Page 1 ® Advanced Test Equipment Rentals www.atecorp.com 800-404-ATEC (2832) Agilent 8163A/B Lightwave Multimeter, Agilent 8164A/B Lightwave Measurement System, & Agilent 8166A/B Lightwave Multichannel System Programming Guide Agilent Technologies...
Page 2 Buyer's sole and exclusive remedies. important data. Do not proceed First edition, July 2001 Agilent Technologies shall not be liable beyond a CAUTION notice until the for any direct, indirect, special, Warranty...
Page 3 Warnings and Notices WA R N I N G To avoid the possibility of injury or death, you must observe the following precautions before switching on the instrument. Insert the power cable plug only into a socket outlet provided with a protective earth contact.
Page 4 Agilent Technologies Sales and Service Offices For more information about Agilent Technologies test and measurement products, applications, services, and for a current sales office listing, viesit our web site: http://www.agilent.com/comms/lightwave You can also contact one of the following centers and ask for a test and measurement sales representative.
Page 5: The Structure Of This Manual
This manual is divided into 5 parts: • “Introduction to Programming” on page 15 gives a general introduction to SCPI programming with the Agilent 8163A/B Lightwave Multimeter, the Agilent 8164A/B Lightwave Measurement System, and the Agilent 8166A/B Lightwave Multichannel System.
Page 6: Related Manuals
Related Manuals You can find more information about the instruments covered by this manual in the following manuals: • Agilent 8163A/B Lightwave Multimeter, Agilent 8164A/B Lightwave Measurement System, & Agilent 8166A/B Lightwave Multichannel System User’s Guide (Agilent Product Number 08164-90B14).
Page 7: Table Of Contents
Annotations Status Byte Register Standard Event Status Register Operation/Questionable Status Summary Operation/Questionable Status Summary Register Operation/Questionable Slot Status Operation Slot Status Register Questionable Slot Status Register Status Command Summary Other Commands Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B, & 8166A/B Programming Guide, Fourth Edition...
Page 8 Status Commands User Calibration Data Signal Routing Triggering - The TRIGger Subsystem Extended Trigger Configuration Extended Trigger Configuration Example Mass Storage, Display, and Print Functions Display Operations – The DISPlay Subsystem Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B, & 8166A/B Programming Guide, Fourth Edition...
Page 9 Microsoft Visual C++ 4.0 (or higher) and Borland C++ 4.5 (or higher) Microsoft Visual Basic 4.0 (or higher) Agilent VEE 5.01 (or higher) LabWindows CVI/ (R) 4.0 (or higher) Online Information Lambda Scan Applications Equally Spaced Datapoints Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B, & 8166A/B Programming Guide, Fourth Edition...
Page 10 Status Model Preset Defaults Removed Command Obsolete Commands Changed Parameter Syntax and Semantics Changed Query Result Values Timing Behavior Error Handling Command Order Instrument Status Settings Error Codes GPIB Error Strings Index Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B, & 8166A/B Programming Guide, Fourth Edition...
Page 11 8163A/B & 8164A/B ........
Page 12 Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Sixth Edition...
Page 13 Overview for Unsupported Strings ......270 Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Sixth Edition...
Page 14 Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Sixth Edition...
Page 15: Introduction To Programming
Status Registers ........-33 Status System for 8163A/B & 8164A/B ....-35 Status System for 8166A/B .
Page 16: Gpib Interface
• The SCPI Consortium: Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments. To obtain a copy of this manual, contact the following address: SCPI Consortium Office Bode Enterprise 2515 Camino del Rio South, Suite 340 San Diego, CA, 92108 Web: http://www.scpiconsortium.org Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 17: Table 1 Gpib Capabilities
GPIB Interface Introduction to Programming The interface of the Agilent 8163A/B Lightwave Multimeter, Agilent 8164A/B Lightwave Measurement System, and Agilent 8166A/B Lightwave Multichannel System to the GPIB is defined by the IEEE Standards 488.1 and 488.2. Table 1 shows the interface functional subset that the instruments implement.
Page 18: Returning The Instrument To Local Control
Figure 1 will appear. Press [Local] if you wish to return the instrument to local control. Figure 1 Remote Control If your Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B or 8166A/B is in local lockout mode N O T E (refer to DISPlay:LOCKout on page 142) the Local softkey is not available.
Page 19: Message Queues
Message Queues Introduction to Programming Message Queues The instrument exchanges messages using an input and an output queue. Error messages are kept in a separate error queue. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 20: How The Input Queue Works
Clearing the Input Queue Switching the power off, or sending a Device Interface Clear signal, causes commands that are in the input queue, but have not been executed to be lost. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 21: The Output Queue
), with EOI=TRUE. If no query is received, or if the query has an error, the output queue remains empty. The Message Available bit (MAV, bit 4) is set in the Status Byte register whenever there is data in the output queue. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 22: The Error Queue
-113, "Undefined header" -113, "Undefined header" If more than 29 errors are put into the queue, the message: -350, "Queue overflow" is placed as the last message in the queue. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 23: Programming And Syntax Diagram Conventions
M are all equivalent. 1500 1.5E-6 If you do not specify a unit, then the default unit is assumed. The default unit for the commands are given with command description in the next chapter. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 24: Short Form And Long Form
For example, the above command would be written STATus:OPERation:ENABle The first colon can be left out for the first command or query in your message. That is, the example given above could also be sent as STAT:OPER:ENAB 768 Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 25: Command And Query Syntax
PM, NM, UM, MM, M decibel MDB, DB second NS, US, MS, S decibel/1mW MDBM, DBM Hertz HZ, KHZ, MHZ, GHZ, THZ Watt Watt PW, NW, UW, MW, Watt meters per second NM/S, UM/S, MM/S, M/S Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 26: Data Types
The slot number represents the module’s position in the mainframe. These are: • from one to two for the Agilent 8163A/B, • from zero to four for the Agilent 8164A/B, and • from one to seventeen for the Agilent 8166A/B.
Page 27: Laser Selection Numbers
If you do not specify a slot or channel number, the lowest possible number N O T E is used as the default value. This means: • Slot 1 for the Agilent 8163A/B and Agilent 8166A/B mainframes. • Slot 0 for the Agilent 8164A/B mainframe. • Channel 1 for all channels.
Page 28 Return Loss module for the following commands: • “:SENSe[n]:[CHANnel[m]]:RETurnloss:CORRection:FPDelta[l]” on page 111, • “:SENSe[n]:[CHANnel[m]]:RETurnloss:CORRection:FPDelta[l]?” on page 111, • “:SENSe[n]:[CHANnel[m]]:RETurnloss:CORRection:REFLectance[l]” on page 112, and • “:SENSe[n]:[CHANnel[m]]:RETurnloss:CORRection:FPDelta[l]” on page 111. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 29: Common Commands
Some of these commands must be implemented by any instrument using the standard, others are optional. Your instrument implements all the necessary commands, and some optional ones. This section describes the implemented commands. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 30: Common Command Summary
Read Status Byte Query page 61 *TST? Self Test Query page 62 *WAI Wait Command page 63 These commands are described in more detail in “IEEE-Common N O T E Commands” on page 56. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 31: Common Status Information
The questionable and operation status systems set the Operational Status Bit (OSB) and the Questionable Status Bit (QSB). These status systems are described in “The Status Model” on page 33 and “Status Reporting – The STATus Subsystem” on page 64. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 32 Introduction to Programming Common Commands Unused bits in any of the registers change to 0 when you read them. N O T E Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 33: The Status Model
0 → 1, 1 1 1 1 1 causes the corresponding bit of the corresponding event register to change from 0 → 1. Condition Registers Figure 3 The Registers and Filters for a Node Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 34 Agilent 8163A/B Lightwave Multimeter and the Agilent 8164A/B Lightwave Measurement System consists of one level. These are described in “Status System for 8163A/B & 8164A/B” on page 35. As the Agilent 8166A/B Lightwave Multichannel System has 17 module slots, the Operational/Questionable Status Enable Summary Mask consists of two levels.
Page 35: Status System For 8163A/B & 8164A/B
The Status Model Introduction to Programming Status System for 8163A/B & 8164A/B The status system for the Agilent 8163A/B Lightwave Multimeter and the Agilent 8164A/B Lightwave Measurement System returns the status of 2 and 5 module slots respectively. The Operational/Questionable Status Summary Registers consist of one level and are described by Figure 4 .
Page 36: Status System For 8166A/B
Slot Status Enable Mask level Register & & & & Operational/Questionable Slot Status Event Register for a positive transition Operational/Questionable Slot Status Condition Register Figure 5 The Operational/Questionable Status System for 8166A/B Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 37: Annotations
• Reading the condition register is non-destructive. • Reading the event register is destructive. • A summary of the event register and its enable mask is set in the status byte. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 38: Operation/Questionable Status Summary Register
• Bit 1 is set if the last Power Meter zeroing failed. • Bit 2 is set if temperature is out of range. • Bit 3 is set if laser protection is switched on. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 39 • Bit 9 is set if attenuator beam path protection is enabled (shutter is closed) • Bit 10 is set if lambda zeroing is recommended. • All other bits are unused, and therefore set to 0. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 40: Status Command Summary
NOTE: *RST does NOT touch the STB or SESR. A running measurement is stopped. *TST? initiates an instrument selftest and returns the results as a 32 bit LONG. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 41: Other Commands
All pending operations are completed during the wait period. *IDN? identifies the instrument; returns the manufacturer, instrument model number, serial number, and firmware revision level. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 42 Introduction to Programming The Status Model Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 43: Specific Commands
Specific Commands This chapter lists all the instrument specific commands relating to the Agilent 8163A/B Lightwave Multimeter, the Agilent 8164A/B Lightwave Measurement System, and the Agilent 8166A/B Lightwave Multichannel System with a single-line description. Each of these summaries contains a page reference for more detailed information about the particular command later in this manual.
Page 44: Specific Command Summary
Queries an offset value according to wavelength or index. page 162 :WAVelength:VALue:PAIR? Queries an offset/wavelength value pair according to wavelength page 163 or index. :WAVelength:VALue:WAVelength? Queries a wavelength value from its index in the offset table page 162 Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 45 Sets or queries the powermeter averaging time. page 157 :CONNection/? Selects or returns Analog Output parameter. page 113 :CORRection:COLLection:ZERO Zeros the offsets of attenuators powermeter page 157 :CORRection:COLLection:ZERO:ALL Zeros all available powermeter channels in mainframe page 158 Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 46 Sets or returns the channel route between two ports. page 169 [:CHANnel[m]]:CONFig? Reads the switch configuration of an instrument. page 170 [:CHANnel[m]]:CONFig:ROUTe? Reads the allowed switch routes of an instrument. page 170 Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 47 Sets or returns the reference level of a sensor. page 105 :UNIT/? Sets or returns the units used for absolute readings on a sensor. page 108 :WAVelength/? Sets or returns the wavelength for a sensor. page 108 Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 48 Returns the latest selftest results for an optical head. page 83 :WAVelength:RESPonse? Returns the wavelength response from the module with wave- page 83 length calibration. :WAVelength:RESPonse:CSV? Returns the wavelength response from the module with wave- page 84 length calibration. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 49 Selects Automatic or Manual Attenuation Mode for a source or page 123 returns the selected mode. :DARK/? Enables/disables ‘dark’ position on a source or returns whether page 123 ‘dark’ position is active for a source. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 50 Forces an auto lamda zero. This is quicker than the equilavent page 134 manual process. [:SOURce[n]][:CHANnel[m]:]WAVelength:REFerence :DISPlay Sets the reference wavelength of a source to the value of the out- page 135 put wavelength. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 51 [:SOURce[n]][:CHANnel[m]:]WAVelength:SWEep:STEP :NEXT Performs the next sweep step. page 146 :PREVious Performs the previous sweep step again. page 146 [:WIDTh]/? Sets or returns the width of the sweep step. page 146 Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 52 Sets or queries the Questionable Status Enable Summary Mask. page 75 :ENABle:LEVel1/? Sets or queries the Questionable Status Enable Summary Mask page 73 for slots 15 - 17 of the Agilent 8166A/B Lightwave Multichannel System. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 53 Sets or returns the number of incoming triggers received before page 175 data logging begins :INPut:REARm/? Re-arms input trigger page 174 :OUTPut/? Sets or returns the outgoing trigger response. page 176 :OUTPut:REARm/? Re-arms output trigger page 177 Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 54 Specific Commands Specific Command Summary Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 55: Instrument Setup And Status
Subsystem........76 Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 56: Ieee-Common Commands
IEEE-Common Commands “Common Commands” on page 29 gave a brief introduction to the IEEE- common commands which can be used with the instruments. This section gives fuller descriptions of each of these commands. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 57 The bit value for the register (a 16-bit signed integer value): Mnemonic Decimal Value 7 (MSB) Power On Not Used Command Error Execution Error Device Dependent Error Query Error Not Used 0 (LSB) Operation Complete response: none example: *ESE 21 Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 58 The bit value for the register (a 16-bit signed integer value): Mnemonic Decimal Value 7 (MSB) Power On Not used Command Error Execution Error Device Dependent Error Query Error Not used 0 (LSB) Operation Complete *ESR? → 21<END> example: Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 59 The Agilent 8163A, Agilent 8164A, and Agilent8166A will always return Agilent Technologies as the manufacturer. This will not be affected by the transition of these instruments to Agilent Technologies. This will allow programs that use this string to continue functioning.
Page 60 Slots are listed starting with the lowest slot number, that is, slot 0 for the Agilent 8164A/B and Slot 1 for the Agilent 8163A/B and Agilent 8166A/B. If any slot is empty or not recognised, two spaces are inserted instead of the module’s part number.
Page 61 The bit value for the register (a 16-bit signed integer value): Mnemonic Decimal Value 7 (MSB) Operation Status (OSB) Not used Event Status Bit (ESB) Message Available (MAV) Questionable Status (QSB) Not used Not used Not used *STB? → 128<END> example: Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 62 If 16 is returned, the module in slot 4 has failed. If 18 is returned, the modules in slots 1 and 4 have failed. A value of zero indicates no errors. *TST? → 0<END> example: Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 63 "StatNOPC" flag during execution to indicate that the module is busy. *WAI blocks the GPIB bus to all commands until every module hosted by the instrument is no longer busy. All pending operations, are completed during the wait period. parameters: none response: none example: *WAI Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 64: Status Reporting - The Status Subsystem
Slot 3 Summary Slot 2 Summary Slot 2 Summary Slot 2 Summary Slot 1 Summary Slot 1 Summary Slot 1 Summary Not used Slot 0 Summary Level 1 Summary stat:oper? → +0<END> example: Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 65 Slot 3 Summary Slot 2 Summary Slot 2 Summary Slot 2 Summary Slot 1 Summary Slot 1 Summary Slot 1 Summary Not used Slot 0 Summary Level 1 Summary stat:oper:cond? → +0<END> example: Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 66 The sum of the results for the slots (a 16-bit signed integer value, where 0 ≤ value ≤ 32767): response: Bits Mnemonics Decimal Value Agilent 8166A/B 15-4 Not used Slot 17 Summary Slot 16 Summary Slot 15 Summary Not used stat:oper:level1? → +0<END> example: Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 67 Returns the OSESM for the OSESR for slots 15 - 17 of the Agilent 8166A/B Lightwave Mea- surement System parameters: none response: The bit value for the operation enable mask as a 16-bit signed integer value (0 .. +32767) stat:oper:enab:level1? → +128<END> example: Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 68 Bit 5 states if the feature is enabled or disabled. Bits 6 and 7 are decoded as shown below to say whether the attenuator uses saved, interpolated, or extrapolated values. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 69 Presets all bits in all the enable masks for both the OPERation and QUEStionable status sys- tems to 0, that is, OSSEM, QSSEM, OSESM, and QSESM. parameters: none response: none example: stat:pres Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 70 Slot 3 Summary Slot 2 Summary Slot 2 Summary Slot 2 Summary Slot 1 Summary Slot 1 Summary Slot 1 Summary Not used Slot 0 Summary Level 1 Summary 1 stat:ques? → +0<END> example: Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 71 Slot 3 Summary Slot 2 Summary Slot 2 Summary Slot 2 Summary Slot 1 Summary Slot 1 Summary Slot 1 Summary Not used Slot 0 Summary Level 1 Summary stat:ques:cond? → +0<END> example: Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 72 The sum of the results for the slots (a 16-bit signed integer value, where 0 ≤ value ≤ 32767): response: Bits Mnemonics Decimal Value Agilent 8166A/B 15-4 Not used Slot 17 Summary Slot 16 Summary Slot 15 Summary Not used stat:ques:level1? → +0<END> example: Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 73 Returns the QSESM for the QSESR for slots 15 - 17 of the Agilent 8166A/B Lightwave Mea- surement System parameters: none response: The bit value for the QSESM as a 16-bit signed integer value (0 .. +32767) stat:oper:enab:level1? → +128<END> example: Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 74 Slot n: Laser protection on Slot n: Temperature out of range Slot n: Zeroing failed Slot n: Excessive Value Every nth bit is the summary of slot n. stat1:ques:cond? → +0<END> example: Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 75 :STATusn:QUEStionable:ENABle? syntax: :STATusn:QUEStionable:ENABle? description: Returns the QSSEM for slot n parameters: none response: The bit value for the QSSEM as a 16-bit signed integer value (0 .. +32767) stat:ques:enab? → +128<END> example: Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 76: Interface/Instrument Behaviour Settings - The System Subsystem
Negative error numbers are defined by the SCPI standard. Positive error numbers are device dependent. parameters: none response: The number of the latest error, and its meaning. syst:err? → -113,"Undefined header"<END> example: Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 77 Sets the instrument’s internal time. parameters: • the first value is the hour (0 .. 23), • the second value is the minute, and • the third value is the seconds. response: none example: syst:time 20,15,30 Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 78 21 is often reseverved by the GPIB Controller. response: none example: SYST:COMM:GPIB:ADDR 20 command: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:GPIB[:SELF]:ADDRess? syntax: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:GPIB[:SELF]:ADDRess? description: Returns the GPIB address. parameters: none response: The GPIB Address → example: SYST:COMM:GPIB:ADDR? +20<END> Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 79: Measurement Operations & Settings
• SOURce subsystem commands that control Laser Source modules, DFB source modules, Tunable Laser modules, and Return Loss Modules with internal laser sources. • Signal Conditioing commands that control Attenuator modules. • TRIGger subsystem commands that control triggering. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 80: Root Layer Command
• a particular slot, for example, using slot1:empt?, • or, an Optical Head attached to an Optical Head Interface Module, for example, an Optical Head Interface Module in slot1 with an Optical Head attached to channel 2, using slot1:head2:empt?. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 81 • The Agilent 81640A/80A/82A/89A Tunable Laser modules will always return Agilent Technologies as the manufacturer. • All other Agilent 8163A Series modules return Agilent Technologies as the manufacturer. • The HP 8153A Series modules will always return Agilent Technologies as the manufacturer.
Page 82 • The HP 8153A Series Optical Heads will always return Agilent Technologies as the manufacturer. • All other Agilent 8163A Series Optical Heads return Agilent Technologies as the manufacturer. See “*IDN?” on page 59 for information on mainframe identity strings.
Page 83 4 byte long float for the scalar calibration factor. format: For more information on binary block formats see “Data Types” on page 26 → example: slot1:head1:wav:resp? #536570..affects: Attenuator with power control, all powermeters, return loss modules Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 84 Number of elements in the wavelength table as an integer value → example: slot2:head1:wav:resp:size? 50<END> affects: Attenuator with power control, all powermeters, return loss modules command: :SPECial:REBoot syntax: :SPECial:REBoot description: Reboots the mainframe and all modules. parameters: none response: none example: spec:reb Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 85: Measurement Functions - The Sense Subsystem
92 :SENSe[n][:CHANnel[m]]:FUNCtion:PARameter:LOGGing/? page 94 :SENSe[n][:CHANnel[m]]:FUNCtion:PARameter:MINMax/? page 95 :SENSe[n][:CHANnel[m]]:FUNCtion:PARameter:STABility/? page 96 :SENSe[n][:CHANnel[m]]:FUNCtion:STATe/? page 100 :SENSe[n]:[CHANnel[m]]:POWer:ATIME/? page 101 :SENSe[n]:[CHANnel[m]]:POWer:RANGe:AUTO/? page 104 :TRIGger[n][:CHANnel[m]]:INPut/? page 173 :TRIGger[n][:CHANnel[m]]:INPut:REARm/? page 174 :TRIGger[n][:CHANnel[m]]:OUTPut/? page 176 :TRIGger[n][:CHANnel[m]]:OUTPut:REARm/? page 177 Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 86: Table 6 Commands That Are Independent For Both Master And Slave
92 tude]/? :SENSe[n]:[CHANnel[m]]:CORRection:COLLect:ZERO? page 93 :SENSe[n]:[CHANnel[m]]:CORRection:COLLect:ZERO:ALL page 93 :SENSe[n][:CHANnel[m]]:FUNCtion:RESult? page 97 :SENSe[n]:[CHANnel[m]]:POWer:RANGe[:UPPer]/? page 102 :SENSe[n]:[CHANnel[m]]:POWer:REFerence/? page 105 :SENSe[n]:[CHANnel[m]]:POWer:REFerence:DISPlay page 106 :SENSe[n]:[CHANnel[m]]:POWer:REFerence:STATe/? page 106 :SENSe[n]:[CHANnel[m]]:POWer:REFerence:STATe:RATio/? page 107 :SENSe[n]:[CHANnel[m]]:POWer:UNIT/? page 108 :SENSe[n]:[CHANnel[m]]:POWer:WAVelength/? page 108 Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 87 FETCh command will return the same value, if there is no subsequent software trigger. parameters: none response: The current value as a float value in dB. fetc1:ret? → +6.73370400E-00<END> example: affects: All return loss modules Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 88 0 or OFF: do not measure continuously 1 or ON: measure continuously response: none example: init2:cont 1 affects: All power meters, return loss modules. dual sensors: Can only be sent to master channel, slave channel is also affected. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 89 All power meters (v3.0x firmware or later). dual sensors: Master channels receive a read command, see: “:READ[n][:CHANnel[m]][:SCALar]:POWer[:DC]?” on page 90 Slave channels receive a fetch command, see: “:FETCh[n][:CHANnel[m]][:SCAlar]:POWer[:DC]?” on page 87. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 90 Can only be sent to master channel, slave channel is also triggered. To read a simultaneous result from the slave channel, send “:FETCh[n][:CHANnel[m]][:SCAlar]:POWer[:DC]?” on page 87 directly after this command. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 91 The return loss module must be running for this command to be effective. parameters: none response: The current power meter reading as a float value in W or dBm read1:mon? → +1.33555600E-000<END> example: affects: All return loss modules Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 92 Zeros the electrical offsets for a power meter or return loss module. parameters: none response: none example: sens1:corr:coll:zero affects: All power meters and return loss modules dual sensors: Can only be sent to master channel, slave channel is also zeroed. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 93 N O T E including hidden parameters, for the stability and MinMax functions and vice versa. You must use the :SENSe[n][:CHANnel[m]]:FUNCtion:PARameter:LOGGing command to set parameters before you start a logging function using the :SENSe[n][:CHANnel[m]]:FUNCtion:STATe command. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 94 , as a float value in seconds. → example: sens1:func:par:logg? +64,+1.00000000E-001<END> affects: All power meters and return loss modules dual sensors: Can only be sent to master channel, slave channel parameters are identical. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 95 Data Points is the number of samples that are recorded in the memory buffer used by the WINDow and REFResh modes. Data Points is an integer value. See Chapter 3 of the Agilent 8163A/B Lightwave Multimeter, Agilent 8164A/B Lightwave Measurement System, & Agilent 8166A/B Lightwave Multichannel System User’s Guide, for more information on MinMax mode.
Page 96 See “Triggering and Power Measurements” on page 171 for information on how triggering af- fects data acquisition functions. response: none example: sens1:func:par:stab 1s,0.1s,0.1s affects: All power meters and return loss modules dual sensors: Can only be sent to master channel, slave channel is also affected. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 97 N O T E Return Loss modules: For Logging and Stability Data Acquisition functions, the data array contains power values. For the MinMax Data Acquisition function, the data array contains return loss values. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 98 An integer value, number of data points. See “Data Types” on page 26 for more information on Binary Blocks. example: affects: All power meters and return loss modules. dual sensors: Master and slave channels are independent. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 99 For Logging and Stability Data Acquisition functions, the data array contains power values for the monitor diode. For the MinMax Data Acquisition function, the data array contains return loss values for the monitor diode. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 100 Start data acquisition function N O T E When you enable a logging data acquisition function for a Agilent 8163A/B Series Power Meter with averaging time of less than 100 ms with input hardware triggering disabled, all GPIB commands will be ignored for the duration of the function.
Page 101 If you specify no units in your command, seconds are used as the default. response: none example: sens1:pow:atim 1s affects: All power meters and return loss modules dual sensors: Can only be sent to master channel, slave channel is also affected. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 102 10 dBm intervals. Units are in dBm. response: none example: sens1:pow:rang -20DBM affects: All power meters and return loss modules. dual sensors: Master and slave channels are independent. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 103 The range as a float value in dBm. The number is rounded to the closest multiple of 10, be- cause the range changes at 10 dBm intervals. Units are in dBm. response: none example: sens1:pow:rang:mon -20DBM affects: All return loss modules. dual sensors: Master and slave channels are independent. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 104 1: automatic ranging is being used. → example: sens1:pow:rang:auto? 1<END> affects: All power meters and return loss modules dual sensors: Can only be sent to master channel, slave channel parameters are identical. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 105 Returns the reference value in Watts or dBm if you choose measure- ment relative to a constant reference value response: The reference as a float value. → example: sens1:pow:ref? toref +1.00000000E-006<END> affects: All power meters dual sensors: Master and slave channels are independent. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 106 Inquires whether the current measurement units are relative (dB) or absolute (Watts or dBm). parameters: none response: A boolean value: 0: absolute 1: relative sens1:pow:ref:stat? → 1<END> example: affects: All power meters dual sensors: Master and slave channels are independent. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 107 +255,+0<END> results are displayed relative to an absolute reference → sens1:pow:ref:stat:rat? +2,+1<END> results are displayed relative to channel 2.1 affects: All power meters dual sensors: Master and slave channels are independent. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 108 DEF: This is not the preset (*RST) default value but is half the sum of, the minimum programmable value and the maximum programmable value response: none example: sens1:pow:wav 1550nm affects: All power meters dual sensors: Master and slave channels are independent. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 109 See “:SENSe[n]:[CHANnel[m]]:RETurnloss:CORRection:REFLectance[l]” on page 112 for infor- mation on setting the return loss value of your reference reflector. parameters: none response: none example sens1:ret:cal:coll:refl affects: All return loss modules Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 110 2. return loss diode reference power 3. monitor diode parasitics power 4. return loss diode parasitics power. parameters: Returns power values in W response: none example sens1:ret:cal:val affects: All return loss modules Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 111 A lower wavelength source is denoted by 1. An upper wavelength source is denoted by 2. parameters: Returns the front panel delta as a float value in dB response: none → example sens1:ret:cal:corr:fpd? +8.00000000E-002<END> affects: All return loss modules Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 112 A lower wavelength source is denoted by 1. An upper wavelength source is denoted by 2. parameters: none response: Returns the Return Loss Reference as a float value in dB → example sens1:ret:cal:corr:refl? +1.80000000E-001<END> affects: All return loss modules Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 113: Signal Generation - The Source Subsystem
Both outputs are active but only the High Power output is Regulated. BLRegulated: Both outputs are active but only the Low SSE output is Regulated. response: none example: output0:path high affects: Tunable laser modules with two outputs. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 114 0 – laser current off 1 – laser current on → example: outp? 1<END> affects: All laser sources, DFB sources, tunable laser modules and return loss modules with an inter- nal source Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 115 (if MIN, MAX, or DEF is chosen as a parameter). sour2:am:freq? min → +2.00000000E+002<END> example: affects: All laser sources, DFB sources, and tunable laser modules Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 116 All laser sources, DFB sources, and tunable laser modules can use internal digital modula- tion; as can return loss modules containing an internal source. DFB source and tunable laser modules can use coherence control. All other modulation modes are only available with tunable laser modules. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 117 A boolean value: 0: modulation is disabled 1: modulation is enabled → example: sour2:am:stat? 0<END> affects: All laser sources, DFB sources, tunable laser modules, and return loss modules containing an internal source. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 118 Simulated Brillouin Scattering N O T E SBSCtrl (Simulated Brillouin Scattering) Control modulation suppresses SBS effects within high-power measurement setups. response: none example: sour2:fm:sour SBSC affects: Agilent 81980A, 81940A, 81989A, 81949A compact tunable lasers. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 119 Queries the current state of frequency modulation of the laser output. parameters: none response: A boolean value: 0: frequency modulation is disabled 1: frequency modulation is enabled. → example: sour2:fm:state? +1<END> affects: Agilent 81980A, 81940A, 81989A, 81949A compact tunable lasers. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 120 The excursion level as a percentage of its maximum value. Also allowed: MIN: minimum programmable value (0%) MAX: maximum programmable value (100%) DEF: default preset (*RST) value. response: none example: sour2:fm:sbsc:lev 80 affects: Agilent 81980A, 81940A, 81989A, 81949A compact tunable lasers. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 121 In this case, the output is kept low when no optical signal is output (for example, while the laser is settling after a change of wavelength). → example: sour0:mod? 0<END> affects: All tunable laser sources with BNC output connector. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 122 (if MIN, MAX, or DEF are chosen as a parameter). sour0:pow:att? def → +3.10000000+E001<END> example: affects: All tunable laser modules with an in-built optical attenuator, and all laser source modules. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 123 This command is available in Attenuation Mode Only. parameters: OFF or 0: Unsets dark position ON or 1: Sets dark position response: none example: sour0:pow:att:dark 1 affects: All tunable laser modules with a built-in optical attenuator. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 124 The default value of [l] is 1, the lower wavelength source. The upper wavelength source is denoted by 2. response: none example: sour2:pow 23uW affects: All tunable laser and DFB source modules Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 125 Amplitude level relevant to the current value or specified parameter (if MIN, MAX, or DEF are chosen as a parameter). sour2:pow? → +8.00000000E-004<END> example: affects: All laser sources, DFB sources, and tunable laser modules and return loss modules with an internal source Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 126 The rise time as a float value in seconds. sour2:pow:ris? → +1.00000000E-009<END> example: affects: All laser sources, DFB sources, and tunable laser modules and return loss modules with an internal source Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 127 All tunable laser and DFB source modules command: [:SOURce[n]][:CHANnel[m]]:POWer:UNIT? syntax: [:SOURce[n]][:CHANnel[m]]:POWer:UNIT? description: Return the current power units parameters: Watts response: none → example: sour2:pow:unit? +0<END> affects: All tunable laser and DFB source modules Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 128 The lower wavelength source The upper wavelength source BOTH Both wavelength sources sour2:pow:wav? → LOW<END> example: affects: All dual-wavelength laser source modules and return loss modules with two internal sourc- Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 129 SOURce[n]][:CHANnel[m]]:READout:DATA? parameters: none response: The maximum number of data points (not bytes!) in the transferred block, as an integer value. sour0:read:data:maxb? → 120<END> example: affects: All tunable laser and DFB source modules Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 130 The default value of [l] is 1, the lower wavelength source. The upper wavelength source is denoted by 2. response: none example: sour2:wav 1550NM affects: All tunable laser and DFB source modules Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 131 All laser source, DFB source, and tunable laser modules and return loss modules with an in- ternal source command: [:SOURce[n]][:CHANnel[m]]:WAVelength:CORRection:ARA syntax: [:SOURce[n]][:CHANnel[m]]:WAVelength:CORRection:ARA description: Realigns the laser cavity. parameters: none response: none example: sour0:wav:corr:ara affects: All tunable laser modules except Agilent 81649A and Agilent 81689A/B Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 132 Returns whether Autocalibration is enabled or disabled parameters: none response: 0 Autocalibration disabled 1 Autocalibration enabled sour0:wav:corr:aut? → 1 example: affects: All tunable laser modules except Agilent 81649A, 81689A/B and Agilent 81980A, 81940A, 81989A, 81949A. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 133 Reports the temperature difference required to trigger an auto lamda zero. parameters: none response: float value; temperature in °C example: sour0:wav:corr:zero:temp:diff? affects: All tunable laser modules except Agilent 81649A, Agilent 81689A/B and 819xxA/B Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 134 The default value of [l] is 1, the lower wavelength source. The upper wavelength source is denoted by 2. parameters: The frequency difference is a float value in Hz. response: none example: sour0:wav:freq -10THZ affects: All tunable laser sources Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 135 Sets the reference wavelength to the value of the output wavelength (λ → λ description: ), that is, sets the frequency offset (df) to zero. parameters: none response: none example: sour2:wav:ref:disp affects: All tunable laser and DFB modules Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 136 <x> 378, triggerFreq < min the number of triggers exceeds the allowed limit → example: sour0:wav:swe:chec? "triggerNum > max" affects: All tunable laser modules except Agilent 81649A and Agilent 81689A/B Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 137 DEF: This is not the preset (*RST) default value but is half the sum of, the minimum programmable value and the maximum programmable value response: The number of cycles as an integer value. → example: wav:swe:cycl? +3<END> affects: All tunable laser modules Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 138 “:SENSe[n][:CHANnel[m]]:FUNCtion:PARameter:LOGGing” on page 94). parameters: none response: the number of expected triggers as an unsigne integer value. → example: sour0:wav:swe:exp? 12001 affects: All tunable laser modules except Agilent 81649A and Agilent 81689A/B Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 139 ..sweep stopped or finished parameters: none response: the current sweep flag value as an unsigned integer value → example: sour0:wav:swe:flag? affects: All tunable laser modules except Agilent 81649A and Agilent 81689A/B Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 140 A boolean value: 0 – lambda logging is switched off 1 – lambda logging is switched on → example: wav:swe:llog? 1<END> affects: All tunable laser modules except Agilent 81649A and Agilent 81689A/B Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 141 The wavelength at which the sweep starts as a float value. response: The highest permissible power for the selected wavelength sweep as a float value. wav:swe:pmax? 1540nm,1550nm → +3.5500000E-004<END> example: affects: All tunable laser modules Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 142 Set the start and stop wavelength of the sweep using “[:SOURce[n]][:CHANnel[m]]:WAVelength:SWEep:STARt” on page 144 and “[:SOURce[n]][:CHANnel[m]]:WAVelength:SWEep:STOP” on page 144 re- spectively. → example: wav:swe:rep? ONEW<END> affects: All tunable laser modules Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 143 MAX Returns the maximum sweep speed available. response: Speed as a float value in meters per second (m/s). → example: wav:swe:spe? +5.00000000E-008<END> affects: All tunable laser modules except Agilent 81649A and Agilent 81689A/B Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 144 The wavelength at which the sweep ends as a float value in meters. If you specify no units in your command, meters are used as the default. response: none example: wav:swe:stop 1550nm affects: All tunable laser modules Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 145 In addition, a continuous sweep with lambda logging requires: the trigger output to be set to step finished modulation set to coherence control or off. response: none example: wav:swe STOP affects: All tunable laser modules Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 146 The width of the sweep step as a float value. If you specify no units in your command, meters are used as the default. response: none example: wav:swe:step 5nm affects: All tunable laser modules Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 147 MIN Returns the minimum step width available. MAX Returns the maximum step width available. response: The sweep step as a float value in meters. → example: wav:swe:step? +5.00000000E-009<END> affects: All tunable laser modules Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 148: Signal Conditioning
MIN | DEF | MAX Returns the minimum, default, or maximum value of the attenuation fac- tor possible. response: 4 byte Intel floating point; attenuation in dB. → example: INP1:ATT? 14<END> affects: All attenuator modules Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 149 ) such that the attenuation factor is zero. Offset α α (dB) = α (dB) - α (dB) = - (dB) Offset (new) Offset (old) (old) filter parameters: none response: none example: INP1:OFFS:DISP affects: All attenuator modules Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 150 MIN | MAX | DEF Queries the transition speed limits, or the module default. response: 4 byte Intel floating point; transition speed in dB/s. → example: INP1:ATT:SPE? 2<END> affects: All attenuator modules. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 151 The use of this command is optional and has no effect on operation. Included for compatibility with Agilent 8156A mainframe. parameters: OFF or 0 ON or 1 response: none example: OUTP1:APMode OFF affects: All attenuator modules. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 152 MIN | MAX | DEF Queries the output power module limits, or the module default. response: 4 byte Intel floating point; output power in current power unit. → example: OUTP1:POW? 12<END> affects: All attenuator modules. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 153 α (dBm) = P (dBm) + (dB) filter parameters: <slot> Slot number of the powermeter. <channel> Channel number of the powermeter. response: none example: OUTP1:POW:REF:POW 4,2 affects: Attenuator modules without power control. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 154 (dB) offset ( λ ) offset(new) parameters: <slot> Slot number of the external powermeter. <channel> Channel number of the external powermeter. response: none example: OUTP1:POW:OFFS:POW 4,4 affects: Attenuator modules with power control. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 155 (if available), and P parameters: DBM (or 0) Sets the power unit to dBm WATT (or 1) Sets the power unit to W response: none example: OUTP1:POW:UN DBM affects: All attenuator modules. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 156 Sets the state of the shutter when the mainframe is turned on. parameters: OFF or 0 Shutter closed after mainframe power on. ON or 1 Shutter open after mainframe power on. response: none example: OUTP1:APOW OFF affects: All attenuator modules. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 157 Attenuator modules with power control. command: :OUTPutn[:CHANnel[m]]:CORRection:COLLection:ZERO syntax: :OUTPutn[:CHANnel[m]]:CORRection:COLLection:ZERO description: Zeros the electrical offsets of the attenuator’s integrated powermeter. parameters: none response: none example: OUTP1:CORR:COLL:ZERO affects: Attenuator modules with power control. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 158 :OUTPutn[:CHANnel[m]]:CORRection:COLLection:ZERO? description: Queries the status of the last :OUTPutn[:CHANnel[m]]:CORRection:COLLection:ZERO opera- tion. parameters: none response: integer 0 = OK, otherwise not OK. → example: OUTP:CORR:COLL:ZER0? 0<END> affects: Attenuator modules with power control. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 159: The Table Of Wavelength-Dependent Offsets
• Whether an exact, interpolated, or extrapolated offset value is applied, the algo- rithm applied can be queried using “:STATusn:OPERation:CONDition?” on page 68 Figure 6 Extrapolation and interpolation of attenuator module λ offset table Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 160 Queries whether the attenuator uses power values from its λ offset table . description: parameters: none response: boolean 0 The offset table is not used. 1 The attenuator uses its λ offset table. → example: CONF1:OFFS:WAV:STAT? 0<END> affects: All attenuator modules. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 161 TOREF. See: “:CONFigure[n][:CHANnel[m]]:OFFSet:WAVelength:VALue” on page 161 parameters: <slot> Slot number of the powermeter. <channel> Channel number of the powermeter. response: none example: CONF1:OFFS:WAV:REF 4,2 affects: Attenuator modules with power control. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 162 The position of the value pair (wavelength; offset) in the offset table. <wavelength> The wavelength for the offset table entry, in m response: 4 byte Intel floating point; the offset → example: CONF1:OFFS:WAV:VAL:OFFS? 1 affects: All attenuator modules. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 163 All attenuator modules. command: :CONFigure[n][:CHANnel[m]]:OFFSet:WAVelength:VALue:DELete:ALL syntax: :CONFigure[n]][:CHANnel[m]]:OFFSet:WAVelength:VALue:DELete:ALL CAUTION This command clears the offset table! description: Deletes every value pair (wavelength:offset) from the offset table. parameters: none response: none example: CONF1:OFFS:WAV:VAL:DEL:ALL affects: All attenuator modules. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 164 Queries the maximum size of the offset table. → (available flash memory 1000 entries) → Queries the minimum size of the offset table. (should response: 4 byte unsigned integer; offset table size. → example: CONF1:OFFS:WAV:TAB:SIZE? affects: All attenuator modules. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 165: Compatibility Of The 81560A/1A/6A/7A Modular Attenuator Family To The 8156A Attenuator
This section describes the differences between the SCPI syntax and the command semantic and how to deal with them. The page numbers in brackets refer to pages in the Agilent Technologies N O T E 8156A Attenuator Operating and Programming Guide, Second Edition, May 2000 with part number 08156-91011:E0500.
Page 166: Command Semantic
The command only sets an internal flag, which can be read using OUTput:APMode? You are free to choose between adjusting the output power or adjusting the attenuation factor. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 167: Display And System Commands
81560A/1A/6A/7A attenuator family use almost the same subset. The following IEEE commands are available when using the 8156A but not available when using the 81560A/1A/6A/7A modules (page 93ff): *RCLRecover parameter setup *SAVSave parameter setup *SRE and *SRE?Status request register Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 168: Status Commands
For additional information, refer to our Application Note "Variable Optical Attenuator in BER Test Applications", part number 5988-3159EN. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 169: Signal Routing
"," separates input and output ports of a specific connection. ";" separates parallel connections (as used in 2x2 switch). rout3:chan1? → A,1 simple 1xN switch example: rout2:chan1? → A,2;B,1 (2x2 crossover switch in crossover config). affects: All switch modules Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 170 2x2 x-over switcch: state 1: When A to 1 then B to 2nd connection (straight) state 2: When A to 2 then B to 1st connection (cross-over) affects: All switch modules Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 171: Triggering - The Trigger Subsystem
CMEasure The first hardware trigger starts the function. Subsequent pow- er measurements are automati- cally performed until the function is finished. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 172: Table 9 Generating Output Triggers From Power Measurements
“:TRIGger:CONFiguration” on page 177 for information on triggering modes. N O T E “:TRIGger” on page 179 describes the :TRIGger command for advanced users using “:TRIGger:CONFiguration:EXTended” on page 179. response: none example: trig 1 Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 173 All Agilent 8163A/B series power meter modules, Agilent 8161x series return loss modules, and attenuators with power control. N O T E If you use the Agilent 816x VXIplug&play Instrument Driver, you can trigger power measure- ments using HP 8153A Series power meters.
Page 174 0 affects: All Agilent 8163A/B series power meter modules, and Agilent 8161x series return loss mod- ules. dual sensors: Can only be sent to master channel, slave channel is also affected. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 175 1: trigger rearming enabled (default) → example: trig1:inp:rearm? 0<END> affects: All Agilent 8163A/B series power meter modules, and Agilent 8161x series return loss mod- ules. dual sensors: Can only be sent to master channel, slave channel parameters are identical. command: :TRIGger[n][:CHANnel[m]]:OFFSet syntax: :TRIGger[n][:CHANnel[m]]:OFFSet <value>...
Page 176 All tunable laser modules, Agilent 8163A/B series power meters, and Agilent 8161x series return loss modules. dual sensors: Can only be sent to master channel, slave channel is also affected. N O T E In continuous mode, wav:swe:step:[widt] is used for triggering, see page 146.
Page 177 If you return to Local control, all modules return to the default setting. response: none example: trig1:outp:rearm 1 affects: All Agilent 8163A/B series power meters, and Agilent 8161x series return loss modules. dual sensors: Can only be sent to master channel, slave channel is also affected. command: :TRIGger[n][:CHANnel[m]]:OUTPut:REARm? syntax:...
Page 178 Returns whether the Input Trigger connector can be triggered using a Foot Pedal. parameters: none response: A boolean value: 0: foot pedal disabled 1: foot pedal enabled trig:conf? → DEF<END> example: Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 179: Extended Trigger Configuration
Node A Input Configuration: A 32-bit unsigned integer, see below. Node B Input Configuration: A 32-bit unsigned integer, see below. Output Matrix Configuration: A 32-bit unsigned integer, see below. trig:conf:ext? → +0,+0,+0<END> example: Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 180: Figure 7 Extended Trigger Configuration
]]:OUTPut” explains how slot events can generate triggers. “:TRIGger[ ][:CHANnel[ ]]:INPut” explains how a slot responds to an incoming trigger. “:TRIGger” generates a trigger at Node A or Node B directly. Figure 7 Extended Trigger Configuration Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 181 Slot 1: 0 - Inactive, 1 - Event at slot 1 can trigger Node B Slot 0: 0 - Inactive, 1 - Event at slot 0 can trigger Node B “:TRIGger[n][:CHANnel[m]]:OUTPut” on page 176 explains how slot events can gener- ate triggers. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 182: Extended Trigger Configuration Example
1 and 2. The example below presumes you set up identical stepped sweeps for both modules, for example, by pressing P RESET Tunable Tunable Laser Laser Figure 8 Setup for Extended Trigger Configuration Example Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 183 Node A triggers the tunable laser module in slot 2 to perform a sweep step because trig2:inp next is set. The sequence starts again at step 3 and continues until the sweep ends. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 184 Measurement Operations & Settings Triggering - The TRIGger Subsystem Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 185: Mass Storage, Display, And Print Functions
This chapter gives descriptions of commands that you can use when you want to change the instrument’s display. Display Operations – The DISPlay Subsystem ..186 Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 186: Display Operations - The Display Subsystem
75 affects: Agilent 8163B Lightwave Multimeter and 8166B Lightwave Multichannel System - 8164A Lightwave Measurement System: only checks if the value equals 0. (0 -> display off, other values: display on) Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 187 Enables or Disables local operation. parameters: A boolean value: OFF or boolean 0 – local operation is disabled ON or boolean 1 – local operation is enabled. response: none example: disp:lock 1<END> Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 188 :DISPlay:LOCKout? description: Queries whether local operation is locked out. parameters: none response: A boolean value: 0 – local operation is disabled 1 – local operation is enabled. disp:lock → 1<END> example: Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 189: Visa Programming Examples
The VISA calls used, are explained in detail in the VISA User’s Guide. Never use VISA calls and the Agilent 816x VXIplug&play Instrument Driver N O T E in the same program. TIP: Additional programming examples are provided on the Support Disk CD-ROM 08164-90BC4 Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 190: How To Use Visa Calls
(void) ViStatus errStatus; /*return error code from visa call */ ViSession defaultRM; /*default visa resource manager variable*/ ViSession /*current session handle */ ViChar replyBuf[256]; /*buffer holding answers from the instrument*/ ViChar Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 191 /* get information about the available options of a slot */ errStatus = viQueryf(vi,"%s","%t","SLOT1:OPT?\n",replyBuf); if(errStatus < VI_SUCCESS) { checkError(vi,errStatus); } else printf("%s",replyBuf); /*loop, until a key is pressed */ while(!scanf("%c",&c)); /*close the session */ viClose(vi); Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 192: How To Set Up A Fixed Laser Source
/* Open session to GPIB device at address 20;*/ errStatus = viOpen (defaultRM, "GPIB::20::INSTR", VI_NULL,VI_NULL,&vi); if(errStatus < VI_SUCCESS) printf("Failed to open instrument\n"); exit(errStatus); /*set timeout to 20 sec; this should work for all commands except zeroing */ Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 193 (errStatus < VI_SUCCESS) checkError(vi,errStatus); /* close the session */ viClose(vi); void checkError(ViSession session, ViStatus err_status ) ViStatus error; ViChar errMsg[256]; error = viQueryf(session,"SYST:ERR?\n","%t",errMsg); if (error == VI_ERROR_TMO) printf("System Error!\n") ; exit(1); else Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 194 VISA Programming Examples How to Set up a Fixed Laser Source /* only errors should be displayed */ if(errMsg[0] != '+') printf("error:%ld - - > %s\n", err_status,errMsg) ; Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 195: How To Measure Power Using Fetch And Read
/* loop counter */ errStatus = viOpenDefaultRM (&defaultRM); if(errStatus < VI_SUCCESS) printf("Failed to open VISA Resource manager\n"); exit(errStatus); errStatus = viOpen (defaultRM, "GPIB::20::INSTR", VI_NULL,VI_NULL,&vi); if(errStatus < VI_SUCCESS) printf("Failed to open instrument\n"); exit(errStatus); Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 196 (errStatus < VI_SUCCESS) checkError(vi,errStatus); /* two consecutive values are compared; if they are equal it will be marked; because no evaluation is triggered, all values will be the same if(i) Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 197 /* loop, until a key is pressed */ while(!scanf("%c",&c)); checkError(vi,errStatus); /* close the session */ viClose(vi); void checkError(ViSession session, ViStatus err_status ) { ViStatus error; ViChar errMsg[256]; error = viQueryf(session,"SYST:ERR?\n","%t",errMsg); if (error == VI_ERROR_TMO) printf("System Error!\n") ; exit(1); Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 198 VISA Programming Examples How to Measure Power using FETCh and READ else /* only errors should be displayed */ if(errMsg[0] != '+') printf("error:%ld - - > %s\n", err_status,errMsg) ; Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 199: How To Co-Ordinate Two Modules
/* First get initialized the visa library (see example 1) */ errStatus = viOpenDefaultRM (&defaultRM); if(errStatus < VI_SUCCESS) printf("Failed to open VISA Resource manager\n"); exit(errStatus); /* Open session to GPIB device at address 20; */ Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 200 /* set the attenuation to zero for maximum power */ errStatus = viPrintf(vi,"SOURCE2:CHAN1:POW:ATT 0.0\n"); checkError(vi,errStatus); /* set the reference mode to the internal one, which is now the last displayed value */ Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 201 (i = 1; i <= 30; i++) errStatus = viQueryf(vi,"READ1:CHAN1:POW?\n","%s",replyBuf); checkError(vi,errStatus); if(errStatus ==VI_SUCCESS)printf("power #%02d:%s\n",i,replyBuf); if(i == 10) /* reduce the output power for 3.0 dB */ errStatus = viPrintf(vi,"SOURCE2:CHAN1:POW:ATT 3.0\n"); checkError(vi,errStatus); if(i == 20) Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 202 ViStatus error; ViChar errMsg[256]; error = viQueryf(session,"SYST:ERR?\n","%t",errMsg); if (error == VI_ERROR_TMO) printf("System Error!\n") ; exit(1); else /* only errors should be displayed */ if(errMsg[0] != '+') printf("error:%ld - - > %s\n", err_status,errMsg) ; Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 203: How Power Varies With Wavelength
ViInt32 /* loop counter */ ViInt32 cmdDone; /* return value for OPC command */ errStatus = viOpenDefaultRM (&defaultRM); if(errStatus < VI_SUCCESS) printf("Failed to open VISA Resource manager\n"); exit(errStatus); Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 204 /* read the maximum wavelength from the tunable laser source */ errStatus = viQueryf(vi,"SOURCE2:WAV? MAX\n","%s",replyBuf); checkError(vi,errStatus); /*save this wavelength */ wavelength_max = atof(replyBuf); /* change the power unit of the power meter to dbm */ errStatus = viPrintf(vi,"SENS1:CHAN1:POW:UNIT DBM\n"); checkError(vi,errStatus); Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 205 += 10.0e- 9; if(wavelength > wavelength_max) break; /*set the new wavelength*/ errStatus = viPrintf(vi,"SOURCE2:WAV %g\n",wavelength); poll the instrument for completion of this command because adjusting a new wavelength takes some time Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 206 ViStatus error; ViChar errMsg[256]; error = viQueryf(session,"SYST:ERR?\n","%t",errMsg); if (error == VI_ERROR_TMO) printf("System Error!\n") ; else /* only errors should be displayed */ if(errMsg[0] != '+') printf("error:%ld - - > %s\n", err_status,errMsg) ; Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 207: How To Log Results
/* loop counter */ ViInt32 noOfValues; /* number of values to be logged*/ ViReal64 averagingTime; /* aveaging time used in a logging cycle ViPChar replySubStr; /* pointer to a substring of the instruments reply */ Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 208 /* to display the results, logging should be completed */ /* the instrument has to be polled about the progress of the logging errStatus = viQueryf(vi,"SENS%1d:CHAN%1d:FUNC:STATE?\n","%t",slot,chan,replyBuf /* if an error occurs break the loop */ if (errStatus < VI_SUCCESS) checkError(vi,errStatus); Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 209 != '#') printf("invalid format returned from logging\n"); exit(1); else noOfDigits = logBuffer[1] - '0'; memcpy( logResults, &logBuffer[2 + noOfDigits ], MAX_LOG_VALUES * sizeof(ViReal32)); /* stop logging */ viPrintf(vi,"SENS%1d:CHAN%1d:FUNC:STAT LOGG,STOP\n",slot,chan); checkError(vi,errStatus); Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 210 303,\"Module slot empty or slot / channel invalid\""))) (!strncmp(errMsg, "- 301,\"Module doesn't support this command (StatCmdUnknown)\"", strlen( "- 301,\"Module doesn't support this command (StatCmdUnknown)\"")))) printf("No power meter in slot 1 so exiting\n\n"); exit(1); ViStatus InitVisa ( ViSession *iHandle) Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 211 VISA Resource manager\n"); /* Open session to GPIB device at address 20; */ errStatus = viOpen (defaultRM, "GPIB::20::INSTR", VI_NULL,VI_NULL,iHandle); if (errStatus < VI_SUCCESS) printf("Failed to open instrument\n"); return errStatus; Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 212 VISA Programming Examples How to Log Results Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 213: The Agilent 816X Vxiplug&Play Instrument Driver
How to Perform a Lambda Scan Application ....237 How to Perform a Multi-Frame Lambda Scan Application. . . 239 Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 214: Installing The Agilent 816X Instrument Driver
NOT be visible to all users. This means that any program menu options will only be available to the user that performed the installation. If you are the administrator all program menu options will be visible for all users. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 215: Figure 9 Non-Administrator Installation Pop-Up Box
You may be asked for permission to remove shared files. Then press to continue. You see a message, as shown in Figure 10 , advising you to close the programs that you have running. Figure 10 Welcome Screen Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 216: Figure 11 Customizing Your Setup
• Examples, you may choose to install Visual Basic, Visual C, LabView, Agilent VEE and VISA programming examples. • Help Files, you may choose to install the help file. Figure 11 Customizing Your Setup Select the components you want to install. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 217: Figure 12 Program Folder Item Options
If you elected to automatically launch the Readme file, it is displayed. A webpage explaining how to get started with the Agilent 816x VXIplug&play Instrument Driver using Agilent VEE or LabView appears. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 218: Using Visual Programming Environments
Using Visual Programming Environments Getting Started with Agilent VEE Agilent Technologies Visual Engineering Environment (Agilent VEE) is a visual programming language optimized for instrument control applications. To develop programs in Agilent VEE, you connect graphical ‘objects’ instead of writing lines of code. These programs resemble easy- to-understand block diagrams with lines.
Page 219: Figure 13 Device Configuration
Advanced I/O Config ... pops up. Select the Plug&play Driver tab, the box in Figure 14 appears. Figure 14 Advanced Device Configuration - Plug&play Driver Select hp816X from the Plug&play Driver Name drop-down list. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 220 Reset Identification Query whenever Agilent VEE opens the instrument for interaction. Confirm the selections pressing the OK button. Return to the Instrument Manager screen and press the Save Config save the configuration. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 221: Getting Started With Labview
> button. The Search for Instruments… window appears, click on the Next > button. Check that the options are the same as displayed in the figure below: Figure 15 Search for GPIB Instruments Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 222: Figure 16 Fp Conversion Options Box
Click on Browse… and browse to the following Destination Directory: \LabView\instr.lib\hp816x\hp816x.llb Press Save. Press , the window appears. Check Options… FP Conversion Options that the options are the same as displayed in the figure below: Figure 16 FP Conversion Options Box Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 223 You must use the 32-bit version of the Agilent 816x VXIplug&play N O T E Instrument Driver with LabView 5.0. LabView is a trademark of National Instruments Corporation. N O T E Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 224: Getting Started With Labwindows
The driver now appears as a selection on the Instrument menu, and can be treated like any LabWindows driver. LabWindows is a trademark of National Instruments Corporation. N O T E Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 225: Features Of The Agilent 816X Instrument Driver
Visual Basic. You should only use Visual Basic with this driver if you are familiar with C/C++ function declarations. You must take particular care when working with C/C++ pointers. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 226: Directory Structure
Figure 17 . Figure 17 Windows 95 and Windows NT VXIPNP Directory Structure In the directory example, hp816x is a directory containing the instrument driver. There would be a directory for each instrument driver. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 227: Opening An Instrument Session
: a pointer to an instrument session. ViPSession instrumentHandle is the handle which addresses the instrument, and is InstrumentHandle the first parameter passed in all driver functions. Successful completion of this function returns VI_SUCCESS Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 228: Closing An Instrument Session
( function). hp816x_close() VISA does not remove sessions unless they are explicitly closed. Closing the instrument session frees all data structures and system resources allocated to that session. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 229: Visa Data Types And Selected Constant Definitions
You can find a partial list of the type definitions and constant definitions for N O T E in the Agilent 816x VXIplug&play Instrument Driver Online visatype.h Help. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 230: Error Handling
Create a routine to respond to the error or event. This example queries whether an error has occured, checks if the error is an instrument error and then checks if the error is a driver error. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 231 /* get the driver error message */ hp816x_error_message(instrumentHandle, errStatus, err_message); /* display the error */ printf("Driver Error : %ld, %s\n", errStatus, err_message); /* optionally reset the instrument, close the instrument handle hp816x_reset(instrumentHandle); hp816x_close(instrumentHandle); exit(1); return; Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 232: Introduction To Programming
Microsoft Visual C++ 4.0 (or higher) and Borland C++ 4.5 (or higher) Please refer to your Microsoft Visual C++ or Borland C++ manuals for information on linking and calling DLLs. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 233: Microsoft Visual Basic 4.0 (Or Higher)
(CVI ~vxipnp\win95\include Project Option menu). is the directory in the VXIPNP variable. By default, is equivalent to This means that the file is in C:\vxipnp\win95\include Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 234: Online Information
The latest copy of this driver can be downloaded via: http://www.agilent.com/comms/comp-test If you do not have web access, use the version of on your OCT hp816x.exe Support CD, or contact your Agilent Technologies supplier. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 235: Lambda Scan Applications
• If you choose Enable, the highest sweep speed possible will be used. This may lead to less accurate measurements. • If you choose Disable, the highest sweep speed will not be used. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 236: Equally Spaced Datapoints
Power Meter and the interpolated curve. Interpolation will always tend to produce a smoother curve by rounding off any peaks in the curve. Original Curve Interpolated Curve Figure 18 Equally Spaced Datapoints Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 237: How To Perform A Lambda Scan Application
HP 81530A Power Sensor and the HP 81520A Optical Head are out of specification at 1550 nm. Remove the Power Meter that is out of specification at 1550 nm from the mainframe. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 238: The Get Lambda Scan Parameters Function
Equally Spaced Datapoints is enabled as part of this function and cannot be disabled. Use Multi Frame Lambda Scan if you need to have inequally spaced datapoints. See“Equally Spaced Datapoints” on page 236 for more details. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 239: How To Perform A Multi-Frame Lambda Scan Application
Power Power Power Power Power Sensor Sensor Sensor Sensor Sensor Sensor Sensor Input Trigger Power Power 8163A or B Connector Sensor Sensor To Controller Figure 20 Multi Frame Lambda Scan Operation Setup Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 240: The Equally Spaced Datapoints Function
• To avoid wrong results, call the Unregister Mainframe function prior to the Initialize function (hp816x_init). This is especially necessary during program debugging, if the Close function (hp816x_close) is not called. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 241: The Prepare Multi Frame Lambda Scan Function
HP 81530A Power Sensor and the HP 81520A Optical Head are out of specification at 1550 nm. Remove the Power Meter that is out of specification at 1550 nm from the mainframe. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 242: The Get Mf Lambda Scan Parameters Function
These arrays contains the results of the last Multi Frame Lambda Scan operation. The Get Number of PWM Channels Function The Get Number of PWM Channels (hp816x_getNoOfRegPWMChannnels_Q) function returns the number of Power Meter channels in a test setup. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 243: The Get Number Of Pwm Channels Function
The Get Channel Location function (hp816x_getChannelLocation_Q) returns the location of the chosen Power Meter channel as used in a Multi Frame Lambda Scan operation. The maximum number of channels that may be specified is 1000. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 244 The Agilent 816x VXIplug&play Instrument Driver Lambda Scan Applications Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 245: Gpib Command Compatibility List
Command Order ........255 Instrument Status Settings......256 Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 246: Compatibility Issues
GPIB Bus Compatibility These commands are incompatible. Table 10 Incompatible GPIB Bus Commands Command Change Affects LLO - local lockout Both DCL - device clear Both GET - group execute trigger Both Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 247: Status Model
Status Model GPIB Command Compatibility List Status Model The status model is completely incompatible with the HP 8153A and HP 8167/8. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 248: Preset Defaults
GPIB Command Compatibility List Preset Defaults Preset Defaults The preset defaults are different. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 249: Removed Command
The TRACe tree is not supported; the 8167/8 TRACE:DATA? CC_UNCAL curve does not exist. TRACE:POINts? WAVEACT Alignment to external wavemeter is not 8167/8 supported. misc 200 Risetime control is not supported yet. 8167/8 Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 250: Obsolete Commands
Stability/Logging and Min/Max are avail- able via a new interface. Return Loss Module The commands for the return loss modules 8153 Commands will be completely different than those for the HP 8153A. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 251: Changed Parameter Syntax And Semantics
TOA|TOB as the HP 8153A does. The numbers have a differ- ent meaning. SYST:DATe SYST:DATe from HP 8167/8 is not support- 8167/8 ed, but SYST:DATe from HP 8153 is sup- ported. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 252: Changed Query Result Values
SOUR:POW:WAV? returned the wavelength of the active laser. SYSTem:ERRor? Same functionality but different numbers 8153 and errors are returned for instrument spe- cific errors. SOURce:AM:SOURce? Returns different enum values than the 8167/8 HP 8167/8. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 253: Timing Behavior
*OPC? returns 0 now. This is the behaviour of the 8153. When continuous triggering and averaging times are greater than 1 8153 second, the read-out values reset after the averaging time is over; there is no sliding behavior. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 254: Error Handling
Most error commands and error texts for all instruments are new. The HP 8153A timed out for every error. Errors are handled differently by the Agilent 8163A/B and 8164A/B; instead of timing out for every error, special values are returned for erroneous queries. Table 16 and Table 17 detail the new errors The error queue is written to as before.
Page 255: Command Order
Command Order GPIB Command Compatibility List Command Order It is not yet known if there are any changes in the command order behavior. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 256: Instrument Status Settings
GPIB Command Compatibility List Instrument Status Settings Instrument Status Settings The trigger configuration automatically overrides other instrument setting and control capabilities. This applies to both the HP 8153A and HP 8167/8. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 257: Error Codes
Error Codes This chapter gives information about error codes used with the Agilent 8163A/B Lightwave Multimeter, the Agilent 8164A/B Lightwave Measurement System, and the Agilent 8166A/B Lightwave Multichannel System. GPIB Error Strings ....... . 258...
Page 258: Gpib Error Strings
Standard -105 "GET not allowed" [A Group Execute Trigger was received within a program message (see IEEE488.2, 7.7).] Standard -108 "Parameter not allowed" [More parameters were received than expected for the header] Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 259 [Either the character data element contains an invalid character or the par- ticular element received is not valid for the header.] Standard -148 “Character data not allowed” [A legal character data element was encountered where prohibited by the device.] Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 260 Standard -183 “Invalid inside macro definition” [Indicates that the program message unit sequence, sent with a *DDT or *DMC command, is syntactically invalid (see IEEE 488.2, 10.7.6.3).] Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 261 Some command and actions may stop the data aquisition unit of a power- meter. If a command fetches data, there may be no measurement values and this error is generated. Please check module state and repeat opera- tion. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 262 The user has passed a parameter that exceeds the valid range for this pa- rameter. -220 "Parameter error (StatParmIllegalVal)" Description: The user has passed a parameter that does not match a value in a list of possible values. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 263 Wavelength 1800nm when maximum wavelength is 1700nm. Standard -222 "Data out of range (StatParmTooSmall)" Description: The user has passed a continuous parameter that is too small. Example: Wavelength 700nm when minimum wavelength is 800nm. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 264 The instrument cannot transform negative Watt values to dBm because the logarithm of a negative value is not de- fined. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 265 Example: Application data is necessary to execute SENSE:FUNC:RES?. If no suitable function has completed, there is no data and this error is generated. (also see -200). Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 266 "Module slot empty or slot / channel invalid" Description: The user has send a command to an empty slot. -304 "Command was aborted (StatAborted)" Description: The command has been interrupted by another event. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 267 "Flash programming error (StatFlashDPAlgoFailed)" Description: An error has occured in a module. Please report this error with a descrip- tion of the circumstances that generated the error and the configuration of the system. Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 268 “Query INTERRUPTED” [Indicates that a condition causing an INTERRUPTED Query error occurred (see IEEE 488.2, 6.3.2.3); for example, a query followed by DAB or GET be- fore a response was completely sent.] Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 269 Standard -440 “Query UNTERMINATED after indef resp” [Indicates that a query was received in the same program message after an query requesting an indefinite response was executed (see IEEE 488.2, 6.5.7.5).] Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 270: Table 19 Overview For Unsupported Strings
-285 “Program syntax error” -286 “Program runtime error” -311 “Memory error” [checksum or parity] -312 “Protect user data memory lost” -313 “Calibration memory lost” -314 “Save/Recall Memory lost” -315 “Configuration memory lost” Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Fifth Edition...
Page 271 127 Output queue 21 measurement 88 GPIB Interface 16 OUTPut subsystem 113, 148 power meter measurement 88 Status Byte 61 Status Command Summary 40 Agilent VEE 218 Status Information 31 Power measurement Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Sixth Edition...
Page 272 TRIGger Subsystem 171 Units 25 unregister mainframe 240 Visa calls How to use 190 VISA data types 229 Visual programming environment 218 Vxipnp directory 226 Wait 63 Wavelength dependent offset table 159 Agilent 8163A/B, 8164A/B & 8166A/B Mainframes, Sixth Edition...
Page 274 © Agilent Technologies, Deutschland GmbH 2002-2005 Fifth edition, January 2005 08164-90B64 Agilent Technologies...

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