Sequencer Tool

The sequencer tool enables you to perform a series of ordered tasks using instrument panels and measurement plug-ins. Automating using the sequencer tool can enable you to efficiently perform multi-step measurements, saving time and ensuring consistency.

Note This feature is only available with an InstrumentStudio Professional license.

Supported Instruments

The following section describes which instrument types are supported for use in the Sequencer Tool, and the supported operations for each instrument type.

Instrument Panel Type Start Read Stop
Digital Multimeter ✓
Waveform Generator ✓ ✓
Oscilloscope ✓ ✓
SMU/Power Supply ✓ ✓ ✓

Accessing the Sequencer Tool

Complete the following steps to access the sequencer tool in InstrumentStudio.

  1. Required: Make sure you have activated your InstrumentStudio Professional license to use the sequencer tool.
  2. Click the Sequencer pane at the top of the project window.

Building a Sequence

Complete the following steps to create a new sequence step.

Before you begin, make sure to save your current project.
Note You cannot use the Sequencer Tool within an unsaved project.
  1. Navigate to the panel you want to add to a sequence.
  2. Click the Add to sequence button.
    Note Hover over the Add to sequence to see a list of all associated steps containing the selected panel.

To ensure the correct steps have been added to the sequence, open the Sequencer pane and check the list of steps displayed within the Step list view.

Sweeps

Sweeps enable you to repeat selected steps within a sequence to provide a range of data to parameters in individual measurement steps.

Adding a Sweep Loop to a Sequence

To add a sweep loop to a sequence, click the add step button (+) for the steps you want to sweep and select Sweep Loop.

Sweep Behavior

When you execute a sequence within your InstrumentStudio project that contains a sweep, the sequence will execute the steps within the sweep loop based on the parameter settings you select when configuring the sweep. In general, the sweep will execute once for each new parameter value specified in the sweep settings.

For example, if you wanted to run a test sequence that sends a series of 3 different voltages to a device using an SMU panel, and then reads data back from the device using a DMM panel, the sequence would execute in the following order:

  • Sweep 1, Step 1, Parameter Value 1: SMU[Start] sends 1.15V to device.
  • Sweep 1, Step 2: DMM reads output from device.
  • Sweep 1, Step 3: SMU[Stop]
  • Sweep 2, Step 1, Parameter Value 2: SMU sends 1.35V to device.
  • Sweep 2, Step 2: DMM reads output from device.
  • Sweep 2, Step 3: SMU[Stop]
  • Sweep 3, Step 1, Parameter Value 3: SMU sends 1.5V to device.
  • Sweep 3, Step 2: DMM reads output from device.
  • Sweep 3, Step 3: SMU[Stop]

Once a sweep loop has completed, the following steps of the sequence execute.

Sweep Strategies

You can configure sweep loop behavior by opening the step settings panel (). The following sweep strategies are available in the Sequencer tool:
  • Start, Stop, Step- Specify a start and stop value, and the step size to use.
  • Start, Stop, Count- Specify a start and stop value, and the amount of steps to use within that range.
  • Array- Manually specify a list of values to sweep through.

Sweep Step Settings

The following settings are available within the parameter settings panel. A preview of values will be shown for the selected settings.
  • Parameter- The name you want to use for the parameter to be swept.
  • Data Type- The data type of the parameter. Can be numeric, etc.
  • Strategy- Which sweep behavior you want to use. Refer to Sweep Strategies for more information on sweep types.
  • Distribution- How to distribute steps between the Start and Stop values specified for a sweep. Can be linear or geometric.
  • Start- The initial parameter value to use when performing a sweep.
  • Stop- The final parameter value to use when performing a sweep.
  • Step- The step size to use when selecting a Start, Stop, Step sweep strategy.
  • Count- The number of steps to create when selecting a Start, Stop, Count sweep strategy.
  • Values- When using an Array sweep strategy, enter the values you want to sweep through using this table. When other strategies are selected, this table displays the values generated by the selected sweep settings.

Configuring Sweep Parameters for Sequence Steps

After configuring the sweep step settings, you can configure how each measurement step within the sweep will handle the sweep parameter. Sweep parameters for steps within a sweep are configured in the step settings. Measurement plug-in step settings enable you to use the sweep parameter for any appropriate step inputs. You can select the same sweep parameter on multiple step inputs.

Supported Panel Types

Sweeps are supported for use with measurement plug-in based panels.

Modifying a Sequence

Changing Sequencer Panel Configuration

If you change the configuration of a measurement panel used in multiple steps, the changes are applied to all instances of that panel in the sequence.

Note Changes made to panel configurations are applied immediately.

Reusing a measurement panel

If you want to use different configurations with the same measurement panel, you must create a new panel. Click Duplicate Panel () to quickly make a duplicate of the selected panel.

Reordering a sequence

To change the order of a step within a sequence, drag and drop the step to the desired position in the sequence.

Viewing steps

Double-click a step to quickly access and edit the measurement panel associated with it .

Executing a Sequence

Executing a sequence performs all the measurements defined in the sequence steps. Once the sequence has executed, you can view the measured data as well as the execution log to ensure the sequence has completed all steps successfully.

Before executing a sequence, make sure all required devices within your system are present, connected, and powered on.
Click Run to execute the sequence.
The timer in the sequencer pane will start, signaling that the sequence is actively executing.
Note An execution report is created and saved in a folder titled Sequence Results in the project folder each time a sequence is executed. Refer to Viewing a Sequence Report for information on how to view sequence reports.

Viewing a Sequence Execution Log

InstrumentStudio generates an execution log each time a sequence is executed. This log lists information about each of the steps executed during a sequence. You can use the log to identify which steps executed, as well as the status and execution time of each step.

  1. Open the Sequencer pane.
  2. Click Execution Log.

Viewing a Sequence Report

A sequence report is a PDF file detailing the results of a sequence. Sequence reports are generated each time you execute a sequence. Complete the following steps to access a sequence report.

  1. Execute a sequence.
  2. When the sequence execution completes, click the View Report button.
    The generated report will open in your system default PDF viewer.