Skip to content

Hardware Setup

This guide covers recommended wiring and configuration for each supported instrument. When hardware is unavailable, enable simulator mode via AMPBENCHKIT_FAKE_HW=1.

FeelTech FY3200S / FY3224S

  • Connect the FY3200S to your host via USB-to-serial adapter.
  • Let the application auto-detect the serial port, or override with FY_PORT=/dev/tty.usbserial-XXXX.
  • Recommended default settings:
  • Waveform: sine
  • Channel: CH1
  • Voltage: ≤1.35 Vpp (hardware-enforced safety limit; adjust DUT gain instead)
  • The GUI exposes generator controls; CLI automation uses helper functions in amp_benchkit.fy.

Tektronix TDS2024B Oscilloscope

  • Connect over USB and ensure a VISA backend is installed (NI-VISA or pyvisa-py).
  • Override discovery with VISA_RESOURCE=USB0::...::INSTR if multiple scopes are present.
  • For external triggering:
  • Configure slope/level in automation via use_ext, ext_slope, and ext_level.
  • The GUI scope tab provides channel toggles and MATH subtraction helpers.

FFT Math Function

The TDS 2024B's FFT (Math) function can be controlled programmatically with proper vertical scaling:

  • Vertical Scale: Controls the amplitude scale of the FFT display
  • For dB mode: typically 1-20 dB/div (common values: 5, 10 dB/div)
  • For linear mode: depends on input signal amplitude
  • Vertical Position: Controls the vertical offset of the FFT trace (-5.0 to +5.0 divisions)
  • Window Functions: RECTANGULAR, HANNING, HAMMING, BLACKMAN, FLATTOP

Example using the enhanced FFT capture:

from amp_benchkit.tek import scope_capture_fft_trace, scope_read_fft_vertical_params

# Read current FFT vertical parameters
params = scope_read_fft_vertical_params(resource)
print(f"Current scale: {params['scale']} units/div")

# Capture FFT with specific vertical scale (10 dB/div)
result = scope_capture_fft_trace(
    resource="USB0::0x0699::0x036A::C100563::INSTR",
    source=1,
    window="HANNING",
    scale="DB",
    vertical_scale=10.0,      # 10 dB/div
    vertical_position=0.0,     # centered
)

See scripts/example_fft_capture.py for a complete example with plotting and CSV export.

LabJack U3-HV

  • Install LabJack Exodriver (liblabjackusb) on macOS or Linux as described in EXODRIVER.md.
  • Use USB for most setups; override connection with U3_CONNECTION=ethernet when required.
  • The DAQ tab supports monitoring rails, temperatures, and digital pulses during sweeps.
  • Simulator fallback returns deterministic values when AMPBENCHKIT_FAKE_HW=1.

Session Directory

Set AMPBENCHKIT_SESSION_DIR=/path/to/runs to store captures (CSV/JSON/PNG). By default results are saved under results/, which is now .gitignored for local experimentation.

Safety Notes

  • Never commit device serial numbers or lab credentials;-store them in environment variables.
  • Document new lab setups in EXODRIVER.md, SECURITY.md, or the docs site so the team has a canonical reference.