Keithley S530 User manual

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S530/S540 Parametric Test System
KTE Linear Parametric Test Library Manual
S530-900-01 Rev. E / September 2017
*PS530-900-01E*
S530-900-01E
A Tektronix Company

KTE Linear Parametric Test Library (LPTLib)
User's Manual
© 2017, Keithley Instruments
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A.
All rights reserved.
Any unauthorized reproduction, photocopy, or use of the information herein, in whole or in part,
without the prior written approval of Keithley Instruments is strictly prohibited.
These are the original instructions in English.
All Keithley Instruments product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of Keithley
Instruments. Other brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
holders.
Document number: S530-900-01 Rev. E / September 2017
S530/S540

Safety precautions
The following safety precautions should be observed before using this product and any associated instrumentation. Although
some instruments and accessories would normally be used with nonhazardous voltages, there are situations where hazardous
conditions may be present.
This product is intended for use by personnel who recognize shock hazards and are familiar with the safety precautions required
to avoid possible injury. Read and follow all installation, operation, and maintenance information carefully before using the
product. Refer to the user documentation for complete product specifications.
If the product is used in a manner not specified, the protection provided by the product warranty may be impaired.
The types of product users are:
Responsible body is the individual or group responsible for the use and maintenance of equipment, for ensuring that the
equipment is operated within its specifications and operating limits, and for ensuring that operators are adequately trained.
Operators use the product for its intended function. They must be trained in electrical safety procedures and proper use of the
instrument. They must be protected from electric shock and contact with hazardous live circuits.
Maintenance personnel perform routine procedures on the product to keep it operating properly, for example, setting the line
voltage or replacing consumable materials. Maintenance procedures are described in the user documentation. The procedures
explicitly state if the operator may perform them. Otherwise, they should be performed only by service personnel.
Service personnel are trained to work on live circuits, perform safe installations, and repair products. Only properly trained
service personnel may perform installation and service procedures.
Keithley Instruments products are designed for use with electrical signals that are measurement, control, and data I/O
connections, with low transient overvoltages, and must not be directly connected to mains voltage or to voltage sources with high
transient overvoltages. Measurement Category II (as referenced in IEC 60664) connections require protection for high transient
overvoltages often associated with local AC mains connections. Certain Keithley Instruments measuring instruments may be
connected to mains. These instruments will be marked as category II or higher.
Unless explicitly allowed in the specifications, operating manual, and instrument labels, do not connect any instrument to mains.
Exercise extreme caution when a shock hazard is present. Lethal voltage may be present on cable connector jacks or test
fixtures. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) states that a shock hazard exists when voltage levels greater than
30 V RMS, 42.4 V peak, or 60 VDC are present. A good safety practice is to expect that hazardous voltage is present in any
unknown circuit before measuring.
Operators of this product must be protected from electric shock at all times. The responsible body must ensure that operators
are prevented access and/or insulated from every connection point. In some cases, connections must be exposed to potential
human contact. Product operators in these circumstances must be trained to protect themselves from the risk of electric shock. If
the circuit is capable of operating at or above 1000 V, no conductive part of the circuit may be exposed.
Do not connect switching cards directly to unlimited power circuits. They are intended to be used with impedance-limited
sources. NEVER connect switching cards directly to AC mains. When connecting sources to switching cards, install protective
devices to limit fault current and voltage to the card.
Before operating an instrument, ensure that the line cord is connected to a properly-grounded power receptacle. Inspect the
connecting cables, test leads, and jumpers for possible wear, cracks, or breaks before each use.
When installing equipment where access to the main power cord is restricted, such as rack mounting, a separate main input
power disconnect device must be provided in close proximity to the equipment and within easy reach of the operator.
For maximum safety, do not touch the product, test cables, or any other instruments while power is applied to the circuit under
test. ALWAYS remove power from the entire test system and discharge any capacitors before: connecting or disconnecting
cables or jumpers, installing or removing switching cards, or making internal changes, such as installing or removing jumpers.
Do not touch any object that could provide a current path to the common side of the circuit under test or power line (earth)
ground. Always make measurements with dry hands while standing on a dry, insulated surface capable of withstanding the
voltage being measured.

For safety, instruments and accessories must be used in accordance with the operating instructions. If the instruments or
accessories are used in a manner not specified in the operating instructions, the protection provided by the equipment may be
impaired.
Do not exceed the maximum signal levels of the instruments and accessories. Maximum signal levels are defined in the
specifications and operating information and shown on the instrument panels, test fixture panels, and switching cards.
When fuses are used in a product, replace with the same type and rating for continued protection against fire hazard.
Chassis connections must only be used as shield connections for measuring circuits, NOT as protective earth (safety ground)
connections.
If you are using a test fixture, keep the lid closed while power is applied to the device under test. Safe operation requires the use
of a lid interlock.
The symbol on an instrument means caution, risk of hazard. The user must refer to the operating instructions located in the
user documentation in all cases where the symbol is marked on the instrument.
The symbol on an instrument means warning, risk of electric shock. Use standard safety precautions to avoid personal
contact with these voltages.
The symbol on an instrument shows that the surface may be hot. Avoid personal contact to prevent burns.
The symbol indicates a connection terminal to the equipment frame.
If this symbol is on a product, it indicates that mercury is present in the display lamp. Please note that the lamp must be
properly disposed of according to federal, state, and local laws.
The WARNING heading in the user documentation explains dangers that might result in personal injury or death. Always read
the associated information very carefully before performing the indicated procedure.
The CAUTION heading in the user documentation explains hazards that could damage the instrument. Such damage may
invalidate the warranty.
The CAUTION heading with the symbol in the user documentation explains hazards that could result in moderate or minor
injury or damage the instrument. Always read the associated information very carefully before performing the indicated
procedure. Damage to the instrument may invalidate the warranty.
Instrumentation and accessories shall not be connected to humans.
Before performing any maintenance, disconnect the line cord and all test cables.
To maintain protection from electric shock and fire, replacement components in mains circuits — including the power
transformer, test leads, and input jacks — must be purchased from Keithley Instruments. Standard fuses with applicable national
safety approvals may be used if the rating and type are the same. The detachable mains power cord provided with the
instrument may only be replaced with a similarly rated power cord. Other components that are not safety-related may be
purchased from other suppliers as long as they are equivalent to the original component (note that selected parts should be
purchased only through Keithley Instruments to maintain accuracy and functionality of the product). If you are unsure about the
applicability of a replacement component, call a Keithley Instruments office for information.
Unless otherwise noted in product-specific literature, Keithley Instruments instruments are designed to operate indoors only, in
the following environment: Altitude at or below 2,000 m (6,562 ft); temperature 0 °C to 50 °C (32 °F to 122 °F); and pollution
degree 1 or 2.
To clean an instrument, use a cloth dampened with deionized water or mild, water-based cleaner. Clean the exterior of the
instrument only. Do not apply cleaner directly to the instrument or allow liquids to enter or spill on the instrument. Products that
consist of a circuit board with no case or chassis (e.g., a data acquisition board for installation into a computer) should never
require cleaning if handled according to instructions. If the board becomes contaminated and operation is affected, the board
should be returned to the factory for proper cleaning/servicing.
Safety precaution revision as of June 2017.

General information.................................................................................................1-1
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1-1
Manual contents................................................................................................................... 1-1
Linear Parametric Test Library................................................................................2-1
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 2-1
Measuring ............................................................................................................................ 2-1
Ordinary measurements............................................................................................................2-1
Averaged measurements..........................................................................................................2-2
Integrated measurements.........................................................................................................2-2
Sourcing and limits............................................................................................................... 2-2
Ranging................................................................................................................................ 2-3
Smart ranging............................................................................................................................2-3
Sticky ranging............................................................................................................................2-3
Settling time ..............................................................................................................................2-4
Fixed ranging ............................................................................................................................2-4
Range limits ..............................................................................................................................2-4
Matrix operations.................................................................................................................. 2-4
Sweeping ............................................................................................................................. 2-5
Triggers................................................................................................................................ 2-6
GPIB..................................................................................................................................... 2-6
Instruments and instrument drivers...................................................................................... 2-7
Instrument and terminal IDs................................................................................................. 2-9
Optimizing test sequences................................................................................................... 2-9
Specify the default system speed mode..................................................................................2-10
Fixed range versus autorange measurements........................................................................2-10
Fix-range trigger instruments ..................................................................................................2-10
Use combination commands...................................................................................................2-10
Editing the icconfig_<QMO>.ini file.................................................................................... 2-11
Default system speed..............................................................................................................2-11
Default maximum voltage........................................................................................................2-12
Error handling..................................................................................................................... 2-12
Calling the getlpterr function....................................................................................................2-12
Error messages.......................................................................................................................2-13
Special error values returned..................................................................................................2-13
LPTLib command reference....................................................................................3-1
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 3-1
Conventions used in this manual..............................................................................................3-1
Categorized command lists.................................................................................................. 3-2
Matrix commands......................................................................................................................3-3
Range commands.....................................................................................................................3-3
Source commands....................................................................................................................3-3
Measure commands..................................................................................................................3-3
Table of contents

Table of contents
S530/S540 KTE Linear Parametric Test Library (LPTLib) User's Manual
Scope card commands .............................................................................................................3-4
Pulse generator commands ......................................................................................................3-4
Combination commands ...........................................................................................................3-5
Timing commands.....................................................................................................................3-5
GPIB commands.......................................................................................................................3-5
General commands...................................................................................................................3-6
LPTLib commands............................................................................................................... 3-7
addcon......................................................................................................................................3-7
adelay .......................................................................................................................................3-8
asweepX...................................................................................................................................3-8
avgX........................................................................................................................................3-11
bmeasX...................................................................................................................................3-13
bsweepX.................................................................................................................................3-15
clrcon ......................................................................................................................................3-17
clrscn.......................................................................................................................................3-17
clrtrg........................................................................................................................................ 3-19
conpin .....................................................................................................................................3-21
conpth.....................................................................................................................................3-22
delay .......................................................................................................................................3-24
delcon .....................................................................................................................................3-25
devclr ......................................................................................................................................3-26
devint ......................................................................................................................................3-26
disable.....................................................................................................................................3-28
enable.....................................................................................................................................3-28
forceX......................................................................................................................................3-29
getlpterr...................................................................................................................................3-30
getstatus..................................................................................................................................3-31
imeast .....................................................................................................................................3-32
insbind.....................................................................................................................................3-32
intgX........................................................................................................................................3-34
kibdefclr...................................................................................................................................3-36
kibdefint...................................................................................................................................3-37
kibrcv.......................................................................................................................................3-38
kibsnd......................................................................................................................................3-39
kibspl....................................................................................................................................... 3-40
kibsplw....................................................................................................................................3-41
limitX.......................................................................................................................................3-41
lorangeX..................................................................................................................................3-42
measX.....................................................................................................................................3-45
mpulse ....................................................................................................................................3-47
pgu_current_limit.....................................................................................................................3-48
pgu_delay................................................................................................................................3-48
pgu_fall ...................................................................................................................................3-49
pgu_halt..................................................................................................................................3-49
pgu_height..............................................................................................................................3-50
pgu_init ...................................................................................................................................3-50
pgu_load.................................................................................................................................3-51
pgu_mode...............................................................................................................................3-51
pgu_offset ...............................................................................................................................3-52
pgu_period..............................................................................................................................3-52
pgu_range...............................................................................................................................3-53
pgu_rise..................................................................................................................................3-53
pgu_select...............................................................................................................................3-54
pgu_trig...................................................................................................................................3-54
pgu_trig_burst.........................................................................................................................3-55
pgu_trig_unit...........................................................................................................................3-56
pgu_width................................................................................................................................3-57
pulseX.....................................................................................................................................3-57
rangeX ....................................................................................................................................3-60
rdelay......................................................................................................................................3-62

S530/S540 KTE Linear Parametric Test Library (LPTLib) User's Manual Table
of contents
refctrl.......................................................................................................................................3-62
rtfary........................................................................................................................................3-63
savgX......................................................................................................................................3-64
scp_close................................................................................................................................3-65
scp_detect_peaks...................................................................................................................3-66
scp_init....................................................................................................................................3-67
scp_measure...........................................................................................................................3-68
scp_measure_next..................................................................................................................3-69
scp_selftest.............................................................................................................................3-70
scp_setup................................................................................................................................3-70
searchX...................................................................................................................................3-71
setauto....................................................................................................................................3-74
setmode..................................................................................................................................3-74
setmode modifier tables..........................................................................................................3-76
setXmtr....................................................................................................................................3-81
sintgX......................................................................................................................................3-82
smeasX................................................................................................................................... 3-84
ssmeasX .................................................................................................................................3-86
sweepX...................................................................................................................................3-88
trigXg, trigXl.............................................................................................................................3-91
tstsel........................................................................................................................................ 3-94
Error definitions.......................................................................................................4-1
Result values indicating an error.......................................................................................... 4-1
Error messages.................................................................................................................... 4-2
3 LPT_NOCOMCHAN...............................................................................................................4-2
5 SYS_MEM_ALLOC_ERR ......................................................................................................4-2
20 LPT_PREVERR...................................................................................................................4-2
21 LPT_FATAL .........................................................................................................................4-2
22 LPT_FATALINTEST.............................................................................................................4-2
24 LPT_TOMANYARGS........................................................................................................... 4-2
100 MX_INVLDCNT.................................................................................................................. 4-3
101 MX_NOPIN ........................................................................................................................4-3
102 MX_MULTICON.................................................................................................................4-3
109 MX_ILLGLTSN...................................................................................................................4-3
113 MX_NOSWITCH................................................................................................................4-3
114 MX_ILLGLCON..................................................................................................................4-3
122 UT_INVLDPRM..................................................................................................................4-3
126 UT_NOURAM ....................................................................................................................4-3
129 UT_TMRIVLD.....................................................................................................................4-4
137 UT_INVLDVAL...................................................................................................................4-4
152 CB_BADFUNC...................................................................................................................4-4
156 CB_NOFILE.......................................................................................................................4-4
157 CB_FORMAT..................................................................................................................... 4-4
162 CB_INVLDERROR.............................................................................................................4-4
163 CB_INVLDEVENT..............................................................................................................4-4
166 CB_INSNOTREC...............................................................................................................4-4
173 CB_MULTITIMER ..............................................................................................................4-5
194 MX_INVLDTRM .................................................................................................................4-5
233 FM_NOCON.......................................................................................................................4-5
455 ECP_PROTOVER..............................................................................................................4-5
601 SYS_INTERNAL_ERR.......................................................................................................4-5
610 SYS_SPAWN_ERR...........................................................................................................4-5
611 SYS_NETWORK_ERR......................................................................................................4-5
612 SYS_PROTOCOL_ERR ....................................................................................................4-5
650 TAPI_BADCHANNEL.........................................................................................................4-6
651 TAPI_BADTESTER............................................................................................................4-6
652 TAPI_NOTFOUND.............................................................................................................4-6
653 TAPI_REFUSED................................................................................................................4-6

Table of con
tents S530/S540 KTE Linear Parametric Test Library (LPTLib) User's Manual
656 TAPI_CHANLIMIT..............................................................................................................4-6
657 TAPI_BUFOFLOW.............................................................................................................4-6

In this section:
Introduction .............................................................................. 1-1
Manual contents....................................................................... 1-1
Introduction
The Linear Parametric Test Library (LPTLib) contains detailed information about the S530/S540
LPTLib commands. It is intended as a reference guide for experienced users. This manual describes
each command in detail.
Manual contents
Section 1, General information (on page 1-1): Describes how the document is organized and what
information is presented in each section.
Section 2, Linear Parametric Test Library (on page 2-1): Describes how the Linear Parametric Test
Library (LPTLib) is used, and what functions it provides during test plan creation.
Section 3, LPTLib command reference (on page 3-1): Provides full details for the user of the LPTLib,
which contains the analysis commands built into the Parametric Test System software.
Section 4, Error definitions (on page 4-1): Describes error messages.
Section 1
General information

In this section:
Introduction .............................................................................. 2-1
Measuring ................................................................................ 2-1
Sourcing and limits................................................................... 2-2
Ranging.................................................................................... 2-3
Matrix operations...................................................................... 2-4
Sweeping ................................................................................. 2-5
Triggers.................................................................................... 2-6
GPIB ........................................................................................ 2-6
Instruments and instrument drivers.......................................... 2-7
Instrument and terminal IDs..................................................... 2-9
Optimizing test sequences....................................................... 2-9
Editing the icconfig_<QMO>.ini file........................................ 2-11
Error handling......................................................................... 2-12
Introduction
The Keithley line of parametric testers uses function libraries to control the instruments in the system.
These libraries are called test control libraries. A test control library is the lowest level software
interface to a parametric tester. This manual documents the Linear Parametric Test Library (LPTLib).
Measuring
The most important part of a parametric tester is its ability to make measurements. There are three
types of measurements you can make with the Linear Parametric Test Library (LPTLib):
•Ordinary measurements
•Integrated measurements
•Averaged measurements
The type of measurement you make depends on the type of noise you are trying to eliminate from
your measurement.
Ordinary measurements
Ordinary measurements are made with the measXcommand. This is the fastest single-point
measurement you can make. Use this type of measurement when speed is most important or when
noise is not significant.
Section 2
Linear Parametric Test Library