Giga-
tronics 2400/2500 Microwave Synthesizer Series
5. Automation Xpress
Programming Manual, Part Number 34783, Rev A, July 2009
149
Chapter 5.
Automation Xpress
5.1 Introduction
Automation Xpress was developed as a way to program the 2400/2500 for automated testing. The
Automation Xpress graphical user interface (GUI) is shown in Figure 2 below.
5.1.1 Benefits of Using Automation Xpress
Automation Xpress includes an application program interface (API) in the form of a Dynamic Link Library
(DLL). The API enables a programmer to individually command frequency changes while taking
advantage of the fast-frequency-switching architecture of the 2400/2500. Automation Xpress
significantly reduces the processor burden of the 2400/2500 by transferring the instrument-state
processing burden to a PC. Once an instrument-state calculation for generating a frequency is
performed, the majority of the time required to switch frequency is the data transfer from the controller
to the 2400/2500.
The switching-time specification for Automation Xpress is 1.0 ms with modern processor and memory
configurations. Typical frequency-switching time, excluding the controller processor overhead, is
approximately 1 ms when the GPIB End or Identify signal is used as a starting point for the switching-
time measurement to the Lock/Level signal. That signal indicates that the frequency change has been
completed.
Figure 2.
Automation Xpress Graphical User Interface (GUI)