:TRIGger Subsystem

Send the Trigger (:TRIGger) subsystem commands to configure standard and pattern lock triggering for data acquisition. The commands are listed in three navigation panels in this topic: General Trigger, Advanced Trigger, and Pattern Lock commands.

General Trigger Commands (Trigger Setup dialog)

Use to configure an N1000A DCA-X and DCA-M oscilloscope settings in the General Trigger Setup tab. This includes trigger source, trigger level, and pattern locking.

Advanced Trigger Commands (Trigger Setup dialog)

Use to configure an N1000A DCA-X and DCA-M oscilloscope settings in the Advanced Trigger Setup tab. This includes waveform slope (hysteresis) and pattern locking when using the Rapid Eye feature. To use these settings, you must first turn pattern lock off.

Pattern Lock Commands (Trigger Setup dialog)

Use to configure an N1000A DCA-X settings in the Pattern Lock Setup tab.

:TRIGger:SOURce:AUTodetect ON
:TRIGger:PLOCk ON;*OPC?
:SYSTem:PAUTodetect

N109x (Slot X) Trigger Commands (Trigger Setup dialog)

When a DCA-M oscilloscope is installed, the Trigger Setup dialog includes a N109x (Slot X) Trigger tab that includes pattern lock settings like those in the Pattern Lock tab. To configure the DCA-M's pattern lock settings, use the commands found in the :SLOT subsystem.

If you turn the DCA-M's Shared Pattern Parameters setting on (:SLOT:TRIGger:TRACKing command), all settings in the Pattern Lock tab will automatically set and configure the settings in the N109x (Slot X) Trigger tab. If you use multiple DCA-Ms, this feature allows you to quickly set all pattern locking to the same settings.

Required Trigger Signal

A trigger signal must be provided to the oscilloscope using one of the following methods:

1. On a DCA-X oscilloscopes

The easiest method is to connect a synchronous clock signal to the N1000A's front-panel Trigger connector. Use automatic trigger source detection which is the default triggering:

:TRIGger:SOURce:AUTodetect ON  # default setting

Or, connect a synchronous clock signal, turn automatic trigger source detection off, and use the following command and argument to explicitly select Front Panel triggering:

:TRIGger:SOURce:AUTodetect OFF
:TRIGger:SOURce FPANel
:SYSTem:AUToscale  # Sets trigger level to amplitude midpoint

With automatic trigger source detection off, you can manually set the trigger level:

:TRIGger:SOURce:AUTodetect OFF
:TRIGger:SOURce FPANel
:TRIGger:MODe EDGE  # edge triggering
:TRIGger:LEVel 30E-3  # trigger level

2. On a DCA-M oscilloscope

The easiest method is to connect a synchronous clock signal to the DCA-M's Clock Trigger In connector. Use automatic trigger source detection which is the default triggering:

:TRIGger:SOURce:AUTodetect ON  # default setting

Or, connect a synchronous clock signal, turn automatic trigger source detection off, and use the following command and argument to explicitly select Front Panel triggering:

:TRIGger:SOURce:AUTodetect OFF
:TRIGger:SOURce FPANel
:SYSTem:AUToscale  # Sets trigger level to amplitude midpoint

With automatic trigger source detection off, you can manually set the trigger level:

:TRIGger:SOURce:AUTodetect OFF
:TRIGger:SOURce FPANel
:TRIGger:MODe EDGE  # edge triggering
:TRIGger:LEVel 30E-3  # trigger level

3. Unavailable Trigger Signal

Use one of these three methods:

• If the DCA-X module or DCA-M has clock recovery, use clock recovery to recover the clock. Compatible modules include N1060A, 86108A/B, and N1092A/B series DCA-M modules. Use the following command and argument to select clock triggering:

:TRIGger:SOURce:AUTodetect OFF
:TRIGger:SOURce CLOCk

• Trigger on the data input to a module. Split the incoming data signal and route half of the data to the oscilloscope's trigger input. Route the other half to a channel input connector. Due to jitter and pattern dependencies this technique shows incomplete eye diagrams and approximately 75% of waveforms are never observed in a PRBS. Use the following command and argument to select Front Panel triggering:

:TRIGger:SOURce:AUTodetect OFF
:TRIGger:SOURce FPANel

• Select Free Run in Oscilloscope and Eye/Mask modes. This causes the oscilloscope to trigger as soon as the trigger is armed; an external trigger is not used. Free run is asynchronous to the data and can be used to quickly examine a signal's amplitude without any timing information. Use the following command and argument to select Free Run triggering:

:TRIGger:SOURce:AUTodetect OFF
:TRIGger:SOURce FRUN  # free run triggering