Optiwave OptiInstrument - Instruments Communication and Control Tool

Features

• User friendly GUI for efficient and intelligent testing and characterisation.
• Embedded python installation files.
• Execute single or sequence of SCPI commands.
• Load XML files and all other file formats into GUI panels.
• Drag and drop commands with flexible sequence ordering.
• Generate Python script for sequence of commands.
• Support logic statement such as while (while loop), if, else, elif (else if), for (for loop).
• Independent delay time (sleep) for each individual SCPI command.
• Offer “Basic helpers” statements such as print, sleep, break from a loop, continue and variables to build complex SCPI command sequences.
• Error handling support for identifying the type of error in the sequence.
• Add-on GUI for data post processing, graphing and saving.
• Save output results in a Jason file format.
• Live display of output results for each SCPI command in the sequence.
• Built-in signal viewer and CSV file analysis page.
• Built-in full Python script editor.
• Remote operation and control of instruments.
• Supports dock-able windows.

Applications

• Remotely communicate with instruments
• Setup parameters of equipment
• Automate testing and characterisation
• View generated signals
• Extract & save the data of generated signals for post processing
• Integrate instruments with photonics and systems simulation tools

Overview

The user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) of OptiInstrument 3.0 Software is shown in Fig. 1. It is a standalone tool that can be used to communicate and control different kinds of instruments. OptiInstrument uses the standard commands for programmable instruments (SCPI) to communicate physically or remotely with instruments. The tool uses standard communication interfaces such as TCP/IP, USB, GPIB, or a serial port (RS232/RS485). Users can load lists of SCPI commands from XML files or write individual commands to control the instrument(s). The commands appear in a tree configuration. A single command or a sequence of commands can be executed by OptiInstrument. A Python script can be generated for the SCPI commands, saved, loaded and executed by OptiInstrument or in a Python environment. OptiInstrument GUI has a built-in viewer and CSV file analysis window. The GUI supports dock-able windows that can be split of the main GUI or placed anywhere in the GUI. OptiInstrument is ideal for automated testing and characterisation.

OptiInstrument software version 3.0 does not require the user to install python software on his computer. A directory with required python and plotting directories are embedded and offered as part of the installer of OptiInstrument software.