HP manual HP IO Libraries, Using the HP E8491A With the HP E1406 Command Module

Using the HP E8491A

with the HP E1406

Command Module

The HP I_O

Libraries

Though not a common configuration, the HP E1406 command module can be used in the same mainframe as the HP E8491 to provide HP-IB access to instruments. In this configuration, however, the E8491A must be the mainframe’s resource manager.

The software required to use the IEEE 1394 interface in a VXI system is contained in the HP I_O Libraries and HP VXIplug&play Drivers. The software supports the Windows 95 and Windows NT platforms.

The software “stack” shown below shows the relationship of the

VXIplug&play drivers to HP VISA/ SICL, to the host adapter drivers, and to the VXI instruments. Notice that Hewlett-Packard’s implementation of the IEEE 1394 interface requires HP VISA and will not work with the VISA supplied by other vendors.

Development Environment

(C/C++, Visual BASIC, HP VEE)

HP Universal Instrument	HP VXI plug&play Instrument
Drivers	Drivers

HP VISA / HP SICL

HP I_O Libraries

Host Adapter Drivers

VXI Instruments

Figure 4-6. System Software and Drivers.

Most application programs are written using the instruments’

VXIplug&play drivers. The plug&play driver functions make subsequent calls to the VISA functions and so on. Message-based instruments can be programmed at the HP VISA / SICL level by embedding SCPI commands in the HP VISA / SICL functions.

64 IEEE 1394 Fundamentals and Interface Overview Chapter 4