Triggering and Gating 5
Keysight 53220A/53230A User’s Guide 157
Trigger and gate time line
Triggering and gating are part of every counter measurement. The relationship of 
these actions relative to the measurement are shown in the time line of Figure 5-1.
Figure 5-1 Triggering and gating time line.
Trigger and Gate Cycle
The elements of triggering and gating summarized in Figure 5-1 are shown in 
detail in the programming cycle of Figure 5-2. The following sections contain 
descriptions and examples of each step in the cycle. 
Input events received  are ignored Ga t e   e n a bl e d
Auto Gate 
Ex t e n s i o n
INIT:IMMediate
Tri gger
Tri gger Delay 
(Time)
Ga t e  
Start
Start Gate Delay 
(Time, Events)
Ga t e  
Stop
Final Event
Stop Holdoff 
(Time, Events)
1
st
  Input 
Ev e n t
M aking measurement
Measurement 
Compl et e
Gate Start Enabled
Gate Stop Enabled
Gate sequence: repeated for each reading per trigger
gate 
opens
The SCPI commands and parameters listed throughout this chapter are provided 
as a guide to how the counter is operated programmatically. The commands are 
described in detail in the ‘Programmer’s Reference’ section of the Keysight 
53210A/53220A/53230A Product Reference CD.