HP 4145B reading....

[Fuad]

i can control HP 4145B with my computer but i can't read the output from my computer. can anyone help me with the reader program for the HP 4145B semiconductor analyzer?

[Chris_R.]

Hi Faud,

Are you using the LabVIEW driver available on the NI Instrument Driver Network?  If so, please let us know a little more about where you are seeing trouble, and any system information you can provide would be helpful as well.  (ie. LabVIEW version, GPIB & VISA driver versions, etc)

Thanks!

[derki]

I`ve the same problem, I`m using official drivers from ni.com for hp 4145b all inputs are set correctly but i can`t read the output from machine, I had the same problem with the sicl, or visa communation throu C programs... I also tried it with GPIB read block but nothink happens, no error occured but also no output recieved...

[derki]

and i forgot, I`m using labwiev 8.2 and machine is connected to pc throu agilent usb-gpib... I`ve downloaded last drivers from ni, I don`t have any problems with them only that data readin, any idea what problem is it? Any tiips can be useful :), Thanks.

[NathanT]

Hello Fuad and derki,
       If you are running into problems with the LabVIEW driver, try just using MAX to communicate with your instrument.  You will probably have to look at a copy of a programming manual for your instrument and see what commands need to be sent in order to read data from the instrument.  Make sure that you pay special attention to the termination characters that your instrument requires.
       If you still have trouble reading data from the instrument, upgrade its firmware.  If that does not help, then contact the manufacturer.

        There is a definite possibility that the driver is not using the correct command to read from the instrument, and you will find the correct command when you use the programming manual to communicate with the instrument through MAX.  The awesome thing about Plug and Play drivers is that you have the power to change the source code and can therefore correct any commands that are wrong and get back to developing your overall application.

       Please let us know what your investigative efforts uncover.

Thanks,

NathanT

[derki]

I`ve the commands in correct order I`m sure, becouse I made program in pascal on old pc which was connect directly with gpib card and there works only with one error that it doesn`t read all output, from 70 output strings it reads only 67 for example. It`s already upgraded to newest one which worked on it, made in 1986 :. and a little question MAX = Measurement & Automation Explorer ?

Do I need register somewhere that machine in NI program? Or do somethink with labwiew extra becouse only thing which i`ve done was that i`ve download drivers,copyed them and tryed them and than i`ve tryed to make my own on that same base but nothink happen, but the problem is same when I`m trying to read the output from any program for example C based sicl programs or agilent Interactive command shell or how it is called. Visa interaction read doesn`t work neither. I was affraid that no new programs will read the output so i`ve decided to try it in labwiew becouse it`s still as 488program but it seems to be the same problem. And i`m sorry i know i`m not good writer :).

Thanks anyway.

Message Edited by derki on 11-20-2007 09:45 AM

[Dennis_Knutson]

If you are using an Agilent GPIB controller (why?) with LabVIEW and not an NI one, then you should look at http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/websearch/F7C187DBF09EBE1186256F550065BD32?OpenDocument.

If you can't communicate with the instrument with the Agilent utility either, then there is something wrong with the Agilent controller, with the Agilent drivers, or the instrument. Unless you replaced the Agilent drivers with ones from NI, then I'm not sure that this is the place you should be asking questions about your problems.

[Henry1969]

I had the same problem before, but I solve that by including a minimum waiting time of 5 seconds. This is because the 4145B is so old that it takes some time in providing data due that it works with a start-up diskette. Anyway I made an apllication for measuring the IV-Characteristics of a device attached to SMU1 and SMU3 terminals of the 4145B analyzer. SMU1 is a voltage source with a compliace of 100mA. This is a LabView 8.5 application partially inspired in ni drivers for 4145B posted by Natali and others. I hope it works smoothly and enjoy it.

Henry Mendez (Colombia).

[gkbradshaw]

I'm using Labview 8.2 and when I try to open the previously posted library for IV Characteristics Basic 4145B I get an error because the VI is from a later version of Labview.  Is there any way to get around this or is there an older version of this .vi?

[Dennis_Knutson]

here you go.