Tektronix 2601B-PULSE User Manual
Model 2601B-PULSE
System SourceMeter Instrument
User’s Manual
2601B-PULSE-900-01 Rev. A August 2021
tek.com/keithley
*P2601B-PULSE-900-01A*
2601B-PULSE-900-01A
System SourceMeter® Instrument
User's Manual
Model 2601B-PULSE
© 2021, Keithley Instruments, LLC
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A.
All rights reserved.
Any unauthorized reproduction, photocopy, or use of the information herein, in whole or in part,
without the prior written approval of Keithley Instruments, LLC, is strictly prohibited.
These are the original instructions in English.
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Document number: 2601B-PULSE-900-01 Rev. A August 2021
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 personnel who recognize shock hazards and are familiar with the safety precautions required
to avoid possible injury. Read and follow all installation, operation, and maintenance information carefully before using the
product. Refer to the user documentation for complete product specifications.
If the product is used in a manner not specified, the protection provided by the product warranty may be impaired.
The types of product users are:
Responsible body is the individual or group responsible for the use and maintenance of equipment, for ensuring that the
equipment is operated within its specifications and operating limits, and for ensuring that operators are adequately trained.
Operators use the product for its intended function. They must be trained in electrical safety procedures and proper use of the
instrument. They must be protected from electric shock and contact with hazardous live circuits.
Maintenance personnel perform routine procedures on the product to keep it operating properly, for example, setting the line
voltage or replacing consumable materials. Maintenance procedures are described in the user documentation. The procedures
explicitly state if the operator may perform them. Otherwise, they should be performed only by service personnel.
Service personnel are trained to work on live circuits, perform safe installations, and repair products. Only properly trained
service personnel may perform installation and service procedures.
Keithley products are designed for use with electrical signals that are measurement, control, and data I/O connections, with low
transient overvoltages, and must not be directly connected to mains voltage or to voltage sources with high transient
overvoltages. Measurement Category II (as referenced in IEC 60664) connections require protection for high transient
overvoltages often associated with local AC mains connections. Certain Keithley measuring instruments may be connected to
mains. These instruments will be marked as category II or higher.
Unless explicitly allowed in the specifications, operating manual, and instrument labels, do not connect any instrument to mains.
Exercise extreme caution when a shock hazard is present. Lethal voltage may be present on cable connector jacks or test
fixtures. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) states that a shock hazard exists when voltage levels greater than
30 V RMS, 42.4 V peak, or 60 VDC are present. A good safety practice is to expect that hazardous voltage is present in any
unknown circuit before measuring.
Operators of this product must be protected from electric shock at all times. The responsible body must ensure that operators
are prevented access and/or insulated from every connection point. In some cases, connections must be exposed to potential
human contact. Product operators in these circumstances must be trained to protect themselves from the risk of electric shock. If
the circuit is capable of operating at or above 1000 V, no conductive part of the circuit may be exposed.
Do not connect switching cards directly to unlimited power circuits. They are intended to be used with impedance-limited
sources. NEVER connect switching cards directly to AC mains. When connecting sources to switching cards, install protective
devices to limit fault current and voltage to the card.
Before operating an instrument, ensure that the line cord is connected to a properly-grounded power receptacle. Inspect the
connecting cables, test leads, and jumpers for possible wear, cracks, or breaks before each use.
When installing equipment where access to the main power cord is restricted, such as rack mounting, a separate main input
power disconnect device must be provided in close proximity to the equipment and within easy reach of the operator.
For maximum safety, do not touch the product, test cables, or any other instruments while power is applied to the circuit under
test. ALWAYS remove power from the entire test system and discharge any capacitors before: connecting or disconnecting
cables or jumpers, installing or removing switching cards, or making internal changes, such as installing or removing jumpers.
Do not touch any object that could provide a current path to the common side of the circuit under test or power line (earth)
ground. Always make measurements with dry hands while standing on a dry, insulated surface capable of withstanding the
voltage being measured.
For safety, instruments and accessories must be used in accordance with the operating instructions. If the instruments or
accessories are used in a manner not specified in the operating instructions, the protection provided by the equipment may be
impaired.
Do not exceed the maximum signal levels of the instruments and accessories. Maximum signal levels are defined in the
specifications and operating information and shown on the instrument panels, test fixture panels, and switching cards.
When fuses are used in a product, replace with the same type and rating for continued protection against fire hazard.
Chassis connections must only be used as shield connections for measuring circuits, NOT as protective earth (safety ground)
connections.
If you are using a test fixture, keep the lid closed while power is applied to the device under test. Safe operation requires the use
of a lid interlock.
If a screw is present, connect it to protective earth (safety ground) using the wire recommended in the user documentation.
The symbol on an instrument means caution, risk of hazard. The user must refer to the operating instructions located in the
user documentation in all cases where the symbol is marked on the instrument.
The symbol on an instrument means warning, risk of electric shock. Use standard safety precautions to avoid personal
contact with these voltages.
The symbol on an instrument shows that the surface may be hot. Avoid personal contact to prevent burns.
The symbol indicates a connection terminal to the equipment frame.
If this symbol is on a product, it indicates that mercury is present in the display lamp. Please note that the lamp must be
properly disposed of according to federal, state, and local laws.
The WARNING heading in the user documentation explains hazards 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 hazards that could damage the instrument. Such damage may
invalidate the warranty.
The CAUTION heading with the symbol in the user documentation explains hazards that could result in moderate or minor
injury or damage the instrument. Always read the associated information very carefully before performing the indicated
procedure. Damage to the instrument may invalidate the warranty.
Instrumentation and accessories shall not be connected to humans.
Before performing any maintenance, disconnect the line cord and all test cables.
To maintain protection from electric shock and fire, replacement components in mains circuits — including the power
transformer, test leads, and input jacks — must be purchased from Keithley. Standard fuses with applicable national safety
approvals may be used if the rating and type are the same. The detachable mains power cord provided with the instrument may
only be replaced with a similarly rated power cord. Other components that are not safety-related may be purchased from other
suppliers as long as they are equivalent to the original component (note that selected parts should be purchased only through
Keithley to maintain accuracy and functionality of the product). If you are unsure about the applicability of a replacement
component, call a Keithley office for information.
Unless otherwise noted in product-specific literature, Keithley instruments are designed to operate indoors only, in the following
environment: Altitude at or below 2,000 m (6,562 ft); temperature 0 °C to 50 °C (32 °F to 122 °F); and pollution degree 1 or 2.
To clean an instrument, use a cloth dampened with deionized water or mild, water-based cleaner. Clean the exterior of the
instrument only. Do not apply cleaner directly to the instrument or allow liquids to enter or spill on the instrument. Products that
consist of a circuit board with no case or chassis (e.g., a data acquisition board for installation into a computer) should never
require cleaning if handled according to instructions. If the board becomes contaminated and operation is affected, the board
should be returned to the factory for proper cleaning/servicing.
Safety precaution revision as of June 2017.
Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1-1
Welcome .............................................................................................................................. 1-1
Extended warranty ............................................................................................................... 1-1
Contact information .............................................................................................................. 1-1
Customer documentation ..................................................................................................... 1-2
Product software and drivers ............................................................................................... 1-2
Power and environmental ratings ........................................................................................ 1-3
Installation ................................................................................................................ 2-1
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 2-1
2601B-PULSE weights and dimensions .............................................................................. 2-1
Preparing the instrument for rack mounting .............................................................................. 2-5
2601B-P-INT dimensions ................................................................ ................................ .......... 2-6
Installing the 2601B-P-INT ................................................................................................... 2-6
Cooling vents ....................................................................................................................... 2-8
Turning the instrument on and off ........................................................................................ 2-9
Placing a 2601B-PULSE in standby .................................................................................. 2-11
Warmup period ................................................................................................................... 2-11
Line frequency configuration .............................................................................................. 2-11
Remote communications interfaces ................................................................................... 2-12
Remote interface connections ................................................................................................. 2-12
Output queue .......................................................................................................................... 2-13
USB communications .............................................................................................................. 2-13
LAN communications .............................................................................................................. 2-15
GPIB operation ........................................................................................................................ 2-27
RS-232 interface operation ..................................................................................................... 2-31
Software components for applications and instrument drivers ................................................ 2-34
Keithley I/O layer ..................................................................................................................... 2-37
Using the interlock .............................................................................................................. 2-37
Interlock operation ................................................................................................................... 2-38
System information ............................................................................................................ 2-41
Instrument description ............................................................................................ 3-1
Controls, indicators, and connectors .................................................................................... 3-1
Front panel ................................................................................................................................ 3-1
Rear panel................................................................................................................................. 3-5
Menu overview ..................................................................................................................... 3-7
Menu navigation ........................................................................................................................ 3-7
Menu trees ................................................................................................................................ 3-7
Setting values .......................................................................................................................... 3-12
Beeper ................................................................................................................................ 3-14
Table of contents
Table of contents Model 2601B-PULSE System SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual
Displayed error and status messages ................................................................................ 3-14
Display operations .............................................................................................................. 3-15
Display mode .......................................................................................................................... 3-15
Display functions and attributes .............................................................................................. 3-16
Display features ...................................................................................................................... 3-17
Display messages ................................................................................................................... 3-18
Input prompting ....................................................................................................................... 3-22
Indicators................................................................................................................................. 3-24
Local lockout ........................................................................................................................... 3-25
Load test menu ....................................................................................................................... 3-25
Running a test from the front panel ......................................................................................... 3-27
Connecting the USB flash drive ......................................................................................... 3-27
Restoring the factory default setups using remote commands .......................................... 3-28
Using the web interface...................................................................................................... 3-28
How to access the web interface ............................................................................................. 3-29
Web interface Welcome page ................................................................................................. 3-29
Use the ID button to identify the instrument ............................................................................ 3-30
Change the IP configuration through the web interface .......................................................... 3-31
Set the instrument password ................................................................................................... 3-31
Using the virtual front panel..................................................................................................... 3-32
View buffer data using the web interface ................................................................................ 3-33
Download reading buffer data using the web interface ........................................................... 3-34
Using TSB Embedded ............................................................................................................. 3-34
Sending individual commands using the web interface ........................................................... 3-34
Review events in the LXI Event Log ........................................................................................ 3-35
Help ......................................................................................................................................... 3-37
Operation .................................................................................................................. 4-1
Operation overview .............................................................................................................. 4-1
Limits ......................................................................................................................................... 4-2
Setting the limit .......................................................................................................................... 4-3
Pulser protection circuit ............................................................................................................. 4-4
Sink operation ........................................................................................................................... 4-5
DUT test connections ........................................................................................................... 4-7
FORCE and SENSE connectors ............................................................................................... 4-8
2-wire local sensing connections ............................................................................................. 4-10
4-wire remote sensing connections ......................................................................................... 4-10
Connections for pulser operation ............................................................................................ 4-12
Contact check connections ..................................................................................................... 4-12
Guarding and shielding ........................................................................................................... 4-15
Test fixture .............................................................................................................................. 4-19
Sense mode selection ........................................................................................................ 4-20
Front-panel sense mode selection .......................................................................................... 4-20
Remote interface sense mode selection ................................................................................. 4-20
Output-off modes ............................................................................................................... 4-21
Normal output-off mode .......................................................................................................... 4-21
High-impedance output-off mode ............................................................................................ 4-21
Zero output-off mode ............................................................................................................... 4-21
Output-off function ................................................................................................................... 4-22
Output-off limits (compliance) .................................................................................................. 4-23
Pulser operation ................................................................................................................. 4-25
Pulser functional block diagram .............................................................................................. 4-26
Enable and disable the pulser ................................................................................................. 4-26
Model 2601B-PULSE System SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Table of contents
TSP commands used with the pulser ...................................................................................... 4-27
Settings ignored when the pulser is enabled ................................................................ ........... 4-27
Settings ignored when the pulser is disabled .......................................................................... 4-28
Examples ................................................................................................................................ 4-28
Using the trigger model ...................................................................................................... 4-32
Trigger model sections ............................................................................................................ 4-33
Configuring source and measure actions ................................................................................ 4-34
Enabling pulse sweeps using the end pulse action ................................................................. 4-35
Maintenance ................................ ................................................................ ............. 5-1
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 5-1
Displaying the serial number ................................................................................................ 5-1
Line fuse replacement .......................................................................................................... 5-1
Front-panel tests .................................................................................................................. 5-3
Keys test ................................................................................................................................... 5-3
Display patterns test .................................................................................................................. 5-3
Upgrading the firmware ........................................................................................................ 5-4
Using TSB to upgrade the firmware .......................................................................................... 5-6
Next steps ................................................................................................................. 6-1
Additional 2601B-PULSE information .................................................................................. 6-1
In this section:
Welcome .................................................................................. 1-1
Extended warranty ................................................................... 1-1
Contact information ................................ .................................. 1-1
Customer documentation ......................................................... 1-2
Product software and drivers.................................................... 1-2
Power and environmental ratings ............................................. 1-3
Welcome
Thank you for choosing a Keithley Instruments product. The 2601B-PULSE System SourceMeter®
10 μs Pulser/SMU Instrument with PulseMeter™ technology is an industry-leading high current/high
speed pulser with measure capabilities and the full functionality of a traditional source-measure
instrument (SMU). This instrument offers 10 A current pulse output at 10 V with a minimum pulse
width of 10 μs. Its built-in dual 1 Megasample/second (MS/s), 18-bit digitizers make it possible to
acquire both pulse current and voltage waveforms simultaneously without the need to use a separate
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 review the information in this documentation, please contact your
local Keithley Instruments office, sales partner, or distributor. You can also call the Tektronix
corporate headquarters (toll-free inside the U.S. and Canada only) at 1-800-833-9200. For worldwide
contact numbers, visit tek.com/contact-us.
Section 1
Introduction
Section 1: Introduction Model 2601B-PULSE System SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual
1-2 2601B-PULSE-900-01 Rev. A August 2021
Customer documentation
The documentation for the 2601B-PULSE includes a Quick Start Guide, User's Manual (this
document), and Reference Manual. The 2601B-PULSE Quick Start Guide is provided as a hard copy
with the instrument. You can also access it from tek.com/keithley as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file.
The documents include the following information:
• Quick Start Guide: Provides unpacking instructions, describes basic connections, and reviews
basic operation information. If you are new to Keithley Instruments equipment, refer to the Quick
Start Guide to take the steps needed to unpack, set up, and verify operation.
• User's Manual: Includes installation, instrument description, operation, and maintenance
information.
• Reference Manual: Includes advanced operation information. Programmers looking for a
command reference and users looking for an in-depth description of how the instrument works
(including troubleshooting and optimization) should refer to the Reference Manual.
Product software and drivers
Go to the Product Support and Downloads web page (tek.com/product-support) to download drivers
and software for your instrument.
Available drivers and software include:
• KickStart Software: Enables quick test setup and data visualization when using one or
more instruments.
• Test Script Builder (TSB): This software provides an environment to develop a test program and
the ability to load the test program onto the instrument. Running a program loaded on the
instrument eliminates the need to send individual commands from the host computer to the
instrument when running a test.
• IVI-COM Driver: An IVI instrument driver you can use to create your own test applications in
C/C++, VB.NET, or C# programming languages. It can also be called from other languages that
support calling a DLL or ActiveX (COM) object. Refer to IVI Foundation (ivifoundation.org) for
additional information.
• LabVIEW
™
Software drivers: Drivers to communicate with National Instruments
LabVIEW Software.
• Keithley I/O layer: Manages the communications between Keithley instrument drivers and
software applications and the instrument itself. The I/O Layer handles differences in
communications required to support GPIB, serial, ethernet, and other communications buses so
that drivers and software applications do not need to handle the differences themselves.
To identify IP addresses of instruments that are connected to the local area network (LAN) and
support the VXI-11 discovery protocol, you can also use LXI Discovery Tool, available from the
Resources (lxistandard.org/Resources/Resources.aspx) page of the LXI Consortium website
(lxistandard.org).
Model 2601B-PULSE System SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 1: Introduction
2601B-PULSE-900-01 Rev. A August 2021 1-3
Power and environmental ratings
The 2601B-PULSE power and environmental ratings and connections are listed in the
following tables.
Category
Specification
Power supply
100 V ac to 240 V ac, 50 Hz or 60 Hz (autosensing). 240 VA maximum
Input and output connections
See Front panel (on page 3-1) and Rear panel (on page 3-5)
Environmental conditions
For indoor use only.
Operating altitude: Maximum 2000 meters (6562 feet) above sea level
Operating temperature: 0 °C to 35 °C at up to 70% relative humidity; at
35 °C to 50 °C, derate 3% relative humidity per °C
Storage: −25 °C to 65 °C
Pollution degree: 1 or 2
Source output electrical ratings
Voltage
40 V dc maximum
Current
3 A maximum at 6 V dc, 1 A maximum at 40 V dc
SMU pulse output, region 4
Region maximums
10 A at 20 V
Maximum pulse width
1.8 ms
Maximum duty cycle
1%
Measure input electrical ratings
Measurement category
O
Voltage
40 V dc maximum HI to LO
Current
3 A maximum at 6 V dc, 1 A maximum at 40 V dc
Impedance
Variable
In this section:
Introduction .............................................................................. 2-1
2601B-PULSE weights and dimensions ................................... 2-1
Installing the 2601B-P-INT ....................................................... 2-6
Cooling vents ........................................................................... 2-8
Turning the instrument on and off ............................................ 2-9
Placing a 2601B-PULSE in standby ....................................... 2-11
Warmup period ....................................................................... 2-11
Line frequency configuration .................................................. 2-11
Remote communications interfaces ....................................... 2-12
Using the interlock .................................................................. 2-37
System information ................................................................ 2-41
Introduction
This section provides the information you need to install the 2601B-PULSE, make communications
connections, and power up the instrument.
2601B-PULSE weights and dimensions
The instrument weighs 5.9 kg (13 lb) without the 2601B-P-INT attached. With the 2601B-P-INT
attached, it weighs 6.4 kg (14 lb).
The following figure shows the mounting screw locations and dimensions. The dimensions shown are
typical for both sides of the instrument.
For front mounting, use #8-32 × 3/8 in. Phillips pan-head screws. For rear mounting, use
#10-32 × 3/8 in. Phillips pan-head SEMS screws.
Section 2
Installation
Section 2: Installation Model 2601B-PULSE System SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual
2-2 2601B-PULSE-900-01 Rev. A August 2021
Figure 1: Mounting screw locations and dimensions
The following figures show the dimensions when the handle is installed.
Figure 2: 2601B-PULSE dimensions front and rear with handle
Model 2601B-PULSE System SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 2: Installation
2601B-PULSE-900-01 Rev. A August 2021 2-3
The following figures show the dimensions when the handle has been removed.
Figure 3: 2601B-PULSE front and rear panel dimensions with handle removed
Section 2: Installation Model 2601B-PULSE System SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual
2-4 2601B-PULSE-900-01 Rev. A August 2021
Figure 4: 2601B-PULSE height and length
Figure 5: 2601B-PULSE with 2601B-P-INT length
Model 2601B-PULSE System SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 2: Installation
2601B-PULSE-900-01 Rev. A August 2021 2-5
Preparing the instrument for rack mounting
To remove the handle, mounting ears, and rear feet:
1. Gently pull the handle (1) away from the sides of the instrument case and swing it up or down
until the orientation arrows on the handles line up with the orientation arrows on the two mounting
ears, as shown in the following figure.
Figure 6: Rack-mount kit handle removal
2. After you align the arrows (2), pull the ends of the handle (1) away from the case.
3. Remove the screws that secure the two mounting ears (3).
4. Pull down and out to remove each ear.
Figure 7: Mounting ear removal
5. From the bottom of the instrument, pull out the two rubber feet and remove the two screws (4).
For the locations, see the following figure.
Figure 8: Instrument rubber feet removal
Store the handle, rubber feet, and hardware for future use.
Section 2: Installation Model 2601B-PULSE System SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual
2-6 2601B-PULSE-900-01 Rev. A August 2021
2601B-P-INT dimensions
The following figure show the dimensions of the 2601B-P-INT Interlock and Cable Connector Box.
The 2601B-P-INT weighs 0.5 kg (1 lb).
Figure 9: 2601B-P-INT dimensions
Installing the 2601B-P-INT
The 2601B-PULSE is shipped with the 2601B-P-INT Rear Panel Interlock and Cable Connector Box
accessory. The 2601B-P-INT:
• Simplifies test connections to the 2601B-PULSE by converting terminal strip connections to
standard BNC connectors
• Makes the connections between the CHANNEL A: DC and CHANNEL A: DC/PULSE
terminal strips
• Provides connections for an optional interlock
Refer to Using the interlock (on page 2-37) for detail on connecting the interlock.
You must use the screws that are provided with the 2601B-P-INT to attach it to the instrument. The
screws that you remove from the instrument will not provide a secure connection.
Model 2601B-PULSE System SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 2: Installation
2601B-PULSE-900-01 Rev. A August 2021 2-7
To install the 2601B-P-INT:
1. Remove power connections from the 2601B-PULSE.
2. On the rear panel of the 2601B-PULSE, remove the screws to the left of the CHANNEL A:
DC/PULSE terminal strip and to the right of the CHANNEL A: DC terminal strip. Save the screws
for operation with the 2601B-P-INT uninstalled. Screw locations are shown in the following figure.
Figure 10: Remove screws from 2601B-PULSE rear panel
3. On the terminal strip panel of the 2601B-P-INT, position the INTERLOCK jumper. Use
needle-nose pliers to position the jumper in the ENABLE slot if you are using an interlock or
DISABLE if you are not using the interlock. The INTERLOCK jumper is shown in the following
figure.
Figure 11: INTERLOCK jumper on the 2601B-P-INT Interlock Box terminal strip panel
4. Align the terminal strip panel of the 2601B-P-INT to the terminal strips on the rear panel of the
2601B-PULSE.
5. Press the 2601B-P-INT connections firmly onto the terminal strips on the rear panel of
the 2601B-PULSE.
Section 2: Installation Model 2601B-PULSE System SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual
2-8 2601B-PULSE-900-01 Rev. A August 2021
6. Use the screws provided with the 2601B-P-INT to secure it to the rear panel of the
2601B-PULSE.
Figure 12: Installation of the 2601B-P-INT
Replacement jumpers are available from Keystone Electronics Corp., part number 1430-1,
Uninsulated Shorting Pin.
Cooling vents
The 2601B-PULSE has side and top intake and rear exhaust vents. One side must be unobstructed
to dissipate heat.
Excessive heat could damage the 2601B-PULSE and degrade its performance. Only operate the
2601B-PULSE in an environment where the ambient temperature does not exceed 50 °C.
Do not place a container of liquid (water or coffee, for instance) on the top cover. If it spills, the liquid
may enter the case through the vents and cause severe damage.
Model 2601B-PULSE System SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual Section 2: Installation
2601B-PULSE-900-01 Rev. A August 2021 2-9
To prevent damaging heat build-up and ensure specified performance, use the
following guidelines.
The rear exhaust vent and either the top or both side intake vents must be unobstructed to
properly dissipate heat. Even partial blockage could impair proper cooling.
Do not position any devices adjacent to the 2601B-PULSE that force air (heated or unheated)
toward its cooling vents or surfaces. This additional airflow could compromise accuracy.
When rack mounting the 2601B-PULSE, make sure there is adequate airflow around both
sides to ensure proper cooling. Adequate airflow enables air temperatures within
approximately one inch of the 2601B-PULSE surfaces to remain within specified limits under
all operating conditions.
If high power dissipation equipment is rack mounted next to the 2601B-PULSE, it could cause
excessive heating. To produce specified 2601B-PULSE accuracies, maintain the specified
ambient temperature around the surfaces of the 2601B-PULSE. In rack configurations with
convection cooling only, proper cooling practice places the hottest non-precision equipment
(for example, the power supply) at the top of the rack away from and above precision
equipment (such as the 2601B-PULSE).
Mount precision equipment as low as possible in the rack, where temperatures are coolest.
You can add space panels above and below the 2601B-PULSE to help provide
adequate airflow.
Turning the instrument on and off
The 2601B-PULSE operates from a line voltage of 100 V to 240 V at a frequency of 50 Hz or 60 Hz.
Line voltage is automatically sensed (there are no switches to set). Make sure the operating voltage
in your area is compatible.
Follow the procedure below to connect the 2601B-PULSE to line power and turn on the instrument.
Operating the instrument on an incorrect line voltage may cause damage to the instrument,
possibly voiding the warranty.
Section 2: Installation Model 2601B-PULSE System SourceMeter® Instrument User's Manual
2-10 2601B-PULSE-900-01 Rev. A August 2021
To turn a 2601B-PULSE on and off:
1. Before plugging in the power cord, 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.
The power cord supplied with the 2601B-PULSE 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 chassis ground 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.
Hazardous voltages may be present in the test system. To prevent injury or death, remove
power from the instrument or test system and discharge any energy storage components (for
example, capacitors or cables) before changing any connections that might allow contact
with an uninsulated conductor.
On some sensitive or easily damaged devices under test (DUTs), the instrument power-up and
power-down sequence can apply transient signals to the DUT that may affect or damage it. When
testing this type of DUT, do not make final connections to it until the instrument has completed its
power-up sequence and is in a known operating state. When testing this type of DUT, disconnect it
from the instrument before turning the instrument off.
To prevent any human contact with a live conductor, connections to the DUT must be fully insulated
and the final connections to the DUT must only use safety-rated safety-jack-socket connectors that
do not allow bodily contact.
4. To turn your instrument on, press the front-panel POWER switch to place it in the on (I) position.
5. To turn your instrument off, press the front-panel POWER switch to place it in the off (O) position.
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Placing a 2601B-PULSE in standby
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 2601B-PULSE
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 2601B-PULSE before handling cables.
Putting the equipment into standby does not guarantee that the outputs are powered off if a
hardware or software fault occurs.
When the instrument is on, the output may be placed in an active output state (output on) or a
standby mode (output off). From the front panel, pressing the OUTPUT ON/OFF control toggles the
output using the present instrument configuration. You can also place the output in standby over the
remote interface by sending the following command:
smua.source.output = smua.OUTPUT_OFF
Even though the instrument is placed in standby, the output may not actually be off.
Warmup period
The 2601B-PULSE must be turned on and allowed to warm up for at least two hours to achieve
rated accuracies.
Line frequency configuration
The factory configures the 2601B-PULSE to detect the power line frequency automatically at each
power-up. This detected line frequency (either 50 Hz or 60 Hz) is used for aperture
(NPLC) calculations.
In noisy environments, you can manually configure the instrument to match the actual line frequency.
To configure the line frequency from the front panel:
1. Press the MENU key, then turn the navigation wheel to select LINE-FREQ, and then press the
ENTER key.
2. Turn the navigation wheel to select the appropriate frequency and then press the ENTER key. To
configure the instrument to automatically detect line frequency at each power-up, select AUTO.
3. Press the EXIT (LOCAL) key to return to the main display.
To configure the line frequency from a remote interface:
Set the localnode.linefreq or the localnode.autolinefreq attribute. To set the line
frequency to 60 Hz, send:
localnode.linefreq = 60
To configure the instrument to automatically detect line frequency at each power-up:
localnode.autolinefreq = true
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Remote communications interfaces
You can choose from one of several communication interfaces to send commands to and receive
responses from the 2601B-PULSE.
You can control the 2601B-PULSE from only one communications interface at a time. The first
interface on which the instrument 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 setting of interface access.
The 2601B-PULSE automatically detects the type of communications interface (LAN, USB, GPIB, or
RS-232) 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.
Remote interface connections
The 2601B-PULSE supports the following remote interfaces:
• USB: Communicate with the instrument over a USB connection.
• LAN: Local area network (LAN) communications provide the flexibility to build scalable and
functional test or data acquisition systems with a large degree of flexibility.
• GPIB: General purpose interface bus is an IEEE-488 instrumentation data bus.
• RS-232: Communicate with the instrument over the serial port or with another instrument using its
serial port.
The 2601B-PULSE can be controlled from only one communication interface at a time. The first
interface from which it receives a message takes control of the instrument. It ignores the other
interfaces until the instrument is returned to local operation.
For more information about the remote interfaces, see:
• USB communications (on page 2-13)
• LAN communications (on page 2-15)
• GPIB operation (on page 2-27)
• RS-232 interface operation (on page 2-31)
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Figure 13: 2601B-PULSE IEEE-488, LAN, USB, and RS-232 connections
1 IEEE-488 connection
2 LAN connection
3 USB connection
4 RS-232 connection
Output queue
Response messages, such as those generated from print commands, are placed in the output queue.
All remote command interfaces share the same output queue.
The output queue sets the message available (MAV) bit in the status model.
The data in the output queue is cleared by the *CLS command.
USB communications
To use the rear-panel USB port, you need a driver that communicates using the USBTMC protocol,
such as NI-VISA, on the host computer.
When installed, the USBTMC protocol allows the Microsoft® Windows® operating system to recognize
the instrument.
When you connect a USB device that implements the USBTMC or USBTMC-USB488 protocol to the
computer, the driver automatically detects the device. Note that the driver 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 protocol.
See Software components for applications and instrument drivers (on page 2-34) for more information
on drivers.
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Communicate with the instrument
When using Virtual Instrument Software Architecture (VISA) to communicate with the USB device,
you need to use a VISA communication driver. VISA requires a resource string in the following format
to connect to the correct USB instrument:
USB[board]::manufacturer ID::model code::serial number[::USB interface
number][::INSTR]
This requires that you determine the parameters. You can gather this information by running a utility
that automatically detects all instruments connected to the computer. If you installed the Keithley I/O
Layer, the Keithley Configuration Panel is available from the Microsoft® Windows® Start menu in the
Keithley Instruments menu.
To use the Keithley Configuration Panel to determine the VISA resource string:
1. Start the Keithley Configuration Panel. The Keithley Configuration Wizard opens to the Select
Operation dialog box.
2. Complete the wizard.
3. Save the configuration. From the Configuration Utility, select File > Save.
4. Open the Keithley Communicator.
5. Select File > Open Instrument to open the instrument you named in the wizard.
Figure 14: Keithley Communicator Open an Instrument
6. Select OK.
7. Send a command to the instrument and see if it responds.
If you have a full version of NI-VISA on your system, you can run NI-MAX or the VISA Interactive
Utility. See their documentation for information.
If you have the Keysight IO Libraries on your system, you can run Keysight Connection Expert to
review your USB instruments. See their documentation for information.
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Connecting multiple USB instruments to the computer
The most convenient way to connect USB instrumentation to the computer is to plug a USB cable
directly from the instrument to the computer. If you have more than one USB instrument or have other
USB devices, such as printers, keyboards, and mice, you might not have enough USB connectors on
the computer.
To gain more ports, you can use a USB hub or add more USB controller cards if you have available
PCI or PCI Express slots.
LAN communications
You can communicate with the instrument using a local area network (LAN). The 2601B-PULSE can
connect directly to a host computer or interact with a DHCP or DNS server and other LXI-compliant
instruments on a local area network (LAN). The LAN interface can be used to build flexible test
systems that include web access. This section provides an overview of LAN communications for the
2601B-PULSE.
When you connect using a LAN, you can use a web browser to access the internal web interface of
the instrument and change some of the instrument settings.
There is one LAN port, which is on the rear panel of the instrument, that supports full connectivity on
a 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps network. The 2601B-PULSE automatically detects the speed.
The 2601B-PULSE 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 2-25).
The 2601B-PULSE is a Version 1.5 LXI Device Specification 2016 compliant instrument that supports
TCP/IP and complies with IEEE Std 802.3 (ethernet).
LAN cable connection
The 2601B-PULSE includes two LAN crossover cables. One cable is intended for use with the
TSP-Link® network and the other cable is intended for use with the LAN.
However, you can use any standard LAN crossover cable (category 5e, RJ-45, male-to-male) or
straight-through cable to connect your equipment. The instrument automatically senses which cable
you have connected.
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The following figure shows the location of the LAN port on the rear panel of the instrument. Connect
the LAN cable between this connection and the LAN port on the computer.
Figure 15: 2601B-PULSE ethernet connection
1 2601B-PULSE ethernet port (LAN)
2 Straight-through LAN cable or crossover LAN cable
3 Ethernet port (on the host computer)
You can connect the instrument to the LAN in a one-to-one, one-to-many, two network card, or
enterprise configuration, as described in the following topics.
One-to-one connection
With most instruments, a one-to-one connection is done only when you are connecting a single
instrument to a single network interface card.
A one-to-one connection using a network crossover cable connection is similar to a typical RS-232
system using a null modem cable. The crossover cable has its receive (RX) and transmit (TX) lines
crossed to allow the receive line input to be connected to the transmit line output on the network
interfaces.
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The figure below shows a category 5e RJ-35 crossover cable (1) between the instrument and the
computer.
Figure 16: One-to-one connection with a crossover cable
The 2601B-PULSE supports Auto-MDIX and can use either normal LAN CAT-5 cables (patch) or
crossover cables. The instrument automatically adjusts to support either cable.
One-to-many connection
With a LAN hub, a single network interface card can be connected to as many instruments as the hub
can support. This requires straight-through network (not crossover) cables for hub connections.
The advantage of this method is easy expansion of measurement channels when the test
requirements exceed the capacity of a single instrument. With only the instruments connected to the
hub, this is an isolated instrumentation network. However, with a corporate network attached to the
hub, the instruments become part of the larger network.
Figure 17: One-to-many connection using a network hub or switch
1 Corporate network
2 Hub
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Two network card connection
If you need to connect independent corporate and instrumentation networks, two network interface
cards are required in the computer controller. Though the two networks are independent, stations on
the corporate network can access the instruments and the instruments can access the corporate
network using the same computer.
This configuration resembles a GPIB setup in which the computer is connected to a corporate
network, but also has a GPIB card in the computer to communicate with instruments.
Figure 18: Two network card connection
1 Corporate network
2 Hub
3 Instrumentation network
Instrumentation connection to enterprise routers or servers
This connection uses an existing network infrastructure to connect instruments to the computer
controller. In this case, you must get the network resources from the network administrator.
Usually, the instruments are kept inside the corporate firewall, but the network administrator can
assign resources that allow them to be outside the firewall. This allows instruments to be connected
to the internet using appropriate security methods. Data collection and distribution can be controlled
from virtually any location.
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Figure 19: Instrumentation connection to enterprise routers or servers
1 Enterprise-wide or internet (routers or servers)
2 Limited by network size
Set up LAN communications on the instrument
The following topics describe how to check the existing LAN communications settings and set up
manual or automatic LAN communications.
Check communications settings
Before configuring the LAN, you can check the communications settings on the instrument without
making any changes.
To view the active network settings:
1. From the front panel, press the MENU key, and then select LAN > STATUS.
2. Use the navigation wheel to select one of the following network settings:
▪ IP-ADDRESS
▪ GATEWAY
▪ SUBNET-MASK
▪ METHOD
▪ DNS
▪ MAC-ADDRESS
3. Press the ENTER key to view the active setting.
4. Press the EXIT (LOCAL) key once to return to the STATUS menu.
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