Filter
Top Products
USING THE COMBISCOPE INSTRUMENTS 3 - 1
3 USING THE COMBISCOPE
INSTRUMENTS
3.1 Introduction
This chapter explains how to access the functions of the CombiScope instruments
family in a remote programming environment. For that purpose, the CombiScope
instrument is equipped with an IEEE-488 compatible GPIB interface and
implements a full SCPI compatible command set which provides an extensive
range of remote control facilities.
Traditionally, there was no standard for the remote operation of instruments. A
wide range of different command sets existed. Each set had its own terminology
and trade-offs, based upon the implementations and corresponding limitations of
the instrument. Similar functions in different instruments were controlled by
different commands. And, vice versa, identical commands could easily exist in
another instrument to control a different function. With new technologies and
increasing complexity, other programming concepts were introduced. This caused
programs with identical functions to look different when written for another
instrument.
The remote control of instruments became a cumbersome process, which
required a high learning curve for each new instrument and each additional
instrument. The time and costs to create and maintain application programs were
unnecessarily high due to the lack of standardization.
With the introduction of the Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments,
commonly called SCPI, a lot of progress has been made in this area. The
development time of an application program for SCPI-compatible instruments, like
the CombiScope instrument, is considerably reduced. This is mainly achieved by
the consistent programming environment for instrument control and data usage
across all types of instruments that, regardless of the manufacturer, is provided by
SCPI.
The standardized commands allow the same functions in different types of
instruments to be controlled by the same commands. For example, the query
MEASure:FREQuency? acquires the frequency characteristic of the input signal,
regardless of whether the instrument is a frequency counter, an oscilloscope, or
any other measuring instrument.