User`s guide

4 Operating the Power System
72 Series N6700 User’s Guide
Programming Output Lists
NOTE
The Output List function described in this section is not available on all models.
Refer to the Test Extensions feature under “Model Differences” in chapter 1,
The List Function
Either output voltage or output current or both, may be list-
controlled. For Agilent Models N678xA SMU, only the parameters
associated with one of the priority modes (either voltage priority or
current priority) may be list controlled. List mode lets you generate
complex sequences of output changes with rapid, precise timing,
which may be synchronized with internal or external signals. Lists
can contain up to 512 individually programmed steps, and can be
programmed to repeat themselves.
The voltage and current lists are paced by a separate list that defines
the duration or dwell of each step. Each of the up to 512 steps can
have an individual dwell time associated with it, which specifies the
time in seconds that the list will remain at that step before moving on
to the next step. Dwell times can be programmed from 0 to 262.144
seconds. The default dwell time is 0.001 seconds.
If you need an output list to closely follow external events, then a
trigger-paced list is more appropriate. In a trigger-paced list, the list
advances one step for each trigger received. As previously discussed,
a number of trigger sources can be selected to generate triggers. With
a trigger-paced list, you do not need to program a dwell time for each
step. If you do program a dwell time, triggers that are received during
the dwell period are ignored.
Voltage and current lists can also be configured to generate trigger
signals at specified steps. This is accomplished by two additional
lists: a beginning-of-step (BOST) and an end-of-step (EOST) list.
These lists define which steps will generate a trigger signal and if the
trigger occurs at the beginning or end of the step. These trigger
signals can be used to synchronize other events with the list.
When either a voltage or current list is programmed, the associated
dwell, BOST, and EOST lists must all be set to the same number of
steps, otherwise an error will occur when the list is run. For
convenience, a list may be programmed with only one step or value.
In this case, a single-step list is treated as if it had the same number
of steps as the other lists, with all values being equal to the one value.
NOTE
List data is not stored in non-volatile memory. This means that list data that is
sent to the instrument either from the front panel or over the bus will be lost
when the power system is turned off.
However, list data can be saved as part of
a saved instrument state. Refer to “Instrument State Storage” later in this
chapter.