Use bool to control blocking_t functionality in temperature_setpoint

Author: Thomas Lemon

docs/examples/driver_examples/Qcodes example with DynaCool PPMS.ipynb

@@ -200,9 +200,9 @@
    "cell_type": "markdown",
    "metadata": {},
    "source": [
-    "Alternatively, you can use the `blocking_t` parameter to prevent users from taking any action until the setpoint is reached. This may be useful for measurements where you are sweeping temperature and want to ensure the temperature is stable before taking a measurement.\n",
+    "Alternatively, you can use the `block_while_ramping_temperature` parameter to prevent users from taking any action until the setpoint is reached. This may be useful for measurements where you are sweeping temperature and want to ensure the temperature is stable before taking a measurement.\n",
     "\n",
-    "The interval at which `blocking_t` checks for temperature stability can be modified through the parameter `blocking_t_state_check_interval`."
+    "The interval at which `temperature_setpoint` checks for temperature stability when `block_while_ramping_temperature` is True can be modified through the parameter `blocking_t_state_check_interval`."
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -212,7 +212,8 @@
    "outputs": [],
    "source": [
     "dynacool.blocking_t_state_check_interval(0.5)\n",
-    "dynacool.blocking_t(dynacool.temperature() + 1.3)"
+    "dynacool.block_while_ramping_temperature(True)\n",
+    "dynacool.temperature_setpoint(dynacool.temperature() + 1.3)"
    ]
   },
   {

src/qcodes/instrument_drivers/QuantumDesign/DynaCoolPPMS/DynaCool.py

@@ -83,17 +83,16 @@ def __init__(
         )
         """Parameter temperature_setpoint"""
 
-        self.blocking_t: Parameter = self.add_parameter(
-            "blocking_t",
+        self.block_while_ramping_temperature: Parameter = self.add_parameter(
+            "block_while_ramping_temperature",
             label="Block instrument while ramping temperature",
-            unit="K",
-            vals=vals.Numbers(1.6, 400),
+            initial_value=False,
+            vals=vals.Bool(),
             get_cmd=False,
-            set_cmd=partial(
-                self._temp_setter, "temperature_setpoint", block_while_ramping=True
-            ),
+            set_cmd=False,
         )
-        """Parameter blocking_t will block instrument interaction while temperature is ramping to setpoint."""
+        """Parameter block_while_ramping_temperature, when set to True,
+        will block further interaction while temperature is ramping to setpoint."""
 
         self.blocking_t_state_check_interval: Parameter = self.add_parameter(
             name="blocking_t_state_check_interval",
@@ -104,7 +103,8 @@ def __init__(
             set_cmd=None,
             get_cmd=None,
         )
-        """Parameter blocking_t_state_check_interval sets how often blocking_t checks for temperature stability."""
+        """Parameter blocking_t_state_check_interval sets how often
+        temperature_setpoint checks for temperature stability when block_while_ramping_temperature is True."""
 
         self.temperature_rate: Parameter = self.add_parameter(
             "temperature_rate",
@@ -423,7 +423,6 @@ def _temp_setter(
             "temperature_setpoint", "temperature_rate", "temperature_settling"
         ],
         value: float,
-        block_while_ramping: bool = False,
     ) -> None:
         """
         The setter function for the temperature parameters. All three are set
@@ -435,12 +434,11 @@ def _temp_setter(
 
         self.write(f"TEMP {values[0]}, {values[1]}, {values[2]}")
 
-        if block_while_ramping:
+        if self.block_while_ramping_temperature():
             while self.temperature_state() != "stable":
                 sleep(self.blocking_t_state_check_interval())
 
         self.setpoint.cache._set_from_raw_value(values[0])
-        self.blocking_t.cache._set_from_raw_value(values[0])
 
     def write(self, cmd: str) -> None:
         """