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Chapter 2
Programming the Agilent E1446A
Chapter Contents
This chapter shows you how to program the Agilent E1446A using SCPI
Commands. The programming examples found in the chapter are
written in BASIC. The main sections of the chapter are:
• Instrument and Programming Languages . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
• Introductory Programs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
• Example Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
• Generating and Amplifying Sine Waves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
• Setting the Input Impedance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
• Setting DC Voltage Offsets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
• Using the Differential (small signal) Outputs. . . . . . . . . . 2-26
• Summing Two Signals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-31
Instrument and Programming Languages
Though the E1446A amplifier is a register-based device, this module can
be programmed with SCPI commands using the Agilent E1445A AFG
or Agilent E1405 Command Module. This section describes the SCPI
programming environment.
SCPI Programming SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments) is an
ASCII-based instrument command language designed for test and
measurement instruments. The Agilent E1445A AFG or the Agilent
E1405 Command Module (with the amplifier driver installed) interprets
the ASCII command strings and sets the amplifier accordingly. The
AFG and Command Module do this by writing to the amplifier registers.
SCPI Command
Structure
The Agilent E1446A SCPI command set is found in Chapter 3. SCPI
commands are based on a hierarchical structure, also known as a tree
system. In this system, associated commands are grouped together under
a common node or root, thus, forming subtrees or subsystems. An
example is the amplifier’s ’OUTPut2’ subsystem shown on the following
page:
Instrument and Programming Languages Programming the Agilent E1446A 2-1