Storing data from HP/Agilent 4145B(semiconductor parameter analyzer) to PC using GPIB

[nanolab]

Hello everyone, I am new to the Labview and also this forum. 

I'm trying to control my old HP-4145B(Semiconductor parameter analyzer), and I could easily control my machine with the driver which is uploaded at NI site (https://sine.ni.com/apps/utf8/niid_web_display.model_page?p_model_id=1765).

But, I don't know how to store the value I got. I can't see the storing block.

 Additionally I can display the graph to 4145B's CRT, but I can't display it through computer's monitor.

If anyone who has the idea, please help me.

[LVNinja]

what steps have you done to store the data that does not work ? Can you share your code so far ? 

[nanolab]

I didnt use code, just driver from link I post

[nanolab]

The driver I used as a example of 4145B is like this

If anyone knows how to get a data from this driver, please help me. 

I'm spending really hard time because of this old machine..

[nanolab]

Hello everyone I'm new member of this community and Labview.

Nowadays, I'm really struggling with this topic. I connected HP-4145B and my PC with GPIB cable.

I succeeded in controlling it with the driver from NI site(https://sine.ni.com/apps/utf8/niid_web_display.model_page?p_model_id=1765),

but I can't find how to get a data from HP-4145B.

If anyone knows how to solve this problem, and there're any suggestions you have, please help me. 

I look forward to your kind response. 

[GerdW · Accepted solution]

Hi nanolab,

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@nanolab wrote:

Hello everyone I'm new member of this community and Labview.

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Then you should start with all those Training resources offered at the top of the LabVIEW board!

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@nanolab wrote:

I succeeded in controlling it with the driver from NI site(https://sine.ni.com/apps/utf8/niid_web_display.model_page?p_model_id=1765),

but I can't find how to get a data from HP-4145B.

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That driver is old. Very old. More than 30 years old…

And it's ugly code - even when knowing about the limitations of the old LabVIEW version (LabVIEW 3 was released in 1993) used to create that driver!

To answer your question:

• There is an example VI inside the LLB.
• And inside the example VI there is a subVI to "Display Graphics and Plot", that should display some plot data on the VI frontpanel. So there is your example of "how to get data"…

My recommendation:

• Use the manual of your device to create a completely new driver, using modern functions and programming suggestions.

[nanolab]

Thanks GerdW! 

You mean I can't get a data which I measured with 4145B to PC?

[GerdW]

Hi nanolab,

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@nanolab wrote:

You mean I can't get a data which I measured with 4145B to PC?

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Where exactly did you read this "meaning" in my previous message?

I mentioned an example VI that shows how to read data from your device: examine this example and learn from it…

[nanolab]

I'm so sorry I didn't understand that properly. It was not my intention. In fact, I was already checking the graphic plotting part of the front panel, and I thought I was doing something wrong because the instrument was plotting but Labview was not. Thanks for your help.

[cstorey]

In that driver is a VI called "HP 4145b Data Output.vi".  This collect the data from one named channel variable, say V1 for voltage or I1 for current on SMU1.  Note you need to set those names in the measurement, then read them out one at a time.  They are case sensitive and have very limited naming options. 

The data you get back is a string and the VI example shows you how to convert it to a double precision array.  Once you have the measurement arrays you can rebuild the graphs as required.  You cannot retrieve an image of what you see on the instrument screen directly.

Hope that helps.

Craig