Agilent Technologies 4395A - GPIB

GPIB
GPIB
The
analyzer
is
factory-equipped
with a
remote programming
digital interface
using the
General
Purpose
Interface
Bus
(GPIB). This
allows the
analyzer to
be controlled
by an
external
computer
that
sends
commands
or instructions
to and
receives data
from the
analyzer using
the
GPIB
.
In
this
way,
a remote
operator has
the same
control of
the instrument
available to
a
local
operator
from
the
front
panel, except
for the
line power
switch.
In
addition,
the
analyzer
itself can
use GPIB
to directly
control compatible
peripherals
,
without
the
use
of
an
external controller
.It
can output
measurement results
directly
to
a
compatible
printer
or
plotter
.
This
section
provides
an
overview of
GPIB operation.
More complete
information on
programming the
analyzer remotely
over GPIB
is provided
in
Programming
Manual
.
The
Programming
Manual
includes examples
of remote
measurements using
an
HP
9000
series
200
or
300
computer with
BASIC
programming. The
Programming
Manual
assumes
familiarity
with
front
panel operation
of the
instrument.
A
complete
general
description
of the
GPIB is
available
in
Tutorial
Description
of
the
General
Purpose
Interface
Bus
,
Agilent
publication 5952-0156.
F
or
more
information
on
the
IEEE
488.1
standard,
see
IEEE
Standard
Digital
Interface
for Programmable
Instrumentation
,
published
by
the
Institute
of
Electrical
and
Electronics
Engineers
,
Inc
.,
345
East
47th
Street, New
York
10017,
USA.
How GPIB
W
orks
The
GPIB
uses
a
party-line
bus
structure
in
which
up
to
15
devices
can
be
connected
on
one
contiguous
bus
.
The
interface
consists
of
16
signal
lines
and
6
grounded
lines
in
a
shielded
cable
.
With
this
cabling
system,
many
dierent
types
of
devices
including
instruments
,
computers
,
plotters
and
printers
can
be
connected
in
parallel.
Every
GPIB
device
must
be
capable
of
performing
one
or
more
of
the
following
interface
functions:
T
alker
A
talker
is
a
device
capable
of
sending
device-dependent
data when
addressed to
talk.
There
can
be
only
one
active
talker
at
any
given
time
. Examples
of this
type of
device
are
voltmeters
,
counters
,and
tape readers
. The
analyzer is
a
talker
when
it
sends
trace
data
or
marker
information
over
the bus
.
Listener
A
listener is a device capable of receiving device-dependent data when addressed to listen.
There can be any number of active listeners at any
given time
. Examples of this type of
device are printers
, power supplies
, and signal generators
.
The analyzer is a listener when it is
controlled over the bus by a computer
.
Controller
A controller is a device capable of managing the operation of the bus and addressing talkers
and listeners. There can be only one active controller at any time. Examples of controllers
include desktop computers and minicomputers. In a multiple-controller system, active control
can be passed between controllers, but there can only be one system controller that acts as the
master, and can regain active control at any time. The analyzer is an active controller when it
plots or prints in the addressable mode. The analyzer is a system controller when it is in the
system controller mode.
Basic Measurement Theory A-37