Specifications

28 Chapter 2
Programming Command Guidelines
Using the Status Registers
Status Byte Register
The status byte register of the Test Set uses the bit 0 “Measurement Data Ready
Bit”, bit 1 “Measuring Status Bit”, bit 4 “Message Available” and bit 5 “Standard
Event Status Summary Bit” as shown in Figure 2-3:
Figure 2-3 Status Byte Register
The status byte register contains the following bits:
Table 2-2 Bits in the Status Byte Register
To query the status byte register, send the command *STB?. The response will be
the decimal sum of the bits which are set to 1. For example, if the bit 5 and bit 4 are
set to 1, the decimal sum of these two bits is 32 plus 16 (see Figure 2-1 on page
26). So the decimal value 48 is returned.
Bit Description
0 If the instrument has data ready in the output queue, this bit is set to 1. After
responding to a query this bit becomes 0.
1 While the instrument is in the measuring state, this bit is set to 1. At the
completion of one measurement, this bit is set to 0.
2, 3 These bits are always set to 0.
4 If the instrument has message data ready in the output queue, this bit is set to 1.
There are no lower status groups that provide input to this bit.
5 If the standard event summary bit has been set, this bit is set to 1. The standard
event status register can then be read to determine the specific event that
caused this bit to be set.
6, 7 These bits are always set to 0.