Sweeps

Add a Sweep Loop to a Sequence

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

Sweep Behavior

When you run a sequence that contains a sweep, the sequence runs the steps within the sweep loop. You can configure the parameter settings that the sequence uses when you configure the sweep. In general, the sweep executes once for each new parameter value specified in the sweep settings.

For example, you want to run a test sequence. This test sequence sends a series of three different voltages to a device using an SMU panel. Then, the sequence reads data back from the device using a DMM panel. In this case, the sequence executes in the following order:

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

Once a sweep loop is completed, the next 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 value and a stop value, as well as the step size to use.

Start, Stop, Count—Specify a start value and a stop value, as well as the amount of steps to use within that range.

Array— Manually specify a list of values to sweep through.

Sweep Step Settings

Sweep Name—The name that you want to use for the parameter to be swept.

Data Type—The data type of the parameter.

Strategy—The sweep behavior that you want to use. Refer to Sweep Strategies for more information on sweep types.

Distribution—How to distribute steps between the Start values and the Stop values that are 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 you use an Array sweep strategy, use this table to enter the values that you want to sweep through. When you select other strategies, this table displays the values that the selected sweep settings generated.

Configuring Sweep Parameters for Sequence Steps

After you configure the sweep step settings, you can also configure how each step within the sweep handles the sweep parameter. You can configure sweep parameters in the step settings for each step within a sweep. Step settings allow you to use the sweep parameter for any appropriate step input. You can select the same sweep parameter on multiple step inputs.

When you correctly configure a step to a sweep, InstrumentStudio highlights the panel item that is associated with the sweep with a purple box.

Supported Panel Types