Gossen MetraWatt KONSTANTER SPL Series, Programming Manual

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2 GMC-I Messtechnik GmbH
Content Page
1 SCPI Introduction ............................................................. 2
1.1 What is SCPI? ...............................................................2
1.2 Command Syntax ..........................................................2
1.2.1 SCPI Keywords .............................................................2
1.2.1.1 Forms of Keywords .....................................................2
1.2.1.2 Keyword Conventions .................................................3
1.2.2 Separators .....................................................................3
1.2.3 Parameters ....................................................................3
1.2.3.1 Parameter Formats ......................................................3
1.2.3.2 Data Unit .....................................................................3
1.2.4 Terminators ...................................................................3
1.3
Examples .......................................................................3
1.3.1 Simple Command Statements .......................................3
1.3.2 Compound Command Statements ................................3
1.3.3 Simple Command Queries .............................................3
1.3.4 Compound Command Queries ......................................3
2 SCPI Commands Descriptions .......................................... 4
2.1 IEEE488.2 Common Commands ...................................4
2.2 SCPI Root Commands ..................................................6
2.2.1 ABORt ...........................................................................6
2.2.2 CURRent Subsystem .....................................................6
2.2.3 VOLTage Subsystem .....................................................7
2.2.4 RESistance Subsystem ..................................................8
2.2.5 POWer Subsystem ........................................................8
2.2.6 INPut Subsystem ...........................................................8
2.2.7 TRANsient Subsystem ...................................................9
2.2.8 LIST Subsystem ..........................................................10
2.2.9 MODE ..........................................................................10
2.2.10 MEASure .....................................................................11
2.2.11 STATus Subsystem .....................................................11
2.2.12 SYSTem ......................................................................12
2.2.13 TRlGger Subsystem .....................................................12
2.2.14 ATTery Subsystem .......................................................13
3 Error Messages .............................................................. 13
4 Status Register Reporting .............................................. 14
5 Product Support ............................................................. 16
1 SCPI Introduction
1.1 What is SCPI?
SCPI is the Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments
based on the IEEE488.1 and IEEE488.2 Standards. It conforms
to IEEE754 Standard for Floating-Point Arithmetic, ISO646 7-bit
Coded Character Sets for Information Exchange, and other kinds
of standards.
SCPI Commands for SPL Series Electronic Load can be divided
into two types: one is IEEE488.2 common commands; the other
is specific commands for the load.
Some generic commands and queries for instruments are
defined by the IEEE488.2 common commands. All IEEE488.2
common commands consist of “*” and the mnemonic symbol of
three characters. (For example: *IDN?, *SAV, *WAI etc.)
The specific commands are used to execute settings, testing,
and measuring etc. functions of the load. These commands are
organized in the form of the command tree. Each command con-
tains several mnemonic symbols. The nodes are separated by the
character “:”, see figure 1-1. The top part of the command tree is
called “ROOT”. The entire path from “ROOT” to leaf node is a
complete programming command.
1.2 Command Syntax
SCPI Commands for SPL Series Electronic Load carry on and
expand IEEE488.2 Standards. The programming command con-
sists of keywords, separators, parameters, and terminators etc.
Take the following command as an example:
CURRent:PROTection:STATe ON
CURRent, PROTection, STATe are the keywords; “:” and
spaces are separators; ON is the parameter (some commands
have several parameters; they are separated by “,”); the carriage
return after the command is a terminator.
To make it easy to describe, the various follow-up symbols
represent:
Square brackets ([]) represent the optional keywords or the
parameter can be omitted.
Braces ({}) represent the parameter options in the command
string.
Angle brackets (<>) represent that it is necessary to provide a
numeric parameter.
Vertical line (|) is used to separate multiple parameter options.
1.2.1 SCPI Keywords
1.2.1.1 Forms of Keywords
Each keyword has two forms: long form and short form.
Long Form It consists of one word or a phrase. If it is a word, the
long form keyword should be the complete word; if it is a phrase,
the long form keyword should consist of the first letter of each
word and the whole letters of the last word. The long form key-
word for STATUS is STATus; the long form keyword for LOW
LEVEL is LLEVel.
Short Form The word contains only the first three or four letters of
the long form. The short form keyword for STATUS is STAT; the
short form keyword for LOW LEVEL is LLEV.
Short forms are constructed according to the following rules:
• If the keyword consists of four or fewer letters, then all the let-
ters are used.
• If the keyword consists of five or more letters,
and the fourth letter is not a vowel,
then the first four letters are used;
and the fourth letter is a vowel,
then only the first three letters are used.