GBS Elektronik MCA-527 Firmware Commands - Manual (Page 5)

Description of the MCA527 Firmware Commands
MCA Acquire Commands:
Command name CMD_START
Compatibility Compatible to the MCA166 command.
Execution right Necessary
Description The MCA527 distinguishes different general modes (see CMD_SET_GENERAL_MODE). The
command behaves accordingly to the general mode.
MCA: Depending on the flags the command clears the spectrum and sets the new start time or not
before the measurement will be started. If the flags are unequal zero, the spectrum is cleared the
new start time is set.
Flags:
0 = leaves spectrum and times unchanged, the start time is ignored
1 = spectrum is cleared and new start time is set
2 = repeat mode 1
1 (MCA/MCS)
3 = repeat mode 2 2 (MCA)
4 = repeat mode 3 3 (MCA)
5 = repeat mode 4 4 (MCS)
6 = repeat mode 5 5 (MCA/MCS)
7 = repeat mode 6 6 (MCA)
8 = repeat mode 7 7 (MCS)
Bit 15, 14 8 : trigger source 9 : 00 = no trigger
01 = trigger1
10 = trigger2
11 = trigger1 or trigger2
start time: Seconds since December 31, 1969, 16:00:00 GMT 10
Other general modes: The command starts data acquisition. All parameters are ignored.
Format integer integer integer long integer
Parameter preamble command flags start time end flag
Byte string (HEX) A5 5A 42 00 flags
l
flags
h
st
l
.. .. st
h
B9 9B
Remarks Repeat modes are only allowed in MCS mode or in MCA mode with measurement stop condition
equal to PRESET_REAL or PRESET_REAL_MILLISECONDS (see CMD_SET_PRESETS). If the
conditions are not kept, the command is ignored and responded with an error value
1 Measurement will be stopped if buffer overruns. In MCS mode a differential amplitude spectrum per sweep is collected.
2 Measurement will be suspended if buffer overruns, and will be resumed, after the buffer is read out.
3 MCA166: Buffer will be overwritten, even if not read out.
MCA527: Buffer will be overwritten, if it is unlocked, otherwise the MCA will be suspended.
4 MCS Repeat Mode with one integral amplitude spectrum for all MCS sweeps. (MCA166: not for MCS Input TTL)
5 Similar to repeat mode 1, but the data are saved on the intern microSD card instead of the buffer.
6 Similar to repeat mode 2, but the data are saved on the intern microSD card instead of the buffer.
7 Similar to repeat mode 4, but the data are saved on the intern microSD card instead of the buffer.
8 Triggering the measurement by an external signal is planned in the future. It will be integrated if users intend to start the
measurement in this ways. Up to now the bits are not taken into account.
9 The trigger sources are part of the extension port. The extension port is only available for the full version and in whole or in part
for OEM versions of the MCA527. The trigger sources has to be configured with CMD_SET_EXTENSION_PORT and
CMD_SET_EXTENSION_POLARITY. If the trigger sources are misconfigured or even missing, the command will return a wrong
mode error.
10 This parameter is usually used in this way, but it can be also used in any other way. The start time based on this parameter is
returned by CMD_QUERY_STATE, byte offset 100.
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