SIGLENT SDG Series Operating instructions

Programming Guide
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Programming Guide
SDG Series
Function/Arbitrary
Waveform Generator
2016 SIGLENT TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD

Programming Guide
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Catalogue
1PROGRAMMING OVERVIEW ...................................................................................................... 4
1.1 BUILD COMMUNICATION ...........................................................................................................4
1.1.1 Install NI-VISA...................................................................................................................4
1.1.2 Connect the instrument.....................................................................................................6
1.2 HOW TO REMOTE CONTROL ......................................................................................................7
1.2.1 User-defined Programming...............................................................................................7
1.2.2 Send SCPI Commands via NI-VISA......................................................................................7
2INTRODUCTION TO THE SCPI LANGUAGE ...................................................................................8
2.1 ABOUT COMMANDS &QUERIES .................................................................................................8
2.2 HOW THEY ARE LISTED .............................................................................................................8
2.3 HOW THEY ARE DESCRIBED........................................................................................................8
2.4 WHEN CAN THEY BE USED.........................................................................................................8
2.5 COMMAND NOTATION ..............................................................................................................8
2.6 TABLE OF COMMAND &QUERIES ................................................................................................9
3COMMANDS AND QUERIES ...................................................................................................... 11
3.1 IEEE 488.2 COMMON COMMAND INTRODUCTION ....................................................................... 11
3.1.1 IDN................................................................................................................................. 11
3.1.2 OPC ................................................................................................................................ 12
3.1.3 CLS ................................................................................................................................. 12
3.1.4 ESE ................................................................................................................................. 13
3.1.5 ESR................................................................................................................................. 13
3.1.6 RST................................................................................................................................. 14
3.1.7 SRE................................................................................................................................. 14
3.1.8 STB................................................................................................................................. 15
3.1.9 TST ................................................................................................................................. 15
3.1.10WAI ................................................................................................................................ 16
3.1.11DDR................................................................................................................................ 16
3.1.12CMR ............................................................................................................................... 17
3.2 COMM_HEADER COMMAND....................................................................................................18
3.3 OUTPUT COMMAND .............................................................................................................. 18
3.4 BASIC WAVE COMMAND ......................................................................................................... 20
3.5 MODULATE WAVE COMMAND.................................................................................................. 22
3.6 SWEEP WAVE COMMAND........................................................................................................26
3.7 BURST WAVE COMMAND ........................................................................................................28
3.8 PARAMETER COPY COMMAND ..................................................................................................31
3.9 ARBITRARY WAVE COMMAND ..................................................................................................31
3.10 SYNC COMMAND ..................................................................................................................33
3.11 NUMBER FORMAT COMMEND ..................................................................................................33
3.12 LANGUAGE COMMAND ........................................................................................................... 34

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3.13 CONFIGURATION COMMAND .................................................................................................... 35
3.14 BUZZER COMMAND ............................................................................................................... 35
3.15 SCREEN SAVE COMMAND ........................................................................................................35
3.16 CLOCK SOURCE COMMAND...................................................................................................... 36
3.17 FREQUENCY COUNTER COMMAND.............................................................................................36
3.18 INVERT COMMAND ................................................................................................................ 37
3.19 COUPLING COMMAND............................................................................................................38
3.20 VOLTAGE OVERLOAD COMMAND ............................................................................................... 39
3.21 STORE LIST COMMAND ........................................................................................................... 40
3.22 ARBITRARY WAVE DATA COMMAND........................................................................................... 41
3.23 VIRTUAL KEY COMMAND......................................................................................................... 43
3.24 IP COMMAND ......................................................................................................................44
3.25 SUBNET MASK COMMAND ...................................................................................................... 45
3.26 GATEWAY COMMAND .............................................................................................................46
3.27 SAMPLING RATE COMMAND ....................................................................................................46
3.28 HARMONIC COMMAND........................................................................................................... 47
3.29 WAVEFORM COMBINING COMMAND ......................................................................................... 48
4PROGRAMMING EXAMPLES..................................................................................................... 49
4.1 EXAMPLE OF VC++................................................................................................................49
4.2 EXAMPLE OF VB.................................................................................................................... 55
4.3 EXAMPLE OF MATLAB ...........................................................................................................62
4.4 EXAMPLE OF LABVIEW...........................................................................................................64
5INDEX....................................................................................................................................... 67

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1 Programming Overview
This chapter introduces how to build communication between SDG series
function/arbitrary waveform generator and the PC. It also introduces how to remote
control.
1.1 Build communication
1.1.1 Install NI-VISA
Before programming, you need to install NI-VISA, which you can download from
the NI-VISA web site. About NI-VISA, there are full version and Run-Time Engine
version. The full version include NI device driver and a tool named NI MAX that is a
user interface to control the device. The Run-Time Engine version which is much
smaller than the full version only include NI device driver.
For example, you can get NI-VISA 5.4 full version from:
http://www.ni.com/download/ni-visa-5.4/4230/en/.
You can also download NI-VISARun-Time Engine 5.4 to your PC and install it as
default selection. This installation process is similar with the full version.
After you downloaded the file you can follow the steps below to install it:
i. Double click the visa540_full.exe, dialog shown as below:
ii. Click Unzip, the installation process will automatically launch after
unzipping files. If your computer needs to install .NET Framework 4,
its Setup process will auto start.

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iii. The NI-VISA installing dialog is shown above. Click Next to start the
installation process.
Set the install path, default path is “C:\Program Files\National
Instruments\”, you can change it. Click Next, dialog shown as above.
iv. Click Next twice, in the License Agreement dialog, select the “I accept
the above 2 License Agreement(s).”,and click Next, dialog shown as
below:

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v. Click Next to run installation.
Now the installation is complete, reboot your PC.
1.1.2 Connect the instrument
Depending on your specific model your function/arbitrary waveform generator may be
able to communicate with a PC through the USB or LAN interface. This manual takes the
USB as an example. But some examples may involve LAN.
a.Connect the function/arbitrary waveform generator and the USB Host interface of
the PC using a USB cable. Assuming your PC is already turned on, turn on your SDG
and your PC will display the “Device Setup” screen as it automatically installs the
device driver as shown below.

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b.Wait for the installation to complete and then proceed to the next step.
1.2 How To Remote Control
1.2.1 User-defined Programming
Users can use SCPI commands to program and control the function/arbitrary
waveform generator. For details, refer to the introductions in "Programming
Examples".
1.2.2 Send SCPI Commands via NI-VISA
You can control the SDG remotely by sending SCPI commands via NI-VISA software.

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2 Introduction to the SCPI Language
2.1 About Commands & Queries
This section lists and describes the remote control commands and queries recognized by
the instrument. All commands and queries can be executed in either local or remote state.
Each command or query, with syntax and other information, has some examples listed.
The commands are given in both long and short format at “COMMAND SYNTAX”and
“QUERY SYNTAX”, and the subject is indicated as a command or query or both. Queries
perform actions such as obtaining information, and are recognized by the question mark
(?) following the header.
2.2 How They are Listed
The descriptions are listed in alphabetical order according to their short format.
2.3 How They are Described
In the descriptions themselves, a brief explanation of the function performed is given. This
is followed by a presentation of the formal syntax, with the header given in
Upper-and-Lower-Case characters and the short form derived from it in ALL
UPPER-CASE characters. Where applicable, the syntax of the query is given with the
format of its response.
2.4 When can They be Used
The commands and queries listed here can be used for SDGxxxx Series
Function/Arbitrary Waveform Generators.
2.5 Command Notation
The following notations are used in the commands:
< > Angular brackets enclose words that are used placeholders ,of which there are two
types: the header path and the data parameter of a command.
:= A colon followed by an equals sign separates a placeholder, from the description of
the type and range of values that may be used in a command instead of the
placeholder.{ } Braces enclose a list of choices, one of which must be made.

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[ ] Square brackets enclose optional items.
… An ellipsis indicates that the items both to its left and right may be repeated for a
number of times.
2.6 Table of Command & Queries
Short
Long Form
Subsystem
What Command/Query does
*IDN
*IDN
SYSTEM
Gets identification from device.
*OPC
*OPC
SYSTEM
Gets or sets the OPC bit (0) in the Event
Status Register (ESR).
*CLS
*CLS
SYSTEM
Clears all the status data registers.
*ESE
*ESE
SYSTEM
Sets or gets the Standard Event Status
Enable register (ESE).
*ESR
*ESR
SYSTEM
Reads and clears the contents of the Event
Status Register (ESR).
*RST
*RST
SYSTEM
Initiates a device reset.
*SRE
*SRE
SYSTEM
Sets the Service Request Enable register
(SRE).
*STB
*STB
SYSTEM
Gets the contents of the IEEE 488.2
defined status register.
*TST
*TST
SYSTEM
Performs an internal self-test.
*WAI
*WAI
SYSTEM
Wait to continue command.
DDR
DDR
SYSTEM
Reads and clears the Device Dependent
Register (DDR).
CMR
CMR
SYSTEM
Reads and clears the command error
register.
CHDR
COMM_HEADER
SIGNAL
Sets or gets the command returned format
OUTP
OUTPUT
SIGNAL
Sets or gets output state.
BSWV
BASIC_WAVE
SIGNAL
Sets or gets basic wave parameters.
MDWV
MODULATEWAVE
SIGNAL
Sets or gets modulation parameters.
SWWV
SWEEPWAVE
SIGNAL
Sets or gets sweep parameters.
BTWV
BURSTWAVE
SIGNAL
Sets or gets burst parameters.
PACP
PARACOPY
SIGNAL
Copies parameters from one channel to the
other.
ARWV
ARBWAVE
DATA
Changes arbitrary wave type.
SYNC
SYNC
SIGNAL
Sets or gets synchronization signal.
NBFM
NUMBER_FORMAT
SYSTEM
Sets or gets data format.
LAGG
LANGUAGE
SYSTEM
Sets or gets language.
SCFG
SYS_CFG
SYSTEM
Sets or gets the power-on system setting
way.
BUZZ
BUZZER
SYSTEM
Sets or gets buzzer state.

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SCSV
SCREEN_SAVE
SYSTEM
Sets or gets screen save state.
ROSC
ROSCILLATOR
SIGNAL
Sets or gets state of clock source.
FCNT
FREQCOUNTER
SIGNAL
Sets or gets frequency counter parameters.
INVT
INVERT
SIGNAL
Sets or gets polarity of current channel.
COUP
COUPLING
SIGNAL
Sets or gets coupling parameters.
VOLTPRT
VOLTPRT
SYSTEM
Sets or gets state of over-voltage
protection.
STL
STORELIST
SIGNAL
Lists all stored waveforms.
WVDT
WVDT
SIGNAL
Sets and gets arbitrary wave data.
VKEY
VIRTUALKEY
SYSTEM
Sets the virtual keys.
SYST:CO
MM:LAN:IP
AD
SYSTEM:COMMUN
ICATE:LAN:IPADDR
ESS
SYSTEM
The Command can set and get system IP
address.
SYST:CO
MM:LAN:S
MAS
SYSTEM:COMMUN
ICATE:LAN:SMASK
SYSTEM
The Command can set and get system
subnet mask.
SYST:CO
MM:LAN:G
AT
SYSTEM:COMMUN
ICATE:LAN:GATEW
AY
SYSTEM
The Command can set and get system
Gateway.
SRATE
SAMPLERATE
SIGNAL
Sets or gets sampling rate. You can only
use it in TrueArb mode
HARM
HARMonic
SIGNAL
Sets or gets harmonic information.
CMBN
CoMBiNe
SIGNAL
Sets or gets wave combine information.

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3 Commands and Queries
3.1 IEEE 488.2 Common Command Introduction
IEEE standard defines the common commands used for
querying the basic information of the instrument or executing
basic operations. These commands usually start with "*" and
the length of the keywords of the command is usually 3
characters.
3.1.1 IDN
DESCRIPTION
The *IDN? query causes the instrument to identify itself. The
response comprises manufacturer, model, serial number,
software version and firmware version.
QUERY SYNTAX
*IDN?
RESPONSE FORMAT
*IDN, <device id>,<model>,<serial number>,
<software version>, <hardware version>.
<device id>:=“SDG”is used to identify instrument.
<model>:= A model identifier less than 14 characters, should not
contain the word “MODEL”.
<serial number>:Each product has its own number, the serial
number can labeled product uniqueness.
<software version>:= A serial numbers about software version.
<hardware version>:=The hardware level field, should contain
information about all separately revisable subsystems. This
information can be contained in single or multiple revision codes.
EXAMPLE
Reads version information.
*IDN?
Return:
*IDN SDG, SDG5162, 120465, 5.01.02.05, 02-00-00-21
-24(It may differ from each version)

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Notes:
1)
Parameter/command
SDG800
SDG1000
SDG2000X
SDG5000
SDG1000X
<hardware version>
yes
yes
no
yes
no
2) Explain for <hardware version>:value1- value2- value3- value4- value5.
value1: PCB version.
value2: Hardware version.
value3: Hardware subversion.
value4: FPGA version.
value5: CPLD version.
3.1.2 OPC
DESCRIPTION
The *OPC (Operation Complete) command sets the OPC bit (bit
0) in the standard Event Status Register (ESR). This command
has no other effect on the operation of the device because the
instrument starts parsing a command or query only after it has
completely processed the previous command or query.
The *OPC? query always responds with the ASCII character 1
because the device only responds to the query when the
previous command has been entirely executed.
COMMAND SYNTAX
*OPC
QUERY SYNTAX
*OPC?
RESPONSE FORMAT
*OPC 1
3.1.3 CLS
DESCRIPTION
The *CLS command clears all the status data registers.
COMMAND SYNTAX
*CLS
EXAMPLE
The following command causes all the status data registers to be
cleared:
*CLS

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3.1.4 ESE
DESCRIPTION
The *ESE command sets the Standard Event Status Enable
register (ESE). This command allows one or more events in the
ESR register to be reflected in the ESB summary message bit
(bit 5) of the STB register.
The *ESE? query reads the contents of the ESE register.
COMMAND SYNTAX
*ESE <value>
<value> : = 0 to 255.
QUERY SYNTAX
*ESE?
RESPONSE FORMAT
*ESE <value>
EXAMPLE
The following instruction allows the ESB bit to be set if a user
request (URQ bit 6, i.e. decimal 64) and/or a device dependent
error (DDE bit 3, i.e. decimal 8) occurs. Summing these values
yields the ESE register mask 64+8=72.
*ESE?
Return:
*ESE 72
RELATED COMMANDS
*ESR
3.1.5 ESR
DESCRIPTION
The *ESR? query reads and clears the contents of the Event
Status Register (ESR). The response represents the sum of the
binary values of the register bits 0 to 7.
QUERY SYNTAX
*ESR?
RESPONSE FORMAT
*ESR <value>
<value> : = 0 to 255
EXAMPLE
The following instruction reads and clears the content of the ESR
register:
*ESR?
Return：
*ESR 0

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RELATED COMMANDS
*CLS, *ESE
3.1.6 RST
DESCRIPTION
The *RSTcommand initiates a device reset. The *RST recalls
the default setup.
COMMAND SYNTAX
* RST
EXAMPLE
This example resets the signal generator:
*RST
3.1.7 SRE
DESCRIPTION
The *SRE command sets the Service Request Enable register
(SRE). This command allows the user to specify which summary
message bit(s) in the STB register will generate a service
request.
A summary message bit is enabled by writing a ‘1’ into the
corresponding bit location. Conversely, writing a ‘0’ into a given
bit location prevents the associated event from generating a
service request (SRQ). Clearing the SRE register disables SRQ
interrupts.
The *SRE? query returns a value that, when converted to a
binary number represents the bit settings of the SRE register.
Note that bit 6 (MSS) cannot be set and it’s returned value is
always zero.
COMMAND SYNTAX
*SRE <value>
<value> : = 0 to 255
QUERY SYNTAX
*SRE?
RESPONSE FORMAT
*SRE <value>
EXAMPLE
The following instruction allows a SRQ to be generated as soon
as the MAV summary bit (bit 4, i.e. decimal 16) or the INB
summary bit (bit 0, i.e. decimal 1) in the STB register, or both are
set. Summing these two values yields the SRE mask 16+1 = 17.
*SRE?
Return:

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*SRE 17
3.1.8 STB
DESCRIPTION
The *STB? query reads the contents of the 488.2 defined status
register (STB), and the Master Summary Status (MSS).
The response represents the values of bits 0 to 5 and 7 of the
Status Byte register and the MSS summary message.
The response to a *STB? query is identical to the response of a
serial poll except that the MSS summary message appears in bit
6 in place of the RQS message.
UERY SYNTAX
*STB?
RESPONSE FORMAT
*STB <value>
<value> : = 0 to 255
EXAMPLE
The following reads the status byte register:
*STB?
Return:
*STB 0
RELATED COMMANDS
*CLS, *SRE
3.1.9 TST
DESCRIPTION
The *TST? query performs an internal self-test and the response
indicates whether the self-test has detected any errors. The
self-test includes testing the hardware of all channels.
Hardware failures are identified by a unique binary code in the
returned <status> number. A “0” response indicates that no
failures occurred.
QUERY SYNTAX
*TST?
RESPONSE FORMAT
*TST <status>
<status> : = 0 self-test successful
EXAMPLE
The following causes a self-test to be performed:
TST?
Return(if no failure):
*TST 0

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RELATED COMMANDS
*CAL
Note:
Parameter/command
SDG800
SDG1000
SDG2000X
SDG5000
SDG1000X
TST
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
3.1.10 WAI
DESCRIPTION
The *WAI (WAITto continue) command, requires by the IEEE
488.2 standard, has no effect on the instrument, as the
signal generator only starts processing a command when the
previous command has been entirely executed.
COMMAND SYNTAX
*WAI
RELATED COMMANDS
*OPC
3.1.11 DDR
DESCRIPTION
The DDR? query reads and clears the contents of the device
dependent or device specific error register (DDR). In case of a
hardware failure, the DDR register specifies the origin of the
failure.
QUERY SYNTAX
DDR?
RESPONSE FORMAT
DDR <value>
<value> : = 0 to 65535
EXAMPLE
DDR?
Return:
DDR 0
The following table gives details：
Bit
Bit Value
Description
15...14
Reserved
13
8192
Time-base hardware failure detected
12
4096
Trigger hardware failure detected
11
Reserved
10
Reserved
9
512
Channel 2 hardware failure detected
8
256
Channel 1 hardware failure detected

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7
128
External input overload condition detected
6…4
Reserved
3
Reserved
2
Reserved
1
2
Channel 2 overload condition detected
0
1
Channel 1 overload condition detected
Note:
Parameter/command
SDG800
SDG1000
SDG2000X
SDG5000
SDG1000x
DDR
yes
yes
no
yes
no
3.1.12 CMR
DESCRIPTION
The CMR? query reads and clears the contents of the command
error register (CMR) .See the table below which specifies the last
syntax error type detected by the instrument.
QUERY SYNTAX
CMR?
RESPONSE FORMAT
CMR <value>
<value> : = 0 to 14
EXAMPLE
CMR?
Return:
CMR 0
Value
Description
0
1
Unrecognized command/query header
2
Invalid character
3
Invalid separator
4
Missing parameter
5
Unrecognized keyword
6
String error
7
Parameter can’t allowed
8
Command String Too Long
9
Query cannot allowed
10
Missing Query mask
11
Invalid parameter
12
Parameter syntax error
13
Filename too long
14
Directory not exist

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Note:
Parameter/command
SDG800
SDG1000
SDG2000X
SDG5000
SDG1000X
CMR
yes
yes
no
yes
no
3.2 Comm_Header Command
DESCRIPTION
This command is used to change the query command returned
format. “SHORT”parameter returns short format. “LONG”
parameter returns long format. “OFF”returns nothing.
COMMAND SYNTAX
CHDR (Comm_HeaDeR) <parameter>
<parameter>:= {SHORT,LONG,OFF}
QUERY SYNTAX
CHDR (Comm_HeaDeR)?
RESPONSE FORMAT
CHDR <parameter>
EXAMPLE
Set query command format to long.
CHDR LONG
Read query command format.
CHDR?
Return:
COMM_HEADER LONG
Note:
Parameter/command
SDG800
SDG1000
SDG2000X
SDG5000
SDG1000X
CHDR
yes
yes
no
yes
no
3.3 Output Command
DESCRIPTION
Enable or disable the output of the [Output] connector at the front
panel corresponding to the channel.
The query returns “ON”or “OFF”and “LOAD”, “PLRT”
parameters.
COMMAND SYNTAX
<channel>:OUTP (OUTPut) <parameter>
<channel>:={C1, C2}
<parameter >:= {a parameter from the table below}
Parameters
Value
Description

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ON
---
Turn on
OFF
---
Turn off
LOAD
<load>
Value of load (
default unit is ohm
)
PLRT
<NOR, INVT>
Value of polarity
parameter
< load>:= {please see the note below.}
QUERY SYNTAX
<channel>: OUTP(OUTPut)?
RESPONSE FORMAT
<channel>: OUTP <load>
EXAMPLE
Turn on channel one.
C1: OUTP ON
Read channel one output state.
C1: OUTP?
Return:
C1: OUTP ON, LOAD, HZ, PLRT, NOR
Set the load to 50.
C1: OUTP LOAD, 50
Set the load to HZ.
C1: OUTP LOAD, HZ
Set the polarity normal.
C1: OUTP PLRT, NOR
Set the polarity inverted.
C1: OUTP PLRT, INVT
Note:
Parameter/command
SDG800
SDG1000
SDG2000X
SDG5000
SDG1000X
<channel>
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
LOAD
50, HZ
50~10000,
HZ
50~100000,
HZ
50, HZ
50~100000,
HZ

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3.4 Basic Wave Command
DESCRIPTION
Sets or gets basic wave parameters. In SDG1000X if turn on
wave combine, you can’t set wave to square. Combining a
square waveform is not possible.
COMMAND SYNTAX
<channel>:BSWV(BaSic_WaVe) <parameter>
<channel>:={C1, C2}
<parameter>:= {a parameter from the table below}
Parameters
Value
Description
WVTP
<type>
Type of wave
FRQ
<frequency>
Value of frequency. If wave type is Noise or DC, y
ou can’t set this parameter.
PERI
<period>
Value of period. If wave type is Noise or DC, you can’t
set this parameter.
AMP
<amplitude>
Value of amplitude. If wave type is Noise or DC, y
ou can’t set this parameter.
OFST
<offset>
Value of offset. If wave type is Noise or DC, you c
an’t set this parameter.
SYM
<symmetry>
Value of symmetry. Only when wave type is Ramp, you
can set this parameter.
DUTY
<duty>
Value of duty cycle. Only when wave type is Square and
Pulse, you can set this parameter.
PHSE
<phase>
Value of phase. If wave type is Noise or Pulse or
DC, you can’t set this parameter.
STDEV
<standard
deviation >
Value of Noise wave standard deviation. Only when
wave type is Noise, you can set this parameter.
MEAN
<mean>
Value of Noise wave mean. Only when wave type is
Noise, you can set this parameter.
WIDTH
<width>
Value of width. Only when wave type is Pulse, you can
set this parameter.
RISE
<rise>
Value of rise time. Only when wave type is Pulse, you
can set this parameter.
FALL
<fall>
Value of fall time. Only when wave type is Pulse, you
can set this parameter.
DLY
<delay>
Value of delay. Only when wave type is Pulse, you can
set this parameter.
HLEV
<high level>
Value of high level. If wave type is Noise or DC, you
can’t set this parameter.
LLEV
<low level>
Value of low level. If wave type is Noise or DC, you can’t
set this parameter.
BANDSTATE
<bandwidth
State of noise bandwidth switch. Only when wave type