{"id":900,"date":"2013-12-22T19:36:57","date_gmt":"2013-12-23T03:36:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/?p=900"},"modified":"2018-11-03T13:00:50","modified_gmt":"2018-11-03T20:00:50","slug":"programming-the-9103-picoammeter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/programming-the-9103-picoammeter\/","title":{"rendered":"Programming the 9103 Picoammeter"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Programming

Progamming the 9103 Picoammeter<\/h1>\n

RBD\u2019s 9103 USB PIcoammeter is packaged with Windows application software for control, current display, data-logging, and graphing. However, it’s often desirable to use the 9103 with other operating systems, integrate it with other hardware or software systems, and\/or extend the capabilities of the application software. Fortunately, the 9103 utilizes an ASCII command set that exposes all of its features. Programming the 9103 Picoammeter is straightforward and easy to test.<\/p>\n

A complete guide to programming the 9103 picoammeter can be viewed and downloaded \u00a0from RBD’s website here<\/a>. This post will give you an overview of setting up communications with the 9103 and the message structure for controlling the unit and gathering status and data.<\/p>\n

Of course, every programming environment is different. As long as you are working with a tool that supports USB communication and text streaming, you can create a custom application for your 9103.<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

Setting up Communications<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you are using your 9103 with Windows, the installed driver creates a virtual serial COM port. RBD’s Actuel application software uses this port for communicating with the 9103, and any application you use to interface with the 9103 will use this same port for communications.<\/p>\n

For other operating systems, you’ll need to download the appropriate driver from the manufacturer of the USB communications components, FTDI. Those drivers can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you are interfacing the 9103 with LabView, drivers and scripts can be found on the 9103 downloads page.<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

Communications Protocol<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The communications protocol for the 9103 is typical for many serial devices. Whether you configure the USB port using your operating system or program it within your application, the protocol is as follows:<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n

Setting<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

\n
\n
\n

Value<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n
\n
\n

Bits per Second (Baud Rate)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

\n
\n
\n

57600<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n
\n
\n

Data Bits<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

\n
\n
\n

8<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n
\n
\n

Parity<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

\n
\n
\n

None<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n
\n
\n

Stop Bits<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

\n
\n
\n

1<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n
\n
\n

Flow Control<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

\n
\n
\n

None<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Sending and Receiving Commands<\/strong><\/p>\n

Communication with the 9103 is asynchronous. Most commands sent from the computer control device to the Picoammeter will be answered with a response, which may include an error message if there is a problem understanding\/executing the command.<\/p>\n

All messages are delivered as ASCII text – there is no binary message data. This includes the actual data delivered by the 9103, which is a formatted ASCII value.<\/p>\n

Depending on your programming environment and application, you’ll normally be coding (at the least) logic to deliver the messages to the 9103, as well as to monitor the USB port and parse incoming messages.<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

Message Formats and Sample Messages<\/strong><\/h2>\n

All messages are preceded by the “&” character, followed by a single character denoting the command or data type, as well as additional characters representing command parameters or data.<\/p>\n

Here are a few examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I<\/strong> – From PC, command message to set the data sample interval, parameter is in milliseconds, 0015 to 9999.Example: ‘&I0500<\/strong>‘ sets the sampling interval to 500 milliseconds<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
F<\/strong> – From PC, controls the filter settings for the sample data. Allowed values are 000, 002, 004, 008, 016, 032, and 064.Example: ‘&F016<\/strong>‘ sets the filter value to 16<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Data and status are passed back to the PC from the 9103 using a similar format. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
E<\/strong> –\u00a0From device, sent if there was an error. Includes string description of error.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

A full description of the command and data messages, as well as additional information on programming the 9103 Picoammeter are found in the 9103 User Guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Using Actuel’s Console Window For Debugging<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you are communicating with the 9103 using Windows, you can view the communications taking place in real-time using the Console window – simply click the Console button on the main window. You can also type commands here and see the results in real-time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Progamming the 9103 Picoammeter RBD\u2019s 9103 USB PIcoammeter is packaged with Windows application software for control, current display, data-logging, and graphing. However, it’s often desirable to use the 9103 with other operating systems, integrate it with other hardware or software … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[159],"tags":[89,90,7,123],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2DEXo-ew","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2717,"url":"https:\/\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/9103-usb-picoammeter-winter-2020-news\/","url_meta":{"origin":900,"position":0},"title":"9103 USB Picoammeter Winter 2020 News","author":"Joe Caterinicchio","date":"February 12, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Last year, RBD introduced an updated 9103 USB Picoammeter, with 3 new models: High-speed: 500 reads \/ second compared to 40 for the Standard Model High-voltage: an isolated signal input with the ability to float the 9103 Picoammeter to \u00b15000 VDC. High-speed \/ High Voltage: One model combining both features.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "9103 USB Picoammeter"","block_context":{"text":"9103 USB Picoammeter","link":"https:\/\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/category\/9103-usb-picoammeter\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/actuel-1-6.png?fit=727%2C371&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/actuel-1-6.png?fit=727%2C371&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/actuel-1-6.png?fit=727%2C371&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":826,"url":"https:\/\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/a-guide-to-9103-picoammeter-compatibility\/","url_meta":{"origin":900,"position":1},"title":"A Guide to 9103 Picoammeter Compatibility","author":"Joe Caterinicchio","date":"November 4, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"RBD's 9103 USB Picoammeter and Actuel application (included in your purchase) are compatible with a number of hardware devices and operating systems. 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These features transform the 9103 from a single current measurement device to a multi-channel picoammeter. Up to 127 channels! \u00a0 Picoammeter Synchronization Synchronization is provided by RBD's free Actuel picoammeter control and display software. Multiple instances\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "9103 USB Picoammeter"","block_context":{"text":"9103 USB Picoammeter","link":"https:\/\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/category\/9103-usb-picoammeter\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/four_picos.jpg?fit=389%2C482&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2261,"url":"https:\/\/www.rbdinstruments.com\/blog\/new-feature-use-the-9103-picoammeter-to-automatically-read-microcma-target-current\/","url_meta":{"origin":900,"position":4},"title":"New Feature: Use the 9103 Picoammeter to Automatically Read microCMA Target Current","author":"Joe Caterinicchio","date":"March 29, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The latest software releases of Actuel for the 9103 Picoammeter and CMapp for the microCMA now support the ability to automatically read target current when acquiring data. 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