164 Sequoia Series
6.4.3 List Transients
List mode lets you generate complex sequences of output changes with rapid, precise timing, which
may be synchronized with internal or external signals. Each function that can participate in output
transients can also have an associated list of values that specify its output at each list point.
You can program up to 32 settings (or points) in the list, the time interval (dwell) that each setting is
maintained, the number of times each data point is repeated, the number of times that the list will be
executed, and how the settings change in response to triggers.
All list point data can be stored in nonvolatile memory using one of the available setup register. This
means that the programmed data for any list function will be retained when it is saved in the register
when the power source is turned off.
Note: If the transient list is programmed over the bus, the transient must be executed
at least once or it will not be saved to the setup register when the *SAV
command is sent. Unexecuted transient lists have not been compiled yet by the
power source controller and will not be saved as part of a front panel setup.
This is not the case when the transient list is entered from the front panel. Front
panel entered transient lists will be saved even if they have not been executed
yet.
Lists are paced by a separate list of dwell times which define the duration of each output setting.
Therefore, each of the up to 32 list points has an associated dwell time, which specifies the time (in
seconds) that the output remain at that setting before moving on to the next setting.
The following procedure shows how to generate a simple list of voltage and frequency changes.
Step 1 : Set the mode of each function that will participate in the output sequence to LIST. For
example:
VOLTage:MODE LIST
FREQuency:MODE LIST
Step 2 : Program the list of output values for each function. The list commands take a comma-
separated list of arguments. The order in which the arguments are given determines the sequence in
which the values will be output. For example, to cycle the voltage through a sequence that includes
nominal line, high line, and low line, a list may include the following values:
LIST:VOLTage 135, 100, 120, 135, 100, 128, 110, 102, 132, 112
You can specify lists for more than one function. For example, to synchronize the previous voltage list
with another list that varies the output frequency from nominal, to high, to low, the lists may include
the following values:
LIST:VOLTage 135, 100, 120, 135, 100, 128, 110, 102, 132, 112
LIST:FREQuency 60, 60, 60, 63, 63, 63, 57, 57, 57, 60
All lists must have the same number of data values or points, or an error will occur when the transient
system that starts the sequence is later initiated. The exception is when a list has only one item or
point. In this case the single-item list is treated as if it had the same number of points as the other lists,
with all values being equal to the one item. For example:
LIST:VOLTage 120, 100, 110;FREQuency 60
is the same as:
LIST:VOLTage 120, 100, 110
LIST:FREQuency 60, 60, 60