Model 2450
www.keithley.com
Interactive SourceMeter
User’s Manual
2450-900-01 Rev. C / December 2013
Instrument
*P245090001C*
2450-900-01C
A Greater Measure of Confidence
Model 2450
Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument
User's Manual
© 2013, Keithley Instruments, Inc.
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, Inc. is strictly prohibited.
®
TSP
, TSP-Link®, and TSP-Net® are trademarks of Keithley Instruments, Inc. All Keithley
Instruments product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of Keithley Instruments, Inc.
Other brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
Document number: 2450-900-01 Rev. C / December 2013
Safety precautions
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 qualified 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 Instruments 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 inst ruments 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, as defined in the specifications and operating
information, and as shown on the instrument or test fixture panels, or switching card.
When fuses are used in a product, replace with the same type and rating for continued protection agains t 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
user documentation in all cases where the symbol is marked on the instrument.
The
contact with these voltages.
The
The
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 dangers that might result in personal injury or death. Always read
the associated information very carefully before performing the indicated pr ocedure.
The CAUTION heading in the user documentation explains hazards that could damage the instrument. Such damage 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 Instruments. Standard fuses with applicable national
safety approvals may be used if the rating and type are the same. 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 Instruments to maintain accuracy and functionality of the product). If yo u are unsure about the
applicability of a replacement component, call a Keithley Instruments office for information.
symbol on an instrument means caution, risk of danger. The user must refer to the operating instructions located in the
symbol on an instrument means caution, risk of electric shock. Use standard safety precautions to avoid personal
symbol on an instrument shows that the surface may be hot. Avoid personal contact to prevent burns.
symbol indicates a connection terminal to the equipment frame.
To clean an instrument, use a damp cloth or mild, water-based cleaner. Clean the exterior of the instrument only. Do n ot app ly
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 January 2013.
Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1-1
Welcome .............................................................................................................................. 1-1
Introduction to this manual ................................................................................................... 1-1
Extended warranty ............................................................................................................... 1-1
Contact information .............................................................................................................. 1-2
CD-ROM contents ................................................................................................................ 1-2
Organization of manual sections .......................................................................................... 1-3
Applications .......................................................................................................................... 1-3
Using the front-panel interface .................................................................................. 2-1
Front panel overview ............................................................................................................ 2-1
Power the instrument on or off ............................................................................................. 2-3
Turning the Model 2450 output on or off .............................................................................. 2-4
Using the touchscreen interface .......................................................................................... 2-5
Navigating the touchscreen ....................................................................................................... 2-5
Interactive swipe screens .......................................................................................................... 2-5
Menu overview .......................................................................................................................... 2-7
Store measurements on a USB flash drive .......................................................................... 2-7
Saving screen captures to USB flash drive.......................................................................... 2-8
Using a remote interface ............................................................................................ 3-1
Remote communication interfaces ....................................................................................... 3-1
Supported remote interfaces ................................................................................................ 3-1
GPIB communications .......................................................................................................... 3-1
Install the GPIB driver software ................................................................................................. 3-2
Install the GPIB cards in your computer .................................................................................... 3-2
Connect GPIB cables to your instrument .................................................................................. 3-2
Set the GPIB address ............................................................................................................... 3-3
LAN communications ........................................................................................................... 3-4
Set up LAN communications on the instrument ........................................................................ 3-4
Set up LAN communications on the computer .......................................................................... 3-5
USB communications ........................................................................................................... 3-6
Connecting a computer to the Model 2450 using USB .............................................................. 3-7
Communicate with the instrument ............................................................................................. 3-7
Using the web interface ...................................................................................................... 3-12
Connecting to the instrument web interface ............................................................................ 3-12
LAN troubleshooting suggestions ............................................................................................ 3-13
Web interface Home page....................................................................................................... 3-14
Identify the instrument ............................................................................................................. 3-14
Reviewing LAN trigger events in the event log ........................................................................ 3-15
Determining the command set you will use ....................................................................... 3-15
Table of Contents
User's Manual
Model 2450 Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument
Making basic front-panel measurements ................................................................. 4-1
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 4-1
Equipment required for this application ................................................................................ 4-2
Device connections .............................................................................................................. 4-2
Making front-panel measurements ...................................................................................... 4-2
How to make front-panel measurements .................................................................................. 4-3
Measuring low-resistance devices ............................................................................ 5-1
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 5-1
Equipment required .............................................................................................................. 5-1
Device connections .............................................................................................................. 5-1
Low-resistance measurements ............................................................................................ 5-4
Set up the measurement from the front panel ........................................................................... 5-4
View the measurements on the front-panel TREND swipe screen ............................................ 5-5
View the buffer statistics on the front panel ............................................................................... 5-5
Set up remote communications ................................................................................................. 5-5
Set up the low-resistance application using SCPI commands .................................................. 5-6
Set up the low-resistance application using TSP commands .................................................... 5-7
Leakage current and insulation resistance .............................................................. 6-1
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 6-1
Equipment required .............................................................................................................. 6-1
Set up remote communications ........................................................................................... 6-2
Device connections .............................................................................................................. 6-2
Measuring leakage current .................................................................................................. 6-4
Set up the leakage current application using the front panel ..................................................... 6-4
View the measurements on the front-panel graph ..................................................................... 6-5
Set up the leakage current application using SCPI commands ................................................. 6-6
Set up the leakage current application using TSP commands .................................................. 6-6
Measuring insulation resistance ........................................................................................... 6-8
Set up the insulation resistance application using the front panel ............................................. 6-9
Viewing the measurements on the front-panel graph ................................................................ 6-9
Set up the application using SCPI commands ........................................................................ 6-10
Set up the application using TSP commands .......................................................................... 6-10
Measuring I-V characteristics of FETs ...................................................................... 7-1
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 7-1
Equipment required .............................................................................................................. 7-1
Set up remote communications ........................................................................................... 7-2
Set up external hardware triggers ........................................................................................ 7-2
Connections for the SCPI command set ................................................................................... 7-2
Connections for the TSP command set ..................................................................................... 7-3
Device connections .............................................................................................................. 7-4
Model 2450
of Contents
Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Table
Remote control of FET testing using SCPI commands ....................................................... 7-5
Set up the application using SCPI commands with the trigger model ....................................... 7-6
Set up the application using SCPI commands in a linear sweep ............................................... 7-8
Remote control of FET testing using TSP commands ......................................................... 7-9
Set up the application using TSP commands with the trigger model ....................................... 7-10
Set up the application using TSP commands in a linear sweep .............................................. 7-11
Rechargeable battery measurements ....................................................................... 8-1
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 8-1
Equipment required .............................................................................................................. 8-3
Device connections .............................................................................................................. 8-3
Automated battery charge and discharge cycle testing ....................................................... 8-5
Set up remote communications ................................................................................................. 8-6
Set up the battery application using SCPI commands .............................................................. 8-7
Set up the battery application using TSP commands ................................................................ 8-8
Measuring I-V characteristics of solar cells ............................................................. 9-1
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 9-1
Equipment required .............................................................................................................. 9-1
Set up remote communications ........................................................................................... 9-2
Device connections .............................................................................................................. 9-2
Solar cell characterization .................................................................................................... 9-4
Set up the solar cell I-V sweep from the front panel .................................................................. 9-4
Set up the solar cell I-V sweep using SCPI commands ............................................................ 9-6
Set up the solar cell I-V sweep using TSP commands .............................................................. 9-7
Troubleshooting FAQs ............................................................................................. 10-1
About this section ............................................................................................................... 10-1
Where can I find updated drivers? ..................................................................................... 10-1
How do I upgrade the firmware? ........................................................................................ 10-2
Why can't the Model 2450 read my USB flash drive? ........................................................ 10-2
How do I change the command set? ................................................................................. 10-2
Why am I getting a 5074 event code? ............................................................................... 10-3
How do I save the present state of the instrument? .......................................................... 10-4
Why did my settings change? ............................................................................................ 10-4
What are the Quick Setup options? ................................................................................... 10-5
Next steps .................................................................................................................. 11-1
Additional Model 2450 information ..................................................................................... 11-1
Applications .............................................................................. 1-3
Welcome
Thank you for choosing a Keithley Instruments product. The Model 2450 Interactive SourceMeter®
instrument is a precise, low-noise instrument that combines a stable DC power supply, true current
source, electronic load, and a high-impedance multimeter. The design of this instrument features
intuitive setup and control, enhanced signal quality and range, and better resistivity and resistance
capabilities than similar products on the market.
Section 1
Introduction
In this section:
Welcome .................................................................................. 1-1
Introduction to this manual ....................................................... 1-1
Extended warranty ................................................................... 1-1
Contact information .................................................................. 1-2
CD-ROM contents .................................................................... 1-2
Organization of manual sections .............................................. 1-3
With 0.012 percent basic accuracy at 6½-digit resolution, the Model 2450 delivers 59 readings per
second over the IEEE-488 bus. At 4½-digit resolution, it can read up to 3000 readings per second into
its internal buffer.
Introduction to this manual
This manual provides detailed applications to help you achieve success with your Keithley
Instruments Model 2450. In addition, this manual provides 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, and TSP code (as appropriate for the application).
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 2450 Reference Manual. This manual is on
the Product Information CD-ROM that came with your instrument.
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.
Section
User's Manual
1: Introduction Model 2450 Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument
Contact information
If you have any questions after you review the information in this documentation, please contact your
local Keithley Instruments office, sales partner, or distributor, or call Keithley Instruments corporate
headquarters (toll-free inside the U.S. and Canada only) at 1-888-KEITHLEY (1-888-534-8453), or
from outside the U.S. at +1-440-248-0400. For worldwide contact numbers, visit the
Instruments website (http://www.keithley.com).
CD-ROM contents
The following CD-ROMs are shipped with each Model 2450 instrument:
• Interactive SourceMeter
part number 24GDI-950-01)
• Test Script Builder Software Suite CD-ROM (Keithley Instruments part number KTS-850)
• Keithley KickStart Startup Software CD (Keithley Instruments part number KKS-850-01)
The Model 2450 Interactive SourceMeter SMU Instrument Product Information CD-ROM
contains:
Keithley
®
SMU Instruments Product Information CD-ROM (Keithley Instruments
• 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, optimization strategies, and in-depth descriptions of programming
commands.
• KickStart Software Quick Start Guide: Provides instructions to quickly make measurements
and get results without having to program test scripts.
• Accessories information: Documentation for accessories that are available for the Model 2450.
The Test Script Builder Software Suite CD-ROM contains:
The installation files for the Test Script Builder Software Suite: This software provides an environment
in which you can develop and execute a test program, and it gives you the ability to load a test
program onto the instrument. Running a program that is loaded on the instrument eliminates the need
to send individual commands from the host computer to the instrument when running a test.
The Keithley KickStart Startup Software CD-ROM contains:
• KickStart Software installation files and release notes: Keithley KickStart is a software
program that allows you to set up your instrument and run a test in a few simple steps, without
sending any programming commands.
• KickStart Software Quick Start Guide: Provides instructions to quickly make measurements
and get results without having to program test scripts.
For the latest drivers and additional support information, see the Keithley Instruments website
(http://www.keithley.com).
1-2 2450-900-01 Rev. C / December 2013
Model 2
Introduction
450 Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 1:
Organization of manual sections
This manual is organized into the following sections:
• Using the front-panel interface (on page 2-1): Describes the basics of using the front-panel
interface.
• Using a remote interface (on page 3-1): Describes the basics of remote communications and
using the instrument web interface.
• Applications (on page 1-3): Provides detailed examples of how to use the Model 2450.
• Troubleshooting FAQs (on page 10-1): Provides answers to frequently asked questions to help
you troubleshoot common problems encountered with the Model 2450.
• Next steps (on page 11-1): Provides information about additional resources that can help you use
the Model 2450.
The PDF version provides bookmarks for each section. In addition, the Table of Contents at the
beginning of this manual lists the manual sections.
For more information about bookmarks, see Adobe
®
Acrobat® or Reader® help.
Applications
In addition to using the Keithley Instruments Model 2450 as a stand-alone instrument, you can control
the Model 2450 from a remote interface. This manual provides application examples that show you
how to perform tests from the front panel and using a remote interface. These applications are
presented after the summary information about the Model 2450. The applications include:
• Making basic front-panel measurements (on page 4-1): Demonstrates the basic measurement
functionality using a single Model 2450 and a two-terminal device under test (DUT).
• Measuring low-resistance devices (on page 5-1): Demonstrates making low-resistance
measurements on a 20 mΩ resistor using 4-wire remote sense to force a current and measure
resistance.
• Leakage current and insulation resistance (on page 6-1): Two examples that demonstrate how to
use the Model 2450 to measure the leakage current of a capacitor and the insulation resistance
between the two conductors of a coaxial cable.
• Measuring I-V characteristics of FETs (on page 7-1): Two examples demonstrate how to use two
Model 2450 instruments to perform a drain family of curves (Vds-Id) on a three-terminal
MOSFET. One example uses the Model 2450 trigger model; the other uses linear sweep
commands to make the measurements.
• Rechargeable battery measurements (on page 8-1): Demonstrates how to use a single Model
2450 to perform automated battery discharge and charge cycle testing.
• Measuring I-V characteristics of solar cells (on page 9-1): Demonstrates using an I-V sweep to
characterize a solar cell from the Model 2450 front panel and remotely.
2450-900-01 Rev. C / December 2013 1-3
Saving screen captures to USB flash drive .............................. 2-8
POWER switch
Turns the instrument on or off. To turn the instrument on, press the
power switch so that it is in the off position (O).
HOME key
Returns the display to the Home (default) screen.
MENU key
Opens the main menu. Press the icons on the main menu to open
QUICKSET key
Opens a menu of preconfigured setups, including voltmeter,
speed.
Opens help for the area or item that is selected on the display. If
overview information for the screen you are viewing is displayed.
In this section:
Front panel overview ................................................................ 2-1
Power the instrument on or off ................................................. 2-3
Turning the Model 2450 output on or off .................................. 2-4
Using the touchscreen interface ............................................... 2-5
Store measurements on a USB flash drive .............................. 2-7
Front panel overview
The front panel of the Model 2450 is shown below. Descriptions of the controls on the front panel
follow the figure.
Section 2
Using the front-panel interface
Figure 1: Model 2450 front panel
power switch so that it is in the on position (|). To turn it off, press the
HELP key
source, measure, views, trigger, scripts, and system screens.
ammeter, ohmmeter, and power supply setups. Also allows you to
choose test functions and adjust performance for better resolution or
there is no selected area or item when you press the HELP key,
Section
User's Manual
USB port
You can save data to a USB flash drive from the front panel, or you
standards.
and FUNCTION keys.
Navigation control
Turning the navigation control: Moves the cursor to the left or the
allows you to edit the selected field.
ENTER key
Selects the highlighted choice or allows you to edit the selected field.
EXIT key
Returns to the previous screen or closes a dialog box. For example,
screen.
select the function.
TRIGGER key
Accesses trigger-related settings and operations. The action of the
TRIGGER key depends on the instrument state.
switch
source output is on.
REMOTE LED
indicator
Illuminates when the instrument is controlled through a remote
interface.
LAN LED indicator
Illuminates when the instrument is connected to a local area network
(LAN).
1588 LED indicator
Illuminates when the instrument is connected to an IEEE-1588
(http://www.keithley.com) for details.
INTERLOCK LED
indicator
Illuminates when the interlock is enabled.
SENSE terminals
Use SENSE HI and SENSE LO terminal connections to measure
FORCE terminals
Use FORCE HI and FORCE LO terminal connections to source or
yellow "R" is visible to the left of the switch.
2: Using the front-panel interface Model 2450 Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument
can create a script to save data to the USB flash drive from a remote
interface. The flash drive must be formatted as a FAT drive. Supports
flash drives that comply with USB 2.0 standards and USB 1.0 and 1.1
Touchscreen
FUNCTION key
OUTPUT ON/OFF
The Model 2450 has a high-resolution, five-inch color touchscreen
display with additional swipe screens. You can access additional
interactive screens by pressing the front-panel MENU, QUICKSET,
right to highlight a list value or menu item so that you can select it.
Turning the control when the cursor is in a value entry field increases
or decreases the value in the field.
Pressing the navigation control: Selects the highlighted choice or
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 to the main menu
Displays instrument source and measure functions. To select a
function, touch the function on the touchscreen. You can also turn the
navigation control to highlight a function, and then press the control to
Turns the output source on or off. The key illuminates when the
FRONT/REAR
TERMINALS switch
compliant device.
Note that 1588 functionality is not supported at this time. This
functionality will be made available with a firmware update. See the
Model 2450 Release Notes or Keithley Instruments website
voltage at the device under test (DUT). When you use sense leads,
measurement of the voltage drop across the force leads is
eliminated. This produces more accurate voltage sourcing and
measurement at the DUT.
sink voltage or current to or from a device under test (DUT).
Activates the terminals on the front or rear panel. When the frontpanel terminals are active, a green "F" is visible to the left of the
FRONT/REAR switch. When the rear-panel terminals are active, a
2-2 2450-900-01 Rev. C / December 2013
Model 2450
panel interface
Chassis connection
Banana jack connector that provides a chassis connection.
Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 2: Using the front-
Power the instrument on or off
Follow the steps below to connect the Model 2450 to line power and turn on the instrument. The
Model 2450 operates from a line voltage of 100 V to 240 V at a frequency of 50 Hz or 60 Hz. It
automatically senses line voltage. Make sure the operating voltage in your area is compatible.
You must turn on the Model 2450 and allow it to warm up for at least one hour to achieve rated
accuracies.
Operating the instrument on an incorrect line voltage may cause damage to the instrument, possibly
voiding the warranty.
The power cord supplied with the Model 2450 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 addition, a redundant protective earth connection is provided through a screw on
the rear panel. This terminal should be connected to a known protective earth. In the event
of a failure, not using a properly 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.
To connect the power cord:
1. Make sure that the front panel POWER switch is in the off (O) position.
2. Connect the female end of the supplied power cord to the AC receptacle on the rear panel.
3. Connect the other end of the power cord to a grounded AC outlet.
Figure 2: Model 2450 rear panel
2450-900-01 Rev. C / December 2013 2-3
Section
User's Manual
2: Using the front-panel interface Model 2450 Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument
To turn a Model 2450 on or off:
1. Before turning the instrument on, disconnect any devices under test (DUTs) from the Model 2450.
2. To turn your instrument on, press the front-panel POWER switch to place it in the on (|) position.
The instrument displays a status bar as it powers on. The Home screen is displayed when power
on is complete.
3. To turn your instrument off, press the front-panel POWER switch to place it in the off (O) position.
Turning the Model 2450 output on or off
You can turn the Model 2450 output on from the front panel or by sending remote commands.
Turning the Model 2450 output off does not place the instrument in a safe state (an interlock
is provided for this function).
Hazardous voltages may be present on all output and guard terminals. To prevent electrical
shock that could cause injury or death, never make or break connections to the Model 2450
while the instrument is powered on. Turn off the equipment from the front panel or
disconnect the main power cord from the rear of the Model 2450 before handling cables.
Putting the equipment into an output-off state does not guarantee that the outputs are
powered off if a hardware or software fault occurs.
When the source of the instrument is turned off, it may not completely isolate the instrument from the
external circuit. You can use the output-off setting to place the Model 2450 in a known, noninteractive
state during idle periods, such as when changing the device under test. The output-off states that can
be selected for a Model 2450 are normal, high-impedance, zero, or guard.
See "Output-off state" in the Model 2450 Reference Manual for additional details.
Using the front panel:
Press the OUTPUT ON/OFF switch. The instrument is in the output-on state when the switch is
illuminated. The instrument is in the output-off state when the switch is not illuminated.
Using SCPI commands:
To turn the output on, send the command:
:OUTPut:STATe ON
To turn the output off, send the command:
:OUTPut:STATe OFF
Using TSP commands:
To turn the output on, send the command:
smu.source.output = smu.ON
To turn the output off, send the command:
smu.source.output = smu.OFF
2-4 2450-900-01 Rev. C / December 2013
Model 2450
panel interface
Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 2: Using the front-
Using the touchscreen interface
The touchscreen display gives you quick front-panel access to source and measure settings, system
configuration, instrument and test status, reading buffer information, and other instrument
functionality. The display has multiple swipe screens. You can access additional interactive screens
by pressing the front-panel MENU, QUICKSET, and FUNCTION keys.
Do not use sharp metal objects, such as tweezers, 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.
Navigating the touchscreen
To select an item on the displayed screen, do one of the following:
• Touch it with your finger
• Turn the navigation control to highlight the item, and then press the navigation control to select it
Interactive swipe screens
The Model 2450 touchscreen display has multiple screens that you can access by gently swiping left
The following topics describe each of the Model 2450 screens in more detail.
or right on the lower half of the display. The following topics describe each of these screens.
SETTINGS swipe screen
The SETTINGS screen gives you front-panel access to some instrument settings. It allows you to
change, enable, or disable them quickly. It also shows the present settings.
Figure 3: SETTINGS swipe screen
To disable or enable a setting, select the box next to the setting so that it shows an X (disable) or a
check mark (enable).
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STATISTICS swipe screen
The STATISTICS swipe screen contains information about the state of the active buffer and the
readings in it. You can use the Clear Stats button on this screen to clear the data that is used in the
statistics calculations.
Figure 4: STATISTICS swipe screen
USER swipe screen
You can program custom text that will appear on the USER swipe screen. For example, you can
program the Model 2450 to show that a test is in process.
To set up custom text on the USER swipe screen, use TSP or SCPI commands from a remote
interface. See the Model 2450 Reference Manual for details.
Figure 5: User-defined text on the USER swipe screen
TREND swipe screen
The TREND swipe screen shows a graphical representation of the readings in the presently selected
buffer.
Figure 6: TREND swipe screen
For a larger view of the graph and to access graph settings, swipe up to the top of the TREND
screen. This opens up the Graph screen. You can also open the Graph screen by pressing the MENU
key and selecting Graph under Views.
To initiate a trigger model or a sweep from the Graph screens, select the Trigger Mode indicator in
the indicator bar. Select Initiate Trigger Model from the menu. You can also press the TRIGGER key
to initiate a trigger model or sweep.
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Menu overview
To access the main menu, press the MENU key on the Model 2450 front panel. The figure below
shows the organization of the main menu.
Figure 7: Model 2450 main menu
The main menu includes six submenus. The submenus are labeled in green across the top of the
display. The icons in each submenu open interactive screens.
For more detailed information about the menus, see the Model 2450 Reference Manual.
Store measurements on a USB flash drive
You can copy the measurement data from the Model 2450 to a USB flash drive. The information is
saved in the .csv file format.
To store measurement data:
1. Insert a flash drive into the front-panel USB port.
2. Press the MENU key.
3. In the Measure column, select Data Buffers.
4. Select the buffer that you want to save.
5. Select Save to USB.
6. Enter a name for the new file.
7. Select the OK button on the displayed keyboard.
8. Select Yes to confirm saving the file.
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Saving screen captures to USB flash drive
You can save the content of the front-panel display to graphic file. The instrument saves these
graphic files, also known as screen captures, in sequentially-numbered files to the USB flash drive.
To save the screen capture:
1. Insert a USB flash drive in the USB port located on front panel of the instrument.
2. Navigate to the screen you want to capture.
3. Press the HOME and ENTER keys. The instrument displays "Saving screen capture."
4. Release the keys.
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Determining the command set you will use ............................ 3-15
In this section:
Remote communication interfaces ........................................... 3-1
Supported remote interfaces .................................................... 3-1
GPIB communications .............................................................. 3-1
LAN communications ............................................................... 3-4
USB communications ............................................................... 3-6
Using the web interface .......................................................... 3-12
Remote communication interfaces
You can choose from one of several communication interfaces to send commands to and receive
responses from the Model 2450.
Section 3
Using a remote interface
You can control the Model 2450 from only one communication interface at a time. The first interface
on which it receives a message takes control of the instrument. If another interface sends a message,
that interface can take control of the instrument. You may need to enter a password to change the
interface, depending on the access mode.
The Model 2450 automatically detects the type of communication interface (LAN, GPIB, or USB)
when you connect to the respective port on the rear panel of the instrument. In most cases, you do
not need to configure anything on the instrument. In addition, you do not need to reboot if you change
the type of interface that is connected.
Supported remote interfaces
The Model 2450 supports the following remote interfaces:
• GPIB: IEEE-488 instrumentation general purpose interface bus
• USB: Type B USB connection port
• Ethernet: Local area network ethernet communications
• TSP-Link: A high-speed trigger synchronization and communication bus that test system builders
can use to connect multiple instruments in a master and subordinate configuration.
For details about TSP-Link, see "TSP-Link System Expansion Interface" in the Model 2450 Reference
Manual.
GPIB communications
The Model 2450 GPIB interface is IEEE Std 488.1 compliant and supports IEEE Std 488.2 common
commands and status model topology.
Section
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3: Using a remote interface Model 2450 Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manu
You can have up to 15 devices connected to a GPIB, including the controller. The maximum cable
length is the lesser of either:
• The number of devices multiplied by 6.5 ft (2 m)
• 65.6 ft (20 m)
Install the GPIB driver software
You may see erratic bus operation if you ignore these limits.
Check the documentation for your GPIB controller for information about where to acquire drivers.
Keithley Instruments also recommends that you check the website of the GPIB controller for the latest
version of drivers or software.
It is important that you install the drivers before you connect the hardware. This prevents associating
the incorrect driver to the hardware.
Install the GPIB cards in your computer
Refer to the documentation from the GPIB controller vendor for information about installing the GPIB
controllers.
Connect GPIB cables to your instrument
To connect an instrument to the GPIB, use a cable equipped with standard GPIB connectors, as
shown below.
Figure 8: GPIB connector
To allow many parallel connections to one instrument, stack the connectors. Each connector has two
screws to ensure that connections remain secure. The figure below shows a typical connection
diagram for a test system with multiple instruments.
To avoid possible mechanical damage, stack no more than three connectors on any one instrument.
To minimize interference caused by electromagnetic radiation, use only shielded GPIB cables.
Contact Keithley Instruments for shielded cables.
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Figure 9: IEEE-488 connection example
Set the GPIB address
The factory sets the GPIB address value to 18. You can set the address to any address from 0 to 30
if it is unique in the system. This address cannot conflict with an address that is assigned to another
instrument or to the GPIB controller.
GPIB controllers are usually set to 0 or 21. To be safe, do not configure any instrument to have an
address of 0 or 21. To change the controller address, see the documentation for the controller.
The instrument saves the address in nonvolatile memory. This means that it does not change when
you send a reset command or when you turn the power off and then on again.
To set the GPIB address from the front panel:
1. Press the MENU key.
2. Under System, select Communication. The SYSTEM COMMUNICATION window opens.
3. Select the GPIB tab.
4. Next to Address, select the number. The Set GPIB Address dialog box is displayed.
5. Enter the address.
6. Select OK.
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LAN communications
You can communicate with the instrument using a local area network (LAN).
When you connect using a LAN, you can use a web browser to access the internal web page of the
instrument and change some of the instrument settings. For more information, see
interface (on page 3-12).
The Model 2450 is a LXI version 1.4 Core 2011 compliant instrument that supports TCP/IP and
complies with IEEE Std 802.3 (ethernet LAN). There is one LAN port (located on the rear panel of the
instrument) that supports full connectivity on a 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps network. The Model 2450
automatically detects the speed.
The Model 2450 also supports Multicast DNS (mDNS) and DNS Service Discovery (DNS-SD), which
are useful on a LAN with no central administration.
Contact your network administrator to confirm your specific network requirements before setting up a
LAN connection.
If you have problems setting up the LAN, see LAN troubleshooting suggestions (on page 3-13).
Using the web
Set up LAN communications on the instrument
This section describes how to set up manual or automatic LAN communications on the instrument.
Check communication settings
Before setting up the LAN configuration, you can check the communication settings on the instrument
without making any changes.
To check communication settings on the instrument:
1. Press the MENU key.
2. Under System, select Communication. The SYSTEM COMMUNICATION window opens.
3. Select one of the four tabs (GPIB, USB, LAN, or TSP-Link) to see the settings for that interface.
4. Press the EXIT key to leave the SYSTEM COMMUNICATION window without making any
changes.
Set up automatic LAN configuration
If you are connecting to a LAN that has a DHCP server or if you have a direct connection between the
instrument and a host computer, you can use automatic IP address selection.
If you select Auto, the instrument attempts to get an IP address from a DHCP server. If this fails, it
reverts to a local IP address in the range of 169.254.1.0 through 169.254.254.255.
Both the host computer and the instrument should be set to automatic. Though it is possible to have
one set to manual, it is more complicated to set up.
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To set up automatic IP address selection using the front panel:
1. From the Home screen, press MENU.
2. Under System, select Communication.
3. Select the LAN tab.
4. For TCP/IP Mode, select Auto.
5. Select Apply Settings to save your settings.
Set up manual LAN configuration
If necessary, you can set the IP address on the instrument manually.
You can also enable or disable the DNS settings and assign a host name to the DNS server.
Contact your corporate information technology (IT) department to secure a valid IP address for the
instrument when placing the instrument on a corporate network.
The instrument IP address has leading zeros, but the computer IP address cannot.
To set up manual IP address selection on the instrument:
1. From the Home screen, press MENU.
2. Under System, select Communication.
3. Select the LAN tab.
4. For TCP/IP Mode, select Manual.
5. Select the button next to Local IP and enter the LAN IP address. You can touch the number you
want to change.
6. Select the button next to Gateway and enter the gateway address.
7. Select the button next to Subnet and enter the subnet mask.
8. Select Apply Settings to save your settings.
Set up LAN communications on the computer
This section describes how to set up the LAN communications on your computer.
Do not change your IP address without consulting your system administrator. If you enter an
incorrect IP address, it can prevent your computer from connecting to your corporate network or it
may cause interference with another networked computer.
Record all network configurations before modifying any existing network configuration information on
the network interface card. Once the network configuration settings are updated, the previous
information is lost. This may cause a problem reconnecting the host computer to a corporate
network, particularly if DHCP is disabled.
Be sure to return all settings to their original configuration before reconnecting the host computer to a
corporate network. Contact your system administrator for more information.
Wait for the LAN status indicator on the front panel to turn solid green
A solid green LAN status indicator confirms that the instrument was assigned an IP address. Note
that it may take several minutes for the computer and instrument to establish a connection.
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Install LXI Discovery Browser software on your computer
You can use the LXI Discovery Browser to identify the IP addresses of LXI-certified instruments.
Once identified, you can double-click the IP address in the LXI Discovery Browser to open the web
interface for the instrument.
The Keithley LXI Discovery Browser is available on the instrument CD. It is also available on the
Keithley Instruments website
To locate the Keithley LXI Discovery Browser on the Keithley website:
1. Select the Support tab.
2. In the model number box, type 2450.
3. From the list, select Software and click the search icon. A list of software applications for the
instrument is displayed.
4. See the readme file included with the application for more information.
(http://www.keithley.com).
For more information about the LXI Consortium, see the LXI Consortium website
(http://www.lxistandard.org/).
Run the LXI Discovery Browser
To run the LXI Discovery Browser software:
1. From the Windows Start menu, select Keithley Instruments.
2. Select LXI Discovery Browser, and then double-click LXI Discovery Browser. The Keithley LXI
Discovery Browser window is displayed.
The Browser displays the instruments that it finds on the network and their associated IP
addresses.
3. Double-click an IP address in the LXI Discovery Browser dialog box. The instrument web page for
that instrument opens.
For information about using the web page, see the "Web Interface" topic in the Model 2450 Reference
Manual.
USB communications
To use the rear-panel USB port, you must have the Virtual Instrument Software Architecture (VISA)
layer on the host computer. See "How to install the Keithley I/O Layer" in the Model 2450 Reference
Manual for more information.
VISA contains a USB class driver for the USB Test and Measurement Class (USBTMC) protocol that,
once installed, allows the Microsoft
When you connect a USB device that implements the USBTMC or USBTMC-USB488 protocol to the
computer, the VISA driver automatically detects the device. Note that the VISA driver only
automatically recognizes USBTMC and USBTMC-USB488 devices. It does not recognize other USB
devices, such as printers, scanners, and storage devices.
®
Windows® operating system to recognize the instrument.
In this section, "USB instruments" refers to devices that implement the USBTMC or
USBTMC-USB488 protocol.
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Connecting a computer to the Model 2450 using USB
To connect the Model 2450 to a computer using a USB connection, use Keithley Instruments
Model USB-B-1, which is shipped with the instrument.
Each Model 2450 needs its own USB cable to be connected to the computer.
To connect an instrument to a computer using USB:
1. Connect the Type A end of the cable to the computer.
2. Connect the Type B end of the cable to the instrument.
3. Turn on the instrument power. When the computer detects the new USB connection, the Found
New Hardware Wizard starts.
4. If the "Can Windows connect to Windows Update to search for software?" dialog box opens, click
No, and then click Next.
5. On the "USB Test and Measurement device" dialog box, click Next, and then click Finish.
Communicate with the instrument
For the instrument to communicate with the USB device, you must use NI-VISATM. VISA requires a
resource string in the following format to connect to the correct USB instrument:
USB0::0x05e6::0x2450::[serial number]::INSTR
Where:
• 0x05e6: The Keithley vendor ID
• 0x2450: The instrument model number
• [serial number]: The serial number of the instrument (the serial number is also on the rear
panel)
• INSTR: Use the USBTMC protocol
To determine these parameters, you can run the Keithley Configuration Panel, which automatically
detects all instruments connected to the computer.
If you installed the Keithley I/O Layer, you can access the Keithley Configuration Panel through the
Microsoft
®
Windows® Start menu.
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To use the Keithley Configuration Panel to determine the VISA resource string:
1. Click Start > All Programs > Keithley Instruments > Keithley Configuration Panel. The
Select Operation dialog box is displayed.
Figure 10: Select Operation dialog box
2. Select Add.
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3. Click Next. The Select Communication Bus dialog box is displayed.
Figure 11: Select Communication Bus dialog box
4. Select USB.
5. Click Next. The Select Instrument Driver dialog box is displayed.
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Figure 12: Select Instrument Driver dialog box
6. Select Auto-detect Instrument Driver - Model.
7. Click Next. The Configure USB Instrument dialog box is displayed with the detected instrument
VISA resource string visible.
8. Click Next. The Name Virtual Instrument dialog box is displayed.
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Figure 13: Name Virtual Instrument dialog box
9. In the Virtual Instrument Name box, enter a name that you want to use to refer to the instrument.
10. Click Finish.
11. Click Cancel to close the Wizard.
12. Save the configuration. From the Keithley Configuration Panel, select File > Save.
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