Readme, Quick Start and Release Notes

1) Supported Hardware/FirmwareThe following Teseq hardware is supported:

NSG 5500 (firmware version 9.03.03 and above) MT 5511 MT 5510 (partial) LD 5550 JT 5510 JT 5550 NT 5510 FLX 5510 PA 5840 and PA 5740 +ARB Option (arbitrary waveform generator ARB 5500) +DS Option (dropout switch built in to the CDN 5501) +MEAS Option (for power magnetics and some continuous wave tests)

2) Prerequisites Microsoft .NET Framework 4

(available from Microsoft if not already installed with Windows) Microsoft SQL Server Compact 4.0

(available on the installation CD) Windows 7 or 10, 64 bit

3) Install or update National Instruments NI 488.2 drivers version 15.0 or above.Please use the enclosed .bat to install all necessary options.

Important: To begin using AutoStar 7, you will first need to install or reinstall the National Instruments Drivers adding some additional Development options, even if you only will use USB.

In addition to the standard installation, you need at least the options shown:

Important: A .bat file is provided with the installation to ensure all necessary options are installed.

If you already have the National Instruments software installed on your computer, you can add these additional features from within the Control Panel (Programs and Features).

You can add or remove these features using the Windows Control Panel -> Programs -> Programs and Features settings.

Note: AutoStar requires NI driver 16.0 or above.Note: If AutoStar crashes immediately on startup, you probably did not complete this step.

4) Install AutoStar from the files provided.

5) Connect the PC via USB to the controller and install the driver from the supplied driver when prompted by windows. You may have to do this for two Windows notifications.

Note: Windows will detect the CTR 5501 as a Serial Port called NSG 5501

Note: Ethernet connections are not supported.

6) Start AutoStar and choose the COM port that is called NSG 5501

7) Add and configure your amplifiers by using the corresponding options under settings.

8) Optional: Choose the location to store your Standard Tests and User Tests

9) Optional: Set the Reporting options in settings.

Note: Reporting supports a new feature based on a Project. For each project, you can select a directory for the reports to be automatically saved. You also have the ability to store an Info.docx and Setup.docx file to the project directory which will be automatically integrated in the report. If you choose not to save the report automatically, you can click on the Report icon on the main screen any time, and one will be generated.Note: Word is not required to be installed on the PC to generate automatic reports, only to open or view them.

Note: More details regarding Reporting can be found in the AutoStar software guide.

Overview of Features

Transients and General

Arbitrary

Note: The default Pulse 4/Starting Pulse and Pulse 2b view supports only a single channel for simplicity. For multi-channel tests, select Other -> Arbitrary FunctionNote: Grouping is an advanced mode whereby the user can perform very complicated ramping and group various segments and its associated parameters together so that a parameter is updated each run.Note: If you have chosen a frequency and/or resolution does not fit to the resolution of the screen, the segment will be tagged with “Simplified”

Release Notes v. 1.2.1 Corrected a problem with long Arbitrary tests appearing unreliable Corrected a problem when using GPIB communications Large Arbitrary tests now load much faster, and AutoStar shows the status when

opening and starting large tests. Communications stability dramatically improved

Includes Firmware 9.03.03 with important improvements: Voltage drop with Arbitrary Waveform (Pulse 4 type) tests Correction to Pulse 2 negative where the duration was not stable Added the possibility of reading the firmware of the measurement unit Dips and Drops, Power Magnetics and Continuous (sine wave) tests are not

compatible with AutoStar 7 v1.2.1 only.

Includes a totally new tool for updating firmware on the controller that is much more user friendly, more reliable, contains a fail-safe function and is easier to use.

Release Notes v. 1.1.5 Clicking “OK” in the battery control screen now sets all channels Improvement to current measurement feedback for +MEAS Option users

Release Notes v. 1.1.3 Many corrections and improvements for power magnetics and continuous wave tests

that may require live feedback.

Release Notes v. 1.1.4 Improvement to Dips and Drops switching behavior

Release Notes v. 1.0.8

Bug Fix: User Interface Elements are now much smaller. Bug Fix: Dips Input “Pause” requirement is now correctly implemented, enabling

down to the full 1µs to be programmed New Feature: LD 5550 users can now choose 0.4, but only when Us <= 90V New Feature: LD 5550 users can now choose 0.8 Ohms New Feature: Support for ARB 5500 options in an external housing License: An additional license is now required for “Custom” Sources Dependency: National Instruments GPIB Driver 15.0 is now required. A .bat file is

provided to make sure all the required options are installed.

AutoStar 1.0.8 is packaged with a firmware fix for dropout pulses.