Tektronix 2461 User manual
Keithley Instruments
Model 2461 in a Seri es 2400 Applicati on
28775 Aurora Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44139
1-800-935-5595
tek.com/keithley
Emulation and Migration Guide
Introduction
This guide provides information about using the Model 2461 as a drop-in replacement in an existing Model
2420, 2425, 2430, or 2440 application. This document refers to these four models collectively as the Series
2400. This docum ent also provides inf ormation about converting existing Ser ies 2400 SC PI cod e to 2461 SC PI
code.
When you use a 2461 in an application designed for one of these instruments, you will not have access to the
extended ranges and other features that were introduced with the 2461. In addition, the options that you can
set from the front panel are more limited.
For example, the highest current range full scale on the Model 2425 is 3 A. The highest current on the 2461 is
10 A. However, when the 2461 is controlled using the SCPI 2425 command set, the maximum range is 3 A.
The 2461 options that are not available with the Series 2400 SCPI command sets include:
Some current and voltage ranges
New trigger model
Ability to run scripts
Front-panel features, including graphing, saving measurement data, and setting up tests
Quick Setups from the QuickSet menu
In addition, source memory can be used, but it is no longer backed up with a battery.
This section describes:
How to select a SCPI command set
Differences between the Series 2400 SCPI command sets in the 2461 and the SCPI command sets
available in the previous Series 2400 products
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Selecting a comman d set
You can select a command set from the front panel or over the remote interface. After you change the
command set, you must reboot the instr ument.
Using the front panel:
1. Press the MENU key.
2. Under System, select Settings.
3. Select the button next to Command Set.
Figure 1: Selecting a command set
4. Select a command set. You will be prompted to reboot.
5. Select OK.
Using SCPI or TSP remote commands:
Send the command:
*lang SCPIxxxx
Where xxxx can be 2420, 2425, 2430, or 2440. Reb oot t he instr ument.
Front-panel operation with the Series 2400 SCPI command sets
When a Series 2400 command set is selected, the options available through the front panel are limited. For
example, you can observe measurements on the display, but you cannot control the source value using
front-panel displays.
The following topics describe the options that are available when a Series 2400 command set is selected.
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Mode Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument Reference Manual.
2
MEASURE view
Green part of the home screen; displays the value of the present
Swipe screen area
Blue part of the home screen. It displays the measured value of the source.
5
Source setting
Displays the current source value.
6
Local button
Cancels remote operation and changes to local operation.
Home screen display
When a Series 2400 SCPI command set is selected, the home screen is the only screen available. There are
no swipe screens.
The options available on the home screen are described here.
Figure 2: Home screen when a Series 2400 SCPI command set is selected
# Screen element Description
1 System status and
event indicators
area
3 Range button Displays the current measure range. Select the button to change the range.
At the top of the home screen. These indicators provide information about the
present state of the instrument. Some of the indicators open up a dialog box
with more information or a settings menu when selected.
For details, see "Status and event indicator s" in the Model 2461 1 kW Pulse
measurement.
Status and error indicators when a command set is selected
The indicators at the top of the home screen contain information about instrument settings and states. Some of
the indicators also provide access to instrument settings.
Select an indicator to get more information about the present state of the instrument. You can also select the
indicators by turning the navigation control to select an indicator and then pressing ENTER.
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Local
Instrument is controlled from the front panel.
GPIB
Instrument is communicating through a GPIB interface.
TCPIP
Instrument is communicating through a LAN interface.
VXI-11
Instrum ent is commu nicating using VXI-11.
USBTMC
Instrument is communicating through a USB interface.
Telnet
Instrument is communicating through Telnet.
Figure 3: Status and error indicators
The communications indicator is at the left. The options you may see here are listed in the following table.
Indicator Meaning
The communications indicator displays the type of communications the instrument is using. Select the indicator
to display the present communications settings. Select Change Settings at the bottom of the dialog box to
open the System Communications screen, where you can change the settings.
There is an activity indicator next to the communications indicator. When the instrument is communicating with
a remote interface, the up and down arrows flash.
If a service request has been generated, SRQ is displayed to the right of the up and down arrows. You can
instruct the instrument to generate a service request (SRQ) when one or more errors or conditions occur. When
this indicator is on, a service request has been generated. This indicator stays on until the serial poll byte is
read or all the conditions that caused SRQ are cleared.
The measurement mode indicator is on the right. This indicator shows the active measurement method. Select
the indicator to open a menu. Select one of the buttons on the menu to change the measurement method or
initiate or abort the trigger m odel. You can select the foll o wing opt ions :
Continuous Measurement: The instrument is taking measurements continuously. CONT is displayed
when this option is selected.
Manual Trigger Mode: Press the front-panel TRIGGER key to initiate the current trigger model. MAN is
displayed when this option is selected.
The system event indicator is on the far right side of the instrument status indicator bar. This indicator changes
based on the type of event that occurred.
Press the indicator to open a message screen with a brief description of the error, warning, or event. Press the
Event Log button to see the System Events screen, which contains more detailed descriptions of the events
and options for controlling the types of error events that are displayed on the front panel.
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An empty triangle means that no new events were logged in the event log since the last time you viewed
A blue circle means that an informational event message was logged. The message is for information
A yellow triangle means that a warning event message was logged. This message indicates that a
The following table describes the different event indicators and what they mean.
Icon Description
the event log.
only. This indicates status changes or information that may be helpful. If the Log Command option is on,
it also includes commands.
change occurred that could affect operat ion.
A red triangle means that an error event message was logged. This may indicate that a command was
sent incorrectly.
Event messages
During operation and programming, front-panel messages may be displayed. Messages are information,
warning, or error notifications. For information on event messages, refer to "Using the event log" in the Model
®
2461 1 kW Pulse Mode Interactive SourceMeter
Instrument Reference Manual.
Figure 4: Example front-panel error message
Menus when a Series 2400 command set is selected
When a Series 2400 SCPI command set is selected, the only menus available from the front panel are the
QuickSet menu and the System Settings menu. The QuickSet menu is only available through the QUICKSET
key and has limited options.
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QuickSet menu when a Series 2400 command set is selected
When a Series 2400 command set is selected, the QuickSet menu is only available through the QUICKSET key
and has limited options. You can set the following options:
Function: Predefined setups for the measurement and source functions
Use the Performance slider to adjust for performance (resolution versus speed)
The Function option allows you to select the same options that you can select by pressing the FUNCTION key.
To select one of the functions, press the function on the touchscreen. You can also select a function by turning
the navigation control to highlight a function, and then pressing the control to select the function.
The Performance slider allows you to adjust the speed and resolution of the instrument based on where you
position the slider. As you increase speed, you lower the amount of resolution. As you increase resolution, you
decrease the reading speed. The settings the performance slider adjusts include autozero, autodelay and filter
settings, display digits, NPLC, and source readback. These settings take effect the next time the output is
turned on and measurements are made.
System menu when a Series 2400 command set is selected
The System menu is available when a Series 2400 command set is selected. The options are the same as the
®
options when the other command sets are selected, except that the TSP-Link
options in the Communication
menu is not available.
Figure 5: Main menu when a Series 2400 SCPI command set is selected
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Series 2400 to 2461 command differences
You can use existing code from a Series 2400 application with a 2461; many of the commands are the same.
However, there are some significant differences, including the following exceptions:
Because the 2461 does not have an RS-232 communication port, any commands related to RS-232
communications are accepted and ignored
Because there is no contact check functionality when using a Series 2400 command set, any commands
related to contact-check functionality are accepted and ignored
Because of the change to the display, the DISPlay commands will act differently
Many of the commands in the CALCulate2 subsystem are no longer supported or operate differently
You cannot use the :ABORt command to abort a query that is waiting for a trigger
Details about these differences and other commands that operate differently are described in the following
sections.
If a command is not listed in this section, you can use the command in the same way that you did for the
previous Series 2400 products. The descriptions of the commands are provided in the Series 2400
SourceMeter User's Manual, (part number 2400S-900-01). You can download this manual from
tek.com/keithley
.
Commands that are sup por ted but ope ra te diff er ently
The command :DISPlay:CNDisplay is supported in the command sets of the Series 2400 instruments, but
will return the display to the home screen.
The commands :OUTPut:ENABle[:STATe] and :OUTPut:ENABle:TRIPped? are supported in the Series
2400 SCPI command sets, but they affect the 2461 rear panel INTERLOCK connection instead of the DIGITAL
I/O connection.
If you used :CALCulate2:LIMit<x>:PASS:SOURce2 and :CALCulate2:LIMit<x>:PASS:SOURce2? in
earlier code, replace them with :CALCulate2:LIMit<x>:LOWer:SOURce2 and
:CALCulate2:LIMit<x>:LOWer:SOURce2?
Commands that are not supported in the 2461
The 2461 introduced features and hardware changes that made some earlier commands obsolete. These
commands are documented in this section.
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RS-232 commands
The 2461 no longer supports the RS-232 interface, so commands related to RS-232 operation are not
supported even when you are using a Series 2400 SCPI command set.
If you have existing code that sets RS-232 parameters, the commands will be accepted and ignored.
Commands that are related to the RS-232 interface that are no longer available are listed below.
:SYSTem:LOCal
:SYSTem:RWLock
Contact check commands
The 2461 does not support contact check, so commands related to this feature are not supported even when
you are using a Series 2400 command set.
If you have existing code that sets contact check parameters, the commands are accepted and ignored or are
accepted and return a default value.
The Series 2400 SCPI commands related to this feature and the 2461 response to them are listed below.
Commands that are accepted and ignored
:CALCulate2:LIMit4:FAIL?
:CALCulate2:LIMit4:SOURce2
:CALCulate2:LIMit4:SOURce2?
:CALCulate2:LIMit4:STATe
:CALCulate2:LIMit4:STATe?
:SYSTem:CCHeck
:SYSTEM:CCHeck?
:SYSTem:CCHEck:RESistance
:SYSTem:CCHeck:RESistance?
:TRIGger:SEQuence2:TOUT
:TRIGger:SEQuence2:TOUT?
:TRIGger:SEQuence2:SOURce
:TRIGger:SEQuence2:SOURce?
Commands that are accepted and return a default value
*OPT? (0 is returned)
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Display commands
The 2461 display is significantly different than the display of earlier models, so some commands related to the
display no longer apply when you are using the Ser ies 2400 SCPI com mand set.
If you have existing code that sets display parameters, the commands will either be accepted and return
defaults, or be accepted and ignored.
The Series 2400 commands related to this display that are no longer available are listed below:
:DISPlay:ENABle
:DISPlay:ENABle?
:DISPlay:WINDow[1]:ATTRibutes?
:DISPlay:WINDow[1]:DATA?
:DISPlay:WINDow2:ATTRibutes?
:DISPlay:WINDow2:DATA?
Other commands
Some additional commands are no longer supported when you are using the Series 2400 SCPI command set.
The 2461 accepts the following command but ignores it:
:SYSTem:MEMory:INITialize
The 2461 accepts the following command but returns a default of 0:
*TST?
The 2461 accepts the following command but returns the last key that was remapped to the ENTER or EXIT
keys:
:SYSTem:KEY
Commands that were added to the SCPI command sets
To replace some features that are needed to use the 2461 in a Series 2400 application, the following
commands were added.
:SYSTem:GPIB:ADDRess: Assigns a GPIB address through a remote interface.
:SYSTem:TLINk: Sets the digital I/O port to digital I/O or Trigger Link. See below for detail.
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The :SYSTem:GPIB:ADDRess: usage format is:
:SYSTem:GPIB:ADDRess <n>
Where <n> is the GPIB address of the instrument (1 to 30), or
:SYSTem:GPIB:ADDRess?
Which is used to query the address of the instrument.
The address can be set to any address value from 1 to 30. However, the address must be unique in the
system. It cannot conflict with an address that is assigned to another instrument or to the GPIB controller. A
new GPIB address takes effect when the command to change it is processed. If there are response messages
in the output queue when this command is processed, they must be read at the new address.
If command messages are being queued (sent before this command has executed), the new settings may take
effect in the middle of a subsequent command message, so care should be exercised when setting this
attribute from the GPIB interface.
You should allow ample time for the command to be processed before attempting to communicate with the
instrument again. After sending this command, make sure to use the new address to communicate with the
instrument.
*RST does not affect the GPIB address.
The :SYSTem:TLINk usage format is:
:SYSTem:TLINk <n>
Where <n> is:
0: Digital I/O connections. The DIGITAL I/O port on the rear panel of the instrument is set for digital I/O
connections.
1: Trigger Link. The DIGITAL I/O port on the rear panel of the instrument is set for Trigger Link (TLINK)
connections.
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This command is stored in nonvolatile memory (the setting is retained through a power cycle). It is not saved as
part of the user-saved setup (*SAV and *RCL).
When the port is set for digital I/O, the following signals are available on the digital I/O connector:
Pin 1: Out 1
Pin 2: Out 2
Pin 3: Out 3
Pin 4: Out 4 (end-of-test (EOT) or BUSY)
Pin 6: Input (start-of-test (SOT))
When the port is set for Trigger Link, the following signals are available on the digital I/O connector:
Pin 1: Trigger Link 1
Pin 2: Trigger Link 2
Pin 3: Trigger Link 3
Pin 4: Trigger Link 4
Pin 6: Input (start-of-test (SOT))
You can use the Series 2400 commands that support digital I/O and Trigger Link with these settings. For
example, you can use the SOURce2:TTL command to set the I/O port bit pattern for the digital I/O state. The
:ARM[:SEQuence[1]][LAYer[1]]:SOURce TLINk command can be used when the state is TLINk.
Using Trigger Link or Digital I/O
The 2461 can support digital I/O or Trigger Link (TLINK) applications when a SCPI command set of the
emulated instrument is selected. However, it cannot support both digital I/O and TLINK connections at the
same time.
If you are using a 2461 in an application that used only the Series 2400 digital I/O, send the command:
:SYSTem:TLINk 0
This sets the digital I/O port lines of the 2461 to operate the lines with the same pinouts as those on the Series
2400.
If you are using a 2461 in an application that used only the Series 2400 Trigger Link (TLINK) connector, send
the command:
:SYSTem:TLINk 1
This sets the digital I/O port lines to operate with the same connections as a Series 2400 TLINK connection.
You can use the Model 2450-TLINK DB-9 to Trigger Link Connector Adapter to connect to the digital I/O
connector.
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If the connection to the digital I/O connector is always the same (either digital I/O or TLINK), you do not need to
send the :SYSTem:TLINk command again. It is saved through power cycles.
If you are using the 2461 in a Series 2400 application that used both digital I/O and TLINK, you need to make
changes to your application to accommodate the differences. One way to do this is to use the *SAV and *RCL
commands to save and recall the settings for each type of connection. Note that the :SYSTem:TLINk
command is not saved with the user-saved setup, so you must send that command for each change to digital
I/O or TLINK.
For example, you might save the settings as follows.
Set the digital I/O port as a Series 2400 digital I/O:
:SYSTem:TLINk 0
Make other settings for the digital I/O application.
Save the settings to memory location 1:
*SAV 1
Set the digital I/O port as a Series 2400 TLINK:
:SYSTem:TLINk 1
Make other settings for the TLINK application.
Save the settings to memory location 2:
*SAV 2
To change between the applications, attach the appropriate cable (digital I/O or TLINK) and send the :SYSTem
TLINk command followed by the *RCL command.
For example, to restore the settings for the digital I/O application, send the command:
:SYSTem:TLINk 0
*RCL 1
To restore the settings for the TLINK application, send the command:
:SYSTem:TLINk 1
*RCL 2
For more detail on the :SYSTem:TLINk command, see Commands that were added to the SCPI command
sets (on page 9).
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Converting Series 2400 code to 2461 code
This section provides information about converting existing Series 2400 SCPI code to 2461 SCPI code.
You must use the SCPI command set to use the new commands. See "Determining the command set you will
®
use" in the Model 2461 1 kW Pulse Mode Interactive SourceMeter
number 2461-901-01), which you can download from tek.com/keithley
This section also lists the SCPI commands that were available with the Series 2400 instruments. If there is an
equivalent command in the 2461, a cross-reference to that command is provided. Differences between the
commands are noted. If no differences are noted, the command should operate the same on the 2461 as it did
on the Series 2400.
"Series 2400" in this document refers to the Model 2420, 2425, 2430, and 2440 instruments.
Instrument Reference Manual, (part
.
Significant differences
This topic describes some of the more significant differences between the Series 2400 SCPI commands and
the 2461 commands.
Acquiring readings
The commands that you use to acquire readings have changed in the 2461.
When you make measurements, the 2461 allows you to select the buffer in which to store data and the buffer
elements that should be stored. This change affects the FETCh?, READ?, and MEASure? commands.
In the 2461, the :FORMat:ELEMents[:SENSe[1]] command is no longer available. Instead, you specify the
format elements as part of the READ?, FETCh?, MEASure?, and TRACe:DATA? commands. The format
elements are specified with each use of the command instead of using a global setting for all commands. The
elements can be unique for each command and can be unique each time the command is processed.
In the 2461, the READ? command does not initiate a trigger when it makes a measurement. It also makes only
one measurement at a time. The data is automatically stored in a buffer (defbuffer1 if the buffer is not
specified in the command).
In the 2461, use the TRACe:DATA? command to read a specified amount of data from the buffer instead of all
data. You can also define which data to return, such as the date, time, and units of measure.
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*RST
*RST
SOUR:FUNC VOLT
SOUR:FUNC VOLT
SOUR:DEL 0.1
SOUR:VOLT 5
SOUR:VOLT 5
SOUR:VOLT:ILIM 0.01
SENS:FUNC "CURR"
SENS:FUNC "CURR"
SENS:CURR:RANG:AUTO ON
SENS:CURR:RANG:AUTO ON
SENS:CURR:PROT 0.01
TRIG:LOAD "SimpleLoop", 10, 0.1
:FORM:ELEM VOLT, CURR, TIME
OUTP ON
:TRIG:COUNT 10
INIT
:SYST:TIME:RES:AUTO ON
*WAI
:OUTP ON
TRAC:DATA? 1, 10, "defbuffer1", SOUR, READ, REL
READ?
OUTP OFF
OUTP OFF
The :INITiate command starts the trigger model. To trigger measurements when you are not using the
trigger model, use the :TRACe:TRIGger command.
The command for the number of readings is also different. In the 2461, use the Simple Loop Trigger Template
command TRIG:LOAD "SimpleLoop".
An example of a data acquisition done for the Model 2425 compared with one done for the 2461 is shown in the
following table. In these exam ples , the SourceM eter
current readings with autorange ON. The instruments return the source value, current measurements, and
relative timestamps.
2425 2461
®
instruments are programmed to output 5 V and make 10
Making resistance measurements
The method for selecting manual or auto ohms and for making resistance measurements is different in the
2461 than it is in the Series 2400 instruments. For more information, see "Making resistance measurements" in
®
the "General operation" section of the Model 2461 1 kW Pulse Mode Interactive SourceMeter
Reference Manual, which you can do wnlo ad from tek.com/keithley
.
Instrument
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