Model:

Fluke 5700A

Product Name:

Multi-Function Calibrator

Instrument Description:

5-function calibrator

Memory Description:

The Fluke 5700A Multi-Function Calibrator contains two types of storage media.

The first is a flash-based storage media and the second is random access

memory (RAM).

Flash Memory:

The flash memory used in the 5700A is a physically block structured device. It

contains three (3) separate blocks. The first block is a special purpose block

intended to hold a small boot loader. It’s used for that purpose within the 5700A.

The boot loader software was designed and maintained by the Fluke Corporation

ａnd is preprogrammed into the flash device for us by the vendor. The boot

loader flash memory can’t be easily changed or reconfigured without special

programming equipment. It’s considered by Fluke to be permanent. If it were

tampered with, or otherwise changed, by anyone other than qualified software

engineer equipped with supporting documentation from Fluke, and external

programming hardware, the calibrator would cease to function. The second

block contains the application software for the 5700A. It’s programmed by Fluke

but is otherwise subject to the same stringent restrictions as the boot code.

Additionally, a checksum is generated and compared on power-up to insure that

no changes to this code have occurred. The third block is logically partitioned, by

the software, into two (2) mini-blocks. The first contains the calibration constants

for the instrument. The second contains all nonvolatile configuration data for the

instrument.

Calibration Constants:

Calibration constants are double precision floating-point numbers. These

numbers are used by the instrument during normal operations to achieve its

rated output accuracy. Each calibration constant (CCO) has a default value and

a limit. Most limits are within a few percent of the default value. It’s impossible to

set a calibration constant to a number outside of its limit. Calibration constants

can’t be accessed directly by a user. They can be changed during a calibration

process. Theoretically, someone could run a calibration procedure and store

numerically encoded data in the calibration constants. The limits on many of

them would obviously complicate the process though.

Non-Volatile Configuration Data:

Non-Volatile configuration data contains user settings like IEEE address, serial

port configuration, calibration dates, etc. It also contains a string of a maximum

of 63 characters. The string is an IEEE 488.2 standard and is set using the

<*PUD> command. It’s queried using the <*PUD?> Commａnd or from the front

panel [see page 5-35, 36 of the Operator Manual for a complete explanation of

these commands].

For re-formatting non-volatile memory, use the following key

strokes from the front panel [see page 3-12 of the Operator

Manual]:

Select the SETUP key on the front panel,

Using the blue ‘soft’ keys under the Control Display, select the

following:

UTILITY

FUNCTNS

Then,

FORMAT

NV MEM

Then,

ALL, or CAL, or SETUP

The instrument will need to be calibrated after this operation and any

configuration data that has been modified by the customer would need to be

restored, including the system clock and the clock format. This is the safest

method, but is highly destructive in that it requires a total recalibration of the

instrument.