F71/F41 firmware update
Firmware update process
This process is not capable of handling a full OS update, which is required for some versions of firmware. See instructions for the update process.
NOTE: OS version 3 and higher requires the firmware to be version 2 and higher.
The easiest way to update instrument firmware is online:
- Provide the instrument with an Internet connection using Wi-Fi or Ethernet
- Access the update screen (System settings > Update)
- The instrument will detect the latest firmware version, follow on-screen prompts to download and install the update
Updating an offline instrument is accomplished with the following steps:
- Click on the desired version number below, which links to the .lsfw firmware update file.
- Copy or save the .lsfw file onto the root directory of a USB flash drive. Make sure it is the only .lsfw file in that location.
- Plug the flash drive into the USB-C port on the back of the instrument; if you don't have a newer flash drive with a USB-C connection, use the adapter supplied with the instrument.
- On the F71/F41 front panel, tap the Settings menu (top left corner of the screen). Then tap System settings. Touch Update.
- Click “Updates are available. Click here to install” and follow the on-screen instructions to update the firmware.
Note: Firmware comprises many files aggregated to form a Lake Shore firmware (.lsfw) package. The instrument stores versions of its .lsfw packages in its internal memory. This local memory location is called the “local repository.” This allows you to downgrade the firmware to older versions that remain on the instrument in the local repository.
F71/F41 firmware changelog
Rev 2.0.2024011102 (OS update required) — 2024-01-12
Minor bug fixes and housekeeping
Added
- NEW FEATURE: Live plot feature for DC field measurements
Known bugs
- After updating firmware, some settings may become corrupted, resulting in unusual error messages. Please reset the instrument to factory defaults after applying this update.
Added
- Support for USB to GPIB adapter (MR-GPIB-USB)
Added
- Support for future instruments that no longer include integrated Wi-Fi modules. This update will have no impact on existing units with Wi-Fi modules.
Added
- Support for future field control feature when paired with MeasureLINK-MCS software — electromagnet tuning allows faster field ramping by optimizing control parameters over the entire range of the magnet
- Relative offset value can be tared externally using the digital inputs
- Qualifier latch can also be reset using the digital inputs
Fixed
- Critical: Resolved an issue where units with a field control module sometimes experienced lock-ups or unexpected setpoint values to be entered. Please update to this version immediately if using the teslameter for closed-loop field
control.
- Several minor UI issues
Known bugs
- After updating firmware, some settings may become corrupted, resulting in unusual error messages. Please reset instrument to factory defaults after applying this update.
Added
- NEW FEATURE: High-speed pulse detection improved through the addition of maximum peak value holding
Fixed
- 3-axis probes recognized correctly when hot-plugged into the instrument
Known bugs
- After updating firmware, some settings may become corrupted, resulting in unusual error messages. Please reset instrument to factory defaults after applying this update.
Added
- NEW FEATURE: Configurable high pass, low pass, and band pass filters
- NEW FEATURE: Qualifier for comparing field measurement to user defined thresholds
- Configurable corrected analog output voltage scaling
Changed
- UI improvements to the sensor information page and keypads
Fixed
- Critical: Performance degradation over time when using probes with temperature sensors. This causes the interface to lag and eventually crash. Please update immediately if using version 1.5.
- Resolved several scenarios where uncommon user interface actions could result in system crashes
Known bugs
- 3-axis probes were sometimes not recognized when plugged into the instrument. Could be resolved by sleep or power cycling the instrument
- After updating firmware, some settings may become corrupted, resulting in unusual error messages. Please reset instrument to factory defaults after applying this update.
Rev 1.5.2019080703 — 2019-08-07 (Unstable version)
Added
- Feedback page in the main menu
- Support for future 3-axis orthogonality correction
- Cryogenic mode recommendation message when the instrument temperature is set to a cryogenic range
- Added kelvin (K) to available displayed temperature units
Changed
- Improved remote query responses when the instrument is changing range or in an overload state
- Buffered field values switched to scientific notation for consistent resolution of reported values
- Rearranged configuration menu items to be a little more logical
Fixed
- Several old bugs that were inadvertently reintroduced in the previous version
Known bugs
- Critical: After several days of operation, some units would become sluggish and unresponsive due to a memory leak issue. Could only be resolved by power cycling the instrument.
- 3-axis probes were sometimes not recognized when plugged into the instrument. Could be resolved by sleep or power cycling the instrument
- Certain uncommon user interface actions could result in system crashes
- After updating firmware, some settings may become corrupted, resulting in unusual error messages. Please reset instrument to factory defaults after applying this update.
Rev 1.4.2019061411 — 2019-06-14 (version not recommended)
Added
- NEW FEATURE: Corrected analog voltage out for X, Y, Z, or magnitude field readings
- Bias current cancellation - Found a way to further improve TruZero™. Residual offsets are now more consistent when switching probes between different teslameters, reducing offsets overall in some cases.
- New
FETCh:BUFFer:CLEar command that clears the buffer instead of having to read out all 128 buffered values. Useful for reducing the time it takes for the first buffer request to complete (fewer buffered values = faster response time). - Port number can now be set when using TCP/IP to communicate with the instrument
- Serial port configuration details are now displayed on the Connectivity settings page as reference information
Fixed
- Various quality of life improvements to Python drivers
- The input state bitwise values were swapped when requesting buffered data. These values now report correctly.
- Digital input states can no longer be toggled by tapping on them
- Unit sometimes crashed when tapping on Firmware version in the About section of System settings
- Fixed Ethernet lockup issue with a full OS update to version 2.5.4 (270 MB).
See instructions for the update
process.
Known bugs
- Several old bugs that had been fixed were reintroduced in this version. This firmware version should be avoided if possible
- Certain uncommon user interface actions could result in system crashes
- After updating firmware, some settings may become corrupted, resulting in unusual error messages. Please reset instrument to factory defaults after applying this update.
Fixed
- Fixed a field control issue where a small slew rate setting caused field control instability
Known bugs
- Fetching field values while the instrument is ranging or overloaded will cause the instrument to ignore that request
Fixed
- Fixed an issue with IP address assignment after an OS update
Known bugs
- Fetching field values while the instrument is ranging or overloaded will cause the instrument to ignore that request
- The input state bitwise values are swapped when requested buffered data
Added
- NEW FEATURE: Native Python drivers
- NEW FEATURE: Cryogenic excitation added as an optional drive setting, allowing the user to reduce sensor power and minimize self-heating at the cost of resolution
Changed
- Improved buffered data formatting (see instrument manual for details)
Fixed
- General stability and operational improvements for SCPI commands (SCPI crashing when sent semi-colons and SCPI responding while the instrument is asleep)
- Fixed an issue where the screen would grey out after the instrument had been on for 1 to 2 weeks PLEASE NOTE: This change requires a full OS update to version 2.5.2. See instructions for update process.
Known bugs
- OS update results in an issue with IP address assignment
- Fetching field values while the instrument is ranging or overloaded will cause the instrument to ignore that request
- The input state bitwise values are swapped when requested buffered data
Fixed
- Removed an unnecessary software module that caused errors to be displayed periodically
Changed
- Made a change to USB connection parameters, adding RTS/CTS flow control to make buffered data streaming more robust. PLEASE NOTE: This change requires an OS update to version 2.5.1 in addition to these regular firmware updates. Please contact Lake Shore Service if you are updating to this
firmware for assistance.
Known bugs
- Fetching field values while the instrument is ranging or overloaded will cause the instrument to ignore that request
- The input state bitwise values are swapped when requested buffered data
- The screen sometimes displays a frozen grey screen after several days of being powered on.
- When using
FETCh:BUFFer:* the time interval between measurements is sometimes different to the specified averaging window.
Added
- NEW FEATURE: Closed-loop field control commands, settings and UI. Ready for upcoming field control option card hardware
- Probe high frequency compensation - providing more accurate measurement of high-frequency fields
- NEW FEATURE: Buffered data streaming - for continuous acquisition of timestamped readings using SCPI commands
- New drivers: LabVIEW and IVI
Changed
- Layout of the main menu drawer improved
- Moved temperature reporting from top taskbar to a new card on the home screen to avoid unresponsiveness of other taskbar elements
- Other general UI improvements
- Improved accuracy of frequency detection in AC and HF mode
Fixed
- In AC Mode, RMS readings sometimes spiked when DC offsets were high
- Improved error notifications
- General program stability improvements reducing the chance of the instrument having to recover itself
- Changing the Digital I/O functions using SCPI commands were not replicated on the UI
SOURCE:AOUT? query timed out
Known bugs
- Fetching field values while the instrument is ranging or overloaded will cause the instrument to ignore that request
- The input state bitwise values are swapped when requested buffered data
- Headers returned by
FETCh:BUFFer:FORMat? are not formatted consistently - The first buffered value read back (
FETCh:BUFFer:*) can sometimes be less than the specified averaging window.
Initial release
