Microsoft .NET, and Borland C++.

If you want to write the calibration procedure using LabVIEW, NI

recommends that you use the Full or Professional Development System or

the Developer Suite Professional Edition. These editions include

NI 446X Calibration Procedure 4 ni.com

frequency-domain analysis tools not included in the Base Development

System.

You can access the NI-DAQmx header file, DAQmx.h, like any standard

library. You can find examples of how to use the NI-DAQmx driver in the

Program Files\National Instruments\NI-DAQ\Examples

directory.

Documentation

You might find the following documentation helpful as you write your

calibration procedure:

•NI-DAQmx Help—This help file contains general information about

measurement concepts, key NI-DAQmx concepts, and common

applications that are applicable to all programming environments.

Select Start»All Programs»National Instruments»NI-DAQ»

NI-DAQmx Help.

•NI-DAQmx C Reference Help—This help file contains C reference and

general information about measurement concepts. Select

Start»All Programs»National Instruments»NI-DAQmx Base»

Documentation»C Function Reference Manual.

•DAQ Getting Started Guide for NI-DAQ 8.1 or later—This guide

describes how to install your NI-DAQmx for Windows software, your

NI-DAQmx-supported DAQ device, and how to confirm that your

device is operating properly. Select Start»All Programs»National

Instruments»NI-DAQ»DAQ Getting Started Guide.

•NI 446X Specifications—This document contains information about

specific device features. The limits you use to verify the accuracy of

the devices are based on the specifications found in this document.

Select Start»All Programs»National Instruments» NI-DAQ»

Browse Device Documentation to launch the Device Documentation

Browser. You then can select the Dynamic Signal Acquisition book

to browse the list of DSA devices. Select your device to find a link to

the NI 446X Specifications.

These documents are installed with NI-DAQmx. You can also download

the latest versions from the NI Web site at ni.com/manuals.

©National Instruments Corporation 5 NI 446X Calibration Procedure

Password and User Information

For password-protected operations on most NI 446Xdevices, the default

password is NI. On certain devices, however, the default password is NI\0.

The password is stored in the device EEPROM. You can change the

password using the following NI-DAQmx function.

Note Depending on which programming language you use, you can write the \character

into a string several different ways. Refer to the standard of that language for information

about how to write the \character into a string.

You can write user-defined information into or read from the EEPROM

using the following NI-DAQmx functions.

NI-DAQmx Function Call LabVIEW Block Diagram

Call DAQmxChangeExtCalPassword

with the following parameters:

Device Name: dev1

Password: NI or NI\0

New Password: myNewPassword

(maximum four characters)

NI-DAQmx Function Call

Call DAQmxSetCalUserDefinedInfo with the following parameters:

deviceName: dev1

data: anyUserData

Call DAQmxGetCalUserDefinedInfoMaxSize with the following parameters:

deviceName: dev1

data: uInt32PointerReturnValue

NI 446X Calibration Procedure 6 ni.com

Both password and user-defined information have a maximum of four

ASCII-standard characters and are null-terminated strings. The user

information is empty by default and can contain any information you find

useful.

Getting Calibration Information

The NI 446Xdevices contain the current device temperature read directly

from the device and the following calibration information stored in the

EEPROM:

• Whether the device supports self-calibration

• Date and time of the last self-calibration

• Temperature during the last self-calibration

• Recommended interval for external calibration

• Date and time of the last external calibration

• Temperature during the last external calibration

You can access this information in the Measurement & Automation

Explorer (MAX) or by using the following NI-DAQmx functions.

Call DAQmxGetCalUserDefinedInfo with the following parameters:

deviceName: dev1

data: charPointerReturnValue

bufferSize: anyNumberBelowMax

LabVIEW Block Diagram

NI-DAQmx Function Call (Continued)

©National Instruments Corporation 7 NI 446X Calibration Procedure

NI-DAQmx Function Call

Call DAQmxGetSelfCalSupported with the following parameters:

deviceName: dev1

data: bool32PointerReturnValue

Call DAQmxGetSelfCalLastDateAndTime with the following parameters:

deviceName: dev1

year: uInt32PointerReturnValue

month: uInt32PointerReturnValue

day: uInt32PointerReturnValue

hour: uInt32PointerReturnValue

minute: uInt32PointerReturnValue

Call DAQmxGetSelfCalLastTemp with the following parameters:

deviceName: dev1

data: float64PointerReturnValue

Call DAQmxGetExtCalRecommendedInterval with the following parameters:

deviceName: dev1

data: uInt32PointerReturnValue

Call DAQmxGetExtCalLastDateAndTime with the following parameters:

deviceName: dev1

year: uInt32PointerReturnValue

month: uInt32PointerReturnValue

day: uInt32PointerReturnValue

hour: uInt32PointerReturnValue

minute: uInt32PointerReturnValue

NI 446X Calibration Procedure 8 ni.com

Call DAQmxGetExtCalLastTemp with the following parameters:

deviceName: dev1

data: float64PointerReturnValue

Call DAQmxGetCalDevTemp with the following parameters:

deviceName: dev1

data: float64PointerReturnValue

LabVIEW Block Diagram

NI-DAQmx Function Call (Continued)

©National Instruments Corporation 9 NI 446X Calibration Procedure

Test Equipment

Table 1 lists the instruments NI recommends for calibrating the NI 446X.

If the recommended instrument is not available, select a substitute

calibration standard that meets the given specifications.

Test Conditions

Follow these guidelines to optimize the connections and the environment

during verification and adjustment:

• Keep connections to the NI 446Xshort. Long cables and wires act as

antennae, picking up extra noise that can affect measurements.

• Use a 50 Ω BNC coaxial cable for all connections to the device.

• Keep relative humidity between 10 and 80%, noncondensing, or

consult the device documentation for the optimum relative humidity.

• Maintain the temperature between 18 and 28 °C, or refer to the device

specifications for the optimum temperature range.

• Allow a warm-up time of at least 15 minutes to ensure that the

measurement circuitry of the NI 446Xis at a stable operating

temperature.

• Allow a warm-up time for all the instruments and equipment,

according to the manufacturers’ instructions.

Table 1. NI 446XCalibration Equipment Specifications

Instrument Critical Specifications Suggested Model

Calibrator DC Voltage Range: 1 V, 10 V

DC Accuracy: ±300 µV*, †, ±3 mV*, †

Fluke 5700A

Function Generator Frequency Range: 1 kHz–10 kHz

Frequency Accuracy: ±2 ppm†

Voltage Range: up to 9 Vpp

HP/Agilent 33250A

Digital Multimeter DC Voltage Range: 100 mV, 1 V, 10 V

DC Accuracy: ±100 ppm†

NI 4070

*±300 µV on 1 V range, ±3 mV on 10 V range.

†This specification contains the initial accuracy and any drift due to temperature and time.

NI 446X Calibration Procedure 10 ni.com

Calibration Process

This section provides instructions for verifying and calibrating the NI 446X

device.

Calibration Process Overview

The calibration process consists of the following steps:

1. Initial Setup—Configure the device in NI-DAQmx.

2. Self-Calibration—Measure the onboard reference voltage of the

device and adjust the self-calibration constants.

3. NI 446X Verification Procedure—Verify the accuracy of the device

prior to calibration.

4. NI 446X Adjustment Procedure—Perform an external calibration that

adjusts the device calibration constants with respect to known voltage

and frequency sources.

5. Perform another verification to ensure that the device operates with the

specifications after adjustment.

The self-calibration, verification, and adjustment procedures are explained

in the following sections.

Note

You must compare the verification limits provided in this procedure with the most

recent specifications. Refer to the latest NI 446

device specifications at

ni.com/manuals

Initial Setup

NI-DAQmx automatically detects all NI 446Xdevices. However, for the

driver to communicate with the device, you must configure the device in

NI-DAQmx.

Complete the following steps to configure a device in NI-DAQmx:

1. Install the NI-DAQmx driver software.

2. Power off the computer that will hold the device and install the device

in an available slot.

3. Power on the computer and launch MAX.

4. Right-click the device name and select Self-Test to ensure that the

device is working properly.

Note When a device is configured with MAX, it is assigned a device name. Each function

call uses this device name to determine which DAQ device to calibrate. This document

uses dev1 to refer to the device name. In the following procedures, use the device name as

it appears in MAX.

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