Purpose and function of this page: 1. Displays the default softkey configuration for this screen. 2. Same as 1. 3. Sets the measurement function. 4. Sets the measurement range. 5. Sets the measurement frequency. 6. Sets internal dc bias voltage/current value. 7. Sets oscillator level voltage/current value. 8. Sets integration time (SHORT/MED/LONG). 9 & 10. Displays measurement results. 11. Displays errors and miscellaneous information.

 
 
 
 

To change or enter source channel parameters on this page,move the cursor to the desired field and enter the parameter value with the DATA ENTRY keys of the front panel or computer keyboard.

Each time an entry is made the cursor automatically moves to the next field.

When entering numeric values on this page, it is not necessary to enter the value unit. The unit for voltage values is V (volt); for current values, A (ampere); and for time values, s (seconds). When the ENTER key is pressed the unit will be automatically entered. Also, each time a numerical value is inserted in a field, softkeys change and provide the possible units for the field. By pressing a softkey, value will be entered in the selected field using the unit displayed in the softkey pressed. Voltage, current and frequency limits for each field are listed below:

FREQ	Frequency Range	20Hz to 1MHz
BIAS	Voltage Range	0 to ±40V
	Current Range	0 to ±100mA
LEVEL	Voltage Range	0 to 20V
	Current Range	0 to 200mA

Values are entered in fixed decimal format.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Measurement Function can be selected with the softkeys when the cursor is in the FUNC field. The following functions are available:

Cp-D Capacity and Deviation

Cp-Q Capacity and Quality Factor

Cp-G Capacity and Conductance

Cp-Rp Capacity and Paralell Resistance

Cs-D Serial Capacity and Deviation

Cs-Q Serial Capacity and Quality Factor

Cs-Rs Serial Capacity and Serial Resistance

Lp-D Paralell Inductance and Deviation

Lp-Q Paralell Inductance and Quality Factor

Lp-G Paralell Inductance and Conductance

Lp-Rp Paralell Inductance and Paralell Resistance

Ls-D Serial Inductance and Deviation

Ls-Q Serial Inductance and Quality Factor

Ls-G Serial Inductance and Conductance

Ls-Rs Serial Inductance and Serial Resistance

R-X Resistance and Reactance

Z-O (deg) Impedance and Phase Angle

Z-O (rad) Impedance and Phase Angle

Y-B Admittance and Susceptance

Y-O (deg) Admittance and Phase Angle

Y-O (rad) Admittance and Phase Angle
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Measurement range is set to AUTO by default. This means that optimum range is automatically selected for each measurement. Measurement range can only be set to AUTO.

The HP4284A operates from 20 Hz to 1 Mhz with 8610 frequency steps in between. When numeric data is entered, the nearest available frequency point is automatically set.

There are two ways to set the test frequency. One is to use the softkeys, and the other is to use the numeric entry keys. Perform the following steps to set the test frequency:

1. Move the cursor to the FREQ field. The following softkeys will be displayed:
   • INCR 1 - Increments the value up to the next sequentially higher decade value
   • INCR 2 - Increments the value up to the next sequentially higher frequency point
   • DECR 2 - Decrements the value down to the next sequentially lower frequency point
   • DECR 1 - Decrements the value down to the next sequentially lower decade value
2. Select and set the test frequency using either the softkeys or the numeric entry keys. When the test frequency is entered using the numeric entry keys, the softkey labels are changed to the available units ('Hz', 'kHz','Mhz'), and so you can use these softkeys instead of the ENTER key to enter the units and enter the data. When the enter key is used, the numeric data is entered with Hz as the default unit.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The HP 4284A with option 001 installed and Hi-PW field on has internal bias voltage selections of 0V to ±40 V. The dc bias current can be set from 0 to ±100 mA.

Front panel operation for setting the DC Bias:

1. Move the cursor to the BIAS field. The following softkeys will be displayed:
   • INCR: increases the dc bias level
   • DECR: decreases the dc bias level
2. Set the dc bias to your desired bias using either the softkeys or the numeric entry keys. When the dc bias is entered using the numeric entry keys, the softkey labels are changed to the available units ('mV', 'V', 'uA', 'mA' and 'A'), and so you can use these softkeys instead of the ENTER key. When the ENTER key is used, the numeric data is entered with V or A as the default unit.

 
 
 
 
 

The HP 4284A's oscillator level can be set as the effective value (RMS value) of a sine wave of the test frequency from the HP 4284A's internal oscillator. You can set either the oscillator voltage level or the oscillator current level.

1. Move the cursor to the LEVEL field. The following softkeys will be displayed.
   • INCR - Increases the oscillator's output level
   • DECR - Decreases the oscillator's output level
2. Select and set the oscillator level using either the softkeys or the numeric entry keys. When the oscillator level is entered using the numeric entry keys, the softkey labels are changed to the available units labels ('mV', 'V', 'uA', 'mA', and 'A'), and you can use these softkeys to enter the units and enter the data instead of the ENTER key. When the ENTER key is used, the numeric data is entered with V or A as the default unit.

The HP 4284A ses an integrating A-D converter in the internal circuits to convert the analog signal to a digital signal. The integration time (INTEG TIME) is the time required to perform an A-D conversion. Generally, a longer conversion time will result in more stable and accurate measurement results. SHORT, MEDIUM or LONG integration times can be selected.

Front Panel Operation for Setting the Integration Time:

1. Move the cursor to the INTEG field. The following softkeys will be displayed:
   • SHORT
   • MED
   • LONG
2. Use the preceding softkeys to select and set the integration time