Keithley DMM6500 User Manual
Model DMM6500
6½-Digit Bench/System Multimeter
User’s Manual
DMM6500-900-01 Rev. A / April 2018
tek.com/keithley
*PDMM6500-900-01A*
DMM6500-900-01A
DMM6500
6½ Digit Multim eter
User's Manual
© 2018, Keithley Instruments, LLC
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A.
All rights reserved.
Any unauthorized reproduction, photocopy, or use of the information herein, in whole or in part,
without the prior written approval of Keithley Instruments, LLC, is strictly prohibited.
These are the original instructions in Engli sh.
TSP®, TSP-Link®, and TSP-Net® are trademarks of Keithley Instruments, LLC. All Keithley
Instruments product names are trade mar ks or regis tered trademarks of Keithley Instruments, LLC.
Other brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
The Lua 5.0 software and associated documentation files are copyright © 1994 - 2015, Lua.org,
PUC-Rio. You can access terms of license for the Lua software and associated documentation at
the Lua licensing site (http://www.lua.org/license.html).
Microsoft, Visual C++, Excel, and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
Document number: DMM6500-900-01Rev. A / April 2018
Safety precaut ions
The following safety precautions should be observed before using this product and any associated instrumentation. Although
some instruments and accessories would normally be used with nonhazardous voltages, there are situations where hazardous
conditions may be present.
This product is intended for use by personnel who recognize shock hazards and are familiar with the safety precautions required
to avoid possible injury. Read and follow all installation, operation, and maintenance information carefully before using the
product. Refer to the user documentation for complete product specifications.
If the product is used in a manner not specified, the protection provided by the product warranty may be impaired.
The types of product users are:
Responsible body is the individual or group responsible for the use and maintenance of equipment, for ensuring that the
equipment is operated within its specifications and operating limits, and for ensuring that operators are adequately trained.
Operators use the product for its intended function. They must be trained in electrical safety procedures and proper use of the
instrument. They must be protected from electric shock and contact with hazardous live circuits.
Maintenance personnel perform routine procedures on the product to keep it operating properly, for example, setting the line
voltage or replacing consumable materials. Maintenance procedures are described in the user documentation. The procedures
explicitly state if the operator may perform them. Otherwise, they should be performed only by service personnel.
Service personnel are trained to work on live circuits, perform safe installations, and repair products. Only properly trained
service personnel may perform installation and service procedures.
Keithley products are designed for use with electrical signals that are measurement, control, and data I/O connections, with low
transient overvoltages, and must not be directly connected to mains voltage or to voltage sources with high transient
overvoltages. Measurement Category II (as referenced in IEC 60664) connections require protection for high transient
overvoltages often associated with local AC mains connections. Certain Keithley measuring instruments may be connected to
mains. These instruments will be marked as category II or higher.
Unless explicitly allowed in the specifications, operating manual, and instrument labels, do not connect any instrument to mains.
Exercise extreme caution when a shock hazard is present. Lethal voltage may be present on cable connector jacks or test
fixtures. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) states that a shock hazard exists when voltage levels greater than
30 V RMS, 42.4 V peak, or 60 VDC are present. A good safety practice is to expect that hazardous voltage is present in any
unknown circuit before measuring.
Operators of this product must be protected from electric shock at all times. The responsible body must ensure that operators
are prevented access and/or insulated from every connection point. In some cases, connections must be exposed to potential
human contact. Product operators in these circumstances must be trained to protect themselves from the risk of electric shock. If
the circuit is capable of operating at or above 1000 V, no conductive part of the circuit may be exposed.
Do not connect switching cards directly to unlimited power circuits. They are intended to be used with impedance-limited
sources. NEVER connect switching cards directly to AC mains. When connecting sources to switching cards, install protective
devices to limit fault current and voltage to the card.
Before operating an instrument, ensure that the line cord is connected to a properly-grounded power receptacle. Inspect the
connecting cables, test leads, and jumpers for possible wear, cracks, or breaks before each use.
When installing equipment where access to the main power cord is restricted, such as rack mounting, a separate main input
power disconnect device must be provided in close proximity to the equipment and within easy reach of the operator.
For maximum safety, do not touch the product, test cables, or any other instruments while power is applied to the circuit under
test. ALWAYS remove power from the entire test system and discharge any capacitors before: connecting or disconnecting
cables or jumpers, installing or removing switching cards, or making internal changes, such as installing or removing jumpers.
Do not touch any object that could provide a current path to the common side of the circuit under test or power line (earth)
ground. Always make measurements with dry hands while standing on a dry, insulated surface capable of withstanding the
voltage being measured.
For safety, instruments and accessories must be used in accordance with the operating instructions. If the instruments or
accessories are used in a manner not specified in the operating instructions, the protection provided by the equipment may be
impaired.
Do not exceed the maximum signal levels of the instruments and accessories. Maximum signal levels are defined in the
specifications and operating information and shown on the instrument panels, test fixture panels, and switching cards.
When fuses are used in a product, replace with the same type and rating for continued protection against fire hazard.
Chassis connections must only be used as shield connections for measuring circuits, NOT as protective earth (safety ground)
connections.
If you are using a test fixture, keep the lid closed while power is applied to the device under test. Safe operation requires the use
of a lid interlock.
screw is present, connect it to protective earth (safety ground) using the wire recommended in the user documentation.
If a
The
symbol on an instrument means caution, ris k of hazard. The user must refer to the operating instructions located in the
user documentation in all cases where the symbol is mark ed on the instr u ment .
The symbol on an instrument means warning, risk of electric shock. Use standard safety precautions to avoid personal
contact with these voltages.
The symbol on an instrument shows that the surface may be hot. Avoid personal contact to prevent burns.
The
symbol indicates a connection terminal to the equipment frame.
If this symbol is on a product, it indicates that mercury is present in the display lamp. Please note that the lamp must be
properly disposed of according to federal, state, and local laws.
The WARNING heading in the user documentation explains haz ards that might result in personal injury or death. Always read
the associated information very carefully before performing the indicated procedure.
The CAUTION heading in the user documentation explains h az ards that coul d dama ge the instrument. Such damage may
invalidate the warranty.
The CAUTION heading with the symbol in the user documentation explains hazards that could result in moderate or minor
injury or damage the instrument. Always read the associated information very carefully before performing the indicated
procedure. Damage to the instrument may invalidate the warranty.
Instrumentation and accessories shall not be connected to humans.
Before performing any maintenance, disconnect the line cord and all test cables.
To maintain protection from electric shock and fire, replacement components in mains circuits — including the power
transformer, test leads, and input jacks — must be purchased from Keithley. Standard fuses with applicable national safety
approvals may be used if the rating and type are the same. The detachable mains power cord provided with the instrument may
only be replaced with a similarly rated power cord. Other components that are not safety-related may be purchased from other
suppliers as long as they are equivalent to the original component (note that selected parts should be purchased only through
Keithley to maintain accuracy and functionality of the product). If you are unsure about the applicability of a replacement
component, call a Keithley office for information.
Unless otherwise noted in product-specific literature, Keithley instruments are designed to operate indoors only, in the following
environment: Altitude at or below 2,000 m (6,562 ft); temperature 0 °C to 50 °C (32 °F to 122 °F); and pollution degree 1 or 2.
To clean an instrument, use a cloth dampened with deionized water or mild, water-based cleaner. Clean the exterior of the
instrument only. Do not apply cleaner directly to the instrument or allow liquids to enter or spill on the instrument. Products that
consist of a circuit board with no case or chassis (e.g., a data acquisition board for installation into a computer) should never
require cleaning if handled according to instructions. If the board becomes contaminated and operation is affected, the board
should be returned to the factory for proper cleaning/servicing.
Safety precaution revision as of June 2017.
Table of contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1-1
Welcome .............................................................................................................................. 1-1
Introduction to this manual ................................................................................................... 1-1
Contact information .............................................................................................................. 1-2
Extended warranty ............................................................................................................... 1-2
Documentation set ............................................................................................................... 1-2
Organization of manual sections .......................................................................................... 1-2
Application examples ........................................................................................................... 1-3
Front-panel overview ................................................................................................ 2-1
Front-panel overview ............................................................................................................ 2-1
TRIGGER key ........................................................................................................................... 2-2
Instrument power ................................................................................................................. 2-3
Connect the power cord ............................................................................................................ 2-4
Turn the DMM6500 on or off ..................................................................................................... 2-4
Touchscreen display ............................................................................................................ 2-5
Select items on the touchscreen ............................................................................................... 2-5
Scroll bars ................................................................................................................................. 2-5
Enter information ....................................................................................................................... 2-6
Adjust the backlight brightness and dimmer .............................................................................. 2-6
Review event messages ........................................................................................................... 2-7
Interactive swipe screens ..................................................................................................... 2-7
Swipe screen heading bar ......................................................................................................... 2-7
FUNCTIONS swipe screen ....................................................................................................... 2-9
SETTINGS swipe screen .......................................................................................................... 2-9
STATISTICS swipe screen...................................................................................................... 2-10
SECONDARY swipe screen.................................................................................................... 2-11
USER swipe screen ................................................................................................................ 2-12
GRAPH swipe screen ............................................................................................................. 2-12
SCAN swipe screen ................................................................................................................ 2-13
Menu overview ................................................................................................................... 2-14
Channel menu ......................................................................................................................... 2-15
Measure Menu ........................................................................................................................ 2-15
Views menu............................................................................................................................. 2-16
Trigger menu ........................................................................................................................... 2-16
Scripts menu ........................................................................................................................... 2-17
System menu .......................................................................................................................... 2-17
Using a remote interface .......................................................................................... 3-1
Remote communications interfaces ..................................................................................... 3-1
Supported remote interfaces ................................................................................................ 3-2
LAN communications ........................................................................................................... 3-2
Set up LAN communications on the instrument ........................................................................ 3-3
Set up LAN communications on the computer .......................................................................... 3-4
Table of contents
anual
DMM6500 6½ Digit Multimeter User's M
USB communications ........................................................................................................... 3-5
Connect a computer to the DMM6500 using USB ..................................................................... 3-5
Communicate with the instrument ............................................................................................. 3-6
GPIB communications .......................................................................................................... 3-9
Instal l the KTTI-GPIB accessory card ....................................................................................... 3-9
Set the GPIB address ............................................................................................................. 3-12
RS-232 ............................................................................................................................... 3-12
Instal l the KTTI-RS232 accessory card ................................................................................... 3-12
TSP-Link ............................................................................................................................ 3-14
Instal l the KTTI-TSP accessory card ....................................................................................... 3-14
Using the web interface...................................................................................................... 3-15
Connect to the instrument web interface ................................................................................. 3-15
LAN troubleshooting suggestio ns ............................................................................................ 3-16
Web inte rface Home page....................................................................................................... 3-17
Identify the instrument ............................................................................................................. 3-17
Determining the command s et you will use ....................................................................... 3-18
Making basic front-panel measurements ................................................................ 4-1
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 4-1
Equipment required for this example ................................................................................... 4-1
Device connections .............................................................................................................. 4-2
Basic front-panel measurements ......................................................................................... 4-3
Measuring DC voltage with high accuracy.............................................................. 5-1
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 5-1
Equipment required .............................................................................................................. 5-1
Device connections .............................................................................................................. 5-2
Measuring DCV with high accuracy ..................................................................................... 5-3
Using the front panel ................................................................................................................. 5-4
Using SCPI commands ............................................................................................................. 5-5
Using TSP commands .............................................................................................................. 5-5
Test results................................................................................................................................ 5-7
Measuring 4-wire resistance with offset compensation ......................................... 6-1
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 6-1
Equipment required .............................................................................................................. 6-1
Device connections .............................................................................................................. 6-2
Measuring 4-wire resistance with offset compensation ....................................................... 6-3
Using the front panel ................................................................................................................. 6-4
Using SCPI commands ............................................................................................................. 6-4
Using TSP commands .............................................................................................................. 6-5
Test results................................................................................................................................ 6-6
DMM6500
of contents
6½ Digit Multimeter User's Manual Table
Scanning temperature at a set time interval ........................................................... 7-1
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 7-1
Equipment required .............................................................................................................. 7-1
Device connections .............................................................................................................. 7-2
Sample temperatures at a specific time interval .................................................................. 7-4
Using the front panel ................................................................................................................. 7-4
Using SCPI commands ............................................................................................................. 7-5
Using TSP ................................................................................................................................. 7-6
Test results................................................................................................................................ 7-7
Grading and binning resistors ................................................................................. 8-1
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 8-1
Equipment required .............................................................................................................. 8-1
Device connections .............................................................................................................. 8-2
Resistor grading and binning test ........................................................................................ 8-3
Trigger model template: grade and binning test ........................................................................ 8-4
Using SCPI commands ............................................................................................................. 8-5
Using TSP commands .............................................................................................................. 8-6
Measuring power using digitizing and TSP-Link .................................................... 9-1
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 9-1
Equipment required .............................................................................................................. 9-2
Device connections .............................................................................................................. 9-2
Measuring power using digitizing and TSP-Link .................................................................. 9-4
Using SCPI commands ............................................................................................................. 9-4
Setting up the nodes for TSP code ........................................................................................... 9-4
Using TSP commands .............................................................................................................. 9-5
Results ...................................................................................................................................... 9-7
Troubleshooting FAQs ........................................................................................... 10-1
About this section ............................................................................................................... 10-1
Where can I find updated drivers? ..................................................................................... 10-1
Is there any software to help me get started ...................................................................... 10-2
How do I upgrade the firmware? ........................................................................................ 10-2
Why can't the DMM6500 read my USB flash drive? .......................................................... 10-3
How do I change the command set? ................................................................................. 10-3
How do I save the present state of the instrument? .......................................................... 10-4
Why did my settings change? ............................................................................................ 10-5
What is the ethernet port number? .................................................................................... 10-5
Table of contents
User's Manual
DMM6500 6½ Digit Multimeter
Next steps ............................................................................................................... 11-1
Additional DMM6500 information ....................................................................................... 11-1
Index ........................................................................................................................... I-1
Application examples ............................................................... 1-3
Welcome
Thank you for choosing a Keithley Instruments product. The DMM6500 is a 6½ digit bench/system
digital multimeter with scanning that expands standard DMM functions with high-speed digitizing and
large graphical color touchscreen display. This DMM offers a broad range of measurement
capabilities, including 15 measurement functions. In addition to industry-leading DC accuracies,
functions such as capacitance, 10 A current, and 16-bit current and voltage digitizing are included.
Tying all these features together is a large 5-inch color touchscreen display that brings users an
unprecedented combination of data visualization and interaction, enabling users to gain deeper
insight into their measurements.
Section 1
Introduction
In this section:
Welcome .................................................................................. 1-1
Introduction to this manual ....................................................... 1-1
Contact information .................................................................. 1-2
Extended warranty ................................................................... 1-2
Documentation set ................................................................... 1-2
Organization of manual sections .............................................. 1-2
The DMM6500 provides superior measurement accuracy and the speed necessary for a broad range
of applications, from system applications and production testing to benchtop applications. The
DMM6500 meets application requirements for production engineers, research and development
engineers, test engineers, and scientists.
Introduction to this manual
This manual provides detailed applications to help you achieve success with your Keithley
Instruments DMM6500. In addition, this manual provides information about the basics of the front
panel to familiarize you with the instrument.
This manual presents an overview of each application, followed by instructions to complete the
application using the front panel, SCPI code, TSP code, or Keithley KickStart Startup Software.
More information about the commands that are used in these applications is available. Refer to the
SCPI and TSP command reference sections of the Model DMM6500 Reference Manual. This manual
is on tek.com/keithley
.
Section
User's Manual
1: Introduction DMM6500 6½ Digit Multimeter
Contact information
If you have any questions after you revie w the infor mation in this documentation, please cont act your
local Keithley Instruments office, sales partner, or distributor. You can also call the corporate
headquarters of Keithley Instruments (toll-free inside the U.S. and Canada only) at 1-800-935-5595,
or from outside the U.S. at +1-440-248-0400. For worldwide contact numbers, visit tek.com/keithley
Extended warranty
Additional years of warranty coverage are available on many products. These valuable contracts
protect you from unbudgeted service expenses and provide additional years of protection at a fraction
of the price of a repair. Extended warranties are available on new and existing products. Contact your
local Keithley Instruments office, sales partner, or distributor for details.
Documentation s et
The DMM6500 documentation is supported by the following technical/product information
documentation.
• Quick Start Guide: Provides unpacking instructions, describes basic connections, reviews basic
operation information, and provides a quick test procedure to ensure the instrument is
operational.
• User’s Manual: Provides application examples that you can use as a starting point to create your
own applications.
• Reference Manual: Includes advanced operation topics, maintenance information,
troubleshooting procedures, and in-depth descriptions of programming commands.
• Accessories information: Documentation for accessories that are available for the DMM6500.
.
Organization of manual sections
This manual is organized into the following sections:
• Using the front-panel interface: (on page 2-1
interface.
• Using a remote interface: (on page 3-1) Describes the basics of remote communications and
using the instrument web interf ac e.
• Application examples (see below): Provides detailed examples of how to use the DMM6500 in
some typical situations.
For the latest drivers and additional support information, see tek.com/keithley
• Troubleshooting FAQs: (on page 10-1
you troubleshoot common problems encountered with the DMM6500.
• Next steps: (on page 11-1) Provides information about additional resources that can help you use
the DMM6500.
The PDF version of this manual contains bookmarks for each section. The manual sections are also
listed in the Table of Contents at the beginning of this manual.
For more information about bookmarks, see Adobe
) Provides answers to frequently asked questions to help
.
) Describes the basics of using the front-panel
®
Acrobat® or Reader® help.
1-2 DMM6500-900-01Rev. A / April 2018
DMM6500
Introduction
6½ Digit Multimeter User's Manual Section 1:
Application examples
This manual provides application examples that show you how to perform tests from the front panel
and over a remote interface. The applications include:
• Making basic front-panel measurements: (on page 4-1
using a single DMM6500 and a two-term inal de vice un der test.
• Measuring DC voltag e with hig h accur acy: (on page 5-1) Shows how to use a DMM6500 to make
a high-accuracy DC voltage m eas ur em ent.
• Measuring 4-wire resistance with offset compensation: (on page 6-1) Shows how to use the
DMM6500 to accurately measure a resistance device.
• Scanning temperature at a set time interval: (on page 7-1) Shows how to use the DMM6500 to
log temperature measurement data every minute over a 24-hour period.
• Grading and binning resistors: (on page 8-1) Shows how to use the DMM6500 to perform
benchtop binning operations using the trigger model and digital I/O to control external
component-handling de vice s .
• Measuring power using digitizing and TSP-Link: (on page 9-1) Shows how to configure two
DMM6500s to measure the power consumed by a Bluetooth low energy device using TSP-Link.
) Shows the basic measure functionality
DMM6500-900-01Rev. A / April 2018 1-3
Menu overview ....................................................................... 2-14
Turns the instrument on or off. To turn the instrument on, press
LED is amber when turned off.
Returns the display to the Home screen.
In this section:
Front-panel overview ................................................................ 2-1
Instrument power ...................................................................... 2-3
Touchscreen display................................................................. 2-5
Interactive swipe screens ......................................................... 2-7
Front-panel overview
The front panel of the DMM6500 is shown below. Descriptions of the controls on the front panel follow
the figure.
Section 2
Front-panel overview
Figure 1: DMM6500 front panel
POWER switch
and hold the power switch. To turn it off, press and hold the power
switch again. The LED is green when the instrument is on and the
HOME key
Section
User's Manual
Opens the main menu. Press the icons on the main menu to open
Opens a menu of of preconfigured TSP scripts with a graphical
user interface.
overview information for the screen you are viewing.
Saves reading buffer data and screen snapshots to a USB flash
drive.
The DMM6500 has a high-resolution, five-inch color touch sc reen
Refer to Touchscreen display (on page 2-5) for details.
Selects the highlighted choice or allows you to edit the selected
field.
Returns to the previous screen or closes a dialog box. For
to the main menu screen.
DMM6500 Reference Manual.
2: Front-panel overview DMM6500 6½ Digit Multimeter
MENU key
channel, measure, views, trigger, scripts, and system screens.
For details, refer to Menu overview (on page 2-14).
APPS key
HELP key
Opens help for the area or item that is selected on the display. If
there is no selection when you press the HELP key, it displays
USB port
drive. You can also store and retrieve scripts to and from a USB
flash drive. The flash drive must be formatted as a FAT or FAT32
Touchscreen
display. The touchscreen accesses swipe screens and menu
options. You can access additional interactive screens by
pressing the front-panel MEN U, APPS, and FUNCTION keys.
ENTER key
EXIT key
example, press the EXIT key when the main menu is displayed to
return to the Home screen. When you are viewing a subscreen
(for example, the Event Log screen), press the EXIT key to return
TRIGGER key
TRIGGER key
Accesses trigger-related settings and operations. The action of
the TRIGGER key depends on the instrument state. For details,
see "Switching between measureme nt meth ods " in the Model
2-2 DMM6500-900-01Rev. A / April 2018
DMM6500
panel overview
Use the SENSE HI and SENSE LO terminals and the INPUT
INPUT terminals
Use the INPUT HI and INPUT LO terminals for all measurements
AMPS
Use the AMPS connection with the INPUT LO terminal to
Activates the terminals on the front or rear panel. Selecting the
active, the amber LED is visible.
6½ Digit Multimeter User's Manual Section 2: Front-
SENSE terminals
terminals with the 4-wire resistance, 3-wire and 4-wire RTD
temperature, and DC voltage ratio functions.
except current.
measure ≤3A DC or AC
RMS
current.
TERMINALS
switch
Instrument power
Follow the steps below to connect the DMM6500 to line power and turn on the instrument. The
DMM6500 operates from a line voltage of 100 V to 240 V at a frequency of 50 Hz, 60 Hz, or 400 Hz.
It automatically senses line frequency. Make sure the operating voltage in your area is compatible.
The fuse is set to the expected voltage at the factory. Make sure that the correct line voltage is
displayed on the power module. See Line voltage verification for more information.
You must turn on the DMM6500 and allow it to warm up for at least 30 minutes to achieve rated
accuracies.
Operating the instrument on an incorrect line voltage may cause damage to the instrument,
possibly voiding the warranty.
rear panel provides the proper connections to an inserted *** Set
CardType variable***. When the front-panel terminals are active,
the green LED is visible. When the rear-panel terminals are
DMM6500-900-01Rev. A / April 2018 2-3
Section
User's Manual
2: Front-panel overview DMM6500 6½ Digit Multimeter
The power cord supplied with the DMM6500 contains a separate protective earth (safety
ground) wire for use with grounded outlets. When proper connections are made, the
instrument chassis is connected to power-line ground through the ground wire in the power
cord. In the event of a failure, not using a pr o p er ly grounded protective earth and grounded
outlet may result in personal injury or death due to electric shock.
Do not replace detachable mains supply cords with inadequately rated cords. Failure to use
properly rated cords may result in personal injury or death due to electric shock.
Connect the power cord
When you connect the power cord, the instrument may power on, depending on the state of the frontpanel POWER switch when the power cord was removed.
To connect the power cord:
1. Connect the female end of the supplied power cord to the AC receptacle on the rear panel.
2. Connect the male end of the power cord to a grounded AC outlet.
Turn the DMM6500 on or off
Hazardous voltages may be present on all output and guard terminals. To prevent electrical
shock that could cause injury or death, remove power from the instrument or test system and
discharge any energy storage components (for example, capacitors or cables) before
changing any connections that might all ow contact with an uninsulated conductor.
On some sensitive or easily damaged devices under test (DUTs), the instrument power-up or powerdown sequence can apply transient signals to the DUT that may affect or damage it.
When testing this type of DUT, do not make final connections to it until the instrument has completed
its power-up sequence and is in a known operating state. Disconnect it from the instrument before
turning the instrument off.
To prevent any human contact with a live conductor, connections to the DUT must be fully insulated
and the final connections to the DUT must only use safety-rated safety jack socket connectors that
do not allow bodily contact.
To turn a DMM6500 on:
1. Disconnect any devices under test (DUTs) from the DMM6500.
2. Press and hold the front-panel POWER switch to place it in the on position.
The instrument displays a status bar as the instrument powers on. The Home screen is displayed
when power on is complete.
To turn a DMM6500 off:
1. Press and hold the front-panel POWER switch to place it in the off position.
2-4 DMM6500-900-01Rev. A / April 2018
DMM6500
panel overview
6½ Digit Multimeter User's Manual Section 2: Front-
Touchscreen display
The touchscreen display gives you quick front-panel access to measure settings, system
configuration, instrument and test status, reading buffer information, and other instrument
functionality. The display has multiple swipe screens that you can access by swiping the front panel.
You can access additional interactive screens by pressing the front-panel MENU, APPS, and
FUNCTION keys.
Do not use sharp metal objects, such as tweezers or screwdrivers, or pointed objects, such
as pens or pencils, to touch the touchscreen. It is strongly recommended that you use only
fingers to operate the instrument. Use of clean-room gloves to operate the touchscreen is
supported.
Select items on the touchscreen
To select an item on the displayed screen:
• Press the corresponding icon on the screen.
Scroll bars
Some of the interactive screens have additional options that are only visible when you scroll down the
screen. A scroll indicator on the right side of the touchscreen identifies these screens. Swipe the
screen up or down to view the additional options.
The figure below shows a screen with a scroll bar.
Figure 2: Scroll bar
The following topics describe the DMM6500 touchscreen in more detail.
DMM6500-900-01Rev. A / April 2018 2-5
Section
User's Manual
2: Front-panel overview DMM6500 6½ Digit Multimeter
Enter information
Some of the menu options open a keypad or keyboard that you can use to enter information. For
example, if you are creating a new reading buffer from the front panel, you see the keypad shown in
the following figure.
Figure 3: DMM6500 front-panel keyboard for information entry
You can enter information by touching the screen to select characters and options from the keypad or
keyboard. You can move the cursor in the entry box by touching the screen. The cursor is moved to
the spot in the entry box where you touched the screen.
Adjust the backlight bri ght ne s s and dimm er
You can adjust the brightness of the DMM6500 touchscreen display and buttons from the front panel
or over a remote interface. You can also set the backlight to dim after a specified time has passed
with no front-panel activity (available from the front-panel display only). The backlight settings set
through the front-panel display are saved through a reset or power cycle.
Screen life is affected by how long the screen is on at full brightness. The higher the brightness
setting and the longer the screen is bright, the shorter the screen life.
To adjust the backlight brightness from the front panel:
1. Press the MENU key.
2. Under System, select Settings.
3. Select the Backlight Brightness. The Backlight Brightness dialog box opens.
4. Drag the adjustment to set the backlight.
5. Select OK.
2-6 DMM6500-900-01Rev. A / April 2018
DMM6500
panel overview
6½ Digit Multimeter User's Manual Section 2: Front-
To set the backlight dimmer from the front panel:
1. Press the MENU key.
2. Under System, select Settings.
3. Select Backlight Dimmer. The Backlight Dimmer dialog box opens.
4. Select a dimmer setting.
Review event messages
During operation and programming, front-panel messages may be briefly displayed. Messages are
either information, warning, or error notifications. For information on event messages, refer to "Using
the event log" in the Model DMM6500 Reference Man ual.
Figure 4: Example front-panel event message
Interactive swipe screens
The DMM6500 touchscreen display has multiple screens that you can access by swiping left or right
on the lower half of the display. The options available in the swipe screens are described in the
following top ic s .
Swipe screen heading bar
The heading bar of the swipe screen contains the following options.
Figure 5: DMM6500 swipe screens, maximized and minimized
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2
Swipe screen indicator
Each circle represents one swipe screen. As you swipe right or left, a different
3
Calculations shortcut
Select to open the CALCULATION SETTINGS menu. Only available when
6
Graph shortcut
Select to open the Graph screen.
Channel Settings
Not shown. Select to open the CHANNEL SETTINGS screen.
Scan shortcut
Not shown. Select to open the SCAN screen.
2: Front-panel overview DMM6500 6½ Digit Multimeter
# Screen element Description
1 Minimize indicator You can swipe down to minimize the swipe screens.
circle changes color, indicating where you are in the screen sequence. Select a
circle to move the swipe screen without swiping.
TERMINALS is set to FRONT.
4 Measure Settings
shortcut
Select to open the MEASURE SETTINGS menu for the selected function. Only
available when TERMINALS is set to FRONT.
5 Restore indicator Indicates that you can swipe up to display the swipe screen.
shortcut
Channel control shortcut Not shown. Select to open the CHANNEL CONTROL screen.
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6½ Digit Multimeter User's Manual Section 2: Front-
FUNCTIONS swipe screen
The FUNCTIONS swipe screen highlights the selected measure function and allows you to select a
different function.
Figure 6: FUNCTIONS swipe screen
SETTINGS swipe screen
The SETTINGS swipe screen gives you front-panel access to some instrument settings for the
selected measure function. It shows you the present settings and allows you to change them. The
available settings depend on which measure function is active.
Figure 7: SETTINGS swipe screen
To disable or enable a setting, select the box next to the setting so that it shows an X (disabled) or a
check mark (enabled).
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2: Front-panel overview DMM6500 6½ Digit Multimeter
STATISTICS swipe screen
The STATISTICS swipe screen contains information about the readings in the active reading buffer.
When the reading buffer is configured to fill continuously and overwrite old data with new data, the
buffer statistics include the data that was overwritten. To get statistics that do not include data that
has been overwritten, define a large buffer size that will accommodate the number of readings you
will make. You can use the Clear Active Buffer button on this screen to clear the data from the
active reading buffer.
If multiple watch channels are set up, you can use the Channel arrows to change the display to show
the statistics for each watch channel.
Figure 8: STATISTICS swipe screen
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SECONDARY swipe screen
The SECONDARY swipe screen allows you to display the results of two measurements on the
front-panel display.
To start displaying secondary measurements, select the Second Function and select Secondary
Measure. Secondary measurements are only available in Continuous Measurement Mode and
Manual Trigger Mode. This feature is only available from the front panel of the instrument.
Refer to "Display results of two measure functions" in the Model DMM6500 Reference Manual.
Figure 9: SECONDARY swipe screen
Depending on the selected functions, a relay may click when the instrument switches between the
measurement types. Leaving secondary measurements on for extended periods may shorten the life
of the relays.
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2: Front-panel overview DMM6500 6½ Digit Multimeter
USER swipe screen
If you program custom text, it is displayed on the USER swipe screen. For example, you can program
the DMM6500 to show that a test is in process. This swipe screen is only displayed if custom text has
been displayed. Refer to "Customizing a message for the USER swipe screen" in the Model
DMM6500 Reference Manual.
Figure 10: User swipe screen
GRAPH swipe screen
The GRAPH swipe screen shows a graphical representation of the readings in the presently selected
reading buffer.
Figure 11: GRAPH swipe screen
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To view the graph in the full screen and to access graph settings, select the graph icon on the right
side of the swipe screen header. You can also open the full-function Graph screen by pressing the
MENU key and selecting Graph under Vie ws.
For more information about graphing measurements, see "Graphing" in the Model D MM6500
Reference Manual.
SCAN swipe screen
The SCAN swipe screen gives you front-panel access to build a scan, edit a scan, start a scan, step
through a scan, and display scan results. You can also save the scan results to a USB flash drive.
The icon on the right side of the swipe screen heading bar is a shortcut to the Channel Scan menu.
You can also use the Channel Scan menu to build or edit a scan.
For more information about viewing a scan preview and editing or running a scan, see "Channel scan
menu" in the Model D MM6 500 Refer e nc e Manu al.
Figure 12: SCAN swipe screen - initial view
Figure 13: SCAN swipe screen - scan results
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Pauses the scan until Resume Scan is selected.
Resumes a paused scan.
Saves the data in the scan reading buffer to a CSV file on the USB flash drive.
Runs a scan.
2: Front-panel overview DMM6500 6½ Digit Multimeter
The SCAN swipe screen has the following control options:
Button Description
Abort Scan
Build Scan
Edit
Pause Scan
Resume Scan
Save to USB
Start Scan
Step Scan
Menu overview
To access the main menu, press the MENU key on the DMM6500 front panel. The figure below
shows the organization of the main menu.
Stop the scan.
Opens the SCAN screen, where you can set up a new scan.
Opens the SCAN screen, where you can change the setup of a scan.
Incrementally steps through a scan, channel by channel.
Figure 14: DMM6500 main menu
The main menu includes submenus that are labeled in green across the top of the display. Selecting
an option in a submenu opens an interactive screen.
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Channel menu
The Channel menus allow you to set up and control channels and scans from the front panel.
The Channel Settings menu allows you to select and configure channels.
The Channel Control menu contains options to open and close channels.
The Channel Scan menu contains options to set up and run scans. Options include
control of groups, which are channels that are sequential and have the same
functions applied to them.
Measure Menu
The Measure menus allow you to select, configure, and perform measure operations from the front
panel.
The QuickSet menu allows you to change the function and adjust performance.
The Measure Settings menu contains settings for the presently selected measure
function, which is identified by the function indicator in the upper right corner of the
menu. The available settings depend on the front-panel FUNCTION key selection.
The Calculations menu contains settings that specify the way measurement
information is processed and returned.
The Reading Buffers menu allows you to view the list of existing reading buffers
and select one to be the active buffer. You can also create, save, delete, resize,
and clear buffers from this screen.
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Views menu
The Views menus allow you to select, configure, and view data that was gathered from measure
operations.
The Graph menu opens a screen that displays a graph of the measurements in
selected reading buffers as traces. It also contains tabs that you use to customize
the graph display.
You can also select the trigger mode and initiate the trigger model or scan from this
screen.
The Histogram menu allows you to graph the distribution of measurement data in
the selected reading buffer. It also contains tabs that you use to customize the
histogram.
The Reading Table menu allows you to view data in the selected reading buffer.
Trigger menu
The Trigger menus allow you to configure the trigger model from the front panel.
The Templates menu allows you to choose from one of several preprogrammed
trigger models. When you select a template, settings you can specify for that
template are shown in the lower part of the screen.
The Configure menu allows you to view and modify the structure and parameters
of a trigger model. You can also monitor trigger model operation.
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