The N1500A COM Interface (Opt. 004)

This version of the N1500A has a component object model interface (COM) that allows programs to be written to configure, calibrate and retrieve measurements. Below are a list of the methods available and a description of their use.

HRESULT Init();

Init() must be called before any of the other methods can be used. It opens a copy of the N1500A.exe. It returns S_OK if successful and S_FALSE if not.

HRESULT CalibrateProbe();

CalibrateProbe() initiates a measurement calibration. It returns S_OK when complete.

HRESULT TriggerProbe();

This method triggers a measurement. It returns S_OK if successful and S_FALSE if not.

HRESULT GetMeasurement(long num,float * f,float * er,float * ei);

This method allows the measurement results to be returned to the calling program. The variable num is the measurement point of interest provided by the calling program. The variables f, er and ei return the frequency and measurement values for the measurement point specified by num.

HRESULT SetMeasurement(double start, double stop, long num, long mode);

Sets the start and stop frequencies, number of points, and sweep mode.

Sweep Mode

LINEAR_SWEEP = 0,

LOG_SWEEP = 1,

HRESULT GetNumberPoints(long *num);

HRESULT GetStartFrequency(float *start);

HRESULT GetStopFrequency(float *stop);

Returns the start and stop frequencies, number of points.

HRESULT GetS11Data(long num, float * f, float * s11_real, float * s11_imag);

Returns the S11 data from the measurement.

num = Number of data points to read.

HRESULT GetTemperature(float * temperature);

HRESULT SetTemperature(float temperature);

Set and read the temperature of the dielectric.

HRESULT GetRefreshStd(int * std);

HRESULT SetRefreshStd(int std);

Set and read the refresh standard.

AIR_REFRESH = 0

SHORT_REFRESH = 1

WATER_REFRESH = 2

HRESULT GetProbeType(int * probe);

HRESULT SetProbeType(int probe);

Set and read the probe type.

A_PROBE = 0

HIGH_TEMP_PROBE = 1

SLIM_FORM_PROBE = 2

PERFORMANCE_PROBE = 3

HRESULT GetCalType(int * cal);

HRESULT SetCalType(int cal);

Set and read the Cal type.

LOAD_AIR_SHORT_CALTYPE = 0

AIR_SHORT_WATER_CALTYPE = 1

USER_CALTYPE = 0

HRESULT SaveSetupFile(BSTR file);

HRESULT OpenSetupFile(BSTR file);

Save and Open a setup file.

HRESULT AutoRefreshOnOff(long *OnOff);

Read the Auto Refresh state.

AUTO_ON = 1

AUTO_OFF = 0

HRESULT AutoRefreshOn();

HRESULT AutoRefreshOff();

Set the Auto Refresh state.

HRESULT RefreshCal();

Perform Refresh.

HRESULT CalibrateProbeStd1()

HRESULT CalibrateProbeStd2()

HRESULT CalibrateProbeStd3()

Measures each individual cal standard.

HRESULT Hide() causes N1500A to run in the background.

HRESULT Show() makes it appear again.

HRESULT DataToMemory() Use after TriggerProbe() to create a new memory trace each time the probe is triggered.

See Visual Basic Programming Example of how to use the ICoaxialProbe interface.

A self-extracting copy of this VB project is in the Visual Basic directory on the N1500A installation CD.

Be sure to add the Materials Measurement 1.0 Type Library to your Visual Basic Project (Project|References… menu).

The MaterialsMeas.tlb is in the "C:\Program Files\Keysight\Materials Measurement Suite" directory.

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