Agilent Technologies 8163A - Programming Guide Manual

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Agilent Technologies

Agilent 8163A/B Lightwave Multimeter,

Agilent 8164A/B Lightwave Measurement System, &

Agilent 8166A/B Lightwave Multichannel System

Programming Guide

Advanced Test Equipment Rentals

www.atecorp.com 800-404-ATEC (2832)

Main Page

The Structure of this Manual5
Conventions Used in this Manual5
Related Manuals6
Table of Contents7
Introduction to Programming15
GPIB Interface16
- Setting the GPIB Address17
- Table 1 GPIB Capabilities17
- Figure 1 Remote Control18
- Returning the Instrument to Local Control18
Message Queues19
- How the Input Queue Works20
  - Clearing the Input Queue20
- The Output Queue21
- The Error Queue22
Programming and Syntax Diagram Conventions23
- Short Form and Long Form24
- Command and Query Syntax25
Common Commands29
- Common Command Summary30
- Table 3 Common Command Summary30
- Common Status Information31
- Figure 2 the Event Status Bit31
The Status Model33
- Status Registers33
- Figure 3 the Registers and Filters for a Node33
- Status System for 8163A/B & 8164A/B35
- Figure 4 the Operational/Questionable Status System for35
- Status System for 8163A/B & 8164A35
- Status System for 8166A/B36
- Figure 5 the Operational/Questionable Status System for 8166A/B36
- Status System for 8166A36
- Annotations37
- Status Command Summary40
- Other Commands41
Specific Commands43
Table 4 Specific Command Summary44
Specific Command Summary44
Instrument Setup and Status55
IEEE-Common Commands56
Status Reporting - the Status Subsystem64
Interface/Instrument Behaviour Settings - the System Subsystem76
Measurement Operations & Settings79
Root Layer Command80
Table85
- Table 5 Commands that Can Only be Configured Using the Master Channel85
- Channels86
- Table 6 Commands that Are Independent for both Master and Slave86
Measurement Functions - the Sense Subsystem85
- Agilent 81635A and Agilent 81619A- Master and Slave Channels85
Signal Generation - the Source Subsystem113
Signal Conditioning148
- The Input and Output Commands148
- The Table of Wavelength-Dependent Offsets159
- Figure 6 Extrapolation and Interpolation of Attenuator Module Λ Offset159
- Compatibility of the 81560A/1A/6A/7A Modular Attenuator Family to the 8156A Attenuator165
Signal Routing169
Triggering - the Trigger Subsystem171
- Table 8 Triggering and Power Measurements171
- Table 9 Generating Output Triggers from Power Measurements172
- Extended Trigger Configuration179
Mass Storage, Display, and Print Functions185
Display Operations - the Display Subsystem186
VISA Programming Examples189
How to Use VISA Calls190
How to Set up a Fixed Laser Source192
How to Measure Power Using Fetch and READ195
How to Co-Ordinate Two Modules199
How Power Varies with Wavelength203
How to Log Results207
The Agilent 816X Vxiplug&Play Instrument Driver213
Installing the Agilent 816X Instrument Driver214
Figure 9 Non-Administrator Installation Pop-Up Box215
Figure 10 Welcome Screen215
Figure 11 Customizing Your Setup216
Figure 12 Program Folder Item Options217
Using Visual Programming Environments218
- Getting Started with Agilent VEE218
- Getting Started with Labview221
- Figure 15 Search for GPIB Instruments221
- Figure 16 FP Conversion Options Box222
- Getting Started with Labwindows224
Features of the Agilent 816X Instrument Driver225
Directory Structure226
Figure 17 Windows 95 and Windows NT VXIPNP Directory Structure226
Opening an Instrument Session227
Closing an Instrument Session228
VISA Data Types and Selected Constant Definitions229
Error Handling230
Introduction to Programming232
- Example Programs232
- VISA-Specific Information232
  - Instrument Addresses232
  - Callbacks232
- Development Environments232
Online Information234
Lambda Scan Applications235
- Equally Spaced Datapoints236
- Figure 18 Equally Spaced Datapoints236
- How to Perform a Lambda Scan Application237
- How to Perform a Multi-Frame Lambda Scan Application239
GPIB Command Compatibility List245
Compatibility Issues246
- GPIB Bus Compatibility246
- Table 10 Incompatible GPIB Bus Commands246
Status Model247
Preset Defaults248
Table 11 Removed Commands249
Removed Command249
Table 12 Obsolete Commands250
Obsolete Commands250
Table 13 Commands with Different Parameters or Syntax251
Changed Parameter Syntax and Semantics251
Table 14 Queries with Different Result Values252
Changed Query Result Values252
Table 15 Timing Behavior Changes253
Timing Behavior253
Table 16 Error Handling Changes254
Table 17 Specific Errors254
Error Handling254
Command Order255
Instrument Status Settings256
Error Codes257
Table 18 Overview for Supported Strings258
GPIB Error Strings258
Table 19 Overview for Unsupported Strings270

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