Agilent Technologies 11644A Series, User'S And Service Manual

Page: 36 / 83

5-2 X, P, and K 11644A
Performance Verification
Introduction
Introduction
The performance of your calibration kit can only be verified by returning the kit to Agilent
Technologies for recertification. The equipment and calibration standards required to
verify the specifications of the limits of the devices in the kit have been specially
manufactured and are not commercially available.
How Agilent Verifies the Devices in Your Kit
Agilent verifies the specifications of these devices as follows:
1. The residual microwave error terms of the test system are verified with precision
airlines and shorts that are directly traced to the National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST). The airline and short characteristics are developed from mechanical
measurements. The mechanical measurements and material properties are carefully
modeled to give very accurate electrical representation. The mechanical measurements
are then traced to NIST through various plug and ring gages and other mechanical
measurements.
2. Each calibration device is electrically tested on this system. For the initial (before sale)
testing of the calibration devices, Agilent includes the test measurement uncertainty as
a guardband to guarantee each device meets the published specification. For
recertifications (after sale), no guardband is used and the measured data is compared
directly with the specification to determine the pass or fail status. The measurement
uncertainty for each device is, however, recorded in the calibration report that
accompanies recertified kits.
These two steps establish a traceable link to NIST for Agilent to the extent allowed by the
institute’s calibration facility. The specifications data provided for the devices in the kit is
traceable to NIST through Agilent Technologies.