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Section 2: Using the front-panel interface
Series 3700A System Switch/Multimeter User's Manual
Taking measurements without a switch card
Pseudocards
You can perform open, close, and scan operations and configure your system without having an
actual switching card installed in your instrument. Using the remote interface, you can assign a
pseudocard to an empty switching card slot, allowing the instrument to operate as if a switching card
were installed.
A pseudocard cannot be configured from the front panel. However, once the remote configuration is
complete, you can take the instrument out of remote mode and use the front panel. Press the
EXIT
key to take the instrument out of remote mode.
When the instrument is turned off, the pseudocard is no longer assigned to the slot.
NOTE
A saved setup or created configuration script retains the model number of the card installed in each
slot. The model number of a pseudocard is the same as the model number of an actual card (except
for Model 3732 cards; see the "Pseudocard support for the Model 3732" topic in the Series 3700
Switch and Control Cards Reference Manual for details). This allows a saved setup or created
configuration script to be recalled if the installed card (or pseudocard) matches the model number for
the slot in the saved setup or created configuration script.
Using the analog backplane connector to take measurements
You can perform measurements without an installed switch card by using the rear-panel analog
backplane connection, which is always connected to the digital multimeter (DMM) input. To connect
to the analog backplane as shown below, use a standard DB-15 mating connector (not supplied).
WARNING
The switch card and analog backplane connector cannot be used at the same time, because
they are connected in parallel.
There is no relay that connects to the DB-15 connector.
2-14
3700AS-900-01 Rev. A / July 2011