Keithley SourceMeter 2460 User Manual

Model 2460 High-Current

www.keithley.com

Interactive SourceMeter

User’s Manual

2460-900-01 Rev. A / September 2014



Instrument

洛克儀器股份有限公司 Lock Instrument Co. Ltd

(台北公司) 新北市中和區中正路 764 號 6 樓 TEL: [phone]
(新竹公司) 新竹市光復路 2 段 295 號 15 樓之 7 TEL: [phone]
網站: http://www.lockinc.com.tw

*P246090001A*

2460-900-01A

A Greater Measure of Confidence

Model 2460

Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument

User's Manual

© 2014, Keithley Instruments

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 is strictly prohibited.

®

, TSP-Link®, and TSP-Net® are trademarks of Keithley Instrume nts. All Keithley Instruments

TSP

product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of Keithley Instruments. Other brand

names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

The Lua 5.0 software and associated documentation files are copyright © 1994 - 2013, Tecgraf,

PUC-Rio. Terms of license for the Lua software and associated documentation can be accessed at

the Lua licensing site (http://www.lua.org/license.html).

Document number: 2460-900-01 Rev. A / September 2014

Safety precaut ions

The following safety precautio ns should be observ ed before using this product and any associated instrum entation. 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 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 instrum ent labe ls, do not connect any instr u ment 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 withs tand ing th e
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 ma y 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 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 documentat io n.

If a

The
user documentation in all cases where the symbol is mark ed on the instru ment .

The symbol on an instrument means caution, 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

If this
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 procedure.

The CAUTION heading in the user documentation explains h az ards th at coul d dama ge 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 you 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 indicates a connection terminal to the equipment frame.

symbol is on a product, it indicates that mercury is present in the display lamp. Please note that the lamp must be

To clean an instrument, use a damp cloth 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 January 2013.

Table of Contents

Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1-1

Welcome .............................................................................................................................. 1-1

Introduction to this manual ................................................................................................... 1-1

Extended warranty ............................................................................................................... 1-2

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

Turn the Model 2460 output on or off ................................................................................... 2-4

Touchscreen display ............................................................................................................ 2-5

Select items on 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 a USB flash drive ...................................................................... 2-8

Using a remote interface .......................................................................................... 3-1

Remote communications interfaces ..................................................................................... 3-1

Supported remote interfaces ................................................................................................ 3-1

GPIB communications .......................................................................................................... 3-2

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

Connect a computer to the Model 2460 using USB .................................................................. 3-7

Communicate with the instrument ............................................................................................. 3-7

Using the web interface...................................................................................................... 3-12

Connect to the instrument web interface ................................................................................. 3-12

LAN troubleshooting suggestions ............................................................................................ 3-13

Web inte rface Home page....................................................................................................... 3-14

Identify the instrument ............................................................................................................. 3-15

Review LAN trigger events in the event log ............................................................................ 3-15

Determining the command s et you will use ....................................................................... 3-15

Table of Contents

User's Manual

Model 2460 Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument

Making basic front-panel measurements ................................................................ 4-1

Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 4-1

Equipment required for this application................................................................................ 4-2

Device connections .............................................................................................................. 4-2

Make front-panel measurements ......................................................................................... 4-2

How to make front-panel meas ureme nts .................................................................................. 4-3

Measuring low-resistance devices .......................................................................... 5-1

Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 5-1

Equipment required .............................................................................................................. 5-1

Set up remote communications ........................................................................................... 5-1

Device connections .............................................................................................................. 5-2

Low-resistance measurements ............................................................................................ 5-5

Set up the measurement from the front panel ........................................................................... 5-5

View the measurements on the front-panel TREND swipe screen ............................................ 5-6

View the buffer statistics on the front panel ............................................................................... 5-6

Set up the low-resistance application using SCPI commands................................................... 5-6

Set up the low-resistance application using TSP commands .................................................... 5-7

Rechargeable battery measurements ...................................................................... 6-1

Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 6-1

Equipment required .............................................................................................................. 6-3

Device connections .............................................................................................................. 6-4

Automated battery charge and discharge cycle testing ....................................................... 6-6

Set up remote communications ................................................................................................. 6-7

Set up the battery application using SCPI commands .............................................................. 6-7

Set up the battery application using TSP commands ................................................................ 6-9

Generating an I-V sweep on an LED with KickStart ............................................... 7-1

Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 7-1

Equipment and software required ........................................................................................ 7-1

Set up remote communications ........................................................................................... 7-2

Device connections .............................................................................................................. 7-2

Generating an I-V sweep using KickStart ............................................................................ 7-4

Configure the Model 2460 to use the KickStart software .......................................................... 7-4

Launch KickStart and set up the test ......................................................................................... 7-4

Run the test and view the graph ................................................................................................ 7-8

View and save the test data in tabular form .............................................................................. 7-9

Measuring I-V characteristics of a solar panel ....................................................... 8-1

Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 8-1

Equipment required .............................................................................................................. 8-1

Model 2460

of Contents

Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Table

Set up remote communications ........................................................................................... 8-2

Device connections .............................................................................................................. 8-2

Solar panel characterization ................................................................................................ 8-4

Set up the solar panel I-V sweep from the front panel .............................................................. 8-4

Set up the solar panel I-V sweep using SCPI commands ......................................................... 8-6

Set up the solar panel I-V sweep using TSP commands .......................................................... 8-6

Generating a high-current pulse train ..................................................................... 9-1

Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 9-1

Equipment required .............................................................................................................. 9-1

Set up remote communications ........................................................................................... 9-2

Device connections .............................................................................................................. 9-2

High-speed, high-current pulses from a remote interface .................................................... 9-4

Define the pulse test parameters .............................................................................................. 9-5

Set up the source and measure functions ................................................................................. 9-6

Set up the trigger model using TSP commands ........................................................................ 9-6

TSP commands to output a high-current pulse train ................................................................. 9-8

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 2460 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 2460 information ..................................................................................... 11-1

Applications .............................................................................. 1-3

Welcome

Section 1

Introduction

In this section:

Welcome .................................................................................. 1-1

Introduction to this manual ....................................................... 1-1

Extended warranty.................................................................... 1-2

Contact information .................................................................. 1-2

CD-ROM contents .................................................................... 1-2

Organization of manual sections .............................................. 1-3

Thank you for choosing a Keithley Instruments product. The Model 2460 High-Current Interactive
SourceMeter

®

Instrument is a precise, low-noise instrument that combines a stable DC power supply,
true high-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.

The Model 2460 can source up to 7 A, and features 1 A, 4 A, 5 A, and 7 A ranges. With 0.012 percent
basic accuracy at 6½-digit resolution, the Model 2460 is a good solution for testing a wide variety of
materials and devices in applications such as power semiconductors, solar energy, high brightness
LEDs, power conversion, electrochemistry, batteries, and more.

Introduction to this manual

This manual provides detailed applications to help you achie ve succes s with your Keithl e y
Instruments Model 2460. 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, TSP code, or Keithley KickStart Startup Software (as
appropriate for the application; some show multiple ways to complete an 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 2460 Reference Manual. This manual is on
the Product Information CD-ROM that came with your instrument.

Section

User's Manual

1: Introduction Model 2460 Interactive SourceMeter® 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.

Contact information

If you have any questions after you revie w the information in this documentation, please contac t 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 1-800-935-5595, or from outside the U.S.
at [phone]. For worldwide contact numbers, visit the Keithley Instruments website
(http://www.keithley.com).

CD-ROM contents

The following CD-ROM is shipped with each Model 2460 instrument:

• Interactive SourceMeter

part number 24GDI-950-01)

The Model 2460 Interactive SourceMeter SMU Instrument Product Information CD-ROM
contains:

®

SMU Instruments Product Information CD-ROM (Keithley Instruments

• Quick Start Guide: Provides unpacking instructions, describes basic connections, reviews basic

operation information, and prov ides 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 Startup 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 2460.

For the latest drivers and additional support information, see the Keithley Instruments website
(http://www.keithley.com).

1-2 2460-900-01 Rev. A / September 2014

Model 2460

Introduction

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 interf ac e.

• Application examples (see below): Provides detailed examples of how to use the Model 2460 in

some typical situations.

• Troubleshooting FAQs (on page 10-1): Provides answers to frequently asked questions to help

you troubleshoot common problems encountered with the Model 2460.

• Next steps (on page 11-1): Provides information about additional resources that can help you use

the Model 2460.

This PDF 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

This manual provides application examples that show you how to perform tests from the front panel
and over a remote interface. These applications are presented after the summary information about
the Model 2460. The applications include:

• Making basic front-panel measurements (on page 4-1): Demonstrates the basic measurement

functionality using a single Model 2460 and a two-terminal device under test (DUT).

• Measuring low-resistance devices (on page 5-1): Demonstrates how to use a Model 2460 to

make low-resistance measurements of a 20 mΩ resistor.

• Rechargeable battery measurements (on page 6-1): Demonstrates how to use a single Model

2460 to perform automated battery discharge and charge cycle testing.

• Generating an I-V sweep on an LED with KickStart (on page 7-1): Demonstrates how use the

Model 2460 to test high-brightness light-emitting diodes (LEDs) using Keithley KickStart Startup
Software.

• Measuring I-V characteristics of a solar panel (on page 8-1): Demonstrates using an I-V sweep to

characterize a solar panel using the Model 2460.

• Generating a high-current pulse train (on page 9-1): Demonstrates how use a Model 2460 to

generate a high-current pulse train using Test Script Processor (TSP®) commands and the Model
2460 trigger model.

2460-900-01 Rev. A / September 2014 1-3

Saving screen captures to a USB flash drive ........................... 2-8

power switch so that it is in the off position (O).

HOME key

Returns the display to the Home screen.

MENU key

Opens the main menu. Press the icons on the main menu to open
source, measure, views, trigger, scripts, and system screens.

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

Turn the Model 2460 output on or off ....................................... 2-4

Touchscreen display................................................................. 2-5

Store measurements on a USB flash drive ............................... 2-7

Front panel overview

Section 2

Using the front-panel interface

The front panel of the Model 2460 is shown below. Descriptions of the controls on the front panel
follow the figure.

Figure 1: Model 2460 front panel

POWER switch

Turns the instrument on or off. To turn the instrument on, press the
power switch so that it is in the on position (|). To turn it off, press the

ammeter, ohmmeter, and power supply. Also allows you to choose
measure functions and adjust performance for better resolution or

HELP key

there is no selected area or item when you press the HELP key,

Section

User's Manual

USB port

You can save buffer data and scripts to the USB flash drive. The

Touchscreen

The Model 2460 has a high-resolution, five-inch color touchscreen

pressing the front-panel MENU, QUICKSET, and FUNCTION keys.

Turning the navigation control: Moves the cursor to highlight a list

at you can select it. Turning the control when

the cursor is in a value entry field increases or decreases the value in

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.

FUNCTION key

Displays instrument functions. To select a function, touch the function
name on the screen.

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

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

Use FORCE HI and FORCE LO terminal connections to source or

yellow "R" is visible to the left of the switch.

Chassis connection

Banana jack connector that provides a chassis connection.

2: Using the front-panel interface Model 2460 Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument

flash drive must be formatted as a FAT drive.

display. You can use the touchscreen to access swipe screens and
menu options. You can access additional interactive screens by

Navigation control

value or menu item so th
the field.

Pressing the navigation control: Selects the highlighted choice or

TRIGGER key

OUTPUT ON/OFF

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

Accesses trigger-related settings and operations. The action of the

Turns the output source on or off. The key illuminates when the

(LAN).

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 2460 Release Notes on the 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.

FORCE terminals

sink voltage or current to or from a device under test (DUT).

FRONT/REAR
TERMINALS switch

2-2 2460-900-01 Rev. A / September 2014

Activates the terminals on the front or rear panel. When the
front-panel terminals are active, a green "F" is visible to the left of the
FRONT/REAR switch. When the rear-panel terminals are active, a

M

odel 2460 Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 2: Using the front-panel interface

Power the instrument on or off

Follow the steps below to connect the Model 2460 to line power and turn on the instrument. The
Model 2460 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 2460 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 2460 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 2460 rear panel

2460-900-01 Rev. A / September 2014 2-3

Section

User's Manual

2: Using the front-panel interface Model 2460 Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument

To turn a Model 2460 on or off:

1. Before turning the instrument on, disconnect any devices under test (DUTs) from the Model 2460.

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.

Turn the Model 2460 output on or off

You can turn the Model 2460 output on from the front panel or by sending remote commands.

Turning the Model 2460 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 2460
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 2460 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 State setting to place the Model 2460 in a known,
noninteractive state during idle periods, such as when you are changing the device under test. The
output-off states that can be selected for a Model 2460 are normal, high-impedance, zero, or guard.

See "Output-off state" in the Model 2460 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 2460-900-01 Rev. A / September 2014

Model 2460

Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 2: Using the front-panel interface

Touchscreen display

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 that you can access by swiping the front panel.
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 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, 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 2460 touchscreen display has multiple screens that you can access by gently swiping left
or right on the lower half of the display. The following topics describe each of these screens.

The swipe screen indicat or shows you whic h scr een is s elected . Located between the top and bottom
halves of the screen, each circle represents one swipe screen. As you swipe right or left, a different
circle changes color, indicating where you are in the screen sequence. The default position of the
indicator when the instrument is turned on is the center circle (Home screen).

Figure 3: Swipe screen position indicator

The following topics describe the Model 2460 touchscreen in more detail.

SETTINGS swipe screen

The SETTINGS screen gives you front-panel access to some instrument settings. It shows you the
present settings and allows you to change, enable, or disable them quickly.

Figure 4: Model 2460 SETTINGS swipe screen

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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).

STATISTICS swipe scr een

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 5: Model 2460 STATISTICS swipe screen

USER swip e screen

You can program custom text that appears on the USER swipe screen. For example, you can
program the Model 2460 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 2460 Reference Manual for details.

Figure 6: Model 2460 USER swipe screen

TREND swipe screen

The TREND swipe screen shows a graphical representation of the readings in the presently selected
buffer.

Figure 7: Model 2460 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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Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 2: Using the front-panel interface

Menu overview

To access the main menu, press the MENU key on the Model 2460 front panel. The figure below
shows the organization of the main menu.

Figure 8: Model 2460 main menu

The main menu includes submenus, which are labeled in green across the top of the display.
Touching the icons in each submenu opens their interactive screens.

Store measurements on a USB flash drive

If there is measurement data in the buffer, you can copy it from the Model 2460 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.

9. Select OK to close the dialog box.

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Saving screen captures to a USB flash drive

You can save the content of the front-panel display to a 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 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 communications interfaces.......................................... 3-1

Supported remote interfaces .................................................... 3-1

GPIB communications .............................................................. 3-2

LAN communications................................................................ 3-4

USB communications ............................................................... 3-6

Using the web interface .......................................................... 3-12

Remote communications interfaces

Section 3

Using a remote int er f ace

You can choose from one of several communications interfaces to send commands to and receive
responses from the Model 2460.

You can control the Model 2460 from only one communications 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 2460 automatically detects the type of communications 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 2460 supports the following remote interfaces:

• GPIB: IEEE-488 instrumentation general purpose interface bus

• Ethernet: Local area network ethernet communications

• USB: Type B USB port

• TSP-Link: A high-speed trigger synchronization and communications 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 2460 Reference
Manual.

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3: Using a remote interface Model 2460 Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument

GPIB communications

The Model 2460 GPIB interface is IEEE Std 488.1 compliant and supports IEEE Std 488.2 common
commands and status model topology.

You can have up to 15 devices connected to a GPIB interface, including the controller. The maximum
cable length is the lesser of either:

• The number of devices multiplied by 2 m (6.5 ft)

• 20 m (65.6 ft)

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 ins tr um e nt

To connect an instrument to the GPIB interface, use a cable equipped with standard GPIB
connectors, as shown below.

Figure 9: 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.

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Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 3:

To avoid possible mechanical damage, stack no more than three connectors on any one instrument.
To minimize interference caused b y electr omagnetic radiation, use only shielded GPIB cables.
Contact Keithley Instruments for shielded cables.

Figure 10: Model 2460 IEEE-488 connections

Set the GPIB address

The default GPIB address is 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. It does not change when you send a reset
command or when you turn the power off and then on again.

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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 GPIB Address dialog box is displayed.

5. Enter the address.

6. Select OK.

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 Using the web

interface (on page 3-12).

The Model 2460 is an LXI version 1.4 Core 2011 compliant instrument that supports TCP/IP and
complies with IE EE 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 2460
automatically detects the speed.

The Model 2460 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, refer to LAN troubleshooting suggestions (on page 3-13).

Set up LAN communications on t he instrument

This section describes how to set up manual or automatic LAN communications on the instrument.

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 use automatic LAN configuration.
Though it is possible to have one set to manual configuration, it is more complicated to set up.

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Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 3:

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. For Local IP, enter the LAN IP address. You can touch the number you want to change.

6. For Gateway, enter the gateway address.

7. For Subnet, enter the subnet mask.

8. Select Apply Settings to save your settings.

Set up LAN communications on t he 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 Keithley Instruments website
(http://www.keithley.com).

To locate the Keithley LXI Discovery Browser on the Keithley website:

1. Select the Support tab.

2. In the model number box, type 2460.

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.
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 Microsoft Windows Start menu, select Keithley Instruments.

2. Select LXI Discovery Browser.

3. Click LXI Discovery Browser. The Keithley LXI Discovery Browser window is displayed.

The LXI Discovery Browser displays the instruments that it finds on the network and their
associated IP addresses.

4. 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 "Using the web interface" topic in the Model 2460
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 2460 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.

In this section, "USB instruments" refers to devices that implement the USBTMC or
USBTMC-USB488 protoc o l .

®

Windows® operating system to recognize the instrument.

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Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 3: Using a remote interf

Connect a computer to the Model 2460 us ing USB

To connect the Model 2460 to a computer using a USB connection, use Keithley Instruments
Model USB-B-1, which is shipped with the instrument.

Each Model 2460 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 ins tr um e nt

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::0x2460::[serial number]::INSTR
Where:

• 0x05e6: The Keithley vendor ID

• 0x2460: 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 11: Select Operation dia log box

2. Select Add.

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