Section 5: Switching and scanning
Series 3700A System Switch/Multimeter Reference Manual
5-26
3700AS-901-01 Rev. D/June 2018
For example:
•
1003:1005
will add Channels 1003, 1004, and 1005 to the list as three distinct steps, with
Channel 3 added first, Channel 4 added second, and Channel 5 added third.
•
Adding individual channels in the order of 1003, 1005, and 1004 will add the channels to the list
as three distinct steps with Channel 3 added first, Channel 5 added second, and Channel 4
added last.
Basic scan procedure
It is always better to configure all channel and DMM attributes before creating a scan.
You cannot use an external trigger event, like digital I/O, for the channel stimulus setting of the
trigger model when using the front panel
STEP
key. For more information, see
(on page 4-
(on page 5-24).
To perform a scan:
1. Configure the channels for scanning as needed.
2. Select (or create, if necessary) the reading buffer to store measurements.
3. Build the scan list:
▪
Front panel
: Press the
INSERT
key. The steps are executed in the order in which they are
added. When adding a range of channels, they are added to the end of the existing scan list.
▪
Remote interface:
Send the
scan.create()
,
scan.add()
, or
scan.addimagestep()
command.
4. Configure the scan settings (for example, scan count, bypass, mode, and so on).
5. To start the scan:
▪
Front panel
: Press the
STEP
key
or the
SCAN
key and select the
BACKGROUND
menu
item.
▪
Remote interface
: Send the command
scan.execute
or
scan.background
.
6. The trigger model leaves the idle state and performs actions on the channels involved in
scanning, along with channels that would interfere with scanning, such as AMP channels, analog
backplane relays 1 and 2 on all slots, commonside ohm backplane channels, and other channels
in banks involved in scanning.
▪
Front panel:
When you press the
STEP
key, the Series 3700A leave the idle state and
perform the channel action associated with the first step in the scan list.
Measurements are then made (if part of the scan). If a reading buffer was selected, the results
from the measurements are stored there. The measurement action, if started, is completed. The
channel and DMM remain as previously configured until the next step in the scan is initiated. The
DMM configuration changes to the attribute settings tied to the channel in the next step.
While scanning is enabled, pressing most front panel keys will cause the instrument to display error
code 5522, "Scan Running, Must Abort Scan."
7. The channels are scanned or stepped in the order they were added to the list.
▪
Front panel
: If you are stepping through the scan, press the
STEP
key to proceed to the next
step in the list.
▪
Remote interface
: You cannot step a scan remotely over the bus.
