OptiInstrument Overview

OptiInstrument addresses the needs of researchers, scientists, photonic engineers, professors, and students who work with different kinds of instruments and automated photonic testing. OptiInstrument software satisfies the demands of users who are searching for a powerful yet easy tool to physically or remotely communicate and control instruments.

KEY FEATURES

• User-friendly GUI for efficient and intelligent testing and characterization.
• Embedded Python installation files.
• Execute a 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 for testing optical equipment remotely.
• Generate Python script for a sequence of commands.
• Support logic statements 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 for optical equipment testing.
• Supports dockable windows.

OVERVIEW

OptiInstrument is a standalone tool that can be used to communicate and control different kinds of instruments used for automated photonic testing and other applications. 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.

Executing Commands

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 for post-optical equipment testing analysis. The GUI supports dockable windows that can be split from the main GUI or placed anywhere in the GUI. OptiInstrument is ideal for automated testing and characterization.

OptiInstrument software does not require the user to install Python software on his computer. A directory with required Python and plotting directories is embedded and offered as part of the installer of OptiInstrument software. You can learn more about using OptiInstrument with our manuals.

APPLICATIONS

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

Learn more about other OptiInstrument applications here.