9. Software simulator

UpdatedMay 27, 2023

The BB3 firmware can be compiled and executed on a Windows, Linux or OS X system. The software simulator is a terminal application that can respond to almost all of currently supported SCPI command described in this document. SCPI commands could be entered directly in the simulator’s terminal window (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1: Simulator terminal session

The simulator also has built-in GUI. When started, a separate window is opened with the picture of the BB3 front panel.

Fig. 2: Firmware simulator GUI

Additionally, firmware features could be evaluated using the Web firmware simulator that can be found on the following address: https://www.envox.eu/bb3-simulator/index.html

9.1. SIMUlator

The SIMUlator software subsystem implements a set of unclassified SCPI commands for managing external parameters and events such as load impedance, connection and disconnection of the load, sensor temperature or the BB3 control circuit power supply state. Thus it is possible to exercise the measuring and protection commands that depend on external events.

For example, a MEASure:CURRent? command without a connected load will always return zero, or activation of the VOLTage:PROTection:STATe will automatically trip the OVP signal since a channel in CC operation cannot start when output is switched on, etc.

SCPI command	Description
SIMUlator
:EXIT	Closes simulator
:GUI	Starts simulator’s GUI
:LOAD {<resistance>}	Sets the value of the simulated load
:STATe {<bool>}	“Connects” a simulated load to the channel output
:PIN1 {<bool>}	Sets the value of the PIN1 input
:PIN2 {<bool>}	Sets the value of the PIN2 input
:PWRGood {<bool>}	Sets the PWRGOOD signal state
:QUIT	Closes simulator
:RPOL {<bool>}	Sets the RPOL signal
:TEMP {<temperature>}	Sets the temperature sensor value
:VOLT:PROG:EXT {<voltage>}	Sets the output voltage when a channel is in external programming mode

9.1.1. SIMUlator:EXIT

Syntax	SIMUlator:EXIT
Description	This command close all Simulator windows (terminal and GUI if started).
Usage example	SIMU:EXIT

9.1.2. SIMUlator:GUI

Syntax	SIMUlator:GUI
Description	This command starts the GUI simulation in a new window (see Fig. 2).
Usage example	SIMU:GUI
Related Commands	SIMUlator:EXIT

9.1.3. SIMUlator:LOAD

Syntax	SIMUlator:LOAD {<resistance>} SIMUlator:LOAD?
Description	This command define the impedance of a simulated load connected to a channel output. Units are in ohms. With a load connected it is possible to simulate several BB3 operations: e.g., CC mode of operation, current and power measurement, OCP and OPP functionality, etc. The simulated load value can be also changed by clicking and dragging the load’s image. Move to the left to decrease, or to the right to increase the simulated value in increments of 1 Ω. The simulator currently cannot emulate the “UR” mode of operation (see the OUTPut:MODE? command).
Parameters	Name	Type	Range	Default
	<resistance>	NR2\|Discrete	0 – 9999999\|INFinite	–
Return	The query command returns the programmed load value.
Usage example	SIMU:LOAD 8.2
Related Commands	OUTPut:MODE?

9.1.4. SIMUlator:LOAD:STATe

Syntax	SIMUlator:LOAD:STATe {<bool>} SIMUlator:LOAD:STATe?
Description	This command “connects” or “disconnects” the simulated load on the channel output. If the GUI simulator has been started (via the SIMUlator:GUI command) a load symbol with the currently selected value in Ohms will be displayed. Another possibility to connect (or disconnect) a load is by click on its image.
Parameters	Name	Type	Range	Default
	<bool>	Boolean	ON\|OFF\|0\|1	–
Return	The query command returns the load state.
Usage example	SIMU:LOAD:STAT? 0 MEAS:CURR? 0.00 SIMU:LOAD:STAT ON MEAS:CURR? 1.50
Related Commands	OUTPut:MODE? SIMUlator:GUI SIMUlator:LOAD

9.1.5. SIMUlator:PIN1

Syntax	SIMUlator:PIN1 {<bool>} SIMUlator:PIN1?
Description	This command can be used to simulate the state of the PIN1 input on the BB3 front panel push-in connector that can be used for initiate trigger.
Parameters	Name	Type	Range	Default
	<bool>	Boolean	ON\|OFF\|0\|1	–
Return	The query command returns the state of the simulated PIN1 input.
Usage example	VOLT:TRIG 12.00 CURR:TRIG 2.50 TRIG:SOUR PIN1 OUTP 1 INIT SIMU:PIN1
Related Commands	ABORt INITiate[:IMMediate] TRIGger[:SEQuence]:DELay TRIGger[:SEQuence]:SLOPe TRIGger[:SEQuence]:SOURce

9.1.6. SIMUlator:PIN2

Syntax	SIMUlator:PIN2 {<bool>} SIMUlator:PIN2?
Description	This command can be used to simulate the state of the PIN2 input on the BB3 front panel push-in connector that can be used for initiate trigger.
Parameters	Name	Type	Range	Default
	<bool>	Boolean	ON\|OFF\|0\|1	–
Return	The query command returns the state of the simulated PIN2 input.
Usage example	VOLT:TRIG 12.00 CURR:TRIG 2.50 TRIG:SOUR PIN1 OUTP 1 INIT SIMU:PIN1
Related Commands	ABORt INITiate[:IMMediate] TRIGger[:SEQuence]:DELay TRIGger[:SEQuence]:SLOPe TRIGger[:SEQuence]:SOURce

9.1.7. SIMUlator:PWRGood

Syntax	SIMUlator:PWRGood {<bool>} SIMUlator:PWRGood?
Description	This command can be used to simulate an internal power supply failure. When the PWRGOOD signal is changed from 1 to 0 the BB3 will goes into the standby mode (equal to the command SYSTem:POW OFF). The simulated BB3 mode cannot be changed until PWRGOOD is not changed to 1.
Parameters	Name	Type	Range	Default
	<bool>	Boolean	ON\|OFF\|0\|1	ON
Return	The query command returns the PWRGOOD signal state.
Usage example	SYST:POW? 1 SIMU:PWRG 0 SYST:POW? 0
Related Commands	SYSTem:POWer

9.1.8. SIMUlator:QUIT

Syntax	SIMUlator:QUIT
Description	Same as SIMUlator:EXIT
Usage example	SIMU:QUIT

9.1.9. SIMUlator:RPOL

Syntax	SIMUlator:RPOL {<bool>} SIMUlator:RPOL?
Description	This command can be used to simulate detection of a remote sensing reverse polarity condition.
Parameters	Name	Type	Range	Default
	<bool>	Boolean	ON\|OFF\|0\|1	ON
Return	The query command returns the RPOL signal state.
Usage example	STAT:QUES:INST:ISUM2? 0 SIMU:RPOL 1 STAT:QUES:INST:ISUM2? 128
Errors	312,"Cannot execute when the channels are coupled"
Related Commands	INSTrument:COUPle:TRACking [SOURce[<n>]]:VOLTage:SENSe[:SOURce] STATus:QUEStionable:INSTrument[:EVENt]?

9.1.10. SIMUlator:TEMPerature

Syntax	SIMUlator:TEMPerature {<temperature>} [, <sensor>] SIMUlator:TEMPerature? [<sensor>]
Description	This command sets the simulated temperature in degrees Celsius (oC), and then reads it from the simulated temperature sensor.
Parameters	Name	Type	Range	Default
	<temperature>	NR2	0 – 100	–
	<sensor>	Discrete	AUX\|CH1\|CH2\|CH3\|CH4\|CH5\|CH6	AUX
Return	The query command returns the set temperature value.
Usage example	SIMU:TEMP 45, CH2 MEAS:TEMP? CH2 45.00
Related Commands	MEASure[:SCALar]:TEMPerature[:THERmistor][:DC]

9.1.11. SIMUlator:VOLTage:PROGram:EXTernal

Syntax	SIMUlator:VOLTage:PROGram:EXTernal {<voltage>} SIMUlator:VOLTage:PROGram:EXTernal?
Description	This command sets the simulated voltage that will be used for output voltage programming when the simulated channel is set in external / remote programming mode (see [SOURce[<n>]]:VOLTage:PROGram[:SOURce]). For full range, apply 2.5 V; if a higher value is entered channel’s OVP will trip.
Parameters	Name	Type	Range	Default
	<voltage>	NR2	Positive value	0.00
Return	The query command returns the simulated external output voltage programming value.
Usage example	VOLT:PROG EXT SIMU:VOLT:PROG:EXT 1.25 MEAS? 20.00
Errors	312,"Cannot execute when the channels are coupled"
Related Commands	INSTrument:COUPle:TRACking [SOURce[<n>]]:VOLTage:PROGram[:SOURce] [SOURce[<n>]]:VOLTage:PROTection:TRIPped?

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EEZ BB3 User manual

EEZ BB3 SCPI reference guide

Miscellaneous

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