Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series
Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Description ...................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2. Interfacing the Computer and the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Instrument ....................................
Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series Chapter 1 1.1. Chapter 1: Introduction Introduction Description The MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 series of instruments may be remotely controlled via SCPI-type serial commands. This requires connecting a computer running the Microsoft® Windows® 7 operating system, or later versions, to the instrument using a USB cable, or connecting a computer running any operating system to the RS-232 port on the instrument.
Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series Chapter 1: Introduction Connecting to the USB Port on the Back Panel of the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Instrument A USB cable can be used to connect a computer running Windows 7, or later, with the port on the back panel of the instrument as shown in Figure 2. The USB port is type-B. A USB cable with a type-B connector on one end and a type-A connector on the other would allow connection with most computers.
Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series Chapter 1: Introduction Connecting to the MX /MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Instrument Using the RS-232 Port on the Controlling Computer Figure 4 illustrates the physical connection when the RS-232 ports on the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 instrument and the controlling computer are used. The details of the connection depend on the controlling computer’s RS232 port.
Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series Chapter 2 Chapter 2: Supported Commands Supported Commands This section describes the commands supported by firmware version V1.9.4 and later. The commands are modeled on the IEEE 488.2 standard commands for programmable instruments (SCPI) specification. Following this convention, many commands in the “Syntax” columns of the following tables include both uppercase and lowercase letters.
Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series 2.1. Chapter 2: Supported Commands Command Return Codes Return Value Return Explanation 1 Response to a valid command Values without “Err:” indicator string Response to a valid query Err: Feature not present Issued a command to an instrument that does not have the built-in hardware. See Figure 6 for command compatibility. System application firmware < V1.9.
Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series 2.2. Chapter 2: Supported Commands RF Amplifier Commands The MX series of instruments include several that have a built-in RF amplifier, and the following commands apply only to these instruments. The amplifier type is digital (limiting) in some of these products, such as the MX10A, MX40A, MX10B, MX40B, MX10C, and MX40C. In other products, such as the MX35D, MX35E, and MX65E the amplifier type is linear (analog).
Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series Command Syntax Chapter 2: Supported Commands Description Set Amplifier Mode to Digital AMP:MODE: 0 Sets the operation of the digital amplifier to digital mode. This includes setting the crossing point to that currently specified for digital mode operation (AMP:CROSS:DIG) and applying the current value of swing (AMP:SWING).
Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series 2.3. Chapter 2: Supported Commands Laser Control Commands These commands are available for the TLX1 / TLX2 series of instruments and those MX series products with a built-in tunable laser, which include the MX10B, MX40B, MX35E, MX40G, and MX70G. In the following, “Laser” refers to the built-in tunable laser, unless otherwise specified. Please note that the ITU channels are defined using a 50 MHz grid.
Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series Command Syntax Chapter 2: Supported Commands Description Get Optical Laser Frequency LASer:FREQuency? Get Nominal Laser Frequency LASer:FREQ_NOMinal? Returns a positive integer for the calculated frequency, generated from the nominal frequency of the ITU channel, with the current fine-tuning frequency offset added or subtracted. This value is in units of MHz. This is the same value that is displayed on the LCD GUI laser settings page.
Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series Command Syntax Get Laser Status LASer:SETpoint? Get Measured Optical Output Power in dBm LASer:TAP:DBM? Get Measured Optical Output Power in mW LASer:TAP:MW? Get Nominal Laser Wavelength Page 10 LASer:WAVE_NOMinal? Chapter 2: Supported Commands Description When the following conditions are all true, a 1 is returned and a steady green dot shows in the laser field of the instrument’s touchscreen. Otherwise, a 0 is returned.
Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series 2.4. Chapter 2: Supported Commands Mach-Zehnder EO Intensity Modulator Commands Several of the MX Series of instruments have built-in controllers for lithium-niobate-based, Mach-Zehnder EO intensity modulators (MZMs). The following commands apply only to these instruments, which include the MBX, MX10A, MX40A, MX10B, MX40B, MX35D, MX35E, MX65E, MX40G, and MX70G.
Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series Command Chapter 2: Supported Commands Syntax Description Set MZM Bias Mode MZM:MODE: N N is a positive integer between 0 and 9, inclusive. Set this value to select the MZM bias mode. The mode associated with each value is: 0: Bias control is off. 0 V is applied to the MZM bias. 1: Auto Peak bias mode, which uses dither to maintain operation at the peak of the modulation function.
Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series 2.5. Chapter 2: Supported Commands System Commands The system commands described in this section apply to all MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 instrument Item #s.
Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series Command Syntax Set Red LED Brightness RGB:RED: N Get Red LED Brightness RGB:RED? Chapter 2: Supported Commands Description N is an integer value between 0 and 100, which is used to set the brightness of the red LEDs that contribute to the under-chassis accent lighting. Returns an integer value between 0 and 100, indicating the brightness of the red LEDs that contribute to the under-chassis accent lighting.
Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series 2.6. Chapter 2: Supported Commands Variable Optical Attenuator (VOA) Commands The VOA commands described in this section apply to all MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 instrument Item #s. These commands are provided for controlling the VOA and determining its status are described in the following tables. Command Syntax Description Set the Optical Attenuation Value VOA:ATTen: N N is a floating point value between 1.0 and 20.
Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series Command Chapter 2: Supported Commands Syntax Description Set the Optical Output Power Value in mW VOA:OUTput:MW: N N is a floating point value between 0.01 and 100.0, inclusive, and the units are mW. This command sets optical output power of the VOA and returns 1 on receipt of command.
Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series Chapter 3 Chapter 3: Remote Control Software Remote Control Software Thorlabs provides a software tool for computers running Windows operating systems (Windows 7 and later). The Remote Control application is primarily intended to be used as a reference example as well as a tool for exploring the behavior of and interactions between the various remote control commands.
Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series Chapter 3: Remote Control Software Select the “Connection Type” radio button corresponding to the utilized connector on the instrument. (The locations of the radio buttons are indicated by the red outline in Figure 7.) Then click the “Connect” button to open a connection to the instrument.
Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series Chapter 3: Remote Control Software After a short delay, the text “5”, which is the most recent ITU channel requested, is printed to the “Remote Instrument Output” field (within green outline). Example: Using the Software Application with the MX40G’s Front Panel Touchscreen Navigate to the Laser Settings Page, which is shown in Figure 8, from the Home Screen Use the Laser Settings Page to change the ITU Chanel to 6.
Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series 3.3. Chapter 3: Remote Control Software Software Application Screenshots The functions in the Laser tab (Figure 9) correspond to the commands described in Section 2.
Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series Chapter 3: Remote Control Software The functions in the VOA tab (Figure 10) correspond to the commands described in Section 2.6: Variable Optical Attenuator (VOA) Commands. Figure 10 VOA Tab Rev.
Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series Chapter 3: Remote Control Software The functions in the Amp tab (Figure 11) correspond to the commands described in Section 2.2: RF Amplifier Commands.
Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series Chapter 3: Remote Control Software The functions in the MZM Bias tab (Figure 12) correspond to the commands described in Section 2.4: MachZehnder EO Intensity Modulator Commands. Figure 12 MZM Bias Tab Rev.
Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series Chapter 3: Remote Control Software The functions in the System tab (Figure 13) correspond to the commands described in Section 2.5: System Commands.
Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series 3.4. Chapter 3: Remote Control Software Custom Application Development One option for users interested in developing custom software is to use our Remote Control application as a reference and starting point. Please contact us to request the source code. Using this source code and a development platform such as free version of the Qt® software, our example application can be modified and expanded.
Remote Control User Guide for the MX / MBX / TLX1 / TLX2 Series Chapter 4 Chapter 4: Thorlabs Worldwide Contacts Thorlabs Worldwide Contacts For technical support or sales inquiries, please visit us at www.thorlabs.com/contact for our most up-to-date contact information. USA, Canada, and South America Thorlabs, Inc. sales@thorlabs.com techsupport@thorlabs.com UK and Ireland Thorlabs Ltd. sales.uk@thorlabs.com techsupport.uk@thorlabs.com Europe Thorlabs GmbH europe@thorlabs.
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