Interfacing

[Veeru]

Hi

I need to interface a device,

please guide me the best methods to learn about interfacing.Also if u have any documents related to this please forward it .

Thanks

[BrianInTheForest]

What kind of "device" are talking about?

When I think of a "device" many things come to mind.

As a general suggestion - find the manual for that "device" and that should tell you how and the ways you can interface with it.

[Veeru]

Thanks Mr.Brian

Actually the device is Dynamometer control unit.

[Dennis_Knutson]

That's really no additional information. You have to know what type of physical interface the unit has. There are just too many for people to try to guess when you don't even provide the name of the vendor. Let me give you a partial list of interface types and  you try to pick the one the unit uses.

Serial Port (RS-232), GPIB, Ethernet, USB, Parallel Port, PCI, PXI, VXI, VME. I could go on but I hope you get my point about the lack of information on your side.

The unit must have a manual. Surely the manual will describe the type of interface it has.

[Veeru]

Thanks Dennis

Sorry, the communication is through GPIB b/w the PC and DCU.The DCU unit controls the Dynamometer.

[Dennis_Knutson]

Good.

First, you will need a GPIB controller for the pc and GPIB cable to connect between the controller and instrument. That takes care of the hardware. As far as software, There are some tutorials in the LabVIEW help (look up the GPIB topic) and at http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/4359. You might want to go to http://sine.ni.com/idnetwork/ and see if there is already a driver for your instrument (you still haven't provided the vendor's name).

Without an existing driver, your can use the Instrument I/O Assistant or write your own with the VISA functions in LabVIEW. Help for writing your own can be found at http://www.ni.com/devzone/idnet/ under the Learn and Develop sections.

[Veeru]

Thanks very much Dennis

The vendor is vibrometer.

I will have a look at the links u mentioned.

once again thanks very much