HP 81101A Reference Manual

Reference Guide

HP 81101A 50 MHz Pulse Generator

Front Panel Display and Softkeys

Mode / Parameter Area

Use the CURSOR keys to move

the entry focus to a mode,

parameter format, or

parameter value

Per 1.000µs Normal

Delay1 0ps Width LeadE TraiE

100.0ns

5.00ns =LeadE

OUTPUT TRG-LEVLIMITSMODE/TRG

Press a SOFTKEY to access

the required entry screen

Screen Selection Area

Modify / Enter Area

Entry Focus

OFF

Offset Amplit

+0.0mV

1.00V

50Ω into 50.0Ω

MODE/TRG TRG-LEV MEMCARD CONFIG

Use the KNOB to select a

mode or modify parameters

and formats

Press ENTER or a UNIT key to

confirm parameter changes

MODIFY

*OFF ON

Press MORE key to access

the additional screen menus:

GRAPH

Reference Guide

HP 81101A 50 MHz

Pulse Generator

HP Part No. 81101-91011

Printed in Germany September 1998

Edition 1.0, E0998

Notice

 1998 Hewlett-Packard GmbH Herrenberger Str. 110–140 71034 Boeblingen Germany

Warranty

This Hewlett-Packard product has a warranty against defects in material and workmanship for a period of three years from date of shipment. During the warranty period, Hewlett-Packard Company will, at its option, either repair or replace products that prove to be defective. For warranty service or repair, this product must be returned to a service facility designated by Hewlett-Packard. The Buyer shall pay Hewlett-Packard's round-trip travel expenses. For products returned to Hewlett-Packard for warranty service, the Buyer shall prepay shipping charges to HewlettPackard and Hewlett-Packard shall pay shipping charges to return the product to the Buyer. However, the Buyer shall pay all shipping charges, duties and taxes for products returned to Hewlett-Packard from another country. Hewlett-Packard warrants that its software and firmware designated by Hewlett-Packard for use with an instrument will execute its programming instructions when properly installed on that instrument. Hewlett-Packard does not warrant that the operation of the instrument software, or firmware, will be uninterrupted or error free.

Notice

Limitation of Warranty

The foregoing warranty shall not apply to defects resulting from improper or inadequate maintenance by the Buyer, Buyer-supplied software or interfacing, unauthorized modification or misuse, operation outside of the environmental specifications for the product, or improper site preparation or maintenance.

No other warranty is expressed or implied. Hewlett-Packard specifically disclaims the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.

Exclusive Remedies

The remedies supplied are the Buyer’s sole and exclusive remedies. Hewlett-Packard shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages, whether based on contract, tort or any other legal theory.

Assistance

Product maintenance agreements and other customer assistance agreements are available for Hewlett-Packard products. For any assistance, contact your nearest Hewlett-Packard Sales Office.

Certification

Hewlett-Packard Company certifies that this product met its published specifications at the time of shipment. Hewlett-Packard further certifies that its calibration measurements are traceable to the United States Institute of Standards and Technology, to the extent allowed by the Institute's calibrating facility, and to the calibration facilities of other International Standards Organization members.

About this Book

This guide provides reference information primarily for programming the HP 81101A via remote control.

Chapter 1 “General Programming Aspects” on page 13 gives general

hints for programming instruments like the HP 81101A using SCPI commands.

Chapter 2 “Programming Reference” on page 25 provides detailed

information on the SCPI commands supported by the instrument.

Chapter 3 “Specifications” on page 89 lists the instrument’s technical

specifications and provides exact definitions for the instrument’s parameters.

For an introduction and information on the HP 81101A’s user interface, please refer to the Quick Start Guide, p/n 81101-91010.

About this Book

Conventions Used in this Book

This book uses certain conventions to indicate elements of the HP 81101A’s user interface. The following table shows some examples:

Softkeys Press the MODE/TRG softkey to access the Mode/

Trigger screen.

Hardkeys Press the MORE key to switch to the alternative

softkey layout.

Alternate Keys Press SHIFT + 0 (ON/OFF) to switch on the output.

The alternate key label—which is selected by pressing the SHIFT key—is given in parentheses.

Screen Quotes Move the entry focus down to P

turn the knob to select

INTERNAL

ULSE-PERIOD

PLL.

and

Entry Focus The highlight field, that can be moved with the

cursor keys, to change modes, parameters, or parameter formats.

:VOLTage:HIGH 3V

Full command for programming a 3 V high level. The upper case letters represent the short form of the command, which results in faster programming times.

*RST Common IEE 488 command, to reset instrument

to default status.

Safety Information

Safety

This is a Safety Class 1 instrument (provided with terminal for protective earthing). Before applying power, verify that the correct safety precautions are taken (see the following warnings). In addition, note the external markings on the instrument that are described under Safety Symbols. Do not operate the instrument with its covers removed. Replace fuse only with specified type.

Warning

Before turning on the instrument, you must connect the protective earth terminal of the instrument to the protective earth conductor of the (mains) power cord. The mains plug must only be inserted in a socket outlet with a protective earth contact. Do not negate the protective action by using an extension power cord without a protective grounding conductor. Grounding one conductor of a two-conductor outlet is not sufficient protection.

Service instructions are for trained service personnel. To avoid dangerous electric shock, do not perform any service unless qualified to do so. Do not attempt internal service or adjustment unless another person, capable of rendering first aid and resuscitation, is present.

If you energize this instrument using an auto-transformer (for voltage reduction) make sure that the common terminal is connected to the earth terminal of the power source.

Whenever it is likely that the ground protection is impaired, you must make the instrument inoperative and secure it against any unintended operation.

Do not operate the instrument in the presence of flammable gases or fumes. Operation of any electrical instrument in such an environment constitutes a definite safety hazard.

Do not install substitute parts or perform any unauthorized modification to the instrument.

Safety Information

Capacitors inside the instrument may retain a charge even if the instrument is disconnected from its source of supply.

Safety Symbols

Instruction Manual symbol: The instrument is marked with this symbol when it is necessary for you to refer to the instruction manual in order to protect against damage to the instrument.

Protected conductor symbol.

In the manuals:

WARNING

CAUTION Cautions call attention to a procedure, practice, or the like, which, if not

Warnings call attention to a procedure, practice, or the like, which, if not correctly performed or adhered to, could result in personal injury or loss of life. Do not proceed beyond a Warning until the indicated conditions are fully understood and met.

correctly performed or adhered to, could result in damage to or destruction of part or all of the equipment. Do not proceed beyond a Caution until the indicated conditions are fully understood and met.

Safety Information

Contents

Notice ......................................................................................... 4

About this Book ......................................................................... 6

Safety Information .................................................................... 8

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

General Programming Aspects

The HP-IB Interface Bus ......................................................... 14

HP 81101A Remote Control .................................................... 15

Programming Recommendations ............................................ 16

Common Command Summary ................................................. 18

Status Model ............................................................................ 19

Programming Reference

HP 81101A SCPI Command Summary .................................... 26

Default Values, Standard Settings ......................................... 31

Programming the Instrument Trigger Modes ........................ 35

SCPI Instrument Command List ............................................ 38

Contents

Chapter 3 Specifications

Declaration of Conformity ..................................................... 90

HP 81101A Specifications ...................................................... 91

General ................................................................................................... 91

Timing Specifications ........................................................................... 93

Level Specifications .............................................................................. 96

Clock Sources ........................................................................................ 97

Output Modes ........................................................................................ 99

Trigger Modes ...................................................................................... 100

Trigger and Strobe Specifications ..................................................... 101

Human Interface .................................................................................. 103

Memory ................................................................................................. 103

Remote Control ................................................................................... 104

Pulse Parameter Definitions ................................................ 105

xii

1General Programming

Aspects

This chapter provides general information on writing HP-IB/SCPI programs for instruments like the HP 81101A.

Detailed information on programming the HP 81101A can be found in

Chapter 2 “Programming Reference” on page 25.

General Programming Aspects

The HP-IB Interface Bus

The Hewlett-Packard Interface Bus is the interface used for communication between a controller and an external device, such as the HP 81101A. The HP-IB conforms to IEEE standard 488-1987, ANSI standard MC 1.1, and IEC recommendation 625-1.

If you are not familiar with the HP-IB, please refer to the following books:

•

Hewlett-Packard Company: Publication 5952-0156, Tutorial Description of Hewlett-Packard Interface Bus.

•

The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers: IEEE Standard

488.1-1987, IEEE Standard Digital Interface for Programmable Instrumentation.

•

The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers: IEEE Standard

488.2-1987, IEEE Standard Codes, Formats, and Common

Commands for Use with IEEE Standard 488.1-1987.

In addition, the commands not from the IEEE 488.2 standard are defined according to the Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments (SCPI). For an introduction to SCPI and SCPI programming techniques, refer to the following documents:

•

Hewlett-Packard Press (Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc.): A Beginners Guide to SCPI by Barry Eppler, 1991.

•

The SCPI Consortium: Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments, published periodically by various publishers. To obtain a copy of this manual, contact your Hewlett-Packard representative.

General Programming Aspects

HP 81101A Remote Control

HP-IB Address You can only set the HP-IB address from the front panel of the instrument

(refer to the Quick Start Guide). The default HP-IB address is 10.

Modes of Operation

The HP 81101A has two modes of operation:

•

Local The instrument is operated using the front panel keys.

•

Remote After receiving the first command or query via the HP-IB, the

instrument is put into remote state. The front panel is locked. To return to local operating mode, press SHIFT (LOCAL).

General Programming Aspects

Programming Recommendations

Here are some recommendations for programming the instrument:

•

Start programming from the default setting. The common command for setting the default setting is:

*RST

•

Switch off the automatic update of the display to increase the programming speed. The device command for switching off the display is:

:DISPlay OFF

•

The SCPI standard defines a long and a short form of the commands. For fast programming speed it is recommended to use the short forms. The short forms of the commands are represented by upper case letters. For example the short form of the command to set 100 ns double pulse delay is:

:PULS:DOUB:DEL 100NS

•

To improve programming speed it is also allowed to skip optional subsystem command parts. Optional subsystem command parts are depicted in square brackets, e.g.: enable double pulse mode by

[SOURce]:PULSe:DOUBle[1] [:STATe] O N|OFF. Sufficient to use: :PULS:DOUB ON

•

For the commands to set the timing and level parameters, except of period/frequency, you can explicitly specify output 1 (for compatibility reasons). If there is no output specified, the commands will set the default output 1.

So, for setting a high level of 3 Volts for output 1 the commands are:

:VOLT:HIGH 3V # sets high level of 3 V at out 1 :VOLT1:HIGH 3V # sets high level of 3 V at out 1

•

It is recommended to test a new setting that will be programmed on the instrument by setting it up manually.

Enable the outputs so that the instrument’s error check system is on and possible parameter conflicts are immediately displayed.

General Programming Aspects

Programming Recommendations

When you have found the correct setting, then use this to create the program. In the program it is recommended to send the command for enabling outputs (for example, :OUTPut ON) as the last command. With this procedure it is possible to switch off the error check system (:SYSTem:CHECk OFF) to increase programming speed.

The error check is enabled again by sending *RST.

*RST # set default settings :DISP OFF # switch off display update :SYST:CHEC OFF # switch off error check ... # other commands to set modes ... # and parameters :OUTP ON # enable the output

• Selftest of the instrument can be invoked by the common command

*TST

• If it is important to know whether the last command is completed, then send the common command

*OPC?

General Programming Aspects

Common Command Summary

This table summarizes the IEEE 488.2 common commands supported by the HP 81101A:

Command Parameter Description

*CLS – Clear the status structure *ESE <0–255> Set the Standard Event Status register mask *ESE? – Read the state of the Standard Event Status enable register *ESR? – Read the state of the Standard Event Status event register *IDN? – Read the Instrument's Identification string *LRN? – Read the complete Instrument Setting *OPC – Set the Operation Complete bit when all pending actions

are complete *OPC? – Read the status of the Operation Complete bit *OPT? – Read the installed options *RCL <0–9> Recall a complete Instrument Setting from memory *RST – Reset the instrument to standard settings *SAV <1–9> Save the complete Instrument Setting to memory *SRE <0–255> Set the Service Request Enable Mask *SRE? – Read the Service Request Enable Mask *STB? – Read the Status Byte *TRG – Trigger *TST? – Execute instrument’s selftest *WAI – Wait until all pending actions are complete

Status Model

TIONABLE STATUS

QUES

Voltage Warning Current Warning

Timi ng War ning

Frequency Warning

Operation Complete

Query Error

Device Dependent Error

Execution Error Command Error

Power On

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

OPERation Status

(NOT USED)

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Standard Event Status

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

MAV

SRQ

Status Byte

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

General Programming Aspects

Status Model

The instrument has a status reporting system conforming to IEEE 488.2 and SCPI. The above figure shows the status groups available in the instrument.

Each status group is made up of component registers, as shown in the following figure.

General Programming Aspects

Conditi

Enabl

Status Model

ransition

Filters

vent

Summary Bit Hardware and Firmware condition

1 0

PTR NTR

1 0

Latched

Condition Register

A condition register contains the current status of the hardware and firmware. It is continuously updated and is not latched or buffered. You can only read condition registers. If there is no command to read the condition register of a particular status group, then it is simply invisible to you.

Transition Filters

Transition filters are used to detect changes of state in the condition register and set the corresponding bit in the event register. You can set transition filter bits to detect positive transitions (PTR), negative transitions (NTR) or both. Transition filters are therefore read/write registers. They are unaffected by *CLS.

Event Register

An event register latches transition events from the condition register as specified by the transition filters or records status events. Querying (reading) the event register clears it, as does the *CLS command. There is no buffering, so while a bit is set, subsequent transition events are not recorded. Event registers are read only.

General Programming Aspects

Status Model

Enable Register

The enable register defines which bits in an event register are included in the logical OR into the summary bit. The enable register is logically ANDed with the event register and the resulting bits ORed into the summary bit. Enable registers are read/write, and are not affected by

or querying.

*CLS

Although all status groups have all of these registers, not all status groups actually use all of the registers. The following table summarizes the registers used in the instrument status groups.

Registers in Group

Status Group

QUEStionable

*ESR? *ESE *STB? *SRE

to query.

to set,

to query

to set,

OPERation

Standard Event Status

Status Byte

1 Present, but not used. COND and EVEN always 0. 2 Use 3 Use 4 Use 5 Use

CONDition NTR PTR EVENt ENABLe

√ √ √ √ √

xxxxx

xxx

to query

*ESE?

to query

*SRE?

√

General Programming Aspects

Status Model

Status Byte

The status byte summarizes the information from all other status groups. The summary bit for the status byte actually appears in bit 6 (RQS) of the status byte. When RQS is set it generates an SRQ interrupt to the controller indicating that at least one instrument on the bus requires attention. You can read the status byte using a serial poll or *STB?

Bit Description

0 Unused, always 0 1 Unused, always 0 2 Unused, always 0 3 QUESTionable Status Summary Bit 4 MAV—Message AVailable in output buffer 5 Standard Event Status summary bit 6 RQS; ReQuest Service 7 OPERation Status summary Bit, unused

Standard Event Status Group

Bit Description

0 Operation Complete, set by *OPC 1 Unused, always 0 2 Query Error 3 Device Dependent Error 4 Execution Error 5 Command Error 6 Unused, always 0 7 Power On

OPERation Status Group

This Status Group is not used in the instrument.

Bit Description

0 Unused, always 0 1 Unused, always 0 2 Unused, always 0 3 Unused, always 0 4 Unused, always 0 5 Unused, always 0 6 Unused, always 0 7 Unused, always 0 8 Unused, always 0 9 Unused, always 0

General Programming Aspects

Status Model

10 Unused, always 0 11 Unused, always 0 12 Unused, always 0 13 Unused, always 0 14 Unused, always 0 15 Always 0

General Programming Aspects

Status Model

QUEStionable Status Group

Bit QUEStionable

0 Voltage warning 1 Current warning 2 Time warning 3 Unused, always 0 4 Unused, always 0 5 Frequency warning 6 Unused, always 0 7 Unused, always 0 8 Unused, always 0 9 Unused, always 0 10 Unused, always 0 11 Unused, always 0 12 Unused, always 13 Unused, always 0 14 Unused, always 0 15 Always 0

The QUEStionable Status group is used to report warning conditions amongst the voltage, current, pulse timing and frequency parameters. Warnings occur when a parameter, although not outside its maximum limits, could be causing an invalid signal at the output because of the actual settings and uncertainties of related parameters.

2Programming Reference

This chapter provides reference information on the following topics:

•

“HP 81101A SCPI Command Summary” on page 26

•

“Default Values, Standard Settings” on page 31

•

“Programming the Instrument Trigger Modes” on page 35

•

“SCPI Instrument Command List” on page 38

For general programming information, please refer to Chapter 1

“General Programming Aspects” on page 13.

Programming Reference

HP 81101A SCPI Command Summary

Command Parameter Description

:ARM

[:SEQuence[1] | :STARt]

[:LAYer[1]] :EWIDTh

[:STATe]

:FREQuency

:IMPedance :LEVel :PERiod

:SENSe :SLOPe :SOURce

ON|OFF|1|0 Set/read External Width mode <value> Set/read trigger frequency, when

<value> Set/read impedance at EXT INPUT <value> Set/read threshold level at EXT INPUT <value> Set/read trigger period, when PLL(INT2)

EDGE|LEVel Set/read trigger on edge or gate on level POS|NEG|EITH Set/read trigger slope at EXT INPUT IMM|INT2|EXT|MAN Set/read trigger source

(Trigger mode and source)

PLL(INT2) used as source

used as source

(VCO|PLL|EXT INPUT|MAN key)

see page

:DISPlay

[:WINDow]

[:STATe]

:MMEMory

:CATalog? :CDIRectory :COPY :DELete :INITialize :LOAD

:STATe

:STORe

:STATe

ON|OFF|1|0 Set/read front panel display state

[A:] Read directory of memory card [<name>] Change directory on memory card <source>[,A:],<dest>[,A:] Copy a file on memory card <name>[,A:] Delete a file from memory card [A:[DOS]] Initialize memory card to DOS format

<n>,<name> Load file from memory card to memory n

<n>,<name> Store memory n to memory card

Programming Reference

HP 81101A SCPI Command Summary

Command Parameter Description

:OUTPut[1]

[:NORMal]

[:STATe]

:IMPedance 47

[:INTernal]

:EXTernal

:POLarity

[:SOURce]

:CURRent[1]

[:LEVel]

[:IMMediate]

[:AMPLitude] :OFFSet :HIGH :LOW

:LIMit

[:HIGH] :LOW :STATe

:FREQency

[:CW | :FIXed]

:AUTO

:HOLD[1]

:PHASe[1]

[:ADJust]

:PULSe

:DCYCLe[1] :DELay[1]

:HOLD

:UNIT

OFF|ON|1|0 Set/read normal output state

<value> Set/read internal source impedance of

output

<value> Set/read expected external load imped-

ance at output

NORM|INV Set/read output polarity

<value> Set/read channel amplitude current <value> Set/read channel offset current <value> Set/read channel high level current <value> Set/read channel low level current

Set/read maximum current limits Set/read minimum current limits

ON|OFF|1|0 Enable/Disable the current limits

<value> Set/read frequency of pulses ONCE Measure frequency at CLK-IN VOLT|CURR Switch between VOLtage and CURRent

command subtrees

<value> Set/read channel phase

<value> Set/read channel duty cycle <value> Set/read channel delay (to leading edge) TIME|PRATio Hold absolute delay|phase delay fixed

with varying frequency

S|SEC|PCT|DEG|RAD Set/read delay units

see page

Programming Reference

HP 81101A SCPI Command Summary

Command Parameter Description

:DOUBle[1]

[:STATe]

:DELay

:HOLD

:UNIT

:HOLD[1]

:PERiod

:AUTO :TDELay[1] :TRANsition[1]

:HOLD

:UNIT

[:LEADing]

:TRAiling

:AUTO

:TRIGger[1]

:VOLTage

:WIDTh[1]

OFF|ON Enable/disable double pulses per pulse

period <value> Set/read delay between double pulses TIME|PRATio Hold absolute delay|phase delay fixed

lay fixed with varying frequency <value> Set/read pulse period ONCE Measure pulse period at CLK-IN <value> Set/read trailing edge delay

TIME|WRATio Hold absolute transitions|transitions as

width ratio fixed with varying width per

period S|SEC|PCT Set/read transition time units <value> Set/read leading edge transition <value> Set/read trailing edge transition OFF|ON|ONCE Couple trailing edge to leading edge

TTL|ECL Set/read TRIGGER|STROBE OUTput

levels <value> Set/read channel pulse width

see page

[:SOURce]

:ROSCillator

:SOURce :EXTernal

:FREQuency

:VOLTage[1]

[:LEVel]

[:IMMediate]

[:AMPlitude]

INTernal|EXTernal Set/read PLL reference source

<value> Set/read frequency of external PLL

reference

<value> Set/read channel amplitude voltage

HP 81101A SCPI Command Summary

Command Parameter Description

:OFFset :HIGH :LOW

:LIMit

[:HIGH] :LOW :STATe

:STATus

:OPERation

[:EVENt]? :CONDition :ENABle :NTRansition

:PTRansition :PREset :QUEStionable

[:EVENt]?

:CONDition?

:ENABLe

:NTRansition

:PTRansition

<value> Set/read channel offset voltage <value> Set/read channel high level voltage <value> Set/read channel low level voltage

Set/read maximum voltage limit Set/read minimum voltage limit

ON|OFF|1|0 Enable|Disable the voltage limits

Read Operation event register Numeric Read Operation condition register Numeric Set/Read Operation enable register Numeric Set/Read Operation negative transition

Clear and preset status groups

Read Questionable event register

Read Questionable condition register Numeric Set/Read Questionable enable register Numeric Set/Read Questionable negative transi-

tion register Numeric Set/Read Questionable positive transi-

tion register

Programming Reference

see page

:SYSTem

:CHECk

[:ALL]

[:STATe] :ERRor? :KEY

:PRESet :SECurity

OFF Switch error checking off

Read error queue

Numeric Simulate key press or read last key

pressed no function

Programming Reference

HP 81101A SCPI Command Summary

Command Parameter Description

[:STATe] :SET :VERSion? :WARNing

[:COUNt]?

:STRing?

:BUFFer?

:TRIGger

[:SEQuence [1] | :STARt]

:COUNt

:IMPedance

:LEVel

:SLOPe

:SOURce

ON|OFF Switch security on and off Block data Set/read complete instrument setting

Read SCPI compliance setting

Read number of active warnings Read active warnings as concatenated

string Read maximum possible length of con-

catenated string

(Pulse mode and period source)

<value> Set/read number of triggered periods to

be generated per ARM event <value> Set/read impedance at CLK-IN <value> Set/read threshold level at CLK-IN POS|NEG Set/read trigger slope at CLK-IN IMM | INT[1] | INT2 |EXT Set/read trigger source

(IMM | VFO | PLL | CLK-IN)

see page

+ 88 hidden pages

HP 81101A Reference Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Notice

About this Book

Safety Information

The HP-IB Interface Bus

Programming Recommendations

Common Command Summary

Status Model

2Programming Reference