Is there generic instrument driver?

[jbao@via-telecom.com]

I am developping a program which will use signal generator and other instruments. I shall use GPIB to control these instruments. At present, I don't know what signal generatorI will use, and maybe later my program will have to support a lot of signal generators. So in my program I shall use different instrument drivers for different signal generators.

Actually I use only some very generic functions of signal generators, such as setting frequency, power level, modulation, initializing, resetting and closing. Almost every signal generator driver has these functions(actually the GPIB commands to
control the instrument). I'd like to know whether there is already a higher lever driver, which
provide functions like "Signal_Gen_set_F
req()", "Signal_Gen_set_Level()", "Signal_Gen_init()",
"Signal_Gen_reset()", "Signal_Gen_close()", which can control a lot of signal generators? If I use this driver and the signal generator I use is supported by the driver, my program can be much more simple and it can support more signal generator easily.

So my problem is: IS THERE SUCH a INSTRUMENT DRIVER?

Thank you very much for reading my question.

[Vishi Anand]

It is called IVI instrument driver. Lots of test equipment comes with IVI
drivers. Search on NI's web site at http://zone.ni.com/idnet97.nsf/browse/

From what I know right now there are only 3-4 instrument classes like Scope,
DMM, Power Supply. IVI foundation is working on other instruments like
spectrum analyzer, switches.



vishi

"jybao@eastcom.com" wrote in message
news:50650000000800000097780000-1042324653000@exchange.ni.com...
> I am developping a program which will use signal generator and other
> instruments. I shall use GPIB to control these instruments. At
> present, I don't know what signal generatorI will use, and maybe later
> my program will have to support a lot of signal generators. So in my
> program I shall use different instrume
nt drivers for different signal
> generators.
>
> Actually I use only some very generic functions of signal
> generators, such as setting frequency, power level, modulation,
> initializing, resetting and closing. Almost every signal generator
> driver has these functions(actually the GPIB commands to
> control the instrument). I'd like to know whether there is already a
> higher lever driver, which
> provide functions like "Signal_Gen_set_Freq()",
> "Signal_Gen_set_Level()", "Signal_Gen_init()",
> "Signal_Gen_reset()", "Signal_Gen_close()", which can control a lot of
> signal generators? If I use this driver and the signal generator I use
> is supported by the driver, my program can be much more simple and it
> can support more signal generator easily.
>
> So my problem is: IS THERE SUCH a INSTRUMENT DRIVER?
>
> Thank you very much for reading my question.