USB Remote Control System

• Overview

• System Configuration

Other topics about Overview

Overview

The USB (Universal Serial Bus) remote control system provides device control via USB, which is equivalent to control via GPIB. Connection is made through an interface in compliance with USBTMC-USB488 and USB 2.0.

System Configuration

The USB remote control system controls instruments that use the name "alias". There is no such address for GPIB connections.

Use a USB cable to connect the E4982A to an external controller (personal computer). The following figure shows an overview of the system configuration for the USB remote control system.

USB Remote Control System Configuration

Required Equipment

• E4982A

• External controller (PC with USB host port (type A))

• Other USB compatible devices (instruments and/or peripherals for specific purposes)

• USB cable connecting E4982A and external controller (with type A/4-prong male or type B/4-prong male connectors depending on device used).

USB Port Types

There are two standard types of USB ports. The external controller (PC) must be connected via the USB host port (type A), while the E4982A and other USB compatible devices must be connected via the USB interface port (type B).

Preparing E4982A

You do not have to configure any softkey or command of the E4982A in order to control the E4982A from an external controller. Simply connect a USB cable to the USB interface port.

Driver Installation

1. You must install the Keysight I/O Libraries on your PC in advance.

2. Connect the E4991B with your PC via USB cable. The driver is installed automatically at the first time connection. It takes a few minutes.

Getting VISA/SICL address

1. From your PC's Start menu, click Program > Keysight Connection Expert to open the Keysight Connection Expert setting screen.

2. In Instrument Tab, click refresh icon, then your instrument is automatically detected.

3. You can change Aliases name in Connection Strings.

Control using C or Visual Basic

You can control the E4982A by programming use Visual C++ or Visual Basic in the Windows environment as well as SICL/VISA. For further information on controlling the E4982A, see the manual of SICL or VISA. Use Keysight I/O Libraries Suite 14.2 or later.

You may use alias in programming using SICL/VISA.

The following example shows an OPEN command to control the E4982A to which alias is given as E4982A_USBIF.

• For further details of the programming using SICL/VISA, see the SICL Users Guide or the VISA Users Guide.

Control using Keysight VEE

Keysight VEE allows you to control the E4982A via the direct I/O interface. The following example shows how to control the E4982A to which alias is given as E4982A_USBIF.

• When using Keysight VEE for PC, use Keysight VEE Pro 7.5 for Windows or later versions.

1. On the Keysight VEE's I/O menu, click Instrument Manager.
   

2. In Instrument Manager, click Add.
   

3. A new windows appears for the selection of Interface Type. Select USB and click OK.
   

4. In Instrument Properties, type any name for the instrument in Name (for example: E4982A_USBIF), and add USB address in the USB Address. Click OK after entering all the parameters.
   

   • The USB address can be retrieved from Keysight Connection Expert.
     

5. The E4982A successfully appears in the Instrument Manager.