Reading Hold - Agilent Technologies 34420A User Manual

Chapter 3 Features and Functions

Reading Hold

Reading Hold
The reading hold feature allows you to capture and hold a stable reading
on the front-panel display. This is especially useful in situations where
you want to take a reading, remove the test probes, and have the reading
remain on the display. When a stable reading is detected, the meter
beeps and holds the reading on the display.
The reading hold feature is available only from the front panel. If you go
to remote when reading hold is enabled, the meter ignores it; when you
return to local (front panel), reading hold is enabled again.
Reading hold has an adjustable sensitivity band (adjustable only from
the front panel) to allow you to select which readings are considered
stable enough to be displayed. The band is expressed as a percent of
reading, on the selected range. The meter will capture and display a
new value only after three consecutive readings are within the band.
Select one of these values: 0.01%, 0.10% (default), 1.00%, or 10.0%
of reading.
For example, assume that the 1.00% band is selected and a 5 volt
signal is applied to the meter. If three consecutive readings are
between 4.95 volts and 5.05 volts, the meter will beep and display a
new reading.
The sensitivity band is stored in volatile memory; the meter sets the
band to 0.10% when power has been off or after an interface reset.
If the meter is in autorange when you enable reading hold, it will
autorange to the correct range. If the meter is in the manual range
mode, the same fixed range will be used for reading hold.
For certain applications, it may be useful to use reading hold with
reading memory. See also "Reading Memory," on page 90.
Front Panel operation: After enabling reading hold, you can select
a different sensitivity band by pressing
1: READ HOLD
Shift >
(Menu Recall).
3
79