Fully automated compliance testing

The Tektronix Industrial Ethernet Solution is a fully automated compliance test application for the 10BASE-T1L (802.3cg) standard. Executing all the measurements manually is extremely time-consuming. The TekExpress Industrial Ethernet application provides an automation framework, that enables you to execute all the measurements with less intervention, only when you need to change connections.

The physical layer compliance tests are defined to ensure interoperability between different designs and hardware vendors. The requirements to perform these tests have been expanded and now cover Industrial Ethernet 10BASE-T1L (802.3cg) standards.

The test suite runs on 5 Series and 6 Series B MSOs, and lets you to take full advantage of the oscilloscope validation and debug capabilities in addition to compliance testing. The integration of Industrial Ethernet is placing greater demands on technology and comprehensive design validation to ensure interoperability. The Tektronix Industrial Ethernet Solution provides greater confidence in design margins under real world conditions by ensuring that your designs pass the strict 10BASE-T1L compliance tests.

TekExpress Industrial Ethernet software allows for complete or selective testing of any of the transmitter electrical specifications. Tests are configured by following a step-by-step process. Software navigation follows a logical workflow for quick test setups, configurations, and review of test results. The software sets up the oscilloscope and automates the tests, guiding you to accurate and repeatable results.

Test setup configurations vary greatly in terms of connections to the device under test, probing, test fixtures, calibration, and use of the oscilloscope and signal generator. To help you to correctly set up for a measurement, the Industrial Ethernet software provides setup instructions for each test, with images and reference illustrations, to ensure the correct setup.

The application generates a comprehensive, date-stamped test report with pass/fail results, waveforms, and data plots.

The TekExpress Industrial Ethernet compliance software requires a Tektronix 5 Series or 6 Series B MSOs with Option 5-WIN/6-WIN or SUP5-WIN/SUP6-WIN (Microsoft Windows 10). Since it operates as a Windows application, the software shares the oscilloscope display. For convenience, we recommend that you add an external monitor to display the compliance software and test reports separately from the oscilloscope screen.

Return loss measurement

The MDI return loss test determines the impedance mismatch between PHY and reference MDI Connector from the differential impedance specification of 100 Ω, which will affect hardware interoperability. Return Loss is a frequency domain measurement and generally requires an additional frequency domain test instrument to run the measurement. The Tektronix 5-CMINCUEN10/6-CMINDUEN10 solution can perform this test with an oscilloscope using a patented measurement approach that eliminates the need for additional test instruments.

Transmiter clock frequency and jitter measurements

Jitter tests quantify the timing variations of the edges of the signal, using specified test patterns. These jitter measurements include contributions from duty cycle distortion and baseline wander. Jitter is determined by accumulating waveforms and measuring the width of the accumulated points at the eye crossing. The jitter peak-to-peak measurement is determined by the minimum and maximum values in the tails of the histogram. The PHY has a symbol clock output, configured at Test Mode1.

Droop measurement

The droop measurements are performed by determining the positive and negative waveform peak voltages. The PHY has a symbol clock output, configured at Test Mode2.

Power spectral density (PSD) measurement

Power spectral density is a frequency domain measurement that may require a spectrum analyzer. The Tektronix 5 Series and 6 Series B MSOs, with 12-bit analog-to-digital converters (ADC) and outstanding noise performance, provides accuracy similar to a spectrum analyzer. The spectrum of an input signal in test mode is computed using built-in oscilloscope math functions. The post-processing is done on the signal to determine the PSD. The computed PSD is then compared with the specification by using lower and upper masks to arrive at the final result.

Limits

10BASE-T1L Ethernet operates at 1 Vpp or 2.4 Vpp levels and the limits are defined accordingly. The TekExpress Industrial Ethernet Application allows you to configure operating voltage and selects the limit accordingly. The application can work in Compliance mode, where limits are defined are per compliance specification, or in User Defined mode, which allows you to edit the limits to perform characterization of the Device under Test (DUT).

Validation and debug

Validation and debugging are easily accomplished early in the design process and ahead of final compliance testing with the 5 Series and 6 Series B MSOs. The oscilloscope’s standard measurement set, along with the optional 5-DJA/6-DJA (Advanced Jitter and Timing Analysis) software supports several of the key compliance tests including:

• Clock Frequency

• Transmitter Amplitude with Histogram

• Trend Analysis Positive

• Negative Droop measurements

• Full characterization of Jitter performance including TIE

• Histogram profiles

• Eye diagram analysis of PAM3 signals

This type of early testing increases the likelihood of passing compliance tests, while allowing more complete characterization and determination of design margins. Master and slave jitter measurements can be particularly challenging given the tight compliance limits and the need to eliminate any possible sources of random or deterministic jitter.

Pass/fail reports

The TekExpress Industrial Ethernet application creates compliance test documentation quickly with a summary report in MHL or PDF format. The software automatically generates a report after test execution is complete, and includes Pass/Fail status to help you quickly analyze the test results. The report also includes test configuration details, waveform plots, oscilloscope display scren shots, and margin analysis to provide more insights into your design.

6 Series B MSO Oscilloscope

With up to 10 GHz analog bandwidth, 50 GS/s sample rates, lowest noise and highest resolution, the 6 Series B MSO oscilloscope has the performance you need to capture waveforms with the best possible signal fidelity.

At the heart of the 6 Series B MSO oscilloscope are 12-bit analog-to digital converters (ADCs) that provide 16 times the vertical resolution of traditional 8-bit ADCs. This resolution, combined with an extremely low-noise front end, allows you capture small signal details even on relatively large signals.

Test fixtures and probing test points

Accurate and repeatable compliance testing requires access to the PHY transmitter output. The recommended approach is to use the Tektronix TF-XGbT Ethernet fixture. These fixtures can support all test setups while providing convenient test points for probing.

Ordering information

Measurement names and required hardware

Required software

Required signal generators

Recommended probes

Recommended accessories