Overview

To access the Sweep plan editor and start its configuration, select it in IQSTAR:

Sweep plan : Overview

Sweep plan is organised in 3 different parts:
  • Available actions: the list of all the available actions to program the sequence. From this panel, select the actions to be added to the sweep plan or drag and drop it at the desired position
  • Sweep Plan script: here is the sweep plan sequence that will be launched when clicking on start
  • Action configuration: select an action will automatically open the configuration panel in this part


At the bottom of the sweep plan window, there are several icons . These icons are very useful in order to write the sequence. With that, it's possible to copy/paste action or group of actions (parent->children), to delete actions, and also to modify the place of an action in the sequence.

First step to configure a sweep plan is to load at least one setup that will be used during the sweep plan. Using browse and add the setup, using delete the selected setup:

allow you to (in order):
  • Import the current setup (from the schematic setup editor of IQSTAR) in the Setup Manager of the sweep plan
  • Export the setup to the schematic setup editor of IQSTAR
  • Rename the setup

Sweep plan: Configuration

The interest of the sweep plan is to add actions (listed on the left side) to customize a given measurement configuration, and to easily program a complete sequence of tests.

Each action located after the "Change measurement configuration" field will update the measurement process by modifying the frequency, the bias, or any other parameters and will perform the desired measurement using these new conditions.

There are two different actions:

  • Punctual: these actions are just done once there is no loop, as an example DUT biasing only set the desired level to a power supply
  • Iterative (loop): these actions may generate a sweep, as an example DUT biasing sweep allow the sweep of the level to a power supply
Example 1:

In the example above, the 1-Tone measurement (loaded and configured in the 'Change configuration' action) will run 36 times with different input and output biasing sets. In detail the measurement sequence will be:
  1. Load and Set all the parameters of 'change configuration' into the instruments
  2. Set all the power supplies ON (make sure the DUT can handle 0V at all ports)
  3. Apply 1st input voltage value
  4. Apply 1st output voltage value
  5. Start the 1-Tone measurement
  6. Apply 2nd input voltage value (output is still on the 1st value)
  7. Start 1-Tone measurement
  8. And so on for all the biasing combinations…
Note: Use appropriate indentation in order to program loops.
Example 2:

In this example, 1-Tone measurement (loaded and configured in the 'Change configuration' action) will run only 1time with -2.5V at the input and 50V at the output:
  1. Load and Set all the parameters of 'change configuration' into the instruments
  2. Set all the power supplies ON (take care if the DUT could handle 0V on all ports)
  3. Apply -2.5V at the input
  4. Start the 1-Tone measurement

Sweep plan: Execution

Once the sweep plan has been build, press to run the sequence.

A step by step execution is available selecting:

Then select to execute the next step of the sweep plan.

Sweep plan: Semi Automatic Mode

The sweep plan features a semi-automatic mode. This mode allows to press or use breakpointat a particular step of the sequence, and be able to switch in the Setup Editor to run a "manual" measurement or adjust setting like tuner position, dut biasing, thermal control … When the sweep plan will be paused, a copy of the actual setup object used will be send to the setup editor. In an other word, the setup loaded in the setup editor will have the same setting and calibration file that the setup object used in the sweep plan.

Note: When the sweep plan is paused, [remote control: Sweep plan] note is added on the setup editor name.

Note: The semi-automatic mode can be available only if a setup object is loaded (using Change configuration action or Script function) in the sweep plan. Otherwise, the setup editor will be grayed out..
Note: The semi-automatic mode can be available only if the sweep plan pause or breakpoint are made outside of Perform measurement action. Otherwise, the measurement start, pause, stop measurment buttons and the tools (DUT biasing, Tuner manager …) will be grayed out.
Note: During a semi-automatic mode, changes done in each tools (DUT biasing, Tuner manager, Thermal controller …) will be keep and aplly when the sweep plan will be resumed.