The Digital Pattern Editor automatically connects to open instrument sessions for all available digital pattern instruments defined in the active pin and channel map file for a project when you take any of the following actions:
  • Open a digital pattern project that includes an active pin and channel map file.
  • Edit the active pin and channel map file.
  • Switch to a different active pin and channel map file in the project.
  • Select the Instruments » Connect menu item.

When switching to a different active pin and channel map file, the editor disconnects current instrument sessions. The editor then connects to existing open instrument sessions that are associated with the new file.

When the editor cannot find open instrument sessions, it launches the Connect to Instruments dialog box. Refer to the Related reference section at the end of this topic for a link to more information about this dialog box.

Instruments Menu Actions

Use the Instruments menu items to perform the following actions:
  • Manage instrument sessions
  • Synchronize multiple instruments
  • Run and apply TDR measurements
  • Enable or disable sites
  • Configure instrument settings
  • Reset instrument sessions
  • Display pin or system information

Connect

Specifies connecting to open sessions for the following instruments:
  • Digital Pattern instruments
  • NI-DCPower instruments
  • Relay driver modules
The active pin and channel map file defines these instruments. If no open sessions are found, then the Connect to Instruments dialog box launches. The system dims this option when no project is open.

Disconnect

Specifies to disconnect any existing connections to the following instruments:
  • Digital Pattern instruments
  • NI-DCPower instruments
  • Relay driver modules
The following scenarios prompt the editor to disconnect all sessions:
  • Closing the project.
  • Deactivating the active pin and channel map. The system dims this option when no instrument sessions are connected.
By default, disconnecting closes sessions created using the Create New Sessions option. You can find this option in the Connect to Instruments dialog box. If sessions were created by an external application, then disconnecting only affects the Digital Pattern Editor. The external application maintains its connection and the state of the instruments.

Synchronized

Specifies one of the following synchronization options. When connected to external sessions, this menu displays the synchronization state set by the session owner. The system dims the menu because only the owner of the external sessions can change the state. For more information about synchronizing instruments with the NI TestStand Semiconductor Module™, refer to NI-Digital Pattern Instrument Synchronization with TestStand Semiconductor Module™. To access the tutorial, visit ni.com/info and enter the Info Code exac4m. The following synchronization options are available:
  • No: Specifies no instrument synchronization of the digital pattern instruments. Selecting this option prompts you to recreate the sessions to disable the synchronization. This action applies when multiple instruments from separate single-instrument sessions are currently synchronized. You must recreate the instrument session if you disable the synchronization.
    Note This option does not disable the synchronization of instruments within the same group. To disable the synchronization of such instruments, assign a unique Group name to each digital pattern instrument in the Pin Map. This action prevents the synchronization that occurs when you assign multiple instruments to the same group.
  • Yes: Specifies to synchronize all digital pattern instruments in single-instrument sessions to a single synchronization group per chassis. This option is the default value. Select this menu item in the following scenarios:
    • You aim to burst patterns in sync, starting at the same time, across all digital pattern instruments that the active pin and channel map uses.
    • Multiple instruments share the same site.
    Note If the editor is connected to existing open instrument sessions, then this option is not available for selection. The Synchronized menu item displays N/A. The instruments maintain the synchronization while in use by the Digital Pattern Editor. This status applies when the external application that created the instrument sessions also configured the sessions for synchronization. However, the editor cannot alter the synchronization settings for such sessions.
  • Yes, using 6674T: This option replaces the Yes option for the Synchronized menu item. The replacement occurs when you use the system with a PXIe-6674T and a supported version of the NI-Sync driver. Select Yes to synchronize all digital pattern instruments. The editor opens a session to the PXIe-6674T. This action enables failure and match propagation with the following considerations:
    • If no digital pattern instruments in the pin map are assigned to a group, then the editor synchronizes failure and match propagation. This synchronization occurs across all digital pattern instruments in the same chassis.
    • If only some digital pattern instruments are assigned to a group, then the editor enables failure and match propagation. This action depends on whether the first instrument listed in the pin map is assigned to a group. For example:
      • If the first instrument in the pin map belongs to a group, then the editor enables failure and match propagation only for instruments within that specific group.
      • If the first instrument is does not belong to a group, then the editor enables failure and match propagation for all synchronized single-instrument sessions contained by the chassis.
    • If a single chassis contains multiple groups of digital pattern instruments, then the editor only enables failure and match propagation for the first group listed in the pin map.
    Note When using a multi-chassis system with PXIe-6674T, NI recommends using only one PXIe-6674T per chassis. Failure and match propagation is only synchronized for digital pattern instruments contained in the same chassis.
    Note If the editor is connected to existing open instrument sessions, then this option is not available for selection. The Synchronized menu item displays N/A. The instruments maintain the synchronization while in use by the Digital Pattern Editor. This status applies when the external application that created the instrument sessions also configured the sessions for synchronization. However, the editor cannot alter the synchronization settings for such sessions.
  • Yes, with Timing Absolute Delay enabled: Specifies whether NI-TClk performs the fine granularity adjustment of the intermodule skew in the digital pattern instrument timing reference. Different settings are applied depending on whether this option is selected:
    • Timing Absolute Delay Enabled
      • The digital pattern instrument adjusts the full extent of the intermodule skew measured by NI-TClk. This adjustment improves timing alignment among synchronized instruments.
    • Timing Absolute Delay Disabled
      • The digital pattern instrument limits the timing adjustment for intermodule skew.
      • Adjustment granularity is one master clock period.
    Note Disable Timing Absolute Delay for digital pattern instruments within the Semiconductor Test System (STS). Timing Absolute Delay conflicts with the adjustment performed during STS timing calibration.
  • N/A: Specifies that instrument synchronization does not apply because the editor is connected to only one digital pattern instrument session.
  • Unknown: Specifies that the instrument synchronization configuration is unknown because the DPE is connected to externally owned sessions. The owners of the external sessions determine the synchronization status of the sessions.

Enabled Sites

Launches the Sites dialog box. You can use this dialog box to enable and to disable sites defined in the active pin and channel map. You can disable sites for debugging purposes. The possible uses include the following:
  • Ignoring sites that return irrelevant results
  • Disabling the site when a DUT fails a test
Use the Pattern Burst column of the Sites dialog box to select sites for bursting patterns. The possible patterns to burst include the following:
  • Shmoo plots
  • The digital scope
Removing the checkmark from the Pattern Burst checkbox of a site in the Sites dialog box does not disable the site. You can still view the site in the System View and modify pins in the site in the Pin View or System View pane. However, bursting the pattern has no effect on the site. The Sites dialog box displays the current status of all sites. When you connect to existing open instrument sessions, the sites maintain the status the existing sessions specify. By default, the system enables all sites for which all instruments are available. The default setting applies when you use the Create New Sessions option in the Connect to Instruments dialog box. Using this option creates a connection to the following instruments:
  • Instrument sessions for all available digital pattern instruments
  • NI-DCPower instruments
  • Relay driver modules

History RAM and Signal Settings

Displays the Instrument Settings pane. You can use this pane to configure options to perform the following actions:
  • Log History RAM results
  • Route events to PXI chassis backplate trigger lines

Disconnect All Digital Pins

Changes the state of all digital pins to Disconnect from another supported state.

Reset

Closes and recreates instrument sessions. This action applies to all available digital pattern instruments and all NI-DCPower instruments defined in the active pin and channel map for the project. This menu item also resets all the settings for the instruments to default values. The menu item is only enabled when you select the Create New Sessions option in the Connect to Instruments dialog box. You cannot reset instrument sessions that an external application owns.

Pin View

Displays the Pin View pane. You can use this pane to interactively view and modify the current state of the following items:
  • Pin driver
  • Active load
  • Comparators
  • PPMU
  • NI-DCPower instrument settings
These actions apply to a single pin at a time in the active instrument session.
Note You must install the NI-DCPower driver to access NI-DCPower-related functionality in the Digital Pattern Editor.

System View

Use this view to perform actions on the following instruments:
  • A digital pattern instrument
  • An NI-DCPower instrument
  • A relay driver module
The possible actions include the following items:
  • View or edit all the settings and measurements in the active pin and channel map
  • View a list of patterns that are currently loaded onto the digital instruments
  • View or edit pattern sequencer flags and registers
  • Interactively debug and make changes to the state of the digital instruments

Relay View

Launches the System View, then scrolls and expands the Relay section as necessary to show the relays. Refer to the related information described at the end of this section for a link to more information about System View.
Note You must install the NI-DCPower driver to access NI-DCPower-related functionality in the Digital Pattern Editor.
Note You must install the DAQmx driver to access relay driver functionality in the Digital Pattern Editor.