perception-pnrf

Python parser for the PNRF binary measurement format (HBK Perception).

PNRF files (.pnrf) are produced by HBK Perception data acquisition software and contain high-speed analog waveforms, digital events, CAN/fieldbus data, and SPT harmonic analysis results.

Installation

pip install perception-pnrf

Requires Python 3.10+ and NumPy.

Usage

from perception_pnrf import PnrfFile

# Open a PNRF file
with PnrfFile.open("measurement.pnrf") as pnrf:
    # Iterate recorders and channels
    for rec in pnrf.recorders:
        print(f"Recorder: {rec.logical_name}")
        for ch in rec.channels:
            print(f"  {ch.logical_name}: {ch.sample_count} samples, unit={ch.units}")

            # Read sample data into a NumPy buffer
            data = np.empty(min(ch.sample_count, 1000), dtype=np.float64)
            count = ch.read_f64(data)
            print(f"  Read {count} samples")

Key Classes

Reading Data

import numpy as np

# Read a slice of samples into a preallocated buffer
values = np.empty(5000, dtype=np.float64)
count = ch.read_f64(values, start=0)

# Read all samples at once
all_values = np.empty(ch.sample_count, dtype=np.float64)
count = ch.read_f64(all_values)

# Read from a specific segment with a starting offset
segment_values = np.empty(100, dtype=np.float64)
count = ch.read_f64(segment_values, segment_index=0, start=0)

Channel Types

• Analog waveform — continuous or sweep-triggered time-series data
• Digital event — binary state channels
• SPT blob — Signal Processing Toolkit results (harmonics, order tracking)
• MATD — asynchronous sparse-pair data (CAN bus, fieldbus)

File Metadata

meta = pnrf.metadata
print(meta.title, meta.comment)
if meta.recording_start_utc is not None:
    print(meta.recording_start_utc.isoformat())

Dump Tool

A CLI tool is included for inspecting PNRF files:

pnrf-dump recording.pnrf

Or via module invocation:

python -m perception_pnrf.dump recording.pnrf

Produces a structured text dump showing file metadata, recorder/channel hierarchy, segment boundaries, and sample previews.

Specification

The full reverse-engineered format specification is available in the spec/ directory of the source repository.

License

MIT