Instrument Control (GPIB, Serial, VISA, IVI)

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Has anyone done a software based instrument simulation

Has anyone done a software based instrument simulation?

We are on a project that needs to simulate equipment that is normally
controled through a GPIB interface. The equipment is not available yet,
but we need to design and develop the controller software now.

We are having a heck of a time getting this to work. This is the
configuration we are using:

---------------- ----------------
| | |
|
| Controller |----------GPIB-------------| Simulator |
| Computer | | Computer |
----------------
----------------

The Simulator needs to listen for commands from the Controller,
simulate the physical environment for the equipment and then
respond to the Controller's commands. For example, when the Controller
tells an amplifier to "Turn On", the amplifier will wait 5 seconds and
set a status to "On". The Controller will check the status to see if the
amplifier is "On" or has a error condition.

An additional requirement is that we use only the software interface that

is installed with the GPIB card using Visual Basic 6.0.

Thanks in advance.

Eric Miller
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In article <38f34fe1@newsgroups.ni.com>,
"Eric Miller" wrote:
>
> Has anyone done a software based instrument simulation?
>
> We are on a project that needs to simulate equipment that is normally
> controled through a GPIB interface. The equipment is not available
yet,
> but we need to design and develop the controller software now.
>
> We are having a heck of a time getting this to work. This is the
> configuration we are using:
>
> ---------------- ----------
------

I had to do something very similar to this using VB. Make sure that
the configuration of your GPIB card in your computer is not set to
controller(they are by default). Basically you want make sure your
GPIB address is the same as the one being addressed by the controller
(ibpad), and then do an Ibwait for your card to be addressed as a
listener. Listen to the command, compute it, assert the SRQ line, wait
to be addressed as a talker and then send the appropriate answer. This
is the simplified version, but if any of these steps are forgotten,
you're done for. If you have any specific problems, just email me or
post another question.

Andrew Geissler
> | |
|
> |
> | Controller |----------GPIB-------------| Simulator |
> | Computer | | Computer |
> ---------------- ----------
------
>
> The Simulator needs to listen for commands from the Controller,
> simulate the physical environment for the equipment and then
> respond to the Controller's commands. For example, when the Controller
> tells an amplifier to "Turn On", the amplifier will wait 5 seconds
and
> set a status to "On". The Controller will check the status to see if
the
> amplifier is "On" or has a error condition.
>
> An additional requirement is that we use only the software interface
that
>
> is installed with the GPIB card using Visual Basic 6.0.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Eric Miller
>
>


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Before you buy.
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Message 2 of 3
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Check out NI's IVI Driver Library



Eric Miller wrote:

> Has anyone done a software based instrument simulation?
>
> We are on a project that needs to simulate equipment that is normally
> controled through a GPIB interface. The equipment is not available yet,
> but we need to design and develop the controller software now.
>
> We are having a heck of a time getting this to work. This is the
> configuration we are using:
>
> ---------------- ----------------
> | | |
> |
> | Controller |----------GPIB-------------| Simulator |
> | Computer | | Computer |
> ----------------
----------------
>
> The Simulator needs to listen for commands from the Controller,
> simulate the physical environment for the equipment and then
> respond to the Controller's commands. For example, when the Controller
> tells an amplifier to "Turn On", the amplifier will wait 5 seconds and
> set a status to "On". The Controller will check the status to see if the
> amplifier is "On" or has a error condition.
>
> An additional requirement is that we use only the software interface that
>
> is installed with the GPIB card using Visual Basic 6.0.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Eric Miller

--
Best Regards,
Mike T

Mike Tranchemontagne
Consulting Applications Engineer
TeraComm, Inc.
148 Main Street
Building A, 3rd Floor
North Andover, MA 01845
877-900-TERA (8372)
978-557-9490 (FAX)
603-598-4773 (Direct Line and Cell)
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