5 .3 About Relays in the XT-100
The XT-100 offers extended delay range via an in-series aerospace-grade microwave relays and precision-cut semi-rigid coaxial cable.
Each delay section and relay pair is a binary step sized value of delay with a step size multiple of 625.0 ps.
Relay #
XT-100-
001N
XT-100-
002N
XT-100-
005N
XT-100-
010N
XT-100-
020N
XT-100-
040N
XT-100-
080N
XT-100-
100N
1
625 ps
625 ps
625 ps
625 ps
625 ps
625 ps
625 ps
625 ps
2
1.25 ns
1.25 ns
1.25 ns
1.25 ns
1.25 ns
1.25 ns
1.25 ns
3
2.50 ns
2.50 ns
2.50 ns
2.50 ns
2.50 ns
2.50 ns
4
5.00 ns
5.00 ns
5.00 ns
5.00 ns
5.00 ns
5
10.00 ns
10.00 ns
10.00 ns
10.00 ns
6
20.00 ns
20.00 ns
20.00 ns
7
40.00 ns
40.00 ns
8
20.00 ns
9-16 n/a
With the in-series combination of delay sections and trombone, the XT-100 can offer delay within the entire range of the instrument at the
step precision to 0.50 ps per step. The XT-100 determines automatically which relays to turn on or off in combination with the trombone
position when specifying a delay setting.
Relays can be commanded to turn on or off individually by using the REL command. If relays are not used over a long period of time, they
may need to be cycled off-on-off or exercised in-order to overcome any stiction force that may be present from inactivity or storage over
a long period of time. Use the RELC to cycle the relays from 1 to 100 cycles.
After specifying a DEL command and delay setting value, the XT-100 will switch the required relays and position the trombone motor. Use
the *OPC? query to check when the operation has completed before continuing with additional delay settings or commands.
5 .4 About Trombone Serial or Parallel Operating Mode
Internally, the electromechanical trombone consists of two halves (each half in the form of a U-shaped tube) connected by a center
moving plate to which a leadscrew and hybrid motor is attached. Both ends of each U tube are accessible at the front panel. A vertical
jumper between the top and bottom U tubes is installed at time of production.
Each U tube signal path offers a total delay range from 0 to 312.50 ps. By addition of the front vertical jumper to the connect the top and
bottom U tubes, the total range of the trombone is 0 to 625.0 ps. This mode of trombone operation is called Serial mode. The effective
minimum resolution step size is to 0.50 ps.
If the vertical jumper is removed, you can operate the trombone in Parallel mode. This mode offers 0 to 312.25 ps of total range delay
in either the top or bottom U tube but the step resolution is increased to 0.25 ps per step. There is only one hybrid stepper motor and
both U tubes are connected via a center moving plate, therefore each U tube experiences the exact same amount of delay. Parallel mode
should only be used when higher step resolution of 0.25 ps is required. Note: delay settings will round down to the nearest 0.25 ps step
and there will be “312.50 ps wide gaps” (inability to achieve actual delay setting) across the range.
Use the MODE command to set the Serial (default) or Parallel operating mode for the trombone.
16
COLBY INSTRUMENTS XT-100 VERSION 1.0 OPERATING AND PROGRAMMING MANUAL
