Keysight Technologies N778 C Series Programming Manual
  1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. Keysight Technologies Manuals
  4. Measuring Instruments
  5. N778 C Series
  6. Programming manual

Keysight Technologies N778 C Series Programming Manual

Polarization instruments
Hide thumbs
Table of Contents

Advertisement

Quick Links

Keysight N778xC Series
Polarization Instruments
N7781C Polarization Analyzer
N7785C Synchronous Scrambler
N7786C Polarization Synthesizer
N7788C Optical Component Analyzer
Programming
Guide

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading
Need help?

Need help?

Do you have a question about the N778 C Series and is the answer not in the manual?

Questions and answers

Related Manuals for Keysight Technologies N778 C Series

Summary of Contents for Keysight Technologies N778 C Series

  • Page 1 Keysight N778xC Series Polarization Instruments N7781C Polarization Analyzer N7785C Synchronous Scrambler N7786C Polarization Synthesizer N7788C Optical Component Analyzer Programming Guide...
  • Page 2 CONTAINED HEREIN. SHOULD KEYSIGHT agreement and written consent from or commercial computer software AND THE USER HAVE A SEPARATE Keysight Technologies as governed by documentation that is not customarily WRITTEN AGREEMENT WITH WARRANTY United States and international copyright provided to the public; or (2) Relinquish to, TERMS COVERING THE MATERIAL IN THIS laws.

  • Page 3: Safety Summary

    Failure to comply with these precautions or with specific warnings or operating instructions in the product manuals violates safety standards of design, manufacture, and intended use of the instrument. Keysight Technologies assumes no liability for the customer's failure to comply with these requirements. Product manuals are provided on the Web.

  • Page 4: Instrument Markings

    Instrument Markings Instrument Marking Description The instruction manual symbol. The product is marked with this warning symbol when it is necessary for the user to refer to the instructions in the manual. Standby supply. Unit is not completely disconnected from AC mains when switch is off.

  • Page 5: Compliance And Environmental Information

    Compliance and Environmental Information Table 1 Compliance and Environmental Information Safety Symbol Description This product complies with WEEE Directive (2002/96/EC) marking requirements. The affixed label indicates that you must not discard this electrical/electronic product in domestic household waste. Product Category: With reference to the equipment types in WEEE Directive Annex I, this product is classed as a “Monitoring and Control instrumentation”...

  • Page 7: Table Of Contents

    Contents Safety Summary Instrument Markings Compliance and Environmental Information Declaration of Conformity 1 Introduction to Programming Message Queues How the Input Queue Works Clearing the Input Queue The Output Queue The Error Queue Programming and Syntax Diagram Conventions Short Form and Long Form Command and Query Syntax Common Commands Common Command Summary...
  • Page 8 Contents 4 Measurement Operations & Settings Configure Subsystem Commands Triggering - The TRIGger Subsystem 5 Polarization Commands Polarization Analyzer Commands Polarization Synchronous Scrambler Commands Polarization Synthesizer / Polarization Component Analyzer Commands 6 Error Codes Error Strings Keysight N778xC Series Polarization Instruments Programming Guide...
  • Page 9 Keysight N778xC Series Polarization Instruments Programming Guide Introduction to Programming Message Queues / 10 Programming and Syntax Diagram Conventions / 12 Common Commands / 15 This chapter provides general information on how to control your instrument remotely. Descriptions for the actual commands for the instruments are given in the following chapters.

  • Page 10: 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. How the Input Queue Works The input queue is a FIFO queue (first-in first-out). Incoming bytes are stored in the input queue.
  • Page 11 Introduction to Programming If more than 29 errors are put into the queue, the message: -350, "Queue overflow" is placed as the last message in the queue. Keysight N778xC Series Polarization Instruments Programming Guide...

  • Page 12: Programming And Syntax Diagram Conventions

    Introduction to Programming Programming and Syntax Diagram Conventions A program message is a message containing commands or queries that you send to the instruments. The following are a few points about program messages: • You can use either upper-case or lower-case characters. •...
  • Page 13 Introduction to Programming The characters between angled brackets ( < > ) indicate the kind of data that you should send, or that you get in a response. You do not type the angled brackets in the actual message. Descriptions of these items follow the syntax description. The following types of data are most commonly used: string is ascii data.
  • Page 14 Introduction to Programming Data Types With the commands you give parameters to the instrument and receive response values from the instrument. Unless explicitly specified these data are given in ASCII format. The following types of data are used: • Boolean data may only have the values 0 or 1. •...

  • Page 15: Common Commands

    Introduction to Programming Common Commands The IEEE 488.2 standard has a list of reserved commands, called 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.

  • Page 16: Common Status Information

    Introduction to Programming Common Status Information There are three registers for the status information. Two of these are status-registers and one is an enable-registers. These registers conform to the IEEE Standard 488.2-1987. You can find further descriptions of these registers under *ESE, *ESR?, and *STB?. Figure 1 shows how the Standard Event Status Enable Mask (SESEM) and the Standard Event Status Register (SESR) determine the Event Status Bit...
  • Page 17 Introduction to Programming The SESEM allows you to choose the event that may affect the ESB of the Status Byte. If you set a bit of the SESEM to zero, the corresponding event cannot affect the ESB. The default is for all the bits of the SESEM to be set to 0.
  • Page 19 Keysight N778xC Series Polarization Instruments Programming Guide Command Summary Command Summary / 20 This chapter lists commands relating to the N778xC series polarization instruments. Each of these summaries contains a page reference for more detailed information about the particular command later in this manual.

  • Page 20: Command Summary

    Command Summary Command Summary The commands are ordered in a command tree. Every command belongs to a node in this tree. The root nodes are also called the subsystems. A subsystem contains all commands belonging to a specific topic. In a subsystem there may be further subnodes.
  • Page 21 Command Summary Command Page :POLarimeter:WAVelength Page :POLarimeter:WAVelength? Page :POLarimeter:GAIN Page :POLarimeter:GAIN? Page :POLarimeter:AGFLag Page :POLarimeter:AGFLag? Page :POLarimeter:STOP Page :POLarimeter:ZERO? Page :POLarimeter:SWEep:LOOP Page :POLarimeter:SWEep:LOOP? Page :POLarimeter:SWEep:STARt Page POLarimeter:SWEep:STATe? Page :POLarimeter:SWEep:GET? Page :POLarimeter:FUNCtion:RESult? Page :POLarimeter:SWEep:GET:INDex? Page :POLarimeter:SWEep:SAMPles Page :POLarimeter:SWEep:SAMPles:CURRent? Page :POLarimeter:SWEep:SAMPles? Page :POLarimeter:SWEep:RATe Page :POLarimeter:SWEep:RATe?
  • Page 22 Command Summary Command Page :POLarimeter:SWEep:TRIGger:POST:SAMPles Page :POLarimeter:SWEep:TRIGger:POST:SAMPles? Page :POLarimeter:SWEep:CONTinuous:SACCuracy Page :POLarimeter:SWEep:CONTinuous:SACCuracy? Page :POLarimeter:TRIGger:INPut Page :POLarimeter:TRIGger:DELay? Page :POLarimeter:TRIGger:DELay Page :POLarimeter:TRIGger:OFFSet? Page :POLarimeter:TRIGger:OFFSet Page :POLarimeter:TRIGger:INPut? Page :POLarimeter:TRIGger:OUTPut Page :POLarimeter:TRIGger:OUTPut? Page Command Page Polarization Synchronous Scrambler Commands :PCONtroller:STOP Page :PCONtroller:WPLAtes Page :PCONtroller:WPLAtes? Page :PCONtroller:SEQuence:LENGth Page :PCONtroller:SEQuence:LENGth?
  • Page 23 Command Summary Command Page :PCONtroller:SEQuence:HOLDoff Page :PCONtroller:SEQuence:HOLDoff? Page :PCONtroller:SEQuence Page :PCONtroller:SEQuence? Page :PCONtroller:SEQuence:SEQVoltage Page :PCONtroller:SEQuence:SEQVoltage? Page :PCONtroller:SCRambler:ENABle Page :PCONtroller:SCRambler:ENABle? Page :PCONtroller:STAGe<stage>:DEGree Page :PCONtroller:STAGe<stage>:DEGree? Page :PCONtroller:STARt Page :PCONtroller:REPetition Page :PCONtroller:LOAD:DATA? Page :PCONtroller:SAVE:ARB? Page :PCONtroller:LOAD:ARB? Page :PCONtroller:GEN:RANDom? Page :PCONtroller:GEN:SCRAmble? Page :PCONtroller:SWITch Page :PCONtroller:SWITch? Page Command...
  • Page 24 Command Summary Command Page SYSTem Subsystem :SYSTem:DATE Page :SYSTem:DATE? Page :SYSTem:HELP:HEADers? Page :SYSTem:HELP:ERRors? Page :SYSTem:TIME Page :SYSTem:PRESet Page :SYSTem:TIME? Page :SYSTem:ERRor[:NEXT]? Page :SYSTem:ERRor:COUNt? Page :SYSTem:VERSion? Page :SYSTem:REBoot Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:AUTOip:ENABle? Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:AUTOip:ENABle Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:CANCel Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:DGATeway Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:DGATeway? Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:DGATeway:CURRent? Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:DHCP:ENABle? Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:DHCP:ENABle...
  • Page 25 Command Summary Command Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:NSERver? Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:NSERver Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:NSERver:CURRent? Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:IDN Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:IPADdress Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:IPADdress? Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:IPADdress:CURRent? Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:MACaddress? Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:NTP:ENABle? Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:NTP:ENABle Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:NTP:SERVer? Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:NTP:SERVer Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:DESCription? Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:DESCription Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:WHITEList:ENABle? Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:WHITEList:ENABle Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:WHITEList#:IPADdress? Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:WHITEList#:IPADdress Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:WHITEList#:SMASk? Page :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:WHITEList#:SMASk...
  • Page 26 Command Summary Command Page TRIGger Subsystem :TRIGger Page :TRIGger[n]:DELay? Page :TRIGger[n]:DELay Page :TRIGger[n]:INPut Page :TRIGger[n]:INPut? Page :TRIGger[n][:INPut:EDGe Page :TRIGger[n]:INPut:EDGe? Page :TRIGger[n]:OFFSet Page :TRIGger[n]:OFFSet? Page :TRIGger[n]:OUTPut? Page :TRIGger[n]:OUTPut Page :TRIGger:CONFiguration? Page :TRIGger:CONFiguration Page Keysight N778xC Series Polarization Instruments Programming Guide...
  • Page 27 Keysight N778xC Series Polarization Instruments Programming Guide Instrument Setup and Status IEEE-Common Commands / 28 Interface/Instrument Behaviour Settings – The SYSTem Subsystem / 34 System Communicate - The :SYST:COMMunicate sub tree / 38 This chapter gives descriptions of commands that you can use when setting up your instrument.

  • Page 28: Ieee-Common Commands

    Instrument Setup and Status IEEE-Common Commands Common Commands on page 15 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. Command: *CLS Syntax: *CLS Description: The Clear Status (*CLS) command clears the status byte by emptying the error queue and clearing all the event registers (SESR) including the Data Questionable Event Register, the Standard Event Status Register, the Standard Operation Status...
  • Page 29 Instrument Setup and Status Not Used 0 (LSB) Operation Complete Response: none Example: *ESE 255 Command: *ESE? Syntax: *ESE? Description: The standard Event Status Enable query *ESE? returns the contents of the Standard Event Status Enable Mask (see *ESE for information on this register). Parameters: none Response:...
  • Page 30 Description: The IDeNtification query *IDN? gets the instrument identification over the interface. Parameters: none Response: The identification, for example: MMMMMMMM manufacturer, for example Keysight Technologies mmmm instrument model number (for example N7785C) ssssssss serial number rrrrrrrrrr firmware revision level Example: *IDN? ->...
  • Page 31 Instrument Setup and Status Command: *OPC? Syntax: *OPC? Description: The OPeration Complete query *OPC? parses all program message units in the input queue, sets the operation complete bit in the Standard Event Status register, and places an ASCII ’1’ in the output queue, when the contents of the input queue have been processed.
  • Page 32 Instrument Setup and Status Parameters: none Response: none Example: *RST Command: *STB? Syntax: *STB? Description: The STatus Byte query *STB? returns the contents of the Status Byte register. Parameters: none Response: The bit value for the register (a 16-bit signed integer value): Mnemonic Decimal Value 7 (MSB)
  • Page 33 Instrument Setup and Status Parameters: none Response: Selftest failed 1 A value of zero indicates no errors. Example: *TST? > 0 Command: *WAI Syntax: *WAI Description: The WAIt command prevents the instrument from executing any further commands until the current command has finished executing.

  • Page 34: Interface/Instrument Behaviour Settings - The System Subsystem

    Instrument Setup and Status Interface/Instrument Behaviour Settings – The SYSTem Subsystem The SYSTem subsystem lets you control the instrument’s serial interface. You can also control some internal data (like date, time, and so on) Command: :SYSTem:DATE Syntax: :SYSTem:DATE<wsp><year>,<month>,<day> Description: Sets the instrument’s internal date. Parameters: The date in the format year, month, day.

  • Page 35: System:help:errors

    Instrument Setup and Status Command: :SYSTem:HELP:ERRors? Syntax: :SYSTem:HELP:ERRors? Description: Return an overview about all Errorcodes and a short description. Parameters: none Response: String list of error codes Example: :syst:help:err? -> +0,"No error",-100,"Command error",- 101,"Invalid character",-102,"Syntax error",-103, "Invalid separator",-104,"Data type error",-105,"GET not allowed",-108,"Parameter not allowed",... Command: :SYSTem:PRESet Syntax:...

  • Page 36: System:preset

    Instrument Setup and Status Command: :SYSTem:TIME? Syntax: :SYSTem:TIME? Description: Returns the instrument’s internal time. Parameters: none Response: The time in the format hour, minute, second. Hours are counted 0...23. -> Example: :syst:time? +20,+15,+30 Command: :SYSTem:ERRor[:NEXT]? Syntax: :SYSTem:ERRor[:NEXT]? Description: Returns the next error from the error queue. Parameters: none Response:...

  • Page 37: System:reboot

    Instrument Setup and Status Parameters: none Response: The revision year and number. −> Example: :syst:vers? 1999 Command: :SYSTem:REBoot Syntax: :SYSTem:REBoot Description: Reboots the instrument. Parameters: none Response: None Example: :syst:reb Keysight N778xC Series Polarization Instruments Programming Guide...

  • Page 38: System Communicate - The :Syst:communicate Sub Tree

    Instrument Setup and Status System Communicate - The :SYST:COMMunicate sub tree We recommend you change network settings using the local user interface. The instrument does not close open connections when restarting the network NOTE interface (:SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:RESTart). This means the number of possible connections is reduced by the number of previously open connections.

  • Page 39: System:communicate:ethernet:autoip:enable

    Instrument Setup and Status Command: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:AUTOip:ENABle Syntax: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:AUTOip:ENABle Description: Enable or disable whether IP addresses can be created automatically by the instrument. Automatic IP addressing is only used if DHCP is enabled, but the instrument cannot find a DHCP server. Parameters: Boolean (0 | 1 | off | on) Response:...

  • Page 40: System:communicate:ethernet:dgateway:current

    Instrument Setup and Status Parameters: None Response: String Example: :syst:comm:eth:dgat? -> “192.168.101.11“ Command: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:DGATeway:CURRent? Syntax: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:DGATeway:CURRent? Description: Get the currently used default gateway. Parameters: None Response: String Example: :syst:comm:eth:dgat:curr? -> “192.168.101.11“ Command: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:DHCP:ENABle? Syntax: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:DHCP:ENABle? Description: Check whether DHCP is enabled or disabled. Parameters: None Response:...

  • Page 41: System:communicate:ethernet:domainname

    Instrument Setup and Status Command: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:DOMainname? Syntax: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:DOMainname? Description: Get the domain name. Parameters: None Response: String Example: :syst:comm:eth:dom? -> “.companyname.com” Command: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:DOMainname Syntax: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:DOMainname Description: Set the domain name (used if DHCP is disabled). Parameters: String Response: None Example: :syst:comm:eth:dom “.companyname.com”...

  • Page 42: System:communicate:ethernet:hostname

    Instrument Setup and Status Parameters: string (maximum 19 characters, though not all characters can be used) The default host name is K-P...P-S...S; where P...P is the product Number, and S...S is as many of the last digits of the serial number as it takes to get a 15 character host name.

  • Page 43: System:communicate:ethernet:nserver

    Instrument Setup and Status Command: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:NSERver Syntax: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:NSERver Description: Set one or two nameservers for name resolution. (used if DHCP is disabled). Parameters: IP Address String Response: None Example: :syst:comm:eth:nser "1.1.1.1" Command: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:NSERver:CURRent? Syntax: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:NSERver:CURRent? Description: Get the DNS server addresses assigned from your DHCP sever (this is only valide if DHCP is available and enabled. Parameters: None Response:...

  • Page 44: System:communicate:ethernet:ipaddress

    Instrument Setup and Status Parameters: String (Up to four groups of up to 3 digits, groups separated by ".". Groups with leading zeroes are interpreted as octal numbers.) Response: None Example: :syst:comm:eth:ipad “192.132.13.2” Command: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:IPADdress? Syntax: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:IPADdress? Description: Get the manually set IP address of the system. Parameters: None Response:...

  • Page 45: System:communicate:ethernet:ntp:enable

    Instrument Setup and Status Command: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:NTP:ENABle? Syntax: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:NTP:ENABle? Description: Returns the usage of a NTP Server Parameters: None Response: Boolean (0 | 1) Example: :syst:comm:eth:ntp:enab? -> 1 Command: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:NTP:ENABle Syntax: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:NTP:ENABle Description: Disables or enables instrument's use of NTP. The acronym NTP stands for Network Time Protocol, a protocol for clock synchronization between computer systems. Parameters: Boolean (0 | 1) Response:...

  • Page 46: System:communicate:ethernet:description

    Instrument Setup and Status Parameters: Address String Response: None Example: :syst:comm:eth:ntp:serv "pool.ntp.org" Command: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:DESCription? Syntax: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:DESCription? Description: Get the desired mDNS service name. Parameters: None Response: Quoted string of up to 260 characters Example: :syst:comm:eth:desc? -> "Keysight N778xC - 42321" Command: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:DESCription Syntax:...

  • Page 47: System:communicate:ethernet:whitelist:enable

    Instrument Setup and Status Command: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:WHITEList:ENABle Syntax: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:WHITEList:ENABle Description: Set or enables the device access IP whitelist Parameters: Boolean (0 | 1) Response: None Example: :syst:comm:eth:whitel:enab 0 Command: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:WHITEList#:IPADdress? Syntax: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:WHITEList#:IPADdress? Description: Get one entry from the device access IP whitelist (up to 10 IP Addresses) of permitted client which could control this instrument.

  • Page 48: System:communicate:ethernet:whitelist#:Smask

    Instrument Setup and Status Parameters: Int (1-10) Response: IP Address String Example: :syst:comm:eth:whitel1:smas? -> "192.168.0.2" Command: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:WHITEList#:SMASk Syntax: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:WHITEList#:SMASk Description: Define an entry in the device access ip whitelist (up to 10 IP Addresses) of permitted client which could control this instrument.

  • Page 49: System:communicate:ethernet:save

    Instrument Setup and Status Parameters: None Response: String Example: :syst:comm:eth:rest Command: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:SAVE Syntax: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:SAVE Description: Save the system’s network interface parameters. Parameters: None Response: None Example: :syst:comm:eth:save Command: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:SMASk? Syntax: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:SMASk? Description: Get the subnet mask. Parameters: None Response: String Example: :syst:comm:eth:smas? ->...

  • Page 50: System:communicate:ethernet:smask:current

    Instrument Setup and Status Command: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:SMASk:CURRent? Syntax: :SYSTem:COMMunicate:ETHernet:SMASk:CURRent? Description: Get the currently used subnet mask. Parameters: None Response: String Example: :syst:comm:eth:smas:curr? -> “255.255.255.0” Keysight N778xC Series Polarization Instruments Programming Guide...
  • Page 51 Keysight N778xC Series Polarization Instruments Programming Guide Measurement Operations & Settings Configure Subsystem Commands / 52 Triggering - The TRIGger Subsystem / 55 This chapter gives descriptions of commands that you can use when you are setting up or performing measurements. The commands are split up into the following subsystems: Configure subsystem commands that control all instruments.

  • Page 52: Configure Subsystem Commands

    Measurement Operations & Settings Configure Subsystem Commands This section provides the description of the following commands. Command: :CONFigure:MEASurement:SETTing:ACTual? Syntax: :CONFigure:MEASurement:SETTing:ACTual? Description: Get the index of the setting currently being used. Parameters: None Response: A value >0 is returned if the setting has been stored in FLASH memory (using :CONFigure:MEASurement:SETTing:SAVE), or has been recalled from FLASH memory (using :CONFigure:MEASurement:SETTing:RECall), and has not been changed since.
  • Page 53 Measurement Operations & Settings Response: None Example: :conf:meas:sett:pres Affects: All instruments Command: :CONFigure:MEASurement:SETTing:CANCel Syntax: :CONFigure:MEASurement:SETTing:CANCel Description: Discard all the changes to the setting since the last save or recall Parameters: None Response: None Example: :conf:meas:sett:canc Affects: All instruments Command: :CONFigure:MEASurement:SETTing:RECall Syntax: :CONFigure:MEASurement:SETTing:RECall Description:...
  • Page 54 Measurement Operations & Settings Command: :CONFigure:MEASurement:SETTing:ERASe Syntax: :CONFigure:MEASurement:SETTing:ERASe Description: Erase a setting from memory Parameters: Integer Response: None Example: :conf:meas:sett:eras 1 Affects: All instruments Keysight N778xC Series Polarization Instruments Programming Guide...

  • Page 55: Triggering - The Trigger Subsystem

    Measurement Operations & Settings Triggering - The TRIGger Subsystem Command: :TRIGger Syntax: :TRIGger<wsp>NODEA|1|NODEB|2 Description: Generates a hardware trigger. Parameters: 1 or NODEA: Is identical to a trigger at the Input Trigger Connector. 2 or NODEB: Generates trigger at the Output Trigger Connector. A hardware trigger cannot be effective in the DISabled triggering mode but can be effective in DEFault, PASSthrough or :TRIGger:CONFiguration LOOPback triggering modes, see...

  • Page 56: Trigger[N]:Input

    Measurement Operations & Settings Command: :TRIGger[n]:INPut? Syntax: :TRIGger[n]:INPut? Description: Returns the incoming trigger response. Parameters: None Response: IGNore: Ignore incoming trigger SMEasure: Start a single measurement. If a measurement function is active. CMEasure: Start a complete measurement. If a measurement function is active, a complete measurement function is performed.

  • Page 57: Trigger[N]

    Measurement Operations & Settings Command: :TRIGger[n]:INPut:EDGe? Syntax: :TRIGger[n]:INPut:EDGe? Description: Returns the trigger edge detection of the BNC TTL input. Parameters: None Response: RISing: trigger on the high edge of the BNC TTL input FALLing: trigger on the low edge of the BNC TTL input Example: :TRIG:INP:EDG? →...

  • Page 58: Trigger[N]:Output

    Measurement Operations & Settings Command: :TRIGger[n]:OFFSet Syntax: :TRIGger[n]:OFFSet <value> Description: Sets the number of incoming triggers received before data logging begins. Parameters: <value> - an integer value. (maximum possible value is 2147483647) Response: None Example: :trig1:offs 5 Affects: All modules Command: :TRIGger[n]:OUTPut? Syntax:...

  • Page 59: Trigger:configuration

    Measurement Operations & Settings Command: :TRIGger:CONFiguration? Syntax: :TRIGger:CONFiguration? Description: Returns the hardware trigger configuration. Parameters: None Parameters: 0 or DISabled: Trigger connectors are disabled. 1 or DEFault: The Input Trigger Connector is activated, the incoming trigger response for each slot. 2 or PASSthrough: A trigger at the Input Trigger Connector generates a trigger at the Output Trigger Connector automatically.
  • Page 61 Keysight N778xC Series Polarization Instruments Programming Guide Polarization Commands Polarization Analyzer Commands / 62 Polarization Synchronous Scrambler Commands / 77 Polarization Synthesizer / Polarization Component Analyzer Commands / 89 This chapter provides description of the polarization commands.

  • Page 62: Polarization Analyzer Commands

    Polarization Commands Polarization Analyzer Commands Command: :POLarimeter:SOP? Syntax: :POLarimeter:SOP? Description: Returns the measured S0, S1, S2 and S3 stokes parameter The normalized Stokes parameter are obtained by dividing the Stokes parameters by the total optical power s1 = S1/S0 s2=S2/S0 s3=S3/S0 Parameters: None Response:...
  • Page 63 Polarization Commands Command: :POLarimeter:POWer:FETCh? Syntax: :POLarimeter:POWer:FETCh? Description: Returns the power from last measurement Parameters: None Response: Float Example: :POL:POW:FETC? -> +1.53759156E-05 Affects N7781C / N7786C / N7788C Command: :POLarimeter:POWer:UNIT Syntax: :POLarimeter:POWer:UNIT<wsp>DBM|0|Watt|1 Description: Sets the power unit Parameters: 0 or DBM: dBm 1 or Watt: Watts Example: :POL:POW:UNIT 1...
  • Page 64 Polarization Commands Command: :POLarimeter:WAVelength Syntax: :POLarimeter:WAVelength<wsp><wavelength> [PM|NM|UM|MM|M]|MINimum|MAXimum|DEFault Description: This command sets the current wavelength / start wavelength. Parameters: The wavelength as a float value. If you specify no units in your command, meters are used as the default. Example: :POLarimeter:WAVelength 1.550E-06 Affects N7781C / N7786C / N7788C Command:...
  • Page 65 Polarization Commands Command: :POLarimeter:GAIN? Syntax: :POLarimeter:GAIN? Description: Returns the gain level Parameters: None Response Gain level as integer Example: :pol:gain? -> +8 Affects N7781C / N7786C / N7788C Command: :POLarimeter:AGFLag Syntax: :POLarimeter:AGFLag Description: Enable or disable auto gain NOTE - Auto Gain is disabled when setting manual Gain with the POL:GAIN command. NOTE - Auto gain setting is ignored in Logging / Sweep and Stabilizer Mode.
  • Page 66 Polarization Commands Command: :POLarimeter:STOP Syntax: :POLarimeter:STOP Description: Stops logging Parameters: None Example: :pol:swe:stop Affects N7781C / N7786C / N7788C Command: :POLarimeter:ZERO Syntax: :POLarimeter:ZERO Description: Zeros photodiodes. That means dark current is measured and will be subtracted from future measurements. Parameters: None Example: :pol:zero...
  • Page 67 Polarization Commands Parameters: Integer 0: endless Example: :pol:swe:loop 1 Affects N7781C / N7786C / N7788C Command: :POLarimeter:SWEep:LOOP? Syntax: :POLarimeter:SWEep:LOOP? Description: Gets the number of loops, which should be logged after starting Parameters: None Response: Integer Example: :pol:swe:loop? Affects N7781C / N7786C / N7788C Command: :POLarimeter:SWEep:STARt Syntax:...
  • Page 68 Polarization Commands Response: IDLE,NO_DATA: No data available, logging stopped SAMPLING,DATA_AVAILABLE: Data available, logging running SAMPLING,NO_DATA: No data available, logging running READY,DATA_AVAILABLE: Data available, logging not running IDLE,DATA_AVAILABLE: Data available, logging stopped Example: :pol:swe:stat? -> SAMPLING,DATA_AVAILABLE Affects N7781C / N7786C / N7788C Command: :POLarimeter:SWEep:GET? Syntax:...
  • Page 69 Polarization Commands Parameters: None Response: Integer Example: :pol:swe:get:ind? → +1120055703 Affects N7781C / N7786C / N7788C Command: :POLarimeter:SWEep:SAMPles Syntax: :POLarimeter:SWEep:SAMPles Description: This command sets the number of samples/logging count (1-1048576) Parameters: Number of samples Example: :pol:swe:samp 1000 Affects N7781C / N7786C / N7788C Command: :POLarimeter:SWEep:SAMPles? Syntax:...
  • Page 70 Polarization Commands Command: :POLarimeter:SWEep:RATe Syntax: :POLarimeter:SWEep:RATe<wsp>[nm/s|pm/s] Description: This command sets the sweep rate in m/s. When performing a swept measurement, very often, the wavelength is changed over time. This parameter allows you to inform the instrument about the speed at which the wavelength of the laser source is changing.
  • Page 71 Polarization Commands Command: :POLarimeter:SWEep:SRATe? Syntax: :POLarimeter:SWEep:SRATe?[<wsp>MIN|MAX|DEF] Description: This command gets the sampling rate and averaging time Parameters: None: to get current sampling rate and averaging time MIN: minimum sampling rate MAX: maximum sampling rate DEF: default sampling rate Response: No parameter: sampling rate in float averaging time in float MIN|MAX|DEF parameter:...
  • Page 72 Polarization Commands Parameters: Sweep step in m Example: :pol:swe:step 1pm Affects N7781C / N7786C / N7788C Command: :POLarimeter:SWEep:STEP? Syntax: :POLarimeter:SWEep:STEP? Description: In SME mode, this is the step (wavelength increased by this value) which is done for every trigger while logging. Parameters: None Response:...
  • Page 73 Polarization Commands Command: :POLarimeter:SWEep:TRIGger:POST:SAMPles Syntax: :POLarimeter:SWEep:TRIGger:POST:SAMPles Description: Sets the number of post samples. That means samples after trigger event. Numbers of pre samples and post samples have to be smaller than 1048576. Parameters: Number of post samples Example: :pol:swe:trig:post:samp 2000 Affects N7781C / N7786C / N7788C Command:...
  • Page 74 Polarization Commands Command: :POLarimeter:SWEep:CONTinuous:SACCuracy? Syntax: :POLarimeter:SWEep:CONTinuous:SACCuracy? Description: Returns the SOP accuracy in rad used in the continuous sampling mode. Parameters: None Response: SOP accuracy in rad Example: :pol:swe:cont:sacc? → +0.00000000E+00 Affects N7781C / N7786C / N7788C Command: :POLarimeter:TRIGger:INPut Syntax: :POLarimeter:TRIGger:INPut<wsp><value> Description: Defines the trigger input Parameters:...
  • Page 75 Polarization Commands Parameters: Integer number between 0-997 (including limits) Example: :pol:trig:del 10 Affects N7781C / N7786C / N7788C Command: :POLarimeter:TRIGger:DELay? Syntax: :POLarimeter:TRIGger:DELay? Description: Returns factor for delay. delay = factor/32 MHz Parameters: None Response: Factor Example: :pol:trig:del? → +0 Affects N7781C / N7786C / N7788C Command: :POLarimeter:TRIGger:OFFSet...
  • Page 76 Polarization Commands Command: :POLarimeter:TRIGger:INPut? Syntax: :POLarimeter:TRIGger:INPut? Description: Returns input triger configuration. Parameters: None Response: Explanation of the parameter see: POLarimeter:TRIGger:INPut Example: :pol:trig:inp? → NONE Affects N7781C / N7786C / N7788C Command: :POLarimeter:TRIGger:OUTPut Syntax: :POLarimeter:TRIGger:OUTPut Description: Defines trigger output Parameters: DISabled: no trigger at output BNC AVGover: trigger when averaging starts at output BNC MEASure: trigger when measuring starts at output BNC Example:...

  • Page 77: Polarization Synchronous Scrambler Commands

    Polarization Commands Polarization Synchronous Scrambler Commands Command: :PCONtroller:STOP Syntax: :PCONtroller:STOP Description: This command stops the Polcontroller. Parameters: None Response: None Example: :PCONtroller:STOP Affects N7785C / N7786C / N7788C Command: :PCONtroller:WPLAtes Syntax: :PCONtroller:WPLAtes<wsp><orientation waveplate 1>,<retardation waveplate1>,... Description: Sets the orientation and retardation of the polarization controller waveplates. The data consists of 12 double values.
  • Page 78 Polarization Commands Response: Double array (comma separated values) Example: :PCONtroller:WPLAtes? -> +0.00000000E+00,+2.50000000E-01,+0.00000000E+00,+2.50000000E-01,+0.00000000E+00,+2.50000000E -01,+0.00000000E+00,+2.50000000E-01,+0.00000000E+00,+2.50000000E- 01,+0.00000000E+00,+2.50000000E-01 Affects N7785C / N7786C / N7788C Command: :PCONtroller:SEQuence:LENGth Syntax: :PCONtroller:SEQuence:LENGth<wsp><length> Description: Set the polarization controller sequence length. Parameters: Integer value (0-100000) Response: None Example: :PCONtroller:SEQuence:LENGth 5 Affects N7785C / N7786C / N7788C Command:...
  • Page 79 Polarization Commands Response: None Example: :PCONtroller:SEQuence:RRATe 50.2 Affects N7785C / N7786C / N7788C Command: :PCONtroller:SEQuence:RRATe? Syntax: :PCONtroller:SEQuence:RRATe? Description: Get the polarization controller repetition rate for each datapoint in kHz Parameters: None Response: Double value Example: :PCONtroller:SEQuence:RRATe? +5.02000000E+01 Affects N7785C / N7786C / N7788C Command: :PCONtroller:SEQuence:SMODe Syntax:...
  • Page 80 Polarization Commands Command: :PCONtroller:SEQuence:SMODe? Syntax: :PCONtroller:SEQuence:SMODe? Description: Returns the current configured Sequence Mode 0 = Sequence will automatically start and restart when reaching the end. 1 = Sequence will automatically start and run only once. 2 = Sequence will start when a low/high-transition is detected on the BNC input. When reachig the end of the sequence, it will be restarted.
  • Page 81 Polarization Commands Response: Boolean integer value Example: :PCONtroller:SEQuence:DCOMpensation? 1 Affects N7785C / N7786C / N7788C Command: :PCONtroller:SEQuence:HOLDoff Syntax: :PCONtroller:SEQuence:HOLDoff<wsp><number> Description: Define an external trigger delay after changing the SOP value Parameters: Integer value (0-32766) 1 means 1/32 us Response: None Example: :PCONtroller:SEQuence:HOLDoff 10 Affects...
  • Page 82 Polarization Commands Parameters: 488.2 Binary Block <real32 / double> Response: None Example: :PCONtroller:SEQuence <488.2 Binary Block> Affects N7785C / N7786C / N7788C Command: :PCONtroller:SEQuence? Syntax: :PCONtroller:SEQuence? Description: Read the last transferred sequence the polarization controller sequence using waveplate positions and retardations Return value: binary block (float values / 32 bit).
  • Page 83 Polarization Commands Command: :PCONtroller:SEQuence:SEQVoltage? Syntax: :PCONtroller:SEQuence:SEQVoltage? Description: Get the polarization controller sequence DAC voltage sequence Parameters: None Response: 488.2 Binary Block <word / short> Example: :PCONtroller:SEQuence:SEQVoltage? Affects N7785C / N7786C / N7788C Command: :PCONtroller:SCRambler:ENABle Syntax: :PCONtroller:SCRambler:ENABle Description: Enables (1) or disables (0) the Scrambler (same function like :PCONtroller:STARt and :PCONtroller:STOP). Parameters: Integer value 1 = Polcontroller is running...
  • Page 84 Polarization Commands Command: :PCONtroller:STAGe<stage>:DEGree Syntax: :PCONtroller:STAGe<stage>:DEGree<wsp><orientation> Description: Set the orientation for each waveplate (lambda/4 plate) Parameters: <stage> integer value between 1 to 6 <orientation> float value from 0.0 to 359.999 Response: None Example: :pcon:stag1:deg 75.4 Affects N7785C / N7786C / N7788C Command: :PCONtroller:STAGe<stage>:DEGree? Syntax:...
  • Page 85 Polarization Commands Command: :PCONtroller:REPetition Syntax: :PCONtroller:REPetition<wsp><repetitions> Description: Sets the polarization controller repetition Parameters: <repetitions> NOTE: 0 means endless Response: None Example: :pcon:rep 10 Affects N7785C / N7786C / N7788C Command: :PCONtroller:REPetition? Syntax: :PCONtroller:REPetition? Description: Get the polarization controller repetition Parameters: None Response: Integer value between 0 to 2147483647...
  • Page 86 Polarization Commands Command: :PCONtroller:SAVE:ARB? Syntax: :PCONtroller:SAVE:ARB? Description: Save the current arb sequence in nonvolatile memory Parameters: None Response: "save 4 datapoints" Example: :pcon:save:arb? -> "save 4 datapoints" Affects N7785C / N7786C / N7788C Command: :PCONtroller:LOAD:ARB? Syntax: :PCONtroller:LOAD:ARB? Description: Load an arbitrary waveform Parameters: None Response:...
  • Page 87 Polarization Commands Command: :PCONtroller:GEN:SCRAmble? Syntax: :PCONtroller:GEN:SCRAmble?<wsp><number> Description: Generate a random sequence. Example: :PCON:GEN:SCRA? #Datapoints Example: :PCON:GEN:SCRA 120000 Return Value = status string "GEN DONE" Parameters: <number> integer value from 1-1000000 Response: Status message: "GEN DONE" when the generation is finished Example: :PCONtroller:GEN:SCRAmble? 300' ->...
  • Page 88 Polarization Commands Response: Integer value 0 = optical Scrambler Input signal will be routed to the internal polarimerer 1 = optical Scrambler Input signal will be routed to the Scrambler Output Example: :pcon:swit? -> +0 Affects N7788C Keysight N778xC Series Polarization Instruments Programming Guide...

  • Page 89: Polarization Synthesizer / Polarization Component Analyzer Commands

    Polarization Commands Polarization Synthesizer / Polarization Component Analyzer Commands Command: :STABilizer:STABilize Syntax: :STABilizer:STABilize<wsp> <value> Description: Sets the Stabilizer Operating Mode. NOTE - The stabilizer function configures and controls both, the Scrambler and the Polarimeter including intern and extern Trigger Configuration. After Stopping the Stabilizer Mode use System:Preset or *RST to activate the normal Scrambler and Polarimeter Mode NOTE - Use only gain between 0 and 7 for Stabilizer Mode because 8 and 9 have a small Bandwith e.g.
  • Page 90 Polarization Commands Command: :STABilizer:SOP Syntax: :STABilizer:SOP<wsp> <s1>,<s2>,<s3>[,<Factor>] Description: Sets the target SOP for the Stabilizer. • For the N7786C and N7788C which have a build in Polarimeter the target SOP must be provided as a 3-element normalized Stokes vector (s1,s1,s3 with DOP=1). If the DOP is not 1, then it will be normalized before processing. •...
  • Page 91 Keysight N778xC Series Polarization Instruments Programming Guide Error Codes Error Strings / 92 This chapter gives information about error codes used with the N778xC series tunable laser source instruments.

  • Page 92: Error Strings

    Error Codes Error Strings Error strings in the range -100 to -183 are defined by the SCPI standard, downloadable from: http://www.ivifoundation.org/docs/scpi-99.pdf String descriptions taken from this standard (VERSION 1999.0 May, 1999), whether in whole or in part, are enclosed by [ ]. Table 1 Overview for Supported Strings Error...
  • Page 93 Error Codes Error Number String -112 "Program mnemonic too long" [The header contains more than twelve characters (see IEEE 488.2, 7.6.1.4.1).] -113 "Undefined header" [The header is syntactically correct, but it is undefined for this specific device; for example, *XYZ is not defined for any device.] -114 "Header suffix out of range"...
  • Page 94 Error Codes Error Number String -148 “Character data not allowed” [A legal character data element was encountered where prohibited by the device.] -150 “String data error” [This error, as well as errors -151 through -159, are generated when parsing a string data element. This error message is used when the device cannot detect a more specific error.] -151 “Invalid string data”...
  • Page 95 Error Codes Error Number String -185 “Subop out of range” Description: Suboperations are parameters that are passed to refine the destination of a command. They are used to address slots, channels, laser selections and GPIB/SCPI register levels. This error is generated if the parameter is not valid in the current context or system configuration.
  • Page 96 Error Codes Error Number String -214 "Trigger deadlock" -215 "Arm deadlock" -220 "Parameter error (StatParmError)” Description: The user has passed a parameter that cannot be changed in this way. The device cannot detect one of the following more specific errors: -220 -220, "Parameter error (StatParmOutOfRange)"...
  • Page 97 Error Codes Error Number String -223 “Too much data” Description: A function returns more data or the user requests more data than the application is able to handle. Example: A tunable laser source produces more data when lambda values of a sweep are stored than the 816x instrument is able to handle.
  • Page 98 Error Codes Error Number String -257 "File name error" -258 "Media protected" -260 "Expression error" -261 "Math error in expression (StatUnitCalculationError)" Description: This may occur when the user attempts to transform data in a way that is currently not possible. Example: When a powermeter is measuring very small power values in dBm (such as noise power), negative power values in Watt may also be present (such as when the powermeter calibration wavelength...
  • Page 99 Error Codes Error Number String -283 "Illegal variable name" -284 "Function currently running (StatModuleBusy)" Description: This error is generated when a function is currently running on a module so that it cannot process another command. Example: When a powermeter is running a logging application, you are not able to configure the logging application parameters (also see -200).
  • Page 100 Error Codes Error Number String -330 “Self-test failed” Description: You have started the self test, but the module has detected an error while executing it -340 "Calibration failed" -350 “Queue overflow” [A specific code entered into the queue in lieu of the code that caused the error. This code indicates that there is no room in the queue and an error occurred but was not recorded.] -360 "Communication error"...
  • Page 101 Error Codes Error Number String -420 “Query UNTERMINATED” [Indicates that a condition causing an UNTERMINATED Query error occurred (see IEEE 488.2, 6.3.2.2); for example, the device was addressed to talk and an incomplete program message was received.] -430 “Query DEADLOCKED” [Indicates that a condition causing an DEADLOCKED Query error occurred (see IEEE 488.2, 6.3.1.7);...
  • Page 102 This information is subject to change without notice. © Keysight Technologies 2019 Edition 1.0, December 2019 www.keysight.com...

This manual is also suitable for:

N7781cN7785cN7786cN7788c

Table of Contents