FAQs from Rohde & Schwarz

How to use the binning function for component sorting

Question

I want to use the LCX series LCR Meter to automatically control and sort components.
One of the tasks is to differentiate between the following three values of resistors:

  • Less than 990 Ohm
  • Middle range from 990 to 1010 Ohm (1 kOhm)
  • More than 1010 Ohm

How can I set this measurement up and which pins do I have to use at the 15 PIN SUB-D socket at the rear side of the LCX?

Answer

1.) The first step is to bring the LCX into the desired operation mode.

2.) A CSV file with range definition must be prepared. In our case it's content is

***

#Signal,BOTH
#Measurement,Rs-X
#PrimaryFormat,ABS
#SecondaryFormat,ABS

Pri0,Pri1
0.00,990
990,1010
1010,1e9

***

The manual describes the CSV file's content in detail. Our example does the following:

#Signal,BOTH --> EOM (End of measurement signal) is assigned to PIN8, OOB (Out of bin signal) to PIN7
#Measurement,Rs-X --> Values are bound to Rs-X measurement
#PrimaryFormat,ABS
#SecondaryFormat,ABS --> Both limit formats are specified to minimum and maximum values

Pri0,Pri1 --> Only the primary values (Rs) are used for binning. The reactance (X) is not used.
0.00,990 --> first value range, bound to PIN1
990,1010 --> second value, bound to PIN2
1010,1e9 --> etc...

3.) Load the file over Menu / Functions / Binning.

The application now starts using the predefined values. A trigger event initiates the measurement.
The assignment is as follows from top to bottom (with a maximum of 8 different values):

0.00,990 --> PIN1 (Digital Out 1)
990,1010 --> PIN2 (Digital Out 2)
1010,1e9 --> PIN3

After Binning got activated the instrument displays the following:

After a measurement series of 249 values:

The port output is negated. This means, that if the midle value (1 kOhm) is reached, PIn2 (Digital Out 2) will get LO.

The trigger can be initiated either by using the [Trig.] key or pulling PIN9 (Digital In 1) to HI.