B+K precision 4014B User manual

Model: 4014B, 4040B, 4045B
Function Generator
Software Help Document

Overview
The B&K Precision 4014B/4040B and 4045B provides a standard set of protocols that
allows for remote control over PC. This software allows for basic controls and virtual
front panel emulation to allow you to control most of the adjustable parameters of the
instrument.
Note: The model 4045B includes the arbitrary waveform function, however this
software does not support configuring for this output. To create arbitrary waveforms,
please visit www.bkprecision.com and download the WaveX software.
System Requirements
The below system requirements must be met to run this software:
- Windows XP/Vista/7 (32-bit or 64-bit)
- 512MB or higher
- USB Drivers installed (download from www.bkprecision.com )

Getting Started
Panel Controls
1 Initialize/Communication Control
2 Display Panel
3 Waveform Buttons
4 Waveform Parameter Control
5 Save/Recall Settings Control
6 Trigger Settings Control
7 Modulation Settings Control
8 Sweep Settings Control
9 Output Control
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Enable Echoing
The instrument may be shipped with default setting for character echo disabled. In
order to use the software, echoing must be enabled.
To enable echoing, follow the steps below:
1. Press “UTIL” and “F4” to select “Counter”.
2. Now, press “F4” three times to enter a system menu.
3. Press “F2” to select “Echo” and use the rotary knob to change Echo to “ON”.
4. Afterwards, press the “Sine” waveform button or any of the waveform buttons to
exit the menu. Echo is not enabled.
Connecting with the Instrument
The first thing to do when using the software is to have it successfully connected to the
instrument. You will use the controls shown below:
Initialize connection
When the software application is launched, it automatically detects the available serial
COM ports registered with Windows.
From the drop-down menu, select the COM port number that is linked with the USB
virtual COM port of the instrument.
When you initially connect to the USB port of the instrument, it will ask you to install the
USB drivers. Follow the instructions in the user manual to properly install the USB
drivers. When finished, go to “Device Manager” in Windows Properties to verify which
COM port the instrument is assigned to. It should say BK Precision USB to Serial
Converter (COM#) where #is the COM port number that you will use to connect to the
instrument.

Click the “Connect” button and wait a few seconds. The round red light will turn green
to indicate that it’s successfully connected to the instrument. During this time, the
software will get information from the instrument to update most of the currently
configured information, such as Waveform Shape, Frequency, Amplitude, Offset,
Trigger Mode, Sweep, and Modulation. When finished, it will show the identification
string at the bottom of the software indicating the model and the firmware version of the
instrument.
Close connection
When you want to stop or disconnect communication to/from the instrument, click the
“Close Port” button. The COM port will close and disable any communication to/from
the instrument.
Configure Basic Waveform Output
There are 5 parameters that can be configured to setup a basic waveform for output:
Frequency, Amplitude, DC Offset, Duty Cycle/Symmetry, Waveform Shape.
The controls to adjust these parameters are shown below:
Set Frequency
To set the frequency of the waveform, enter the numeric value in the input box next to
Set Frequency . Afterwards, press either “MHz”, “kHz”, or “Hz” button to set the
frequency and its corresponding unit.
For example, to set the waveform to 1.2345 kHz, type in “1.2345” in the input box and
press “kHz”.

Note: The minimum and maximum frequency limits will apply. An error will occur if you
enter a frequency outside the supported range. The limits will vary depending on the
waveform shape selected.
Set Amplitude/DC Offset
To set the amplitude or DC offset of the waveform, enter the numeric value in the input
box next to Set Amplitude or Set Offset . Afterwards, press “V” to set the amplitude or
offset in volts. The acceptable range is: 0.010 V (10 mV) to 10 V.
Note: Amplitude and Offset have some constraints due to hardware limitations. In any
instance, the amplitude and DC offset must satisfy the below formula, or it becomes an
invalid setting:
𝑉𝑝𝑝
2+|𝑂𝑓𝑓𝑠𝑒𝑡|≤5 𝑉
Set Duty Cycle/Symmetry
To set the duty cycle (square) or symmetry (triangle) of the waveform, enter the numeric
value in the input box next to Set Duty Cycle/Symmetry . Afterwards, press the “%”
button.
Square wave duty cycle can be adjusted from 20% to 80%, but frequency must be less
than or equal to 2 MHz.
Triangle/ramp wave symmetry can be adjusted from 1% to 99%, but frequency must be
less than or equal to 200 kHz.
Change Waveform Shape
To change the waveform shape, select the “Sine”, “Ramp”, or “Square” buttons. Once
changed, the display panel will also change the illustration of the waveform.
Save/Recall Settings
The instruments can save or recall settings to and from within internal non-volatile
storage memory. 4014B can store up to 9 user settings and 4040B and 4045B can
store up to 19 user settings. One memory location is reserved for the default setting
and cannot be changed.
To controls to save/recall settings are:

Save Settings
Configure the instrument to the settings you want to save. Then, enter a number
between 1 – 9 (4014B) or 1 – 19 (4040B and 4045B) in the Memory location input box.
Then click the “Save” button and all the current instrument settings will be stored to the
designated memory location.
Recall Settings
Enter a number between 1 – 9 (4014B) or 1 – 19 (4040B and 4045B) in the Memory
location input box which contains the instrument settings you want to recall from a
previous save.
Then click the “Recall” button and the instrument will be updated with those settings.
Restore to Factory Default
Click the “Recall Factory Default” button to set the instrument back to factory default
settings.
Trigger Setup
To configure the trigger settings, the first configure the Trigger Mode.

Configure Trigger Mode
The instrument has four different triggering modes: Continuous, Triggered, Gate, Burst.
Continuous – The instrument will output the waveform continuously without the need to
specify any trigger parameters. This is the default mode of the instrument, and it’s also
the mode used for sweep function and modulation.
Triggered – The instrument can provide a user configurable rate to internally trigger
one cycle of the waveform per trigger. It can also be configured for external triggering
where an external signal is used to trigger one cycle of the waveform.
Gated – The instrument can provide a user configurable rate to internally gate trigger
the waveform. When gate is high the output will be a continuous waveform, and when
low it will be off. External trigger can also be used for gated triggering.
Burst – Burst allows the instrument to trigger multiple cycles of the waveform within a
given trigger rate internally, or from an external trigger signal.
Use the drop down menu to select the trigger mode, and then press the “Set” button
next to it to set to that mode.
Note: Modulation or sweep functions will be disabled when trigger mode is set because
these functions require operating in Continuous mode only.
Configure Trigger Source
The source of the trigger can come from internally of the instrument or from an external
signal connected to the rear Trig In terminal.
To set for internal trigger, select Internal under the Trigger Source drop-down menu,
then press the “Set” button next to it.
To set for external trigger, select External under the Trigger Source drop-down menu,
then press the “Set” button next to it.
Configure Trigger Rate
This option is available and applicable for when Trigger Mode is configured to
Triggered, Gated, or Burst. Also, trigger source must be set to Internal, as this
parameter uses the internal trigger source.

To configure, enter a value in the input box and press either “us”, “ms”, or “s” to set the
time unit.
The trigger rate range is 10 ms – 10 s. However, depending on the frequency of the
waveform these limits may change. In some cases, if the settings conflict you will get a
“Trig rate short” error on the screen of the instrument. This happens if frequency is set
much higher than the trigger rate can support.
Configure Burst Cycle
This parameter is when Trigger mode is set to Burst. Users can specify the number of
cycles to burst. Acceptable values are from 1 to 65535. However, this range can vary
depending on the frequency of the signal and the rate of the burst.
Enter a value in the input box next to Burst Cycle and press the “Set” button next to it
to configure the number of cycles.
Sweep Setup
Sweep function is available only for Continuous trigger mode. It does not support all
other modes.
There are 4 parameters to configure for sweep function: Start Frequency, Stop
Frequency, Sweep Rate, Sweep Type.
Configure Start and Stop Frequency
Use the input box next to start and stop to enter the start and stop frequency. Use the
“MHz”, “kHz”, and “Hz” button next to the inputs to enter the corresponding frequency
unit.

Note: To sweep in reverse direction, simply change the frequency values between start
and stop frequency.
Configure Sweep Rate
The sweep rate is controlled by the instrument and can be set to any time between 10
ms to 100 s. On the software, this rate must be specified in seconds. For example, to
set to 20 ms, type in 0.020 and then press “s”.
Configure Sweep Type
The instrument supports linear or logarithmic sweep. Click the “Linear” button for linear
sweep, and “Log” button for log sweep.
The sweep will automatically turn on once either of these buttons are clicked.
To disable the sweep function at any time, press the “Disable Sweep” button.
Modulation Setup
Trigger mode is automatically set to Continuous when modulation type is configured. If
sweep function was enabled prior, it will automatically be disabled before enabling
modulation.
The above shows all the parameters that are adjustable for modulation function. The
first parameter to configure is Modulation Type.
Configure Modulation Type
AM Internal, AM External, FM Internal, and FM External are all selectable modulation
types. Internal refers to using Internal source, and External refers to using external
source.

Once you select the type from the drop down menu, press the “Set” button next to it.
The instrument will automatically enable modulation and output a modulated waveform
if it’s set to AM Internal or FM Internal. If it’s configured for AM External or FM
External, the modulated waveform will output when an external signal is connected into
the Modulation In terminal in the rear panel of the instrument.
Configure Modulation Shape
The shape of the modulating signal can be selected between Sine, Square, and
Triangle. For model 4014B, only Sine is available.
Use the drop down box to select one, and then press the “Set” button next to it to set
the modulation shape.
Configure Depth AM
The depth percentage for AM modulation can be specified when the instrument is in AM
Internal. Enter a value between 0 – 100 and press “%” to set the depth percentage.
Configure FM Deviation
FM deviation is for FM modulation and only if it’s set for FM Internal, as the deviation
settings are generated internally. Enter a frequency value and use the “MHz”, “kHz”, or
“Hz” buttons to set the deviation frequency.
Configure Modulating Frequency
The modulating frequency is for internal source only, so the modulation type must be
set to AM Internal or FM Internal first.
Enter a value between 0.1 Hz – 20 kHz. Then, press the “kHz” or “Hz” button to set the
modulating frequency.
Disable Modulation
To stop or disable modulation at any time, press the “Disable Modulation” button and
the instrument will return to normal output.
Control Output State

The instrument has an output ON/OFF button to enable/disable the waveform output.
To turn ON the output, press the “ON” button and the square indicator will turn green.
To turn OFF the output, press the “OFF” button and the square indicator will no longer
be green.
FAQ
Q: I pressed connect, but the wait icon keeps running and nothing is happening.
- This could be caused by several reasons, and you’ll have to force close the
application before checking any of these:
1. Connection is incorrect, or USB drivers are not installed correctly. Make sure
you download and install the correct drivers from www.bkprecision.com
2. The instrument is not recognizing the serial port after USB drivers are
installed. You may need to reboot your system after the drivers are installed.
Also, the driver requires Windows XP/Vista/7 OS.
3. Echo is not enabled. Go to the “Enable Echoing” section to enable echoing.
Afterwards, try connecting again.
Q: I’m trying to set burst while I sweep the frequency but it will not allow me.
- Burst sweep as well as modulation are not supported. Sweep and Modulation
function will require the instrument to be in continuous mode for it to function
properly.
Q: Why does it take so long to boot up or to change settings?
- Because there is a virtual display available in the software, delay time is included
to process all the commands to query information from the device. Therefore, it
takes a few seconds to update parameters and settings.