KEPCO BOP-GL 1KW Operator Manual Firmware Ver.3.05 and higher - Manual (Page 96)

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BOP-1K-GL 022814
Disable - Disables Prompt. If both Serial XON/XOFF and Prompt functions are disabled, Echo
mode is the default (see PAR. 3.6.4.2.2 for a description of Xon/Xoff mode).
If both Serial Prompt (see PAR. 3.6.4.2.3) and Echo (see PAR. 3.6.4.2.2) modes. are enabled,
Prompt is returned when the unit is ready and any received characters are echoed back to the
sender.
3.6.5 BOP VISA INSTRUMENT DRIVER
The VISA instrument driver for the BOP power supply, available for download at www.kepco-
power.com/drivers.htm, simplifies programming with a VISA compatible GPIB controller.
Included are:
• source code (C) for all VISA functions (kp_bophi.c)
• a complete programming reference manual (kp_bophi.doc)
• a sample application of the VISA functions (written in C) which can be used to program
one or more BOP power supplies using a virtual front panel observed on a com-
puter monitor (kp_appl.c)
Although the software drivers supplied by Kepco are VISA compliant, they also require the
installation of the proper VISA driver from your GPIB card supplier. Many vendors supply this
software with the hardware; National Instruments (http://www.natinst.com) has the driver for
their cards available on the internet at a file transfer site (ftp://ftp.natinst.com — find the folder
for support and VISA drivers).
3.7 SCPI PROGRAMMING
SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments) is a programming language con-
forming to the protocols and standards established by IEEE 488.2 (reference document
ANSI/IEEE Std 488.2, IEEE Standard Codes, Formats, Protocols, and Common Commands). SCPI
commands are sent to the BOP Power Supply as ASCII output strings within the selected pro-
gramming language (PASCAL, BASIC, etc.) in accordance with the manufacturer’s require-
ments for the particular GPIB controller card used.
Different programming languages (e.g., BASIC, C, PASCAL, etc.) have different ways of repre-
senting data that is to be put on the IEEE 488 bus. It is up to the programmer to determine how
to output the character sequence required for the programming language used. Address infor-
mation (GPIB address) must be included before the command sequence. (See PAR.3.6.3.1.1 to
establish the BOP Power Supply GPIB address.)
3.7.1 SCPI MESSAGES
There are two kinds of SCPI messages: program messages from controller to power supply,
and response messages from the power supply to the controller. Program messages consist of
one or more properly formatted commands/queries and instruct the power supply to perform an
action; the controller may send a program message at any time. Response messages consist of
formatted data; the data can contain information regarding operating parameters, power supply
state, status, or error conditions.
3.7.2 COMMON COMMANDS/QUERIES
Common commands and queries are defined by the IEEE 488.2 standard to perform overall
power supply functions (such as identification, status, or synchronization) unrelated to specific