Agilent Technologies 82357A User Manual

Agilent 82357A

USB/GPIB Interface Converter

User’s Guide

Contents

82357A USB/GPIB Interface Converter User’s Guide

Chapter 1 - Installing the 82357A ........................................................... 5

Steps to Install the 82357A ............................................................ 7

Step 1: Before You Install the 82357A........................................... 8

Check Your Shipment ............................................................ 8

Check System Requirements ................................................. 9

Step 2: Installing Agilent IO Libraries Suite ................................. 10

Checking for Installed Agilent IO Libraries ........................... 10

Installing Agilent IO Libraries Suite ...................................... 11

Step 3: Connecting the 82357A................................................... 13

82357A Hardware Description ............................................. 13

Connecting the 82357A to Your PC ..................................... 14

Connecting the 82357A to a USB Hub ................................. 15

Observing Windows Plug and Play Manager Sequence

(Windows XP Only) .............................................................. 17

Step 4: Configuring the 82357A................................................... 21

Setting 82357A Default Configuration .................................. 21

Setting 82357A Custom Configuration ................................. 24

Step 5: Connecting GPIB Instruments ......................................... 27

Connecting a Single GPIB Instrument .................................. 27

Connecting Multiple GPIB Instruments ................................ 28

Step 6: Programming via the 82357A .......................................... 29

Establishing Instrument Communication .............................. 29

Programming GPIB Instruments .......................................... 30

Chapter 2 - Using the 82357A ............................................................... 33

Modes of Operation ..................................................................... 35

Initial 82357A Operating States ............................................ 35

Introduction to 82357A Operating Modes ............................. 36

Single 82357A Operation ..................................................... 37

Multiple 82357A Operation ................................................... 38

SRQ Operation ..................................................................... 38

Setting Configuration Parameters................................................ 39

Changing Configuration Parameters .................................... 39

Changing Modes of Operation ............................................. 40

Setting Timeout Floor Values ............................................... 40

Setting 82357A High-Performance Operation ...................... 41

Chapter 3 - Troubleshooting the 82357A ............................................. 43

Troubleshooting Flowchart .......................................................... 45

Hardware Checks ........................................................................ 47

Contents 3

Check USB Cables, USB Interface, Host PC .......................47

Reboot the PC ......................................................................47

Check Device Manager .........................................................48

Software Installation Checks ........................................................49

Check Suspend/Resume Operation .....................................49

Verify Agilent IO Libraries Suite Installation .......................... 49

Verify 82357A USB Driver Installation ..................................51

Software Configuration Checks ....................................................52

Checking IO Control Operation .............................................52

Check USB Scanner .............................................................53

Check for usbscan.sys (Windows 98 SE Only) .....................54

Service/Support Information .........................................................56

82357A Service Information ..................................................56

Contacting Agilent .................................................................56

Chapter 4 - 82357A User’s Guide Information .....................................57

Guide Contents.............................................................................59

Guide General Information ...........................................................60

Appendix A - 82357A Specifications ....................................................63

Technical Specifications ...............................................................65

Supplementary Information .......................................................... 66

Index ........................................................................................................ 67

Contents 4

Installing the 82357A

This Agilent 82357A USB/GPIB Interface Converter User’s Guide shows how to install and configure the Agilent 82357A USB/GPIB Interface Converter for PCs with Windows 98 (SE), Windows Me, Windows 2000, or Windows XP Professional operating systems.

NOTE

The 82357A USB/GPIB Interface Converter is supported ONLY for PCs with Windows 98 (Second Edition), Windows Me, Windows 2000, or Windows XP Professional operating systems.

These operating systems are specifically not supported:

Windows 98 First (“Gold”) Edition Windows 95 Windows NT 4.0 (OS does not support USB)

In case of difficulty in installing the 82357A, see Chapter 3 Troubleshooting the 82357A. See Chapter 4 - 82357A User Guide Information for guide contents and general guide information.

This chapter shows suggested steps to install the 82357A, including:

 Steps to Install the 82357A  Step 1: Before You Install the 82357A  Step 2: Installing the Agilent IO Libraries Suite  Step 3: Connecting the 82357A  Step 4: Configuring the 82357A  Step 5: Connecting GPIB Instruments  Step 6: Programming via the 82357A

6 Chapter 1

Installing the 82357A

Steps to Install the 82357A

This figure shows a suggested sequence of steps to install and configure the 82357A and to communicate between your PC and GPIB instruments.

Step 1 - Before You Install the 82357A

 Check Your Shipment  Check System Requirements

Step 2 - Installing Agilent IO Libraries Suite

 Check for Installed Libraries  Install the Libraries

Step 3 - Connecting the 82357A

 Connect to a USB Port  Observe Plug and Play Manager

Step 4 - Configuring the 82357A

 Set default configuration OR  Set custom configuration

Step 5 - Connecting GPIB Instruments

 Connect single GPIB instrument OR  Connect multiple GPIB instruments

Step 6 - Programming via the 82357A

 Establish communication  Program GPIB instruments

Chapter 1 7

Installing the 82357A

Step 1: Before You Install the 82357A

Before you install the 82357A, you should:

 Check Your Shipment  Check System Requirements

Check Your Shipment

Your 82357A USB/GPIB Interface Converter shipment should include the items in the following figure. If any items are missing or damaged, keep the shipping materials and contact Agilent Technologies. See “Contacting Agilent” on page 56 for addresses and telephone numbers.

As you check the shipment items, verify that the 82357A Serial Number on the bottom of the 82357A matches the Serial Number shown on the Serial Number Label on the 82357A Kit Box and on the 82357A Certificate of Calibration. If the Serial Numbers do not match, contact Agilent. If all Serial Numbers match, you may want to record the Serial Number for future reference.

 Agilent Technologies 82357A USB/GPIB Interface Converter  Agilent Autom ation-Ready CD with Agilent IO Libraries Suite  82357A USB/GPIB Interface Converter Getting Started Poster  82357A USB/GPIB Interface Converter User's Guide  82357A Registration Card  Software License Agreement

82357A KIt Box

US12345678

Serial Number Label

82357A USB/GPIB Interface

Converter

Agilent Automation-

Ready CD

8 Chapter 1

Software License

Registration Card

82357A Getting

Started Poster

82357A User's

Guide

Installing the 82357A

Step 1: Before You Install the 82357A

Check System Requirements

Before you install the Agilent IO Libraries Suite, you should verify that your system meets the install and use the software. Adding additional RAM may improve overall system performance.

NOTE

The 82357A USB/GPIB Interface Converter is supported ONLY on Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows Me, Windows 2000, and Windows XP Professional.

Item Minimum Requirements

Hardware Requirements

minimum hardware and software requirements listed to

PC Operation/ Memory

Hard Drive Space 215 MB for installation: 160 MB for Microsoft

USB Port At least one USB port (to connect 82357A)

Software Requirements

Operating System Windows 98 SE, Windows Me, Windows 2000

Agilent IO Libraries Agilent IO Libraries Version L.01.00 or greater, or

NOTE

For Windows 98 Second Edition, you may need to install usbscan.sys, located on the Windows 98 CD-ROM. See “Check for usbscan.sys (Windows 98 SE Only)” in Chapter 3 - Troubleshooting the 82357A for details.

200 MHz Pentium II (800 MHz recommended) and 64 MBytes RAM (96 MB recommended).

.NET Framework, 55 MB for Agilent IO Libraries Suite 125 MB for operation: 70 MB for Microsoft .NET Framework, 55 MB for Agilent IO Libraries Suite

(Service Pack 4 or later), or Windows XP Professional (Service Pack 1 or later).

Agilent IO Libraries Suite Version 14.0 or greater.

Chapter 1 9

Installing the 82357A

Step 2: Installing Agilent IO Libraries Suite

This step shows how to install the Agilent IO Libraries Suite, using default settings, including:

 Checking for Installed Agilent IO Libraries or Agilent IO Libraries

Suite

 Installing Agilent IO Libraries Suite

NOTE

See the Agilent IO Libraries Getting Started Guide on your AutomationReady CD for a full description of installation options and installation troubleshooting information.

NOTE

You must have Administrator privileges to install the IO Libraries Suite and to run the Connection Expert utility.

Checking for Installed Agilent IO Libraries

Before you begin installation, check for previously installed Agilent IO Libraries software. If a version of the Agilent IO Libraries or Agilent IO Libraries Suite is installed on your PC, a blue IO icon may be displayed on the Windows taskbar (on the lower right-hand side of the screen).

IO Libraries icon

IO Libraries Suite icon

 If either IO icon is displayed, click the icon and click About Agilent IO

Libraries Control

or greater. Note that Agilent IO Libraries Suite 14.0 was the revision

10 Chapter 1

to display the version. The version must be L.01.00

Installing the 82357A

Step 2: Installing Agilent IO Libraries Suite

immediately following Agilent IO Libraries M.01.01, so you should consider revision “14.0” to be a greater version number than ”L” or “M”.

 If the IO icon is not displayed, a version may still be installed. To

check this, click or Agilent IO Libraries Suite program group.

Start | Programs and look for the Agilent IO Libraries

 If this group is displayed, click Agilent IO Libraries | IO Control to

display the IO icon. Then, click the icon and click

Libraries Control

greater, inclusive of 14.0 or greater).

to display the installed version (must be L.01.00 or

About Agilent IO

 If neither the IO icon nor the Agilent IO Libraries program group is

displayed, no Agilent IO Libraries are installed and you can use the steps in this chapter and in the Agilent IO Libraries Suite Getting Started Guide to install the libraries.

 If the version of the Agilent IO Libraries is less than L.01.00, you

must install the newer version included on your Automation-Ready CD to support the 82357A.

 If your version of the Agilent IO Libraries is at least L.01.00, but less

than the version on your Automation-Ready CD, you may want to install the newer version to take advantage of new features and greater ease of use of the more recent Agilent IO Libraries Suite. Note that Agilent IO Libraries Suite 14.0 was the revision immediately following Agilent IO Libraries M.01.01, so you should consider revision “14.0” to be a greater version number than “L” or “M”. Configuration instructions in this manual make use of Agilent IO Libraries Suite 14.0.

Installing Agilent IO Libraries Suite

To install the Agilent IO Libraries Suite software,

1 First, disconnect any USB instruments, USB/GPIB converters, and

FireWire-VXI interfaces that are connected to your PC.

2 Insert the Automation-Ready CD in your CD-ROM drive. Wait a few

seconds for the auto-run window to appear.

Chapter 1 11

Installing the 82357A

Step 2: Installing Agilent IO Libraries Suite

3 If the auto-run window does not appear automatically,

 Click Start | Run...  Type <drive>:autorun\auto.exe, where <drive> is your

CD drive letter.

4 When the auto-run window appears, follow the directions in this

window to install the Agilent IO Libraries Suite. (See the Agilent IO Libraries Getting Started Guide on your Automation-Ready CD for a full description of installation options and installation troubleshooting information.)

12 Chapter 1

Installing the 82357A

Step 3: Connecting the 82357A

After the Agilent IO Libraries (Version L.01.00 or later) have been installed, you can connect the 82357A to any USB port on your PC or you can connect the 82357A via standard USB hubs. This step includes:

 82357A Hardware Description  Connecting the 82357A to Your PC  Connecting the 82357A to a USB Hub  Observing Windows Plug and Play Manager (Windows XP)

NOTE

If the Agilent IO Libraries or Agilent IO Libraries Suite has not been installed on your PC, Agilent IO Libraries Suite) and then return to this step.

NOTE

STOP. Install the libraries (see Step 2: Installing the

82357A Hardware Description

The Agilent 82357A USB/GPIB Interface Converter (82357A) provides a direct interface connection from the USB port on your PC to GPIB instruments. The 82357A includes an attached USB cable that is USB 1.1 compliant. This cable is shielded and the connector is specified for up to 1,500 insertions.

An 82357A can be directly connected to a single GPIB instrument or can be connected to up to 14 GPIB instruments via GPIB cables. In addition, several 82357As can be connected to your PC via standard USB hubs. The following figure shows main 82357A hardware features.

Chapter 1 13

Installing the 82357A

Step 3: Connecting the 82357A

GPIB Connector. Connect to up to 14 GPIB Instruments.

Green READY LED

Red FAIL LED

Connecting the 82357A to Your PC

Green ACCESS LED

USB Cable. Connect to USB Port.

This section shows steps to connect the 82357A to a USB port on your PC or to connect to your PC via a USB Hub.

Connect to a USB Port. Make sure the PC is ON and plug the 82357A

USB cable into any available USB port on your PC. Do not connect the 82357A to GPIB instruments at this time.

READY LED

Connect to USB Port

FAIL LED

USB Cable

ACCESS LED

82357A

14 Chapter 1

Installing the 82357A

Step 3: Connecting the 82357A

2 Observe the LEDs. Observe the LEDs on the 82357A for at least 10

seconds. See Chapter 2 - Using the 82357A for a description of the normal LED sequence with an initial installation of an 82357A.

a Initially, only the red FAIL LED should be ON. After a few seconds,

all three LEDs should be ON. All three LEDs ON shows the 82357A has been successfully installed, but is not yet configured for use with the Agilent IO Libraries Suite.

b If all three LEDs are not ON after 10 seconds and all Windows Plug

and Play Manager activity has ceased, Troubleshooting the 82357A for diagnostics information.

c If all three LEDs are still ON after 10 seconds, go to “Observing

Windows Plug and Play Manager Sequence (Windows XP Only)”.

STOP. See Chapter 3 -

Connecting the 82357A to a USB Hub

This section shows steps to connect the 82357A to a USB port on your PC via a standard USB hub.

NOTE

Any USB hub used with the 82357A MUST be self-powered (must not be bus-powered or powered from the USB bus). Also, be sure to check the applicable USB hub documentation for hub operating parameters, such as power requirements and maximum length of USB cables.

1 Plug the power adapter into the hub and into an electrical outlet.

Make sure the hub is operating in self-powered mode. For example, the following figure shows a 4-port self-powered USB hub with two 82357A USB/GPIB Interface Converters connected.

2 Make sure your PC is ON. Connect the USB cable of the USB hub

to any available USB port on your PC.

3 Plug at least one 82357A USB/GPIB Interface Converter into the

port(s) on the USB hub. It is not necessary to connect GPIB instruments to any 82357A at this time.

Chapter 1 15

Installing the 82357A

Step 3: Connecting the 82357A

USB Cable

82357A

USB Cable

4-Port

Self-

Powered

USB Hub

USB Cable

82357A

4 Observe the LEDs. Observe the LEDs on the 82357A for at least 10

seconds. See Chapter 2 - Using the 82357A for a description of the normal LED sequence with an initial installation of an 82357A.

a Initially, only the red FAIL LED should be ON. After a few seconds,

all three LEDs should be ON. All three LEDs ON shows the 82357A has been successfully installed, but is not yet configured for use with the Agilent IO Libraries.

b If all three LEDs are not ON after 10 seconds and all Windows Plug

and Play Manager activity has ceased,

STOP. See Chapter 3 -

Troubleshooting the 82357A for diagnostics information.

c If all three LEDs are still ON after 10 seconds, go to “Observing

Windows Plug and Play Manager Sequence (Windows XP Only)”.

16 Chapter 1

Installing the 82357A

Step 3: Connecting the 82357A

Observing Windows Plug and Play Manager Sequence (Windows XP Only)

When an 82357A is first plugged into a USB port, for Windows XP ONLY, a Windows Plug and Play Manager installation sequence may be displayed.

NOTE

This section shows typical displays for a Windows XP Professional operating system ONLY. Similar displays may appear for Windows 98 SE, Windows 2000, or Windows Me operating systems.

Introduction The following sequence only appears when an 82357A is initially plugged

into a USB port. The sequence appears each time an 82357A with a new serial number is installed or when an 82357A is installed in a new USB port.

For example, if an 82357A with Serial Number US12345678 is initially plugged into USB port #1, the sequence may appear. If this 82357A is configured using the sequence, the next time this 82357A is plugged into USB port #1, the sequence will not appear.

However, if another 82357A is plugged into USB port #1 or if the 82357A with Serial Number US12345678 is initially plugged into USB port #2, the sequence may also appear.

NOTE

The displays in the following sequence assume you have installed the Agilent IO Libraries Suite as shown in Step 2 - Installing Agilent IO Libraries Suite. If you have not installed the libraries, STOP and do Step 2 before continuing.

Chapter 1 17

Installing the 82357A

Step 3: Connecting the 82357A

Typical Windows Plug and Play Manager Sequence

When an 82357A is initially plugged into a USB port, a Welcome to the

Found New Hardware Wizard

following figure. If this dialog box appears, select

automatically (Recommended) and click Next>.

NOTE

Ignore the statement “If your hardware came with an installation CD or floppy disk, insert it now”, as the software has already been installed.

dialog box may appear, as shown in the

Install the software

5 The Please wait while the wizard searches... dialog box appears.

Wait until the initializing process completes and then click

6 The

NOTE

Although the statement “

Logo testing.

18 Chapter 1

Hardware Installation dialog box appears.

Continuing your installation ... passed Windows

” appears, you can safely click the Continue Anyway button.

Next>.

Installing the 82357A

Step 3: Connecting the 82357A

7 The Completing the Found New Hardware Wizard dialog box appears.

Click

Finish to close the wizard.

8 A slightly different version of the

Wizard

Select click

dialog box appears, this time for installing 82357A software

Install the software automatically (Recommended) and then

Next>.

Welcome to the Found New Hardware

NOTE

Ignore the statement “If your hardware came with an installation CD or floppy disk, insert it now”, as the software has already been installed.

9 The

10 A different version of the

Please wait while the wizard searches... dialog box appears.

Wait until the initializing process completes and click

Hardware Installation dialog box appears.

Next>.

NOTE

Although the statement “

Logo testing.

” appears, you can safely click the Continue Anyway button.

Continuing your installation ... passed Windows

Chapter 1 19

Installing the 82357A

Step 3: Connecting the 82357A

11 The Please wait while the wizard installs the software... dialog box

appears. After the installation is complete, click the display the

Agilent 82357A USB/GPIB Interface Detected dialog box.

Next> button to

Go to “Step 4: Configuring the 82357A” to continue the installation.

20 Chapter 1

Installing the 82357A

Step 4: Configuring the 82357A

After the 82357A has been installed and the applicable Windows Plug and Play Manager installation sequence has completed, the 82357A must be configured before it can be used with SICL or with Agilent VISA or VISA COM. This step includes:

 Setting 82357A Default Configuration  Setting 82357A Custom Configuration

NOTE

You must have Administrator privileges to install the IO Libraries Suite and to run the Connection Expert utility. If you do not have Administrator privileges, the default configuration for the 82357A will not take effect, and you will not be able to use the 82357A until it has been configured using Connection Expert.

Setting 82357A Default Configuration

This section shows steps to configure an 82357A for default settings by using the configuration should be sufficient for most applications.

NOTE

The only if the Connection Expert utility is not running when you connect the 82357A. If Connection Expert is running, default configuration is automatic; you need take no further action. (If Connection Expert is running and you do not see your 82357A in the Connection Expert window after connecting it, click configuration.)

Agilent 82357A USB/GPIB Interface Detected dialog box. The default

Agilent 82357A USB/GPIB Interface Detected dialog box is displayed

Refresh All to force the default

Check LED Status. Before setting 82357A configuration, verify that all

three LEDs on the 82357A are still ON to indicate the 82357A has been successfully installed, but has not yet been configured.

82357A Interface Detected Box Appears. After an 82357A has been

connected to a USB port and the Windows Plug and Play Manager

Chapter 1 21

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