Hioki BT4560 User manual

Communication Command Instruction Manual
BT4560
Battery Impedance Meter
 This manual explains the communication commands for Model BT4560 Battery
Impedance Meter.
 Please refer to the instruction manual for Model BT4560 for details regarding
command settings.
 Although all reasonable care has been taken in the production of this manual, should you
find any points which are unclear or in error, please contact your local distributor or the
HIOKI International Sales Department at [e-mail].
 In the interest of product development, the contents of this manual may be subject to
revision without notice.
 Unauthorized copying and replication of the contents of this instruction manual are strictly
prohibited. All Rights Reserved.
Issued in November 2014 BT4560A987-00

Contents
1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1
Message Format ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Output Queue and Input Buffer ............................................................................................................. 5
Status Byte Register ............................................................................................................................... 6
Event Registers ....................................................................................................................................... 8
Initialization Items ................................................................................................................................ 11
Local Function ...................................................................................................................................... 11
Command Execution Time .................................................................................................................. 12
Errors During Communications .......................................................................................................... 12
2 Message List .......................................................................................................................................... 13
3 Message Reference............................................................................................................................... 16
Message Reference Interpretation ...................................................................................................... 16
Standard Commands ............................................................................................................................ 17
(1) System Data Command ......................................................................................................... 17
*IDN ................................................................................................................................................. 17
(2) Internal Operation Command ............................................................................................... 17
*RST ................................................................................................................................................ 17
*TST................................................................................................................................................. 17
(3) Synchronization Commands ................................................................................................ 18
*OPC ............................................................................................................................................... 18
*WAI ................................................................................................................................................. 18
(4) Status and Event Control Commands ................................................................................. 18
*CLS ................................................................................................................................................ 18
*ESE ................................................................................................................................................ 19
*ESR ................................................................................................................................................ 19
*SRE ................................................................................................................................................ 20
*STB ................................................................................................................................................ 20
*TRG ................................................................................................................................................ 21
Device-Specific Commands ................................................................................................................ 21
(1) Instrument Model Name ........................................................................................................ 21
:QPID ............................................................................................................................................... 21
(2) Event Status Register ............................................................................................................ 21
:ESE0 .............................................................................................................................................. 21
:ESR0 .............................................................................................................................................. 22
:ESE1 .............................................................................................................................................. 22
:ESR1 .............................................................................................................................................. 22
(3) I/O ............................................................................................................................................. 22
:IO:MODE? ...................................................................................................................................... 22
(4) Measurement Functions ........................................................................................................ 23
:FUNCtion ........................................................................................................................................ 23
(5) Measurement Frequency ...................................................................................................... 23
:FREQuency .................................................................................................................................... 23
(6) Measurement range .............................................................................................................. 24
:RANGe ........................................................................................................................................... 24
(7) Sampling Speed ..................................................................................................................... 24
:SAMPle:RATE ................................................................................................................................ 24
(8) Sample Delay ......................................................................................................................... 25
:SAMPle:DELay:MODE ................................................................................................................... 25
:SAMPle:DELay:WAVE ................................................................................................................... 25
:SAMPle:DELay:VOLTage .............................................................................................................. 25
(9) Potential Slope Correction ................................................................................................... 26
:ADJust:SLOPe ............................................................................................................................... 26
(10) Voltage Limit .......................................................................................................................... 26
:LIMiter ............................................................................................................................................. 26
:LIMiter:VOLTage ............................................................................................................................ 26
(11) Measurement Signal Zero Cross Stop ................................................................................. 26
:ZERO:CROSs ................................................................................................................................ 26
(12) Averaging ............................................................................................................................... 27
:CALCulate:AVERage ..................................................................................................................... 27

(13) Zero Adjustment .................................................................................................................... 27
:ADJust ............................................................................................................................................ 27
:ADJust:CLEar ................................................................................................................................. 27
:ADJust:DATA:ALL? ........................................................................................................................ 28
:ADJust:DATA:SPOT? .................................................................................................................... 29
:ADJust:STATe? .............................................................................................................................. 29
(14) Self-Calibration ...................................................................................................................... 30
:CALibration ..................................................................................................................................... 30
:CALibration:AUTO .......................................................................................................................... 30
(15) Comparator............................................................................................................................. 30
:CALCulate:LIMit:STATe .................................................................................................................. 30
:CALCulate:LIMit:BEEPer ............................................................................................................... 30
:CALCulate:LIMit:ABS ..................................................................................................................... 31
:CALCulate:LIMit:RESistance ......................................................................................................... 31
:CALCulate:LIMit:REACtance ......................................................................................................... 32
:CALCulate:LIMit:IMPedance .......................................................................................................... 32
:CALCulate:LIMit:PHASe ................................................................................................................ 33
:CALCulate:LIMit:VOLTage ............................................................................................................. 33
(16) Saving and Reading Measurement Conditions ................................................................. 34
:SAVE/:LOAD ................................................................................................................................... 34
:SAVE:CLEar ................................................................................................................................... 34
(17) System Reset ......................................................................................................................... 34
:SYSTem:RESet .............................................................................................................................. 34
(18) Key Beeper ............................................................................................................................. 34
:SYSTem:BEEPer ............................................................................................................................ 34
(19)Key-Lock ................................................................................................................................. 35
:SYSTem:KLOCk ............................................................................................................................. 35
(20) Communications Settings .................................................................................................... 35
:SYSTem:LOCal .............................................................................................................................. 35
(21) Header ..................................................................................................................................... 35
:SYSTem:HEADer ........................................................................................................................... 35
(22) Serial Number ........................................................................................................................ 35
:SYSTem:SERial ............................................................................................................................. 35
(23) LCD Settings .......................................................................................................................... 36
:SYSTem:DISPlay:CONTrast .......................................................................................................... 36
:SYSTem:DISPlay:BACKlight .......................................................................................................... 36
(24) Triggering ............................................................................................................................... 37
:INITiate:CONTinuous ..................................................................................................................... 38
:TRIGger:SOURce .......................................................................................................................... 38
:INITiate ........................................................................................................................................... 39
(25) Reading Measured Values ..................................................................................................... 40
:ABORt ............................................................................................................................................ 41
:MEASure:VALid ............................................................................................................................. 41
:FETCh? .......................................................................................................................................... 42
:FETCh:TEMPerature?.................................................................................................................... 42
:READ? ............................................................................................................................................ 43
5 Data Exporting Methods ....................................................................................................................... 44
6 Sample Programs .................................................................................................................................. 46
Using Visual Basic 5.0 or 6.0 ............................................................................................................... 46
RS-232C/USBCommunications (Using Microsoft Visual Basic Professional MSComm) ............... 46
Simple Measurement ............................................................................................................... 46
Measure by PC Key ................................................................................................................. 47
External Trigger Measurement ................................................................................................ 48
Set Measurement Conditions................................................................................................... 49
Using Visual Basic2013 ....................................................................................................................... 50

1
1 Introduction
If the [COMMAND MONITOR] function is used at the time of program creation, commands and responses will be
conveniently displayed on the measurement screen. For information on the [COMMAND MONITOR] function, see the
instruction manual of the instruments.
Various messages are supported for controlling the instrument through the interfaces.
Messages can be either program messages, sent from the controller such as PC to the instrument, or response
messages, sent from the instrument to the controller.
Message types are further categorized as follows.
Command Messages
Program Messages
Query Messages
Messages
Response Message
When issuing commands that contain data, make sure that the data is provided in the specified format.
Message Format
 Program Messages
Program messages can be either Command Messages or Query Messages.
(1) Command Messages
Instructions to control the instrument, such as to change settings or reset
Example: (instruction to set the measurement range)
SAMPLE:DELAY:WAVE 5
Header portion Space Data portion
(2) Query Messages
Requests for responses relating to results of operation or measurement, or the state of instrument settings
Example: (request for the current measurement range)
SAMPLE:DELAY:WAVE ?
Header portion Question mark
See: “Headers (p.2)”, “Separators (p.3)”, “Data Formats (p.4)”
Program Messages
Response Messages
Controller
Instrument

2
 Response Messages
When a query message is received, its syntax is checked and a response message is
generated. :SYSTem:HEADer command determines whether headers are prefixed to response messages.
Header ON :RANGE 3.0000E-3
Header OFF 3.0000E-3
(The current measurement range is 3mΩ)
At power-on, Header OFF is selected.
If an error occurs when a query message is received, no response message is generated for that query.
Some query message has no header, such as :FETCH?.
 Command Syntax
Command names are chosen to mnemonically represent their function, and can be abbreviated. The full command
name is called the “long form”, and the abbreviated name is called the “short form”. The command references in this
manual indicate the short form in upper-case letters, extended to the long form in lower case letters, although the
commands are not case-sensitive in actual usage.
CALIBRATION? OK (long form)
CAL OK (short form)
CALIB Error
CA Error
Response messages generated by the instrument are in long form and in upper case letters.
 Headers
Headers must always be prefixed to program messages.
(1) Command Program Headers
There are three types of commands: Simple, Compound and Standard.
• Headers for Simple Commands
This header type is a sequence of letters and digits
:ESE0
• Headers for Compound Commands
These headers consist of multiple simple command type headers separated by colons “:”
:SYSTem:RESet
• Headers for Standard Commands
This header type begins with an asterisk “*”, indicating that it is a standard command defined by IEEE 488.2.
*RST
(2) Query Program Header
These commands are used to interrogate the instrument about the results of operations, measured values and
the current states of instrument settings.
As shown by the following examples, a query is formed by appending a question mark “?” after a program
header.
:FETCh?
:CALCulate:LIMit:BEEPer?

3
 Message Terminators
This instrument recognizes the following message terminators (delimiters):
• CR
• CR+LF
Also the terminator for response messages is as follows:
• CR+LF
 Separators
(1) Message Unit Separator
Multiple messages can be written in one line by separating them with semicolons “;”
:FREQUENCY 1000;*IDN?
• When messages are combined in this way and if one command contains an error, all subsequent messages
up to the next terminator will be ignored.
(2) Header Separator
In a message consisting of both a header and data, the header is separated from the data by a space “ ” (ASCII
code 20H).
:SYSTEM:HEADER OFF
(3) Data Separator
In a message containing multiple data items, commas “,” are required to separate the data items from one
another.
:SAMPle:RATE V,MED

4
 Data Formats
The instrument uses character data, decimal numeric data and character string data depending on the command.
(1) Character Data
Character data always begins with an alphabetic character, and subsequent characters may be either
alphabetic or numeric. Character data is not case-sensitive, although response messages from the instrument
are only upper case. When the command data portion contains <1/0/ON/OFF>, the operation will be similar to
when 0 is OFF and 1 is ON.
:SYSTEM:HEADER OFF
(2) Decimal Numeric Data
Three formats are used for numeric data, identified as NR1, NR2 and NR3. Numeric values may be signed or
unsigned. Unsigned numeric values are handled as positive values. Values exceeding the precision handled by
the instrument are rounded to the nearest valid digit.
• NR1 Integer data (e.g.: +12, -23, 34)
• NR2 Fixed-point data (e.g.: +1.23, -23.45, 3.456)
• NR3 Floating-point exponential representation data (e.g.: +1.0E-2, -2.3E+4)
The term “NRf format” includes all three of the above numeric decimal formats.
The instrument accepts NRf format data. The format of response data is specified for each command, and the
data is sent in that format.
:ESE0 10
:FETCH?
+1.06571E-03

5
 Compound Command Header Omission
When several commands having a common header are combined to form a compound command (for
example, :CALCulate:LIMit:RESistance and :CALCulate:LIMit:VOLTage), if they are written together
in sequence, the common portion (here, :CALCulate:LIMit:) may be omitted after its initial occurrence.
This common portion is called the “current path” (analogous to the path concept in computer file storage), and until it
is cleared, the interpretation of subsequent commands presumes that they share the same common portion.
This usage of the current path is shown in the following example:
Full expression
:CALCulate:LIMit: RESistance 1.0E-2,5.0E-3 ;:CALCulate:LIMit: VOLTage 5.0,4.0
Compacted expression
:CALCulate:LIMit: RESistance 1.0E-2,5.0E-3;VOLTage 5.0,4.0
This portion becomes the current path, and can be omitted from the messages immediately following.
The current path is cleared when the power is turned on, when reset by key input, by a colon “:” at the start of a
command, and when a message terminator is detected.
Standard command messages can be executed regardless of the current path. They have no effect upon the current
path.
A colon “:” is not required at the start of the header of a Simple or Compound command. However, to avoid
confusion with abbreviated forms and operating mistakes, we recommend always placing a colon at the start of a
header.
Output Queue and Input Buffer
 Output Queue
Response messages are stored in the output queue until read by the controller. The output queue is also cleared in
the following circumstances:
• Power on
 Input Buffer
The input buffer capacity of the instrument is 256 bytes.
If 256 bytes are allowed to accumulate in this buffer so that it becomes full, the interface will not accept data beyond
256 bytes.
Note: Ensure that no command ever exceeds 256 bytes.

6
Status Byte Register
Standard Event Register Description
Output Queue data information
Each of these bits corresponds to a specific event register
bit7
bit6
bit5
bit4
bit3
bit2
bit1
bit0
Unused MSS ESB Unused Unused Unused ESB1 ESB0 Status Byte
Register (STB)
↑ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
Logical
sum
←& & & & & &
↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑
bit7
bit6
bit5
bit4
bit3
bit2
bit1
bit0
Unused 0 ESB Unused Unused Unused ESB1 ESB0
Service Request
Enable Register
(SRER)
Overview of Service Request Occurrence
The Status Byte Register contains information about the event registers and the output queue. Required items are
selected from this information by masking with the Service Request Enable Register. When any bit selected by the
mask is set, bit 6 (MSS; the Master Summary Status) of the Status Byte Register is also set.

7
 Status Byte Register (STB)
When any Status Byte Register bit enabled by the Service Request Enable Register has switched from 0 to 1, the
MSS bit becomes 1.
Although the MSS bit is only read by an *STB? query, it is not cleared until a clear event is initiated by the *CLS
command.
Bit 7
U
nused
Bit 6 MSS
This is the logical sum of the other bits of the Status Byte Register.
Bit 5 ESB
Standard Event Status (logical sum) bit
This is logical sum of the Standard Event Status Register.
Bit 4 MAV
Unused
Bit 3
U
nused
Bit 2
U
nused
Bit 1 ESB1
Event Status (logical sum) bit 1
This is the logical sum of Event Status Register 1.
Bit 0 ESB0
Event Status (logical sum) bit 0
This is the logical sum of Event Status Register 0.
 Service Request Enable Register (SRER)
This register masks the Status Byte Register. Setting a bit of this register to 1 enables the corresponding bit of the
Status Byte Register to be used.

8
Event Registers
 Standard Event Status Register (SESR)
The Standard Event Status Register is an 8-bit register. If any bit in the Standard Event Status Register is set to 1
(after masking by the Standard Event Status Enable Register), bit 5 (ESB) of the Status Byte Register is set to 1.
See: “Standard Event Status Register (SESR) and Standard Event Status Enable Register (SESER)” (p.9)
The Standard Event Status Register is cleared in the following situations:
• When a
* CLS command is executed
• When an event register query
( * ESR? )
is executed
• When the instrument is powered on
Bit 7 PON
Power
-On Flag
Set to 1 when the power is turned on, or upon recovery from an
outage.
Bit 6 (Unused)
URQ
User Request
Bit 5 CME
Command error (The command to the message terminator
is ignored.)
This bit
is set to 1 when a received command contains a
syntactic or semantic error:
•
Program header error
•
Incorrect number of data parameters
•
Invalid parameter format
•
Received a command not supported by the instrument
Bit 4 EXE
Execution Error
This bit is set to 1
when a received command cannot be
executed for some reason.
•
The specified data value is outside of the set range
•
The specified setting data cannot be set
•
Execution is prevented by some other operation being
performed
Bit 3 (Unused)
DDE
Device
-Dependent Error
This bit is set to 1 when a command cannot be executed due to
some reason other than a command error, a query error or an
execution error.
Bit 2 (Unused)
QYE
Query Error (the output queue is cleared)
This bit is set to 1 when a query error is detecte
d by the output
queue control.
•
When an attempt has been made to read an empty output
queue (GP-IB only)
•
When the data overflows the output queue
•
When data in the output queue has been lost
•
When the next command is received while there is data in the
output queue
Bit 1 (Unused)
RQC
Request Control
Bit 0 OPC
Operation Complete
This bit is set to 1 in response to an “
*OPC” command.
•
It indicates the completion of operations of all messages up to
the “*OPC” command

9
 Standard Event Status Enable Register (SESER)
Setting any bit of the Standard Event Status Enable Register to 1 enables access to the corresponding bit of the
Standard Event Status Register.
Standard Event Status Register (SESR) and Standard Event Status Enable Register (SESER)
Status Byte Register (STB)
b i t 6
b i t5
bit4
MSS ESB MAV
Standard Event Status Register (SESR)
b i t 7
b i t 6
bit5
bit4
bit3
bit2
b i t1
b i t 0
PON URQ CME EXE DDE QYE RQC OPC
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
Logical sum
←
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑
b i t 7
b i t 6
bit5
bit4
bit3
bit2
b i t1
b i t 0
PON URQ CME EXE DDE QYE RQC OPC
Standard Event Status Enable Register (SESER)
 Device-Specific Event Status Registers (ESR0 and ESR1)
This instrument provides two Event Status Registers for controlling events. Each event register is an 8-bit register.
When any bit in one of these Event Status Registers enabled by its corresponding Event Status Enable Register is
set to 1, the following happens:
• For Event Status Register 0, bit 0 (ESB0) of the Status Byte Register (STB) is set to 1.
• For Event Status Register 1, bit 1 (ESB1) of the Status Byte Register (STB) is set to 1.
Event Status Registers 0 and 1 are cleared in the following situations:
• When a *CLS command is executed
• When an Event Status Register query (:ESR0? or :ESR1?) is executed
• When the instrument is powered on

10
Event Status Register 1 (ESR1)
Bit 7
FAIL
Total Judgment FAIL
Bit 6
PASS
Total Judgment PASS
Bit 5
X/θ-Hi
X/θ Measurement High Comparator Result
Bit 4
X/θ-IN
X/θ Measurement IN Comparator Result
Bit 3
X/θ-Lo
X/θ Measurement Low Comparator Result
Bit 2
R/Z-Hi
R/Z Measurement High Comparator Result
Bit 1
R/Z-IN
R/Z Measurement IN Comparator Result
Bit 0
R/Z-Lo
R/Z Measurement Low Comparator Result
Event Status Registers 0 (ESR0) and 1 (ESR1), and Event Status Enable Registers 0 (ESER0) and 1 (ESER1)
Status Byte Register (STB)
bit2
bit1
bit0
ESB1
ESB0
Event Status Register 0 (ESR0)
bit7
bit6
bit5
bit4
bit3
bit2
bit1
bit0
Unused Unused ERR V-Hi V-IN V-Lo
INDEX EOM
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
Logical
sum
& & & & & & & &
↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑
bit7
bit6
bit5
bit4
bit3
bit2
bit1
bit0
Unused Unused ERR V-Hi V-IN V-Lo
INDEX EOM
Event Status Enable Register 0 (ESER0)
Event Status Register 1 (ESR1)
bit7
bit6
bit5
bit4
bit3
bit2
bit1
bit0
FAIL
PASS X/θ-Hi X/θ-IN X/θ-Lo R/Z-Hi R/Z-IN R/Z-Lo
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
Logical
sum
& & & & & & & &
↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑
bit7
bit6
bit5
bit4
bit3
bit2
bit1
bit0
FAIL
PASS X/θ-Hi X/θ-IN X/θ-Lo R/Z-Hi R/Z-IN R/Z-Lo
Event Status Enable Register 1 (ESER1)
Event Status Register 0 (ESR0)
Bit 7
Unused
Bit 6
Unused
Bit 5
ERR
Measurement Fault
Bit 4
V-Hi
V Measurement High Comparator Result
Bit 3
V-IN
V Measurement IN Comparator Result
Bit 2
V-Lo
V Measurement Low Comparator Result
Bit 1
INDEX
End of Reading
Bit 0
EOM
End of Measurement

11
 Register Reading and Writing
Register
Read
Write
Status Byte Register
*STB?
-
Service Request Enable Register
*SRE?
*SRE
Standard Event Status Register
*ESR?
-
Standard Event Status Enable Register
*ESE?
*ESE
Event Status Register 0
:ESR0?
-
Event Status Enable Register 0
:ESE0?
:ESE0
Event Status Register 1
:ESR1?
-
Event Status Enable Register 1
:ESE1?
:ESE1
Initialization Items
Initialization Method
Item
At
Power-on
*RST
Command
:SYSTem:R
ESET
Command
*CLS
Command
Factory
Default
RS-232C setting (baud rate)
-
-
-
-
9600
Device-specific functions (range, etc.)
-
●*1
●
-
●
Output Queue
●
-
-
-
●
Input buffer
●
-
-
-
●
Status Byte Register
●
-
-
●
●
Event registers
●*2
-
-
●
●
Enable register
●
-
-
-
●
Current path
●
-
-
-
●
Headers on/off
OFF
-
-
-
OFF
*1. Except the zero adjustment value and the saved data.
*2. Except the PON bit (bit 7).
Local Function
The Remote state is entered during communication. [RMT] is displayed in the measurement display and operation
keys are disabled.
 Canceling the Remote state
• Pressing the [LOCAL] key on the front panel cancels the Remote state and enables key operations.
• Sending :SYSTem:LOCal command can also cancel the Remote state.
LOCAL

12
Command Execution Time
Command execution time indicates the time for analyzing and processing long form commands.
• Display delays may occur depending on the frequency of communication processes and process contents.
• All commands except *TRG and :INIT are processed sequentially.
• In communications with the controller, time must be added for data transmission. Transfer time depends on the
controller.
The Transfer time, with start bit 1, data length 8, no parity, and stop bit 1, has a total of 10-bit. When the transfer
speed (baud rate) setting is N bps, the general result will be as follows:
Transfer time T [1 character/sec] = Baud rate N [bps]/10 [bits]
If a measurement value is 11 characters, a 1 data transfer time will be 11/T.
(Example) For 9600 bps, 11/(9600/10) = Approx. 11 ms
Command
Execution time (except communication time) *1
:ADJust? ALL
15 s or less
:FETCh?
4 ms or less
:READ?
Measurement time + 4 ms or less
:LOAD
90 ms or less
:CALibration?
Calibration time + 6 ms or less
*RST
75 ms or less
*1 The values indicate an execution time when the instrument is not under a measurement.
The execution time may increase during a measuremt.
Errors During Communications
An error occurs when messages are executed in the following cases:
• Command Error
When message syntax (spelling) is invalid
When the data format in a command or query is invalid
• Execution Error
When invalid character or numeric data is present

13
2 Message List
Message
Data Formats
Description
[ ]: Omissible
[ ]: Omissible
( ): Response data
Standard Commands
*IDN? (<Manufacturer name>,<Model name>,
<Serial number>, <Software version>) Queries the Instrument ID.
*RST
Initializes the Instrument.(Normal Reset)
*TST?
(0 to 1)
Initiates a self-test and queries the result.
*OPC Sets an OPC after execution completion.
*OPC?
(1)
Queries execution completion.
*WAI
Wait for operations to finish.
*CLS
Clears the Status Byte Register and the
related ques.
*ESE 0 to 255
Sets the Standard Event Status Enable
Register.
*ESE? (0 to 255)
Queries the Standard Event Status Enable
Register.
*ESR? (0 to 255) Queries the Standard Event Status Register.
*SRE
0 to 255
Sets the Service Request Enable Register.
*SRE? (0 to 255)
Queries the Service Request Enable
Register.
*STB?
(0 to 255)
Queries the Status Byte Register.
*TRG
Executes one sampling.
Instrument Model Name
:QPID
(BT4560)
Queries the instrument model name.
Event Registers
:ESE0 0 to 255
Sets the Event Status Enable
Register 0.
:ESE0? (0 to 255)
Queries the Event Status Enable
Register 0.
:ESR0?
(0 to 255)
Queries the Event Status Register 0.
:ESE1
0 to 255
Sets the Event Status Enable Register 1.
:ESE1?
(0 to 255)
Queries the Event Status Enable Register 1.
:ESR1? (0 to 255) Queries the Event Status Register 1.
I/O
:IO:MODE?
(NPN/PNP)
Queries the NPN/PNP switch status.
Measurement Functions
:FUNCtion RV/ZV/R/Z/V Sets the measurement function.
:FUNCtion?
(RV/ZV/R/Z/V)
Queries the measurement function.
Measurement Frequency
:FREQuency
<Frequency>
Sets the measurement frequency.
:FREQuency?
(<Frequency>)
Queries the measurement frequency.
Measurement Range
:RANGe
<Measurement range>
Sets the measurement range.
:RANGe?
(<Measurement range>)
Queries the measurement range.
Sampling Speed
:SAMPle:RATE
<V/Z>, <FAST/MEDium/SLOW >
Sets the sampling speed.
:SAMPle:RATE?
<V/Z>
(<FAST/MEDIUM/SLOW >)
Queries the sampling speed.
Sample Delay
:SAMPle:DELay:MODE WAVE/VOLTage Sets the sample delay mode.
:SAMPle:DELay:MODE?
(WAVE/VOLTAGE)
Queries the sample delay mode.
:SAMPle:DELay:WAVE <Wavenumber> = 0.0 to 9.0
Sets the sample delay with the frequency of
the alternating current signal.
:SAMPle:DELay:WAVE? (<Wavenumber>)
Queries the sample delay frequency of the
alternating current signal.
:SAMPle:DELay:VOLTage
<Deviation of voltage fluctuation >
=0.001 to 10.000
Sets the sample delay with the deviation of
voltage fluctuation.
:SAMPle:DELay:VOLTage? (<Deviation of voltage fluctuation >)
Queries the sample delay deviation of
voltage fluctuation.

14
Message
Data Formats
Description
[ ]: Omissible
[ ]: Omissible
( ): Response data
Voltage Limit
:LIMiter 1/0/ON/OFF Sets the voltage limit function.
:LIMiter?
(ON/OFF)
Queries the voltage limit function.
:LIMiter:VOLTage
<Voltage limit value>
=0.01 to 5.00
Sets the voltage limit value.
:LIMiter:VOLTage?
(<Voltage limit value>)
Queries the voltage limit value.
Measurement Signal Zero Cross Stop
:ZEOR:CROSs 1/0/ON/OFF
Sets the measurement signal zero cross
stop function.
:ZERO:CROSs? (ON/OFF)
Queries the measurement signal zero cross
stop function.
Averaging
:CALCulate:AVERage
<Averaging count>
Sets the measurement averaging.
:CALCulate:AVERage?
(<Averaging count>)
Queries the measurement averaging.
Zero Adjustment
:ADJust?
<SPOT/ALL>
(0/1)
Executes zero adjustment and queries the
result.
:ADJust:CLEar
Clears zero adjustment.
:ADJust:DATA:ALL?
V/R/RV
(<Adjusted value V>,<Adjusted value R at
10Hz>,<Adjusted value X at
10Hz>,<Adjusted value R at
100Hz>,<Adjusted value X at
100Hz>,<Adjusted value R at
330Hz>,<Adjusted value X at
330Hz>,<Adjusted value R at
660Hz>,<Adjusted value X at
660Hz>,<Adjusted value R at
1kHz>,<Adjusted value X at 1kHz>)
Queries the zero adjustment value (ALL).
:ADJust:DATA:SPOT?
V/R/RV
(<Adjusted value V>,<Adjusted value
R>,<Adjusted value X>)
Queries the zero adjustment value (SPOT).
:ADJust:STATe? (ON/OFF) Queries the state of zero adjustment execution.
Potential Slope Correction
Adjust:SLOPe 1/0/ON/OFF
Sets the slope correction for AC signal
response.
Adjust:SLOPe? (ON/OFF)
Queries the slope correction for AC signal
response.
Self-Calibration
:CALibration Executes self-calibration.
:CALibration:AUTO
1/0/ON/OFF
Sets the automatic self-calibration.
:CALibration:AUTO?
(ON/OFF)
Queries the automatic self-calibration.
Comparator
:CALCulate:LIMit:STATe
1/0/ON/OFF
Sets the comparator.
:CALCulate:LIMit:STATe?
(ON/OFF)
Queries the comparator.
:CALCulate:LIMit:BEEPer
OFF/HL/IN/ALL
Sets the beep sound.
:CALCulate:LIMit:BEEPer? (OFF/HL/IN/ALL) Queries the beep sound.
:CALCulate:LIMit:ABS 1/0/ON/OFF
Sets the judgement of the voltage
component comparator with the absolute
value
:CALCulate:LIMit:ABS? (ON/OFF)
Queries the judgement of the voltage
component comparator with the absolute
value
:CALCulate:LIMit:RESistance <Upper limit>,<Lower limit>
Sets the upper/lower limits for the resistance
component.
:CALCulate:LIMit:RESistance? (<Upper limit>,<Lower limit>)
Queries the upper/lower limits for the
resistance component.
:CALCulate:LIMit:REACtance <Upper limit>,<Lower limit>
Sets the upper/lower limits for the reactance
component.
:CALCulate:LIMit:REACtance? (<Upper limit>,<Lower limit>)
Queries the upper/lower limits for the
reactance component.
:CALCulate:LIMit:IMPedance <Upper limit>,<Lower limit>
Sets the upper/lower limits for the
impedance component.
:CALCulate:LIMit:IMPedance? (<Upper limit>,<Lower limit>)
Queries the upper/lower limits for the
impedance component.
:CALCulate:LIMit:PHASe <Upper limit>,<Lower limit>
Sets the upper/lower limits for the phase
component.

15
Message
Data Formats
Description
[ ]: Omissible
[ ]: Omissible
( ): Response data
:CALCulate:LIMit:PHASe? (<Upper limit>,<Lower limit>)
Queries the upper/lower limits for the phase
component.
:CALCulate:LIMit:VOLTage <Upper limit>,<Lower limit>
Sets the upper/lower limits for the voltage
component.
:CALCulate:LIMit:VOLTage? (<Upper limit>,<Lower limit>)
Queries the upper/lower limits for the voltage
component.
Saving and Reading Measurement
Conditions
:SAVE
Save No.
Saves the measurement conditions.
:SAVE
：
CLEar
Save No.
Clears the saved measurement conditions.
:LOAD
Save No.
Reads the measurement conditions.
System Reset
:SYSTem:RESet
Initializes the instrument.(System Reset)
Key-Lock
:SYSTem:KLOCk
1/0/ON/OFF
Sets the key-lock.
:SYSTem:KLOCk?
(ON/OFF)
Queries the key-lock.
Key Beeper
:SYSTem:BEEPer
1/0/ON/OFF
Sets the key beeper.
:SYSTem:BEEPer?
(ON/OFF)
Queries the key beeper.
Communications Settings
:SYSTem:LOCal
Cancels the communication (remote) state.
Header Presence
:SYSTem:HEADer
1/0/ON/OFF
Sets the header presence.
:SYSTem:HEADer? (ON/OFF) Queries the header presence.
Serial Number
:SYSTem:SERial?
Serial number
Queries the serial number.
LCD Settings
:SYSTem:DISPlay:CONTrast
<Contrast>
=1 to 100
Sets the contrast.
:SYSTem:DISPlay:CONTrast?
(<Contrast>)
Queries the contrast.
:SYSTem:DISPlay:BACKlight
<Brightness>
=10 to 100
Sets the backlight brightness.
:SYSTem:DISPlay:BACKlight?
(<Brightness>)
Queries the backlight brightness.
Triggering
:TRIGger:SOURce IMMediate/EXTernal Sets the trigger source.
:TRIGger:SOURce?
(IMMediate/EXTernal)
Queries the trigger source.
:INITiate:CONTinuous 1/0/ON/OFF
Sets continuous measurement
(permits/prohibits transition to the idle state).
:INITiate:CONTinuous?
(ON/OFF)
Queries the continuous measurement.
:INITiate Transits to the trigger waiting state.
Reading Measured Values
:ABORt
Measurement is aborted (forcibly
terminated).
:MEASure:Valid
<MR0>
=1 to 7
Sets the response data to be returned from a
measurement value reading query.
:MEASure:Valid? (<MR0>)
Queries the response data for a
measurement value reading query.
:FETCh?
(<Total judgment result>,<Measurement
value>,<Judgment result>,<Measurement
value>,<Judgment result>,…)
Queries the last measurement value.
:FETCh:TEMPerature? (<Temperature measurement value>)
Queries the temperature measurement
value.
:READ?
(<Total judgment result>,<Measurement
value>,<Judgment result>,<Measurement
value>,<Judgment result>,…)
Cancels the idle state and queries the
measurement value after the measurement
is completed.

16
3 Message Reference
Message Reference Interpretation
< >: Indicates the contents (character or numeric parameters) of
the data portion of a message. Character parameters are
returned as all capital letters.
Numeric Parameters:
• NRf Number format may be any of NR1, NR2 and NR3
• NR1 Integer data (e.g.: +12, -23, 34)
• NR2 Fixed-point data (e.g.: +1.23, -23.45, 3.456)
• NR3 Floating-point exponential representation data
(e.g.: +1.0E-2, -2.3E+4)
Shows the command
description.
Shows the message
syntax.
Explains the command
data or response message.
Describes the message.
Shows an example of
an actual command
application. (Normally
described with HEADER OFF
[except the HEADER
command itself].)
Read/Write the Standard Event Status Enable Register (SESER)
Syntax
Command
*ESE
<0 to 255 (N R 1 ) >
Query
*ESE?
Response
<0 to 255 (N R 1 )>
Description
Command
The SESER mask is set to the numerical value 0 to 255.
The initial value (at power-on) is 0.
Query
The contents of the SESER, as set by the *ESE
command, are returned as an NR1 value (0 to 255).
128
64
32
16
8
4
2
1
b i t 7
b i t 6
b i t 5
b i t 4
b i t 3
b i t 2
b i t 1
b i t 0
PON
URQ
CME
EXE
DDE
QYE
RQC
OPC
Example
*ESE 36
(Sets bits 5 and 2 of SESER)
Command, Query
Response
Controller Instrument

17
Standard Commands
(1) System Data Command
Query Instrument ID (Identification Code)
Syntax
Query
*IDN?
Response <Manufacturer name>,<Model name>,<Serial number>,<Software version>
Example
*IDN?
HIOKI, BT4560,123456,V1.00
The Instrument ID is HIOKI BT4560, serial number 123456, software version 1.00.
(2) Internal Operation Command
Execute Self-Test and Query Result
Syntax
Query
*TST?
Response
<0 to 1 (NR1)>
<0> = No error
<1> = ROM error
Description
Perform the instrument self-test and return the result as NR1 value 0 or 1.
Returns zero when no error occurs.
Example
*TST?
1
A ROM error occurred.
Initialize Instrument (Normal Reset)
Syntax
Command
*RST
Description
Command Resets the instrument to factory settings excluding
the communication state, ,
zero adjustment value and saved data.(Normal Reset)
The initial display is displayed after initialization.
Note
The communication state is not initialized.
Use the :SYSTem:RESet command(p.34) to initialize the zero adjustment value
and saved data.