I would like to know if anyone knows a good source of reference info. specifically aimed at writing a transform (PEL) for retrieving calibration E-terms from an ANA / PNA (8753ES and E8363B PNA specifically).
RECOMMENDED -- FIND APPROPRIATE NETWORK ANALYZER GPIB COMMAND TO EXTRACT ERROR TERMS, REFER/BUILD UPON GENERAL IC-CAP HPIB_XXXX.mdl EXAMPLE
We do not offer direct IC-CAP PEL program examples of how to program network analyzers (Ex: Agilent 8753, E8363B PNA, etc..) to retrieve the network analyzer calculated error terms.
IC-CAP team definitely recommends the route that you are taking--that is to develop a PEL program for your specific network analyzer. Given that there is currently no direct IC-CAP example available for extracting network analyzer error terms, we recommend that you do the following:
1.) FIND NETWORK ANALYZER SPECIFIC GPIB COMMAND(S): Consult your respective Agilent network analyzer program or user manual and determine the appropriate gpib commands required to extract error terms. Also, you can contact your local Agilent Instrument Support Call Center for more assistance on using your network analyzer (Ex: In US, call 1 (800) 829-4444 or send email by looking at http://www.agilent.com/find/support).
2.) BUILD UPON GENERAL IC-CAP HPIB_XXXX.MDL EXAMPLE: In IC-CAP, see the following general example of how to use IC-CAP "hpib_write" and "hpib_read" command to communicate with your network analyzer and incorporate the error term extraction command from step 1.):
$ICCAP_ROOT/examples/demo_features/2_meas_instruments/2user_def_meas_instr_drv directory and look at the HPIB_xxxx.mdl
The HPIB_xxxx.mdl example was written for a CV meter, but shows general framework for which to develop a GPIB driver for any instrument using IC-CAP PEL. If you look at the "cvdrv" Setup and the 'Extract/Optimize' Transform for "cv_meas", there are some excellent general examples of how to send hpib commands to an instrument from ICCAP. HPIB_xxxx.mdl example referenced above, the "cvdrv" Setup's "cv_meas" PEL transform was written using the older HPIB_readstr command to read in data. Instead of "HPIB_readstr", we recommend to modify this PEL transform to take advantage of the newer, more robust "HPIB_read" command.
We do not offer direct IC-CAP PEL program examples of how to program network analyzers (Ex: Agilent 8753, E8363B PNA, etc..) to retrieve the network analyzer calculated error terms.
IC-CAP team definitely recommends the route that you are taking--that is to develop a PEL program for your specific network analyzer. Given that there is currently no direct IC-CAP example available for extracting network analyzer error terms, we recommend that you do the following:
1.) FIND NETWORK ANALYZER SPECIFIC GPIB COMMAND(S):
Consult your respective Agilent network analyzer program or user manual and determine the appropriate gpib commands required to extract error terms. Also, you can contact your local Agilent Instrument Support Call Center for more assistance on using your network analyzer (Ex: In US, call 1 (800) 829-4444 or send email by looking at http://www.agilent.com/find/support).
2.) BUILD UPON GENERAL IC-CAP HPIB_XXXX.MDL EXAMPLE:
In IC-CAP, see the following general example of how to use IC-CAP "hpib_write" and "hpib_read" command to communicate with your network analyzer and incorporate the error term extraction command from step 1.):
$ICCAP_ROOT/examples/demo_features/2_meas_instruments/2user_def_meas_instr_drv directory and look at the HPIB_xxxx.mdl
The HPIB_xxxx.mdl example was written for a CV meter, but shows general framework for which to develop a GPIB driver for any instrument using IC-CAP PEL. If you look at the "cvdrv" Setup and the 'Extract/Optimize' Transform for "cv_meas", there are some excellent general examples of how to send hpib commands to an instrument from ICCAP. HPIB_xxxx.mdl example referenced above, the "cvdrv" Setup's "cv_meas" PEL transform was written using the older HPIB_readstr command to read in data. Instead of "HPIB_readstr", we recommend to modify this PEL transform to take advantage of the newer, more robust "HPIB_read" command.
FYI, this is also discussed in the following IC-CAP Knowledge Center support document: "ICCAP: What tools/options are available to link ICCAP to my instrument which is not available in ICCAP instrument driver library?" -- see "2. *** OPTION #2: WRITE YOUR OWN DRIVER IN PEL ***":
http://edasupportweb.soco.agilent.com/portal/page?_pageid=34,37027&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&itemid=164254