Operational and Functional Concepts

This chapter offers detailed information on the operational theory of the Connection Manager, including client-server architecture, server operational modes, removal, and installation, and detailed explanations of the measurement dialogs.

Client-Server Architecture

In its basic form, the client/server is a computational architecture involving a client process requesting a service from a server process.

Client-server architecture is referred to as a logical extension of modular programming, which recognizes that software can be broken into its constituent parts for manageability purposes. With client-server architecture this is carried a step further by acknowledging that the modules do not need to execute within the same memory space. This enables the client and the server to run on the hardware and software programs best suited for their individual functions.

In the case of Connection Manager, this allows the server to utilize a wide variety of instrument-control capabilities only available on the Windows platform, while the client can be accessed from any platform that supports ADS.

Functional Process

In this architecture, the client sends a message to the server, requesting that the server perform a task. The client provides the user-interface portion of the application, validates data entered by the user, sends requests to the server programs and can execute business logic.

The server program receives requests from the client, manages the interaction between the client and any connected instrumentation, retrieves and updates information, manages data integrity and dispatches responses to client requests.

The Connection Manager Client operates in conjunction with an ADS project. The datasets and other files generated from measurements reference the ADS project and project data directories.

The client caches the discovery dialog contents. For example, start the Remote Instrument Explorer and point it at a specific workstation (for example, myserver ), then select the close icon in the title bar to dismiss it. The next time the Remote Instrument Explorer is opened and pointed at myserver, the client recalls the last information stored on the Connection Manager client about myserver's contents. This prevents a potentially time-consuming conversation between the client and server every time a discovery dialog is opened.

Note
To get the latest view of the server configuration, on the measurement panel click Refresh .

Data Interface

For a client to communicate with the server, they must agree on a common endpoint for the communication. That common end point is a network port number. The port number is a unique number the server uses to allow Connection Manager client connections to particular services. By default, the server accepts client requests on port 4790.

The port number is defined within the MsmtSrvr.exe.config file located in the server installation directory, by default, C: \ Program Files \ Agilent\Connection Manager Server \ MsmtSrvr.exe.config .

The contents of the default configuration file are:

<configuration>
  <appSettings>
    <add key="port" value="4790"/>    
  </appSettings>
</configuration>

To change the default port number, see Changing the Default Server Port Number.

Connection Manager Server

The Connection Manager (CM) Server is one half the Connection Manager client/server environment. By default, the CM server runs as an Windows program. To run the server as a Windows service , see Running the Server as a Windows Service.

Because the server uses Windows-based supporting applications, it requires installation on a PC running a version of Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional or Windows XP Professional (or one of its successors).

The Connection Manager Server consists of two cooperating processes: CMController.exe and MsmtSrvr.exe . These processes work together to create the Windows program user interface, provide instrument connectivity, and to manage application behavior.

The CMContoller.exe Process

CMController.exe is the main server process. It allows the CM server to run as a Windows program. CMController.exe produces the server user interface, the Agilent Connection Manager Server dialog and controls the lifetime of the MsmtSrvr.exe process.

During installation, the Windows executable that produces the Agilent Connection Manager Server dialog is placed into the Windows system startup group. The server starts automatically whenever you log on to the server PC.

When the Connection Manager server starts, the process examines the server PC configuration and displays the results in the Agilent Connection Manager Server dialog.

The process first checks to ensure the required support products are correctly installed and properly configured, then displays the results in the Required Conditions group box. If a component is missing or incorrectly configured, the dialog displays the problem condition in red.

Next, the process checks for installed instrument drivers and displays the results in the Optional Components group box. A check appears in the box in front of an installed driver. Instrument drivers are needed only for specific measurements, so in some cases, unnecessary drivers are not installed.

The Agilent Connection Manager Server dialog provides menu access to selections that control server functionality. These menus (File, Control, Diagnostics, and Help) provide access to server shutdown, restart, configuration diagnosis, and documentation, respectively.

The diagnostics function collects data on the installation and configuration of supporting applications, interface configuration, and account information. After diagnostics are run, the results are saved as a file that can be delivered to Agilent support engineers to aid in troubleshooting connectivity problems.

The MsmtSrvr.exe Process

The MsmtSrvr.exe is a Microsoft .NET application that uses a networked interface capability called remoting . Remoting is the ability for a Microsoft .NET component to appear as if it is running locally in a client, when it is actually running remotely in another process.

Understanding IO Configuration

The Connection Manager's server uses the Agilent IO Libraries to achieve instrument communication. For the IO Libraries to communicate with the instrument interfaces, there must be one or more background processes (referred to as daemons) running on the server PC.

The IO Libraries installation usually puts a shortcut to this daemon in the system startup group of the Windows shell. This shortcut starts the IO Libraries daemon when you log onto the server PC.

If a user tries to log into the server PC while the server is running in the background, the system startup group tries to start the IO Libraries daemons a second time, which brings up the following dialog:

Note
When this dialog presents itself, click No . Otherwise, there will be two IO control applications running.

Viewing Installed IO Libraries

To view which version of the IO Libraries you have installed, complete the following steps.

  1. In the server's Windows system tray, select IO > View Documentation > Installation and Path Information .
  2. Observe the Agilent IO Libraries Installation and Path Information dialog.

Supported Instrument IO Interfaces

The supported Agilent IO interface hardware matrix can be found at:
http://www.home.agilent.com/upload/cmc_upload/All/Interface_Support_Matrix.pdf

Information on configuring the Agilent IO Libraries is available from:
http://www.agilent.com/find/iolib

Select the IO Libraries Installation and Configuration Guide for Windows link and go to Configuring IO Interfaces. This chapter has detailed configuration steps for the supported IO interfaces.

Additional Resources

For more detailed information on IO configuration, refer to the documentation for the IO libraries.

To view the documentation, in the Windows task bar, select IO > View Documentation .

Changing the Server Default Port Number from the Server

To change the server port, change the number in the value field of the port configuration key.

For example, to modify the server to listen on port 5885, modify the value in MsmtSrvr.exe.config :
<add key="port" value="5885"/>

You must restart the server to initiate the port number change. To restart the server, in the Agilent Connection Manager Server dialog, click Control > Restart Server .

Note
You can view the currently active ports on the server by typing the command netstat -a into a command line window. This yields a list of bound ports including the Connection Manager server ports: 
TCP       dudetop:4790       0.0.0.0:0           LISTENING
TCP       dudetop:4791       0.0.0.0:0           LISTENING

Overriding Windows Power Management Functionality

Windows 2000 and later versions of the Windows operating system include a power management facility that turns off the display and puts the PC into a low-power state after extended periods without activity.

The Connection Manager server is intended to operate for long periods of time unattended. The IO Libraries cannot perform instrument communications once a PC has transitioned to a low-power state. Therefore, at startup, the server issues a command preventing the operating system from transitioning to low-power states while allowing the monitor to turn itself off.

Once the server's main thread has finished running, it issues another command enabling the operating system to again transition to a standby or hibernate state.

Running the Server as a Windows Service

In ADS 2004A, the Connection Manager server runs as a Windows application. If preferred, the server can run as a Windows service, as in earlier implementations.

Note
The Windows service cannot be configured into the Windows system, as both the Windows service and the Windows application cannot control the MsmtSrvr.exe lifetime.

To configure the server to run as a service, complete the following steps.

  1. Open a Windows session running under an account that has Administrator privileges.
  2. Right click on the Windows Start button, then select Explore All Users .
  3. Select the Programs icon, then the Startup icon.
  4. Right click the Agilent Connection Manager Server icon and select Properties .
    The CM server installation directory in listed in the Target field in the Properties dialog. Record the directory where the CM server is installed.
  5. Remove the Agilent Connection Manager short cut from the Windows System Startup program group.
  6. From a command prompt, change directories to the directory you recorded above.
  7. Run the command MsmtSrvc -install .
  8. Run the command MsmtSrvc -start .
    The process owner is listed as AUTHORITY\SYSTEM. The System account in Windows is a privileged account, similar to the Super User account in UNIX. Many Windows services are configured to run under the security context of this account.

You can configure the environment under which the Windows Service runs to restrict its access privileges to those of a particular login account. You can configure the service to start when the server workstation boots or require someone to specifically start it. To configure a Windows Service select Administrative Tools > Services from the Windows Control Panel.

In the preceding illustration, the Startup Type is set to Manual . In this mode, the service requires someone to specifically start this service. When the type is set to Automatic , the service starts whenever the workstation is booted. Once a service is started, it remains running until specifically stopped. This allows a service to run and perform whatever activity it is responsible for, independent of whether other users log onto or off of the server workstation.

Note
By default, this service starts automatically.

The security environment is set in the Log On section of the Properties dialog in Windows 2000. To open this dialog:

  1. Select a process (i.e., Connection Manager).
  2. Choose Action > Properties from the Services toolbar.
  3. Choose the Log On tab at the top of the dialog.
    This section determines what security environment a service (and any processes it spawns) uses while running. The System account, as previously stated, is privileged.

    The selection labeled This account runs the service under the account privileges of a distinguished principle (e.g., some login account other than System). When configured this way, the server inherits the named account's access privileges. Services running under the account privileges of a distinguished principle cannot open windows on the interactive desktop.

When the service is running, error and informational messages are reported using the Windows Event Log. To use the Event Viewer application, on Windows 2000 task bar, select Start > Settings > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Event Viewer.

To view the Connection Manager event log entries, switch the Event Viewer to its Application mode and search for entries with the Source category of AgilentConnectionManager .

Configuring User Account Privileges on the PC

Many IT departments restrict the privileges on Local System accounts, thereby disabling Connection Manager Server instrument communications. We strongly recommend that you do not use the Local System account to run the Connection Manager server. Rather, the server should run under the account of a distinguished principal (i.e., a login account other than Local System).

In addition, the supporting application Agilent VISA COM libraries require Administrator privileges on the user account. To ensure that this condition exists, we recommend that you change the account under which the Connection Manger Server runs.

Note
The following example illustrates the procedure for a Windows 20000 operating system. Windows XP has similar procedures for controlling the environment under which a service runs. The Services Control Panel application is the starting point on all Windows operating systems.

To change the account information on Windows 2000:

  1. From the Windows 2000 toolbar, select Start > Settings > Control Panel .
  2. From the Control Panel dialog, select Administrative Tools > Services .
  3. Highlight Agilent Connection Manager , then click the Properties toolbar button.
  4. From the Log On tab, select the This account: radio button from the Log on as: group.
  5. Change the account name from LocalSystem to an account that has Administrator privileges. To do this, either enter an account name, or select the name from a list by clicking the Browse... button.
    Note
    You can select an account that is local to the PC running the CM server, or an account in your company's domain. If choosing an account in your domain, that domain account must be in the local Administrators group on the PC running the CM server.
  6. To ensure that a domain account has Administrator privileges on the machine running the CM server, open the Control Panel's Users and Passwords application.
  7. Select the domain account from the Users tab, choose Properties .
  8. From the Properties dialog select the Group Membership tab, choose Other: .
  9. Select Administrators from the drop-down list control. Click OK.
  10. Type in the account password in your Service Properties dialog. Click OK .
  11. Click Restart Service in the toolbar on the Services control panel for the new settings to take effect.

Changing the Default Server Port Number

If you are running the server as a Windows service, to have the server recognize this new value, select Agilent Connection Manager in the Services dialog, then choose Action to stop and restart the Windows Service as shown.

A Windows Service sets the security environment and controls the process lifetime of the other server components. The highlighted entry is the Windows Service. The subordinate process is the actual Connection Manager Server (MsmtSrvr.exe), as shown.

Note
The Process Explorer tool is available at: http://www.sysinternals.com/

Removing the Server from the PC

There are two methods for removing Connection Manager server from a PC workstation. The easiest method uses the installation disc to remove the server and all other related support programs.

The other method uses Windows Add/Remove Programs dialog to remove each individual component.

To remove the server using the server installation disc

  1. When the Connection Manager Server InstallShield dialog appears, choose the Remove radio button and click Next .
  2. When the program removal confirmation dialog appears, click Yes .
  3. When the Connection Manager Server InstallShield dialog appears, click Finish .
  4. When the Connection Manager Server InstallShield dialog appears, select the Yes I want to restart my computer now radio button and click Finish .

Removing the server using the installation disc does not remove any of the supporting applications. These supporting applications are considered shared system components that other applications may depend upon. To remove the supporting applications, use the Windows Control Panel Add/Remove Programs application to remove the shared components.

Remove these shared components in the following order:

  1. 856x Plug & Play Driver
  2. 859x Plug & Play Driver
  3. 871x Plug & Play Driver
  4. 875x Plug & Play Driver
  5. E4406 Plug & Play Driver
  6. E444x Plug & Play Driver
  7. ESG Plug & Play Driver
  8. AgilentRfSigGen IVI-COM Driver
  9. Agilent T&M Programmers Toolkit Redistributable Package 1.1
  10. Agilent IO Libraries, which removes VISA COM
  11. Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1

To remove the server using Windows Add/Remove Programs dialog

  1. From the Windows task bar, select Start > Settings > Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs .
  2. Select the Agilent IO Libraries and click Change/Remove . Follow the command prompts to remove the Agilent IO Libraries.
  3. Select the Agilent T&M Programmers Toolkit Redistributable Package and click Change/Remove . Follow the command prompts to remove the Agilent T&M Programmers Toolkit Redistributable Package.
  4. Select each individual Plug&Play driver and click Change/Remove . Follow the command prompts to remove each individual Plug&Play driver.
  5. Select Agilent VisaCom and click Change/Remove . Follow the command prompts to remove Agilent VISA COM.
  6. Select Connection Manager Server and click Change/Remove . Follow the command prompts to remove Connection Manager Server.
  7. Select Microsoft .NET Framework and click Change/Remove . Follow the command prompts to remove Microsoft .NET Framework.

Reinstalling the Server on a PC

Connection Manager server can be installed and used with RF Design Environment (RFDE) and Advanced Design System (ADS). Follow these instructions to install the Connection Manager server and configure the server IO.

Before You Begin

To communicate with instruments, you must install the Connection Manager server. Before installing the server, ensure that your PC workstation and your EDA software licensing meet the following requirements.

System Requirements

The server must be installed on a Windows PC connected to the same network as the EDA software network server or local installation.

Note
Connection Manager Server cannot be installed on 64-bit machines.
Requirement Description
Processor Pentium III 450 MHz or higher
RAM 256 MB
Hard Disk Space 500 MB on system drive
Operating System Windows 2000 Professional (Service Pack 2)
Windows XP Professional (Service Pack 1)
Network Configuration TCP/IP
Supported
Media Type		 CD-ROM required for program installation.

Licensing Requirements

Although the Connection Manager client requires a license, Connection Manager server does not require a license regardless of where it is installed.

Note
The Connection Manager client is installed during the main software installation. The link_connect_mgr license is required to run the client from a schematic page. Connection Manager client and server installations are not related to the client-server installation of the EDA software .

EDA Software Version Requirements

The Connection Manager client and server software must be from the same release.

If you used an older release of Connection Manager, install latest version of Connection Manager server when you install latest version of the EDA software.

Installation Package Overview

The Connection Manager server installation installs all the software necessary to enable the EDA software-supplied measurements. This includes:

Installation Types

Complete

The Complete installation installs all program features in the default installation directory C:\Program Files\Agilent\Connection Manager Server .

Custom

The Custom installation lets you define the installation directory and choose the optional program features, such as the ADS Measurement Library, Connection Manager documentation, Ptolemy VEE Link Server, and VEE Service Control Panel Application.

Installing the Server

  1. Ensure that your PC workstation meets the system requirements.
  2. Insert the Connection Manager Server 2004A Installation Disc into the workstation CD-ROM drive.
  3. When the installation wizard prompts you, choose the type of installation.
  4. Follow the command prompts to complete the installation.

For Windows XP Service Pack 2 Systems Only

  1. When the system reboots, Connection Manager Server starts and the Windows Security Alert dialog appears.
  2. In the Windows Security Alert dialog, click Unblock .

This creates an exception in the Windows Firewall that allows network connections through the firewall to the Connection Manager server.

This completes the installation process. To connect instruments to the server workstation, complete the steps in Configuring the Server IO on the PC.

Using Connection Manager with Windows XP Service Pack 2

By default, computers using Windows XP Service Pack 2 will not allow access to the Connection Manager server and VEE Service through the firewall.
If you have upgraded from another operating system version to Windows XP Service Pack 2, you must enable connections to the PC hosting the Connection Manager server and/or VEE Service by listing them as exceptions to the firewall.

Follow these steps to enable network connections to Connection Manager server (and VEE Pro, if necessary) through the firewall.

  1. In the Windows menu bar, choose Start > Settings > Control Panel .
  2. In the Control Panel dialog, click Windows Firewall .
  3. In the Windows Firewall dialog, ensure that the Don't allow exceptions checkbox is unchecked.
  4. In the Windows Firewall dialog, click the Exceptions tab.
  5. In the Exceptions tab, click Add Program... .
  6. In the Add a Program tab, click Browse .
  7. Use the Browse dialog to enter the Connection Manager Server installation directory (by default, <installation drive>\Program Files\Agilent\Connection Manager Server ).
  8. From the Connection Manager Server installation directory, choose MsmtSrvr.exe and click Open .
  9. In the Add a Program tab, click OK .
    The Windows Firewall dialog Exceptions tab shows the MsmtSrvr.exe exception.
  10. If you are using VEE Service, in the Exceptions tab, click Add Program... .
  11. In the Add a Program tab, click Browse .
  12. Use the Browse dialog to enter the VEE Pro installation directory (by default, <installation drive>\Program Files\Agilent\VEE Pro 7.0 ).
  13. From the VEE Pro installation directory, choose veesm.exe and click Open .
  14. In the Add a Program tab, click OK .
  15. In the Windows Firewall dialog, click the OK .

Connections to the PC hosting the Connection Manager server and/or VEE Service are now enabled as firewall exceptions.

Connection Manager Client

Connection Manager (CM) client, is the client half of the Connection Manager client/server system. Although the server requires a version of Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional or Windows XP Professional (or one of it's successors), clients can exist on any platform having TCP/IP networking capabilities.

The CM client creates ADS datasets, holds the results of S-parameter, spectrum, and voltage waveform measurements, and provides measurement panels enabling interaction with measurements located on the server.

The client also provides instrument discovery by identifying instruments that are connected to your server workstation. This enables the client to easily associate a particular instrument with a particular measurement.

Note
The term measurement describes functions in a server library. Generally, a measurement includes gathering physical data from one or more instruments, but is not limited to instrument control.

The client uses the menus to access file, server, instrument, window, and help/troubleshooting functionality.

File Menu

The File menu contains entries to save and recall application states and to exit the client. For more information, see Understanding Application State Files.

Server Menu

The Server menu contains a single entry that allows you to specify a connection for the remainder of the Connection Manager client session. For more information, refer to Selecting a Server Workstation and Connection Port and Managing the Set Server Dialog from the Client.

Instruments Menu

The Instruments menu contains entries enabling dynamic instrument discovery and rudimentary interactive instrument IO.

The Remote Instrument Explorer

This dialog queries connected instruments and lists the results of the query.

Interactive IO

This dialog provides some rudimentary interactive instrument IO capabilities. This capability is used in troubleshooting simple instrument connectivity problems. Selecting Server > Interactive IO opens the Interactive IO dialog.

To communicate with a specific connected instrument, select an instrument using the Select Instrument drop-down list.

You can select an instruction to send to the instrument by choosing from the Command or Query drop-down list or by typing a command into that same field.

Note
The definition of the IEEE-standard commands in the Command or Query field are listed in most instrument programming manuals. Many of these manuals are available from the Agilent Developer Network: http://adn.tm.agilent.com.

You can specify a waiting period before an unsuccessful communication attempt is aborted by changing the value in the Timeout in milliseconds entry field. The default is five seconds.
Different types of instruments use different character sequences to mark the end of an instruction.

The EOL Sequence drop-down list enables you to select the correct command termination for a specific instrument. Almost all new instruments use a new line character as the instruction terminator, so the default entry in the drop-down control is \n , a common representation for new line. The other termination sequences involve the use of the carriage return character, commonly represented by the \r symbol.

Click Send and Receive to send an instruction that results in the instrument placing an immediate response on the interface bus. Generally, this type of instruction ends with a " ? " character.

For example, the IEEE-488.2 standard command for an instrument identification query is *idn? . To send an instrument identification query from the server to an instrument, choose the setting shown in the following figure, and click Send and Receive to send *idn? to the instrument and display the response.

Note
This dialog can only read instrument response data in text format. Attempting to read a response that contains binary data will result in an error.

Click Send Command to send a command that does not prompt a response. For example, use this button to send *.cls to clear the instrument buffer.

Click Read Response to read data from an instrument independent from a transmitted instruction. Some instruments can sample continuously. To get several samples of information, send a command to start the instrument sampling, then select the Read Response button several times.
Click Send Device Clear to send the IEEE-488 bus command for selected device clear. This command is a high-priority bus command (superseding ordinary instructions) that forces an instrument to abort its current function and return to an idle state in order to regain control over an instrument.

The Session History is an edit field that logs the instructions you send to an instrument and the instrument's responses to those commands. To delete the contents of this field click Clear Session History .

Measurements Menu

The Measurements menu provides access to behavioral modeling, S-parameter, spectrum, and voltage waveform measurements located on the server. For more information, see Understanding the Measurement Panels.

For a list of instrument model numbers compatible with the measurements provided by the Connection Manager Measurement panels, in the Connection Manager client window, click Help > Supported Instruments... .

Note
Though the N5230A PNA network analyzer can measure S11 through S44 via Connection Manager, Connection Manager cannot be used to make differential measurements.

Windows Menu

The Windows menu provides control over the function of the measurement panels contained within the client main window.

Choose Tile to resize the contained dialogs, arranging them so that they fill the entire client window without overlapping.

Choose Cascade to arrange the contained dialogs so that they overlay each other with the upper left corner of each dialog offset down and to the right of the dialog it covers.

Help Menu

The Help menu contains access to documentation and support, as well as access to server diagnostics and a list of supported instruments. For more information, see Connection Manager Server Diagnostics.

Managing the Set Server Dialog from the Client

The check box labeled Do not prompt me again enables you to select whether the server connection dialog displays when you select any of the entries in the Server, Instruments, or Measurements menus.
Selecting this check box directs all further activities to the server identified when you dismissed the Set Server dialog. Leaving this box cleared, causes the CM client to display the Set Server dialog every time you select from the Server, Instruments, or Measurements menus.

Note
In a case where a client is connected to several different servers, leave this check box unselected. You can have multiple instances of the measurement panels and discovery dialogs point to multiple servers.

The information governing whether the Set Server dialog is displayed is stored in the XML file named CM_InitConfig.cml, under the < ADS Home > /hpeesof/config directory. The file contains the following command line:
<MsmtClientInitConfig StartupDlgChecked="0" RemoteHost="localhost" Port="4790" ServerDlgChecked="0" />
The ServerDlgChecked value determines whether the Set Server dialog is displayed. Entering 0 displays the dialog, entering 1 suppresses it.
This file also records the default value of server host and port number.

Understanding Application State Files

Using the File menu you can save and recall application state and exit the client.
By default, Connection Manager stores its application state in the project data directory as an XML file. You can also store application state data in a user-defined directory.
Following is an example of a Connection Manager application state file.

- <MsmtClientConfig Version="1.0" RemoteHost="localhost" Port="4790" ServerSelected="0">
     <InstExplorer RemoteHost="localhost" Port="4790" /> 
    - <Measurements>
      - <SParm8753 RemoteHost="localhost" Port="4790">
            <VisaRsrc Value="GPIB0::16::INSTR" /> 
            <QueryInstId Value="0" />
           - <SelectMeasurements>
                <S11Msmt Value="1" />
                <S12Msmt Value="1" />
                <S13Msmt Value="0" />
                <S21Msmt Value="1" />
                <S22Msmt Value="1" />
                <S23Msmt Value="0" />
                <S31Msmt Value="0" />
                <S32Msmt Value="0" />
                <S33Msmt Value="0" />
              </SelectMeasurements>
             - <ExportTextFile Value="0">
                 <FileType Value="0" />
              </ExportTextFile>
              <DataSetName Value="Ag8753" />
              <BlockName Value="All4" />
             </SParm8753>
         </Measurements>
     </MsmtClientConfig>}}

Understanding the Measurement Panels

Measurement panels are measurement-specific, not instrument-specific. Because these dialogs do not interact with schematics, the Connection Manager Client window manages and groups the measurement panels.
All measurement panels have Measure and Help buttons.

Click Measure to execute the configured measurement.

Click Help to access Connection Manager documentation.

Common Functional Groups

Many of these measurement panels have a common subset of controls used to collect the information needed to record an ADS dataset. Some measurement panels provide a limited set of controls to setup an instrument and gather data from a manually configured instrument.

Some measurements do not require the use of these programmatic controls. For example, the S-parameter measurements assume a valid network analyzer calibration. Changing an instrument configuration programmatically could invalidate the calibration. In this instance, the measurement control dialog omits controls that could cause the instrument to make a measurement without a valid calibration.

Select Instrument



Every measurement panel contains the Select Instrument group. It is used to query, view, and select connected instrumentation, control the automated instrument identification process, and in some cases reset instrument states.

Refresh

Click Refresh to repopulate the drop-down list with the latest instrumentation configured on the server.

Select Instrument

Use the drop-down list to view the connected instrumentation and choose an instrument for a given measurement. The information displayed in the list is the same information found in the Remote Instrument Explorer.

Override instrument model check

Select the check box labeled Override instrument model check to disable the automated instrument identification process. Leaving this check box deslected queries an instrument for its identification string and verifies that the instrument is a particular model number or belongs to a particular family at the beginning of the measurement.

Select this check box if an instrument's instruction set is compatible with a given instrument or family, but is not specifically listed in the measurement. Deselect this check box if a measurement must be performed by a specific model number or family of instruments.

For example, to make a voltage waveform measurement using an instrument with an Agilent 86100-compatible instruction set, selecting this check box would allow the measurement to execute on the unlisted oscilloscope without returning an error.

Note
Measurements have only been tested with the instruments identified in the measurement panel. Using an unlisted instrument may result in inaccurate measurement data.

Select Measurement

Every measurement panel contains the Select Measurement group, used to select a specific measurement or series of measurements. The dialog displays measurements appropriate to the instrument driver: S-parameters, trace, channel, and memory.

Select All

Click Select All to choose all available measurements.

Clear All

Click Clear All to deselect all selected measurements.

Save Dataset

Every measurement panel contains the Save Dataset group. It is used to construct an ADS dataset from measured data.

The entry field labeled Dataset Name contains the file name of the destination ADS dataset. Every measurement creates a temporary dataset file in the project data directory.

When a measurement completes successfully, the temporary dataset file is renamed as specified in the Dataset Name field. When a measurement does not run to completion, the temporary dataset file will remain in the project data directory to try to preserve as much information as possible.

Browse...

Click Browse... open the Export dialog where you can choose a folder and select an existing file name or enter a file name for the exported measurement data. In the case where you specify the name of an existing dataset, its contents will be replaced with the contents of a new measurement.

The Block Name field holds the name of a containing variable that holds the actual measurement variables. This enables you to select measurement values of the same name from different measurement runs. Normally, a measurement creates a dataset, holding a single block filled with all the variables representing the various pieces of measured data. There are occasions where this is not true.

Each measurement creates a temporary dataset file prefixed by two underbars (_) in the _\Protect Data directory. Upon successful completion of the measurement, the temporary dataset file is renamed using the value entered in the Dataset Name: field.

Though not specifically part of the dataset group, selecting the Measure button confirms the measurement configuration before executing the hardware commands. The client tells the server to make the measurement, sending the information gathered in the measurement panel as configuration data.

Understanding S-Parameter and Behavioral Modeling Measurements

This section explains S-parameter data formatting, dataset and data file referencing, and an overview of the measurement panel functionality.

Note
Connection Manager can only use S-parameter data that contains both magnitude and phase information, as found in vector network analyzers. Scalar analyzers do not provide information in a format suitable for use with Connection Manager.

Matrix and Non-Matrix Variable Formatting for S-Parameter Data

Depending on the available instrumentation, Connection Manager can perform 2-, 3-, and 4-port S-parameter measurements.

The format of the variable names stored in an S-parameter dataset depend on the measurements selected. There are two variable name formats used in S-parameter datasets:

The matrix notation is used when you select all measurements needed to fully populate a matrix for a given number of ports, the minimum number being two ports.

The matrices for a 2-port measurements will contain the variables:
S[1,1] S[1,2] S[2,1] S[2,2]
3-port matrices contain:
S[1,1] S[1,2] S[1,3] S[2,1] S[2,2] S[2,3] S[3,1] S[3,2] S[3,3]
4-port matrices contain:
S[1,1] S[1,2] S[1,3] S[1,4] S[2,1] S[2,2] S[2,3] S[2,4] S[3,1] S[3,2] S[3,3] S[3,4] S[4,1] S[4,2] S[4,3] S[4,4]

Non-matrix formatting is used for individual S-parameter measurements, or measurements that do not contain all of the 2 or 3-port data. In non-matrix formatting, the variable names take the form s1_1, s1_2, s2_1, s2_2 and so forth.

You must differentiate between a fully-populated and a partially-populated matrix. Expression evaluators in the Data Display Server and in simulation components make simplifying assumptions when they encounter variables named using matrix notation. Those assumptions enable faster lookup for matrix variables, but depend on a particular layout and ordering of the stored data. The absence of data within the matrix data cause the matrix evaluation expressions to fail.

S-Parameter Data Acquisition

The most common reason for measuring S-parameters is to use the data in an S-parameter simulation. To be useful in an S-parameter simulation, the measured data must be stored in the dataset as real and imaginary pairs. Because the instruments will return data in differing formats (depending on the analyzer's data display configuration), when the Connection Manager reads the measured data from the instrument, it will momentarily switch the display to a Smith chart. When displayed this way, the instrument returns data in real and imaginary pairs required for an ADS dataset.

Note
This momentary change in display format does not compromise the measurement integrity. When finished gathering data, Connection Manager restores the instrument data display to its original format.

Earlier versions of Connection Manager acquired S-parameter data prior to the analyzer formatting the data for display on the analyzer's front panel. With ADS 2004A, Connection Manager now acquires S-parameter data after the data has been formatted to display real and imaginary pairs (represented as a Smith chart).

If you require a particular S-parameter representation, configure the instrument in the same manner you want the measured data stored in the dataset. If you want to store raw data, turn off corrections on the instrument. If you want to store corrected data, turn on corrections on the instrument. If you want to store data that includes electrical delay, set the instrument to a display mode that includes electrical delay and apply the required delay. This is a change from previous versions of ADS, where only corrected data was stored.

Because the Connection Manager reads S-parameter data from the display buffer, any electrical delay you add to the measurement will be included in the data stored in the dataset. When displayed in an ADS data display window Smith chart, you can observe the electrical delay. DDS displays that do not show phase information, such as the rectangular plot displaying the data in dB, will look the same as any instrument display that doesn't show phase information, for example the Log Magnitude format.

Sweep Configuration

Connection Manager will not automatically acquire a new data sweep when asked to return measured data.

If the instrument is in hold mode, executing a measurement from the client returns the last data stored to the instrument memory.

To gather all of the data traces from the same sweep, configure the instrument to take the required measurements using the required conditions, then trigger a single sweep on the instrument. When the sweep is complete, the instrument enters hold mode, allowing the transfer of all the trace data into a dataset without taking a new sweep.

The single exception to this is the PNA power-swept measurement. When asked to retrieve data, the PNA power-swept measurement will always initiate a new sweep.

If you are using the 8753 power-swept measurement, make sure the instrument is set to trigger continuously.

Exporting S-Parameter Data to Text Files

The S-parameter measurement panels provide data export functionality through the Export Data group box.
There are five File Type options:

Data exported to an S2D file must meet the following requirements:

The contents of such an S2D file may be distributed to the following models in the following capacities:

AmpSingleCarrier is not recommended because it contains a subset of the functionality available with AmplifierS2D (for example, AmpSingleCarrier does not provide harmonic modeling). If non-poly fitted single carrier modeling is required, AmplifierP2D handles full 2-port S-parameters. See also, AmpSingleCarrier component documentation.

AmplifierP2D is recommended for all single carrier applications. It can handle small signal noise and full 2-port large signal nonlinearity. It does not have problems handling arbitrary compression curves because it data fits by direct interpolation of P2D file data. See also, AmplifierP2D component documentation.

Behavioral Modeling (Power Swept S-Parameter) Measurement Panels

This measurement is available for two network analyzer families, the Agilent 8753/8722/8720/8719 Network Analyzer Family and the Agilent ENA B and PNA Series Network Analyzer Families .

Note
Instruments in the Agilent 8753/8722/8720/8719 Network Analyzer Family have varying capabilities to make S-parameter measurements. Instruments with an " ET " designation have only transmission and reflection test sets, and are not capable of making a full suite of S-parameter measurements. Instead, they measure transmission and reflection only on one port.

The Power Swept S-Parameter Measurement panels contain five sections.

Select Instrument

Use this section to select and initialize the instrument used for data collection.

The drop-down list shows the VISA identification strings of all instruments connected to the server. You can either select a VISA identification string from this list or type in any valid VISA identification string corresponding to an instrument connected to the server. After a new interface is created, use the Refresh button to update the instruments on the Select Instrument drop-down list.

The check box labeled Override instrument model check determines whether the measurement queries an instrument for instrument model, its identification number or its identification string, and verifies that the instrument is a particular model number or belongs to a particular family. This identification takes place once at the beginning of the measurement. If you know that a measurement needs to take place only on a certain model number of instrument or family of instruments, leave this box cleared. If you want to use an instrument whose instruction set is compatible with a given instrument or family, but is not specifically listed in the measurement, then check this box.

Note
Measurements have only been tested with the instruments identified in the measurement panel. Using an unlisted instrument may provide inaccurate results.

Select Power Settings

Use this section to specify the power range over which the stimulation power is swept.

Power sweep always starts from the minimum power and ends at the maximum power. If the specified Start Power is higher than Stop Power , they are swapped.

If any of the specified power entries cannot be set correctly (usually out of range) during the measurement, the measurement stops and no data file/dataset is generated.
P2-P1 Power Offset can be set to a non-zero value in order to offset port 2 power from port 1 power. Only the Amplifier P2D file can reflect the power offset. Other data files and datasets only record the P1 power.
If P2-P1 Power Offset is set to a non-zero value, for example 5 dB, Agilent E88XX/E83XX/N338X network analyzers uncouple port 1 and port 2 automatically. However, for Agilent 8753/8722/8720/8719 network analyzers, port 1 and port 2 must be uncoupled manually. Otherwise, the measurement will warn out and stop.

Note
Agilent E88XX/E83XX/N338X network analyzers turn off auto attenuator control during the measurement for better accuracy.

Select Measurement

Use the check boxes in this section to select the S11, S12, S21, and S22 measurements.

Note
At least one of the check boxes must be selected to proceed.

Export Data

Use this section to choose a file name and export an ASCII text file.

There are five File Type options:

Selecting a file type from the drop-down list produces a file in that format. Selecting All-4-Formats generates four data files, one of each type.

Entering a file name with an extension is not recommended. A .p2d , . s2d , .sc , or .txt is automatically appended to the File name for each of the file types respectively.

Note
_ Save Data File_ is only active if the Export to Text File check box is selected.

For more information, see Exporting S-Parameter Data to Text Files.

Save Dataset

Use this section to specify the dataset and block name for saving trace data.

Measure

Select the Measure button to perform the measurement. At this point data is saved in the specified dataset.

Note
While the measurement is running, the measurement panel is disabled. Upon completion, a Measurement complete dialog box appears. Select OK to dismiss.

Measurement Results

The following data display shows the typical results from a measurement performed with an Agilent E8364A.

The following screen shot shows part of the generated MeasuredByAgilentPNA.p2d file performed with the Agilent E8364A.

S-Parameter Measurement Panels

2-Port, 3-port, and 4-port S-parameter measurement using one or more instruments from the following network analyzer families:

The S-Parameter Measurement panels contain of four functional sections.

Select Instrument

Use this section to select and initialize the instrument used for data collection.

The drop-down list shows VISA identification strings of all instruments connected to the server. You can either select a VISA identification string from this list or type in any valid VISA identification string corresponding to an instrument connected to the server. After a new interface is created, use the Refresh button to update the instruments on the Select Instrument drop-down list.

The check box labeled Override instrument model check determines whether the measurement queries an instrument for its identification string and verifies that the instrument is a particular model number or belongs to a particular family. This identification takes place once at the beginning of the measurement. If you know that a measurement needs to take place only on a certain model number of instrument or family of instruments, leave this box cleared. If you want to use an instrument whose instruction set is compatible with a given instrument or family, but is not specifically listed in the measurement, then check this box.

Note
Measurements have only been tested with the instruments identified in the measurement panel. Using an unlisted instrument may provide inaccurate results.

Select Measurement

Use this field to select which S-parameter(s) from S11, S12, S13, S21, S22, S23, S31, S32, and S33 are measured. The S11 measurement uses port 2 as load port, S22 and S33 measurements use port 1 as load port.

4-port measurements are available with the ENA B family of network analyzers. The Select All and Clear All functions in the Select Measurement section are useful in selecting or clearing all the boxes without having to make individual measurement selections.

Note
The ENA family of instruments need to be individually configured to make 4-port measurements. For information regarding making 4-port measurements, refer to the specific instrument manual.
Note
At least one of the check boxes must be selected to proceed.

Export Data

Use this section to choose a specific file name and to export an ASCII text file. Use the File Type drop-down list to choose one of two available file types - CitiFile or Touchstone .

Note
_ Save Data File_ is only active if the Export to Text File check box is selected.

Save Dataset

Use this section to specify the dataset and block name for saving trace data.

Measure

Select the Measure button to perform the measurement. At this point data is saved in the specified dataset.

Note
While the measurement is running, the measurement panel is disabled. Upon completion, a Measurement complete dialog box appears. Select OK to dismiss.

Measurement Results

The following data display shows typical results from a measurement performed with an Agilent E8364A.

The following screen shot shows part of a text file generated using the Save Data File feature.

Understanding Spectrum Measurements

Spectrum measurements are available for three types of spectrum analyzers:

The Spectrum measurement panel collects frequency domain data into a dataset. To read this data during a simulation, use the CM VSA E444xA Source component.

Note
The only differences between the three Spectrum Measurement panels are the title bars and trace names.

The Spectrum Measurement panels contain five sections.

Select Instrument

Use this section to select and initialize the instrument used for data collection.

The Select Instrument drop-down list shows the VISA identification strings of all instruments connected to the server. You can either select a VISA identification string from this list or type in any valid VISA identification string corresponding to an instrument connected to the server. After a new interface is created, use the Refresh button to update the instruments on the drop-down list.

The check box labeled Override instrument model check determines whether the measurement queries an instrument for its identification string and verifies that the instrument is a particular model number or belongs to a particular family. This identification takes place once at the beginning of the measurement. If you know that a measurement needs to take place only on a certain model number, leave this box cleared. If you want to use an instrument whose instruction set is compatible with a given instrument or family, but is not specifically listed, then check this box.

Note
Measurements have only been tested with the instruments identified in the measurement panel. Using an unlisted instrument may provide inaccurate results.

Reset instrument on initialization check box

Select this check box to reset the spectrum analyzer to a preset state before executing a measurement.

Use this function when the measurement instructions would otherwise be invalid given the current the spectrum analyzer configuration.

If the Reset Instrument on Initialization check box is selected, the instrument is reset, any prior setup is lost, and the instrument returns to the factory default state. This is used in cases where the instructions a measurement sends to an instrument are not valid for the instrument configuration.

Select Frequency Settings

The Frequency Selection section is used to specify the frequency range over which the spectrum measurement is performed.

Selecting Use Current Instrument Settings performs a spectrum measurement over the last specified range. If the Reset Instrument on Initialization check box (in the
Select Instrument section) is also selected, then the measurement is performed over the factory default range.

Selecting Center Frequency/Span defines a new frequency range. The values entered in the Center Freq and Span fields and the values selected in the Units drop-down lists must define a valid frequency range (Center Freq > 0, Span > 0, Center Freq - 0.5 × Span ≥ 0), otherwise the measurement will stop.

Selecting Start/Stop Frequency defines a new frequency range. The values entered in the Start Freq and Stop Freq fields and the values selected in the Units drop down lists must define a valid frequency range (0 ≤ Center Freq < Stop Freq), otherwise the measurement will abort.

Note
Defining a new frequency range using the Center Frequency/Span or the Start/Stop Frequency radio buttons may return unexpected results in the case where some traces are frozen . Traces can be in two states: an update state , where each new sweep updates the trace in some way (when Clear Write , Max Hold , or Min Hold option is selected) or a frozen state , where each new sweep leaves the trace unchanged (when the View option is selected). If the View option is selected and new frequency range defined is not the same as the one with which the trace was captured before being frozen, the frequency axis of the trace read corresponds to the new frequency range and will be incorrect.

Select Measurement

The Measurement Selection area is used to select which traces are read. The Agilent 856XX family supports only two traces, whereas the Agilent 859XX and E444XA families support three traces.

Note
At least one of the check boxes in this area must be selected to proceed.

Save Dataset

Use this section to specify the dataset and block name for saving trace data.

Measure

Select the Measure button to perform the measurement. At this point data is saved in the specified dataset.

Note
While the measurement is running, the Measurement panel is disabled. Upon completion a Measurement complete dialog appears. Select OK to dismiss this dialog.

Measurement Results

These are the results from a measurement performed using an Agilent E444XA and the setup shown earlier. For this measurement, Trace1 was set to Max Hold and Trace3 was set to Min Hold.

Understanding Voltage Waveform Measurements

Voltage waveform measurements are available for the following oscilloscopes:

The Agilent 86100A, 5462X, and 5464X oscilloscopes require manual measurement configuration from the instrument front panel.

The Agilent 5485X and 5483X oscilloscopes can be configured from the measurement panel.

Measurement Panels Requiring Manual Measurement Configuration

The measurement panels under this menu selection create datasets where the Y-axis values represent sampled voltage data and the X-axis values represent the times at which each voltage sample was taken.

Use the CM Infiniium 548xx Source1 and CM Infiniium 548xx Source2 components to read the data during a simulation.

Select Instrument

Use this section to select and initialize the instrument used for data collection.

The drop-down list shows the VISA identification strings of all instruments connected to the server. You can either select a VISA identification string from this list or type in any valid VISA identification string corresponding to an instrument connected to the server. After a new interface is created, use the Refresh button to update the instruments on the Select Instrument drop-down list.

The check box labeled Override instrument model check determines whether or not the measurement queries an instrument for its identification string and verifies that the instrument is a particular model number or belongs to a particular family. This identification takes place once at the beginning of the measurement. If you know that a measurement needs to take place on a certain model number of instrument or family of instruments, leave this box unselected. If you want to use an instrument with an instruction set compatible with a given instrument or family, but not specifically listed, then select this check box.

Note
Measurements have only been tested with the instruments identified in the measurement panel. Using an unlisted instrument may produce inaccurate results.

Select Measurement

When stored in the dataset, each measurement selected creates a variable named according to the name assigned to the measurement, Channelx or Memoryx in the case of the Agilent 86100A oscilloscope or Channel 1 - Channel 2 in the case of the Agilent 5462x and 5464x oscilloscope families.

The Voltage Waveform Measurement - Agilent 86100A Oscilloscope dialog reads channel and memory data from an Agilent 86100A oscilloscope. Some applications use the TDR data captured by this instrument. To do this, select the channel that displays the TDR trace.

Note
At least one of the check boxes in this area must be selected to proceed.

Save Dataset

Use this section to specify the dataset and block name when saving trace data.

Measure

Select the Measure button to perform the measurement. At this point data is saved in the specified dataset.

Note
While the measurement is running, the Measurement panel is disabled. Upon completion a Measurement complete dialog appears. Select OK to dismiss.

Voltage Waveform Measurements Using 5483X Family Oscilloscopes

When using these oscilloscopes with Connection Manager, all measurements must contain equal numbers of trace data points.

Note
This measurement requires the instrument to have firmware revision A.02.30 or later. To view the firmware revision, on the main instrument menu, click Help > About Infiniium . For firmware updates, visit the Agilent web site.

Matching Numbers of Trace Data Points

These instruments require datasets to have all the independent variables mapped over the same dependent variable. If you select more than one measurement in the client window, all the selected measurements must return the same number of trace points.

For example, if you select Channel 1 and Memory 1 it is important that Memory 1 contain the same number of trace points as Channel 1 . If the number of trace points differ, store the data in separate datasets.

When copying a waveform to memory, follow these steps to set the memory trace to have the same number of points as a display trace.

  1. From the instrument's Setup menu, select Waveform Memory... .
  2. In the Waveform Memory Setup dialog, select Load from Waveform... .
  3. In the Load Waveform Memory dialog, select the All Data radio button.

Measurement Panels With Client-Based Measurement Configuration

Connection Manager offers client-based measurement configuration using Agilent 5483XB and 5485XB Oscilloscope Families. This measurement panel has extensive instrument control capabilities in addition to the capability to store downloaded waveforms. The panel groups the data gathering and instrument control functions into related tabs.

The buttons near the bottom of the panel download waveforms, send setup information to the instrument, send setup information to the instrument, then immediately perform a download, dismiss the dialog, and display context-sensitive help.

Note
This measurement requires the instrument to have firmware revision A.02.30 or later. To view the firmware revision, on the main instrument menu, click Help > About Infiniium . For firmware updates, visit the Agilent web site.

Select Instrument

Use this section to select and initialize the instrument used for data collection.

The drop-down list shows the VISA identification strings of all instruments connected to the server. You can either select a VISA identification string from this list or type in any valid VISA identification string corresponding to an instrument connected to the server. After a new interface is created, use the Refresh button to update the instruments on the Select Instrument drop-down list.

Note
Measurements have only been tested with the instruments identified in the measurement panel. Using an unlisted instrument may produce inaccurate results.

Data Storage Tab

Select Waveform(s)

Like the manually configured oscilloscope measurement Select Measurement group box, the Channel and Memory check boxes select the data traces to store in a dataset.

The measurement stores these traces with dataset variable names identical to those used in manually configured oscilloscope measurements.
Select All and Clear All are convenient ways to select and exclude all data and memory channels from data download, respectively.

Save Dataset

Use this section to specify the dataset when saving trace data. This measurement does not include a block name field. In addition to being able to type the name of a dataset file into the Dataset Name field, the Browse... button will display a file selection dialog that you may use to select an existing data or specify a new one.

Channel Settings Tab


This tab contains additional tabs that allow control of the instrument's vertical scale setup for channels having a physical input connector. Each acquisition channel is controlled through a separate tab labeled Channel 1 through Channel 4 .

Every control tab contains an Include panel contents in instrument upload check box. When selected, the contents of the tab get transmitted to the instrument when you click the Upload Settings . For example, the Channel 1 tab contents will be transmitted to the instrument when the panel is configured as it is in the preceding screen shot.

Each channel is controlled independently, as are all memories. This allows adjustment of particular instrument settings, while leaving all others unchanged.

The Display channel X check box determines whether or not the instrument will display the associated trace on its screen. Selecting a channel for waveform download overrides this setting. For example, if you turn off channel 2, but select it for download, the oscilloscope will display channel 2 following the data download.

The Scale field sets the associated channel's vertical scale. The number in this field corresponds to the instrument's Volts/division setting for a given channel.

The Offset field sets the vertical value that is represented at the center of the display for the selected channel. Offset parameters are probe and vertical scale dependent.

Timebase Settings Tab


The Timebase reference drop-down list selects the location of the time zero point on the instrument display. Left puts time zero at the left edge of the display. Center puts time zero in the middle of the display. Right puts time zero at the right edge of the display. Anything to the left of time zero is data captured before the trigger event.

The Timebase scale field sets the instrument's horizontal scale. This field corresponds to the instrument's time/division setting.

The Timebase delay field sets the time interval between the trigger event and the delay reference point.

Trigger Settings Tab


The Trigger Settings group controls how the instrument takes a sweep.

When Trigger mode is set to Auto , the instrument is in free-run mode, requiring no trigger event to take a sweep. When in Triggered mode, the instrument will continuously take sweeps, as long as trigger conditions are met. When in Single mode, the instrument will take one sweep when trigger conditions are met and then stop sweeping.

The instrument can use any of the active channels, the Aux connector on the back of the instrument ( External ) or the AC power ( Line ) as the trigger source.

The settings in the Trigger levels group determine the voltage value at which the instrument will take a sweep when the associated trigger source is active.

The Trigger slope setting determines whether the instrument considers the trigger point to be the rising or falling edge of the signal selected as the trigger source.
Trigger holdoff specifies the amount of time the oscilloscope should wait after receiving a trigger before enabling the trigger again.
Trigger hysteresis specifies the trigger hysteresis (noise reject) as either Normal or High Sensitivity. Normal sensitivity adds hysteresis to the trigger circuitry for rejecting noise and should be used for waveform frequencies at or below 4 GHz. High Sensitivity lowers the hysteresis of the trigger circuitry and should be used for waveforms frequencies above 4 GHz.

The Trigger Levels group specifies the voltage level at which the instrument will take a sweep when the corresponding trigger source is active.

Memory Settings Tab

This tab contains more tabs that control each of the instrument's waveform memories.

The Display memory X selection determines whether the instrument will display the contents of the corresponding waveform memory. This setting is overridden by selecting to download the associated waveform memory trace.

The X Range field sets the X-axis (horizontal) range for the selected waveform memory's display scale. The horizontal scale is the horizontal range divided by 10.

The X Offset field sets the X-axis (horizontal) position for the selected waveform memory's display scale. The position is referenced to center screen.

The Y Range field sets the Y-axis (vertical) range for the selected memory. The vertical scale is the vertical range divided by 8.

The Y Offset field sets the Y-axis (vertical) position for the selected waveform memory. The position is referenced to center screen.

Advanced Tab


When selected, the Perform autoscale before acquiring trace data check box causes the instrument to perform an autoscale operation before downloading the waveforms you have selected on the Data Storage tab. Autoscale is a convenient way to have the instrument determine the optimal settings for displaying the waveforms present on the input connectors.

The Time to wait to acquire exclusive instrument lock check box is an advanced setting intended to allow you to determine how long to wait for a shared instrument to become available for your exclusive use. If two clients want to use the same instrument at the same time, the instructions getting to the instrument would be intermingled between the different clients. To prevent this intermingling of instructions, the server locks an instrument during the time a client is actively communicating with that instrument. When a client is done, the server unlocks the instrument. This field specifies how long to wait for a shared instrument to become unlocked (thereby granting access to it) before giving up.

The Time to wait for waveform transfer field specifies how long to wait for an instruction sent to the instrument to complete its task before deciding that the instrument will most likely never complete the task. For example, an instrument is set to trigger on an external event and the event is expected to occur within 10 seconds. If that event never occurs, the measurement would hang indefinitely. Use this field to specify how long to wait before giving up.

Note
Increase this value when downloading large waveforms that may take a long time to transfer out of the instrument.

Clicking Save Instrument State records the instrument's learn string (as specified by the IEEE-488.2 specification) into a data file. Use this function to save redoing a complicated instrument configuration. If undesired adjustments are subsequently made to the measurement configuration, simply recall the stored setup into the instrument by clicking Recall Instrument State .

Recall Instrument State allows you to select a file containing a previously-stored instrument state to be sent back to the instrument.

Clicking Reset Instrument State sets the instrument to its default state by issuing the IEEE-488.2 standard *RST command.

Clicking Clear Instrument Status clears the error status bit in the instrument's status byte by sending the IEEE-488.2 standard command *CLS . Use this to clear an error caused by a previous instruction that timed out.

Use the CM Infiniium 548xx Source1 and CM_Infiniium_548xx_Source2 components to read the data and to configure the Infiniium scope during a simulation.

Download Waveform(s)

Select the Download Waveform(s) button to capture the selected traces from the instrument and store the data in the dataset. See Matching Numbers of Trace Data Points for important information regarding waveform memory trace acquisition.

Download Waveform(s) is active only when the following conditions are met:

Upload Settings

Every control tab includes an Include panel contents in instrument upload check box. When selected, the contents of the tab are transmitted to the instrument when you click Upload Settings .

For example, the Channel 1 tab contents will be transmitted to the instrument when the panel is configured. Each channel is controlled independently, as are all memories.

This allows adjustment to some instrument settings, while leaving all others unchanged.
Upload Settings is active only when one or more of the Include panel contents in instrument upload check boxes are selected.

Upload then Download

Clicking Upload then Downloa d configures the measurement, acquires the trace or memory data, and saves the data in a dataset. Upload then Download is active only when both the Download Waveform(s) and Upload Settings buttons are active.

Done

Click Done to close the measurement panel.

Help

Click Help to access Connection Manager documentation.

 

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