Using a Keysight agilent b2902A power supply to produce a arbitrary waveform

[marlow101]

Hi,

I am fairly new to labview scripting and I want to ask for some help and advice on how to create a arbitrary waveform using a agilent b2902A power supply. There is a configuration for arbitrary wave in its library but it can only be use for a certain type of agilent 2900 series device not the ones that I currently have in work. Is it possible to create the waveform without using a its library to configure it even though I'm using a external device other than NI devices. Cheers everyone. 

[marlow101]

Hi All,

I am fairly new to labview scripting and I want to ask for some help and advice on how to create a arbitrary waveform using a agilent b2902A power supply. There is a configuration for arbitrary wave in its library but it can only be use for a certain type of agilent 2900 series device to which unfortunately not the ones that I currently have in work. Is it possible to create the waveform without using its library to configure it even though I'm using a external device other than NI devices. Cheers everyone. 

[santo_13]

It may be possible, were you able to confirm if the instrument has such a feature (like some kind of sequence mode with good timing accuracy) and it can be automated?

If yes, the next thing would be, are there already available VIs to use? (you mentioned there are some but not for your model)

If no, find out the SCPI syntax for that automation from the programmers manual of the instrument

[RTSLVU]

---

@marlow101 wrote:

Hi,

I am fairly new to labview scripting and I want to ask for some help and advice on how to create a arbitrary waveform using a agilent b2902A power supply. There is a configuration for arbitrary wave in its library but it can only be use for a certain type of agilent 2900 series device not the ones that I currently have in work. Is it possible to create the waveform without using a its library to configure it even though I'm using a external device other than NI devices. Cheers everyone. 

---

Well the data sheet for the 2900 series says they all have arbitrary waveform capabilities. Although I don't see any actual "LabVIEW Drivers" they do offer some IVI drivers... Those "should" work...

Otherwise you are going to have to crack open SCPI programming manual and make your own  

[cstorey]

You'll need to be more specific with your question.  The B2902 is a SMU (source and measure unit) that can in a limited way act as an AWG.  What sort or AWG signal do you need? Source I or V?  At what frequency? 

Do you need a 1MHz sine wave or an arbitrary step pattern with differing dwell times?  (NOTE - SMUs won't be fast AWGs!!)

It appears you found the LabVIEW driver from here - http://sine.ni.com/apps/utf8/niid_web_display.model_page?p_model_id=18868

I'm not sure what example you modified but that code won't generate what you want.  You are just turning the sources ON and OFF and taking readings?  

All B2902s should be able to use the AWG mode (or "user defined waveform" or "list sweep" mode as they use interchangeably throughout the manual).   Have a look at the example in the driver called "Agilent B2900 Series Output User Defined Waveform.vi".  This demonstrates how the SMU can be used to generate an arbitrary waveform from a list of bias points.  Run the code with the output going to a scope and see what you get.  Add more points (up to 100k) to get better resolution, but lower frequency. 

If your B2902a doesn't work with the AWG examples in the above driver, then look at your Firmware version.  There are some AWG related fixes in recent versions - https://www.keysight.com/ca/en/lib/software-detail/instrument-firmware-software/b2900a-series-firmwa...

If you need to go the route of writing the value to each channel in LabVIEW expect it to be slow, like <10kHz and somewhat inconsistent.  Having the points stored in internal memory using the list example and executed at constant timed intervals will be a much better solution.

Explain your needs more and you will likely get a better answer.

Hope that helps.

Craig

[marlow101]

Hi Craig,

 Appreciate for the insight.  So what I'm trying to do at work is to put a 1.5V source into the pcba to read its current profile. What I want to do is like what you said get a arbitrary step pattern with differing dwell times.

So the pcba has 2 battery cages, so I'm going to use 2 channels. The first channel will have will be connected to the first battery cage with its positive on the plus and the negative will be connected to the plus side of the second battery which is channel 2. Channel 2's positive will combine with the negative of channel 1 and the negative of channel 2 will become the common ground.  We want to see if there is any pattern on the current if we let the program run for like 5 or 10 minutes. We want to see the wave  pattern on the labview program itself. I'll attach some recorded examples. Cheers.

[marlow101]

Hi Santo,

Thanks for replying. Yeah, there are VI's for the 2900 series but there is no vi to configure arbitrary wave.

I've tried to read the scpi manual but its hella confusing to read. I don't know where to start and all. Cheers.

[marlow101]

Hi RTSLVU,

Yeah, it did say it can do. I do have the drivers and they have some examples on it but the libraries use in them example to make some arbitrary wave or any other wave even can't be use on the instrument that I currently have at work. I've read the scpi commands and all but its hella confusing for me and I don't know what to do with it. Cheers.

[santo_13]

You would have to use the List mode defined on pg.262, pass in the arbitrary waveform as the list of values, you could have to configure delays to time the transition from one point to another.

[marlow101]

Appreciate this. I will have a look and see what I can do with it. Would you have know any examples or guidance on how to write this in labView? Thanks Santo.