BNC 6040 - Manual (Page 23)

23
OPERATING INFORMATION
The MODE and TRIG menu keys change the operating state of the 6040 directly. As the user
sequences through the Mode menu, the state of the module's output is modified in accordance with the
displayed Mode (Pulse, CW, etc.). Similarly, as the user sequences through the Trigger menu, the
Trigger source for the pulse generator is set in accordance with the display (Internal, External, Single
Cycle).
The TIMING. LEVEL and GPIB/RS-232 keys simply display parameter values and do not change the
operating characteristics unless these parameters are modified. The TIMING key, for example, allows
the user to examine the Width, Delay and Single/Double Pulse parameters. Only if the user modifies
the displayed setting will the operating state of the machine change.
Each plug-in module has its own set of available menu selections. Electrical modules, for example, do
not have a CW option in the Mode menu. Manuals for each module describes the menus and range of
parameter values that correspond to the module.
Although the user has access to all the parameters and menu items (for a given module) at all times,
their action is Mode dependent. Table 2-2 gives a general chart of the menu keys, showing which menu
selections have control in each Mode. An x in the column for a given Mode indicates that a menu
selection (or parameter modification) has an effect in that Mode.
Note that modifying a given parameter will only change the current operating state of the machine if the
parameter is valid for the current Mode setting. For example, in the CW Mode, the parameters
associated with the TRIG (Trigger) and TIMING keys will not affect the current operating state (but they
will become valid when the Mode is subsequently set to Pulse). Another example is the LEVEL key. For
the Pulse Mode, the External Modulation Level parameter will not affect the module's output Again, only
after setting the Mode to External Modulation will this setting become pertinent.
Modifying Parameters
A parameter can be altered by two methods: by entering a totally new number using the numeric
keypad or by altering the present value incrementally using the scan keys.