Agilent Technologies Agilent E1412A User Manual Download

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Agilent E1412A Multimeter Application Information

Hardware Used

486 IBM compatible computer running Windows 3.1. The computer has an
82341 GPIB interface and SICL/Windows 3.1 and Windows NT for GPIB
software. The VXI modules were loaded in a VXI C-size mainframe using
an E1406A or B-size mainframe with E1306A Command Module as
resource manager connected to the computer via the 82341 GPIB card.

Making Multimeter

Measurements

This section provides four programs that demonstrate different ways of
making measurements and retrieving the readings. SCPI command
sequences for each program are contained in the boxes. The four programs:

1. Use the

MEASure

command to make a single measurement.

2. Make several externally triggered measurements.
3. Maximize measurement speed on multiple measurements.
4. Maximize measurement accuracy on multiple measurements.

NOTE:

Review the section titled “Triggering the Multimeter” beginning on

page

to fully understand the triggering system.

MEASure Command

The simplest measurement method is using the

MEASure

command which

configures the function to be measured, initiates the measurement(s) and
places the reading(s) directly into the output buffer. You then must provide
the I/O construct to retrieve the readings and enter them into the computer.
One

MEASure

command will initiate multiple measurements if the trigger

count or the sample count is greater than 1. The measurement process stops
when the output buffer fills if readings are not retrieved fast enough. The
measurement process restarts when there is again room to store readings in the
output buffer.

READ? Command

The

READ?

command requires that you configure the multimeter for the

function you want to measure prior to issuing the command. The command
initiates the measurement(s) and places the reading(s) directly into the output
buffer like the

MEASure

command. You then must provide the I/O construct

to retrieve the readings and enter them into the computer. One

READ?

command will initiate multiple measurements if the trigger count or the
sample count is greater than 1. The measurement process stops when the
output buffer fills if readings are not retrieved fast enough. The measurement
process restarts when there is room to store readings in the output buffer.

INIT and FETC?

Commands

The

READ?

command is broken down into two operations with the

INIT

and

FETC?

commands. The

INIT

and

FETC?

commands require that you

configure the multimeter for the function you want to measure prior to
issuing the commands. The

INIT

command initiates the measurement(s) and

places the reading(s) into the multimeter's RAM memory. This memory will
hold a maximum of 512 readings. You use the

FETC?

command to transfer

the readings from memory to the output buffer. You then must provide the
I/O construct to retrieve the readings and enter them into the computer. One

INIT

command will initiate multiple measurements if the trigger count or the

sample count is greater than 1. If more than 512 measurements are made,
only the last 512 readings are stored. Use the

READ?

command for more

than 512 readings since readings are immediately put into the output buffer
and retrieved with an I/O construct you supply. The measurement process
stops when the output buffer fills if readings are not retrieved fast enough.
The measurement process restarts when there is again room to store readings