Keithley Instruments
28775 Aurora Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44139
1-800-935-5595
KickStart Instrument Control Software Release Notes
Contents
- KickStart Instrument Control Software: 1
- Release Notes: 1
- General Information: 1
- Version 2.3.0 release notes: 4
GENERAL INFORMATION
SUPPORTED MODELS
This software is intended for use with the following Keithley Instruments and Tektronix product models:
| Product category | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAQ | 2700 | 2701 | 2750 | 3706A | 3706A-NFP | DAQ6510* |
| *Includes DAQ6510-US | ||||||
| DMM | 2000 | 2010 | 2100 | 2110 | DMM6500* | DMM7510* |
| *Includes DMM6500-US, DMM-7510-US, DMM-7510-NFP, DMM7510-NFP-US, DMM7510-RACK, DMM7510-RACK-US, DMM7510-NFP-RACK, DMM7510-RACK-US | ||||||
| SMU | 2400 | 2400-C | 2401 | 2410 | 2410-C | 2420 |
| 2420-C | 2425 | 2425-C | 2430 | 2430-C | 2440 | |
| 2440-C | 2450 | 2460 | 2461 | 2470 | 2601A | |
| 2601B | 2602A | 2602B | 2604B | 2606B | 2611A | |
| 2611B | 2612A | 2612B | 2614B | 2634B | 2635B | |
| 2636A | 2636B | 2657A | 2651A | 2601B-PULSE | ||
| Sensitive | 6430 | 6485 | 6487 | 6514 | ||
| Power Supply | 2280S-32-6 | 2280S-60-3 | 2281S-20-6 | |||
| Oscilloscope | DPO3012 | DPO3014 | DPO3032 | DPO3034 | DPO3052 | DPO3054 |
| DPO4032 | DPO4034 | DPO4054 | DPO4104 | DPO4014B | DPO4034B | |
| DPO4054B | DPO4102B | DPO4102B-L | DPO4104B | DPO4104B-L | MDO4024C | |
| MDO4034C | MDO4104C | MDO4054C | MDO4014-3 | MDO4034-3 | MDO4054-3 | |
| MDO4054-6 | MDO4104-3 | MDO4104-6 | MDO3012 | MDO3014 | MDO3022 | |
| MDO3024 | MDO3032 | MDO3034 | MDO3052 | MDO3054 | MDO3102 | |
| MDO3104 | MDO32 | MDO34 | MDO4014B-3 | MDO4034B-3 | MDO4054B-3 | |
| MDO4054B-6 | MDO4104B-3 | MDO4104B-6 | MSO3012 | MSO3014 | MSO3032 | |
| MSO3034 | MSO3052 | MSO3054 | MSO4032 | MSO4034 | MSO4054 | |
| MSO4104 | MSO4034B | MSO4054B | MSO4012B | MSO4012B-L | MSO4104B | |
| MSO4104B-L | TBS1022 | TBS1042 | TBS1062 | TBS1064 | TBS1022 | |
| TBS1042 | TBS1062 | TBS1064 | TBS1022 | TBS1042 | TBS1062 | |
| TBS1064 | TBS1032B | TBS1032B-EDU | TBS1052B | TBS1052B-EDU | TBS1072B | |
| TBS1072B-EDU | TBS1152B | TBS1032B | TBS1032B-EDU | TBS1052B | TBS1052B-EDU | |
| TBS1072B | TBS1072B-EDU | TBS1152B | TBS1202B | TBS1202B-EDU | TBS1102 | |
| TBS1104 | TBS1152 | TBS1154 | TBS1102 | TBS1104 | TBS1152 | |
| TBS1154 | TBS2072 | TBS2074 | TBS2102 | TBS2104 | TBS2202 | |
| TBS2204 | TDS1002 | TDS1012 | TDS2002 | TDS2012 | TDS2014 | |
| TDS2022 | TDS1001 | TDS2004 | TDS2024 | TDS1001B | TDS1002B | |
| TDS1012B | TDS2002B | TDS2004B | TDS2012B | TDS2014B | TDS2022B | |
| TDS2024B | TDS1001C-SC | TDS1002C-SC | TDS1012C-SC | TDS2001C | TDS2002C | |
| TDS2004C | TDS2012C | TDS2014C | TDS2022C | TDS2024C | TDS210 | |
| TDS220 | TDS224 | |||||
SUPPORTED OPERATING SYSTEMS
KickStart is supported on the following operating systems:
- Windows® 10, 64-bit (Creator's update)
- Windows® 8, 64-bit
- Windows® 7, 64-bit
PC REQUIREMENTS
- Processor: Dual-core processor 2 GHz or better
- RAM: 8GB
- Display resolution: Minimum 1920 × 1080 recommended
- Disk drive space required: 8 GB of free space
SOFTWARE PREREQUISITES:
- NI VISA 17.5 Runtime or newer (installation package included in KickStart installer)
- Microsoft® Visual Studio C++ 2013 x64 Redistributable Package
- Microsoft® Visual Studio C++ 2017 x64 Redistributable Package
- .NET Framework 4.7
When installing KickStart without an internet connection, make sure that the last three software prerequisites are installed on your PC before installing. The NI VISA 17.5 Runtime is packaged with the KickStart installer.
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Download the KickStart 2.3.0 installer from www.tek.com/keithley-kickstart. Unzip the file and run KickStartSetup.exe.
Follow the installation instructions and accept all default settings.
The installer will install the required files into the following default location: C:\Program Files\Keithley Instruments\KickStart
KickStart version 2.3.0 requires a software license. The software installs with a one-time 60-day free trial. For more information on licenses available for KickStart version 2.3.0, please visit www.tek.com/keithley-kickstart.
For more information on KickStart, see the KickStart Quick Start Guide (document number: KKS-903-01). This Quick Start Guide is available online at www.tek.com/keithley-kickstart.
KICKSTART INSTRUMENT CONTROL SOFTWARE HISTORY
| Version | Release date |
|---|---|
| 2.0.0 | April 2018 |
| 2.0.1 | July 2018 |
| 2.0.2 | July 2018 |
| 2.0.3 | August 2018 |
| 2.0.4 | October 2018 |
| 2.0.5 | November 2018 |
| 2.0.6 | February 2019 |
| 2.1.0 | June 2019 |
| 2.1.1 | September 2019 |
| 2.2.0 | November 2019 |
| 2.2.1 | February 2020 |
| 2.3.0 | April 2020 |
VERSION 2.3.0 RELEASE NOTES
VERSION 2.3.0 KNOWN ISSUES
Issue number: KS-3651
Description: If a graph is zoomed in or out excessively while in Logarithmic scale, it may cause the graph to jitter or possibly cause KickStart to terminate.
Issue number: KS-3667
Description: In the I-V Characterizer App, if the graph is visible while running a pulsed I-V test, the graph may stop updating.
Workaround: To correct this issue, press the autoscale button. ?
Issue number: KS-3730; KS-3778; NS-1951
Description: Periodically, while using the latest 2462 firmware, the first pulse is missing from the sheet and graph in the I-V Characterizer Pulse test. This occurs for the Complete Pulse measurements and not Top of Pulse measurements.
Workaround: Configure one additional pulse than is necessary. ✔️
Issue number: KS-3751, NS-1952
Description: Current pulse list sweep tests in the I-V Characterizer do not produce the correct results.
Issue number: KS-3783
Description: In a Pulse test with the I-V Characterizer and the model 2461, the sample rate can automatically change when switching from Complete Pulse to Top of Pulse and vice versa.
The number of pulses * (pulse delay + pulse width + pulse off time) * Sample Rate can:
- Produce too much data for the five million instrument reading buffer.
- Increase test time due to the enormous amount of data.
Due to these issues, the App will change the sample rate attempting to alleviate the issues. Consequently, reducing the sample rate means some pulses may not show the measurement level accurately since the reading is taken during the rising or falling edge of the pulse.
VERSION 2.3.0 ENHANCEMENTS
Issue number: KS-588
Improvement: Added pulse support for model 2657A in I-V Characterizer.
Issue number: KS-2966
Improvement: Added support in I-V Characterizer for model 2651A.
Issue number: KS-3358
Improvement: Added support in I-V Characterizer for 2601B-PULSE.
Issue number: KS-3469
Improvement: Added static pulse preview to I-V Characterizer.
Issue number: KS-3567
Improvement: In the I-V Tracer App, added the ability to save and recall saved settings, and the ability to designate defaults when the App is started.
VERSION 2.3.0 USAGE NOTES
Issue number: KS-1899
Symptom: In version 1.9.x, KickStart allowed you to control multiple TSP-linked instruments in the I-V Characterizer App by connecting only one instrument to the computer. The software will no longer allow this functionality.
Workaround: KickStart no longer uses TSP-Link as a communication interface. You can connect each individual instrument to the computer using a supported VISA interface (USB, GPIB, or LAN). You can still use multiple instruments in the I-V Characterizer App and add instruments to the App using the instrument manager on the App toolbar. ⚙️
Issue number:
Symptom: Scope App Firewall
The Scope App requires that permissions are configured in any firewall on the PC running KickStart. This is to enable the Service Request (SRQ) feature of the VISA I/O software library. This is only required if the scope is on the LAN.
Workaround: The KickStart installer will configure the Windows Defender Firewall when you install the software. However, in case this step fails, or you are using a different firewall software, you will need to do the following:
Configure an inbound and outbound rule that "KickStart.exe" in the "C:\Program Files\Keithley Instruments\KickStart" folder, for all domains, is allowed.
This failure will show if you select an instrument and then select the Scope App. An error message will indicate there is either a connection error or a firewall issue.
The error message reads, "Enabling the SRQ Failed. Check the connection to the Instrument. This could be a firewall issue. Check the KickStart release notes in the Installation Instructions section for more information about configuring the firewall."
VERSION 2.3.0 RESOLVED ISSUES
Issue number: KS-998
Resolution: It was possible for some source functions to have a source range that was higher than the instrument was capable of. This has been resolved. ✔️
Issue number: KS-2287
Resolution: In I-V Characterizer, you are now able to perform a pulse train test of a single pulse. ✔️
Issue number: KS-2552
Resolution: If two or more I-V Characterizer Apps were open in a project, changing the DC/Pulse radio button on one App affected the others. This has been resolved and each App is now independent. ✔️
Issue number: KS-2837
Resolution: When attempting to hide a large number of rows in the Table, the user interface would lockup and KickStart would sometimes crash. This has been resolved. ✔️
Issue number: KS-2939
Resolution: In I-V Characterizer, when viewing complete pulse measurements in the table, the mini-graphs would grow larger while scrolling. This has been resolved. ✔️
Issue number: KS-3565
Resolution: When using a 6487 simulator in the DMM App, the test never completed after running. This has been resolved. ✔️
Issue number: KS-3727
Resolution: The repeat feature was removed from all pulse source settings. Previously saved I-V Characterizer tests that utilized the Repeat field will now run once. ✔️
