BNC 6040 - Manual (Page 37)

37
OPERATING INFORMATION
Bit 1: This bit is set if the PLL for the internal rep rate generator is
unlocked.
Bit 0: This bit is set if a timing cycle is in progress.
PS Module Status. This returns the module status byte, which is module dependent. For
definitions, refer to the module's manual.
Panel Control Comands (PCCs)
In the Front Panel Programming description, there are a group of keys denoted as menu keys. They
have associated with them a sequence of menu items that allow the user to select a particular Mode or
state of operation or to modify a specific parameter. The panel control commands (PCCs) are set up in
a similar fashion, except that sequencing is replaced by a second PCC that selects the specific menu
item.
Each front panel menu key has a corresponding PCC. These are the primary PCCs. Each of these
primary PCCs is used in conjunction with a set of secondary PCCs to select a specific sequenced
menu item. There are roughly the same number of secondary PCCs for a given primary PCC as there
are menu items associated with a similar menu key. This allows the direct selection of Mode, operating
state or parameter via a two instruction command string. Finally, if a parameter is associated with the
primary-secondary PCC command string, the desired value can be appended to the command string,
or, if no value is appended, the present value of the parameter can be read back by the controller.
The general format for a command string is:
primary PCC {secondary PCC (value x)} , where x is either an integer or floating point value.
There are four primary PCCs, equivalent to the menu keys MODE. TRIG, TIMING, and LEVEL. These
are described in the following. The GPIB/RS-232 key cannot be controlled remotely.
MO {PCC}
Mode Control, where the secondary PCC is one of the following:
PL Pulse
IM Impulse
CW CW
EM External Modulation
If the secondary PCC is omitted, the current Mode setting will be returned. For example,
sending the string
MO PL would set the operating mode to Pulse operation. If the string
MO were subsequently sent, the 20 character string "Mode: Pulse" would be returned.