Aim TTi Test Bridge Software Instruction Manual
- June 3, 2024
- Aim-TTi
Table of Contents
TTi Test Bridge Software
Instruction Manual
INTRODUCTION
Features
Multi Instrument Control
Logging to table and graph format
Timed sequence control across all instruments and channels
USB, LAN and RS232 compatible
Intended use
List of compatible instruments:
POWER SUPPLIES Series| Models| LOADS|
---|---|---|---
Series| Models
CPX| CPX200DP, CPX400DP, CPX400SP| LD| LD400P
MX| MX100TP, MX100QP, MX180TP| LDH| LDH400P
PL| PL-P & PLH-P| |
QL| QL-P Series I & II| |
QPX| QPX1200SP, QPX600DP, QPX750SP| |
TSX| TSX-P Series I & II| |
Using this manual
Colour coding:
Green = Larger view of a selected area
- Orange = Instruction to select
- Blue = Optional instruction to select
- Yellow = Description of item
Symbols
The following symbols are displayed throughout the manual:
CAUTION
Indicates a hazard that could damage the product that may result in loss of
important data or invalidation of the warranty.
NOTE
Indicates a helpful tip
GETTING STARTED
File
Open/Save Configuration Open or save the Instrument Control Panel and
Recording Channel configurations.
Exit – Close the application.
Connect
Add Network Instrument – ① Specify the IP address or host name and enter the
port number (generally 9221 or 5025) – see the instrument’s Instruction Manual
for more details. Click the PING button to test the connection – if
successful the USE button will activate. Click the USE button to continue.
Check Local Ports (USB & RS232) – ② Display and refresh the list of available
instruments.
NOTE
Following a power cycle, checking ports can take up to 10 seconds if not
connected via LAN.
Help
Help – This PDF guide to using the software.
About – Application details and a ‘report generator’ function to provide
feedback.
Instrument Control Panel
The Instrument Control Panel is selected using the icon ③.
Up to four instruments can be connected to the Control Panel. Each instrument
will populate one control box ④.
For details on how to use the instrument control box, see Instrument control.
INSTRUMENT SETUP
Select an Instrument
Firstly, ensure Instrument Control is selected ①. 
Select the drop-down box in the Instrument Control Panel ② to show all
instruments available.
If a connected instrument is not shown, refer to Connect.
The available instruments will be listed under the instrument name e.g
‘MX100QP’ for the MX100QP
Quad Output Multi-Range DC Power Supply.
Select the instrument ③ to activate the Instrument Control Panel.
The instrument name will now be shown ④, in addition to the COM port details
or IP address⑤ in the top of the Instrument Control Panel. A coloured strip
will be allocated ⑥ on the left, indicating the product category.
The instrument can be given a unique name, using the edit box ⑦.
The meter digits show live readings when the channel is on, and the digits
will be shown in yellow (CH1). If the output is off, the displayed digits show
the set values, and are shown in grey.
NOTE
The channel output state will match the instrument when connected, this may be
on or off depending on the setup.
To disconnect an instrument, select the connected instrument from the drop-
down box. This will reset the Instrument Control Panel back to the default
state. If an instrument is connected and communication is lost, a ‘Comms
Error’ will show ⑧. Check connections and reconnect as shown above.
INSTRUMENT CONTROL
Selecting a Channel
(Multi – Channel Instruments)
The Instrument Control Panel displays the settings of the active channel, the
active channel number ① will match the selected channel colour.
The meter will show Channel 1 when first activated.
To select a different channel, first select > ② to display all available
channels. The channel numbers run in ascending order and start at 1 closest to
the Instrument Control Panel. Each channel is shown in a different colour.
The channel control can be active or hidden at any time using the < and > ②
buttons.
Select the active channel by clicking on the channel meter ③ – this will then
change the main Instrument Control Panel ④ to reflect the readings and
settings for that channel.
Turning Channels On and Off
Single Channel
To turn the channel output on or off, use the ON/OFF toggle ⑤ below the
channel.
When the channel is on, the meters on the control box show the live data for
each available channel, when the output is off the meter shows the set values
for each channel (grey).
Multi Channels (All On/All Off)
It is possible to turn all the channels on or off simultaneously with the All
ON or All OFF ⑥ buttons on the Instrument Control.
NOTE
The Multi-Channel control box does not need to be shown to use the All ON or
All OFF buttons.
Setting a Value
The active channel settings are changed using the “VSet” and “ISet” settings
fields. These show the set values. For electronic load “VSet” and “ISet” will
be replaced by “Level A” and “Level B”.
To change the value, select the field ①. A pop-up will appear with the setting
options.
Values can be entered by selecting ② and editing, either by using the keyboard
or the mouse wheel to increase/decrease the value.
+/ -③ keys can be used to increase/decrease the set value by the amount
specified in the set increment step ④.
Increment values can be entered by selecting ④ and editing, either by using
the keyboard or +/ – buttons to increase/decrease the value.
NOTE
These changes are live and will show on the instrument as they are changed in
the Change Setting pop-up.
Close the Change Settings pop-up using the X button ⑤.
Settings Menu
To access the instrument settings, select the Settings Menu button ①.
This menu contains settings and functions such as O V P, limits, ranges etc.
These are instrument specific and will vary depending on the instrument
connected.
Each block of settings is contained within a tree view ②, the selected setting
on the left ③ defines the available parameters ④ on the right. If no parameter
is available, the action has no numeric value option.
Press SEND ⑤ to send the formatted command ⑥.
LOGGING
Overview
Logging uses recording channels to capture live data; channels can be set to
record values from any channel on an active instrument at specified time
intervals. A maximum of 8 parameters can be logged from any active channel.
Varying measurement intervals can be set alongside units and plot line colour.
The results are plotted on one of the two available graphs and can also be
viewed in a table and exported as a .CSV (comma separated values), a .TSV file
(tab separated values) or as a plain text file. The graph provides advanced
zooming and panning functions, allowing for efficient data analysis.
Logging Setup
Firstly, select logging mode ①. Before starting, select the primary and
secondary units to record on the Y axis using the drop-down boxes on either
side: Graph 1= ②, ③ Graph 2= ④, ⑤ The X axis will always show time (absolute
or relative).
The bar ⑥ can be used to change the proportion of each graph shown.
Logging Controls
Once the recording channels have been setup, data logging is controlled using
the logging controls:
Run – ⑦ Start logging selected data
Stop – ⑧ Stop logging selected data
Save – ⑨ Save the logged data as a file (CSV, TXT or TSV)
Clear – ⑩ Clear all logged data.
NOTE
‘Save’ will only save the logged data. To save instrument setups, see File.
TSV – Tab Separated Values, CSV – Comma Separated Values, TXT – Plain text
file.
CAUTION
The ‘Clear’ action is irreversible. Save any important data before clearing.
Recording Channel Setup
NOTE
Ensure Y axis units have been set before setting recording channels, see
Logging setup for more details.
Line Plot – Select the preferred graph ① to show the logged data on using the
drop-down box. This can also be set to hide; the data will not be shown on
the graph but will still be logged. The colour of the logging line can be
selected from the colour picker ②.
Instrument – Choose which instrument ③ to log the data from using the drop-
down box. Only instruments that have been allocated a control panel will be
available in the drop down.
Channel – Select the channel ④ to log data from the chosen instrument.
Measurement – Select the measurement units ⑤ to be logged. Ensure the units
match the units set on the graph.
Interval – Set the logging interval ⑥ in seconds, the minimum is 250ms. To
ensure the best results, check the minimum sampling rate specifications in the
instrument’s Instruction Manual.
View
When the data is recorded and displayed on a graph, it can be viewed in
several different ways:
Show Values – Click and drag the mouse across the graph ① to show the details
② of that specific point in the logged data. This can be dragged along the
entire data line to show any point within the log. The following actions are
available for graph navigation. To begin, click on the graph area:
| Right click and drag| Alt + left click and drag| Arrow keys| | Ctrl + Right click and drag| Ctrl + Alt
+ left click and drag
| Ctrl + Arrow keys
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
| Mouse wheel (if available)| Numeric keypad
+/-
| Page Up / Page Down| | Ctrl + mouse wheel| Ctrl + numeric keypad
+/-|
Ctrl + Page Up/Page down
| Ctrl + right- click and drag| Middle mouse button| Ctrl + Alt + left click
and drag| | A on the keyboard,| Right click select Reset Zoom| Alt + Ctrl +
left double click
Note: To zoom in one axis only, place the cursor over the axis, then use the
mouse wheel to zoom
Table
SEQUENCING
Overview
Sequence numbers are limited only by the number of channels that are
available; each sequence is allocated to a specified channel on an instrument.
Two different parameters can be added to each sequence, along with two
events. A range of built-in step options are available, including: sine wave,
triangle wave, ramp, and step.
Sequencing Setup 
Firstly, select Sequencing mode ①, then select Add ② to start creating a
sequence.
Each sequence is allocated to a specified channel. Before the sequence can be
created, an instrument ③ and channel ④ need to be specified. Use the drop-down
boxes to select these.
The sequencing tools will now be available to use.
NOTE
The sequence update period is limited to 250ms. Dots represent the update
points, with linear lines joining points. i.e. A sine wave set for 1s period
will have 5 points and be represented as a triangle.
Adding Steps to a Sequence
Each individual channel sequence can contain a primary and secondary
parameter, and an event for each parameter. These are selected using the radio
buttons and colour coded for identification.
To add a step to the sequence, select the parameter or event, then select a
shape from the four options in the step selection ⑤. Each shape has a unique
pop-up window ⑥ that gives the editable parameters for that shape:
Each step has the option to Insert, Add or Cancel:
INSERT – Place the step BEFORE the selected step.
ADD- Place the step AFTER the last step.
CANCEL – Return to the sequence without making any changes.
There is also an option to name the step.
When creating a step for an event, additional options are available to add a
condition and an action.
Editing a sequence
Steps that have been added to the sequence can be selected using the drop-down box ①. The steps are highlighted in the sequence with a faint box the same colour as the unit/event.
① – Step selection drop down
② – Deletes the current step
③ – Edits the sequence step selected in ①
④ – Saves a sequence file
⑤ – Opens a sequence file
⑥ – When ticked, causes the sequence
to start when logging starts
⑦ – When ticked, logging will stop
when the sequence stops| ⑧ – Starts logging data, if ⑥ is ticked
the sequence will also start
⑨ – Stops logging data, if ⑥ is ticked
the sequence will also stop
⑩ – Saves log data to file
⑪ – Clears all log data
⑫ – Start/continue the sequence
⑬ – Pause the sequence
⑭ – Stop the sequence
---|---
Steps can be deleted once they are selected, using the trash can button ②.
Steps can be edited once they are selected, using the edit button ③.
Saving/Loading a Sequence
Sequences can be saved using the Save button ④ and loaded using the Load
button ⑤.
NOTE
‘Save’ will only save the sequence settings. To save instrument setups, see
File
‘Load’ will load steps for all units, not just the selected unit.
Running a Sequence While Logging
Once the sequence setup is complete, it can be run by selecting Run Sequence
⑥, followed by the Run button ⑧ on the logging controls.
The logging graph will then show the logging results for the running sequence,
provided the recording channels have been set to view the channel allocated to
the sequence. See Recording channel setup for more details.
⑧ – Start logging and run the sequence if ⑥ is ticked. ⑬ – Pause the sequence
⑭ – Stop the sequence
Running a Sequence Independently of Logging
Once the sequence setup is complete, it can be run by selecting ⑫. ⑥ must be
un-ticked to be able to run a sequence independently of logging. ⑫ –
Start/continue the sequence ⑬ – Pause the sequence ⑭ – Stop the sequence
ERROR LOG AND COMMUNICATIONS
Error Log
The Error Log panel is selected using the icon ① and will present any errors
that have been logged.
Each error message ④ has an index number ② and time allocated ③ as a reference
point.
The Error Log can be saved using the Save Error Report button ⑤.
To change the instrument, select the number reference ⑥ using the +/- keys.
Numbers run from 0-3 starting with the first instrument at 0.
Communications
The
communications panel is selected using the icon ①.
The communications panel shows the commands used to communicate between Test
Bridge and the connected instruments.
Messages ② are either a sent or received command this is indicated withthe
Out/In arrows ③. Each message has an index number ④ and time allocated ⑤ as a
reference point.
To change the instrument, select the number reference ⑥ using the +/- keys.
Numbers run from 0-3 starting with the first instrument at 0.
Messages are recorded at the selected interval update rate ⑦ – the minimum is
100ms. Messages are recorded even when the instrument is idle. To stop
communications recording idle data, select the Turn Off Idle update ⑧.
The history can be cleared using the clear history button ⑨.
EXCELLENCE THROUGH EXPERIENCE
Aim-TTi is the trading name of Thurlby Thandar Instruments Ltd. (TTi), one of
Europe’s leading manufacturers of test and measurement instruments.
The company has wide experience in the design and manufacture of advanced test
instruments and power supplies built up over more than thirty years. The
company is based in the United Kingdom, and all products are built at the
main facility in Huntingdon, close to the famous university city of Cambridge.
TRACEABLE QUALITY SYSTEMS
TTi is an ISO9001 registered company operating fully traceable quality
systems for all processes from design through to final calibration.
ISO9001:2015
Certificate number FM 20695
WHERE TO BUY AIM-TTI PRODUCTS
Aim-TTi products are widely available from a network of distributors and
agents in more than sixty countries across the world.
To find your local distributor, please visit our website which provides full
contact details.
Designed and built in Europe by: Thurlby Thandar Instruments Ltd.
Glebe Road, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.
PE29 7DR United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1480 412451 Fax: +44 (0)1480 450409
Email: [email protected] Web:
www.aimtti.com
