Fluke PM-3394B Benefits of using parameters, Voltageparameters = expectedvoltage,resolution

USING THE COMBISCOPE INSTRUMENTS 3 - 9

3.3.2Benefits of using parameters

The generic form of a measurement instruction is as follows:

MEASure[:VOLTage]:<measure_function>? [[<voltage_parameters>,]<measure_parameters>][,<channel_list>]

The :VOLTage keyword is a default node, which specifies the signal characteristic to be measured, relates to the voltage component of the signal. The <measure_function> specifies the desired signal characteristic.

The parameters can be used to provide additional information to the instrument about the expected signal and the desired result. The oscilloscope uses this information to determine the best settings for the requested task. As the syntax shows, the parameters can be left out (defaulted). In that case, the oscilloscope chooses it own settings based upon the actual available input signal and its own trade-offs. The result of defaulting parameters is that the measurement needs more time to complete.

The VOLTage parameters relate to the :VOLTage node in the header. These parameters specify the expected voltage and the desired resolution:

<voltage_parameters> = [<expected_voltage>[,<resolution>]]

The expected voltage in the parameter specification is assumed to be the value at the BNC input of the oscilloscope. When a detectable probe is attached, it is assumed to be the value at the probe tip.

When the <expected voltage> parameter is defaulted, the oscilloscope performs an autorange, which needs some additional time. When a particular value was specified instead, the oscilloscope immediately selects the range next higher to the specified voltage, omitting the relative time-consuming autoranging.

Notice that when voltage parameters are used, the :VOLtage node must be sent explicitly in the command header. Or, in other words, when the :VOLTage node is defaulted, the voltage parameters must also be defaulted.