Smart Interface adapts serial devices to GPIB Bus.
Press Release Summary:
Model 4866 makes Smart GPIB to Serial firmware from 4806 OEM Interface Card available in stand-alone box for benchtop use. Unit provides true IEEE-488.2-compatible GPIB interface for serial device by intercepting and responding to all IEEE-488.2 commands. Unit also responds to 4 SCPI root words for controlling its setup. Responses from serial device are outputted on GPIB bus when 4866 is addressed to talk.Original Press Release:
Smart GPIB To Serial Interface Annouced by ICS Electronics
PLEASANTON. CA, September 5, 2003. Today. ICS Electronics announced a new Smart GPIB to Serial Interface, the Model 4866, that provides a smart GPIB to Serial Interface for adapting serial devices to the GPIB Bus. The Model 4866 makes the Smart GPIB to Serial firmware from the 4806 OEM Interface Card available in a stand-alone box for bench top use.
The 4866 provides a true IEEE-488.2 compatible GPIB interface for a serial device by intercepting and responding to all IEEE-488.2 commands. The 4866 also responds to four SCPI root words for controlling its own setup. The IEEE-488.2 commands and the reserved SCPI commands are blocked from the serial device. All other GPIB messages are passed on to the serial device. Responses from the serial device are outputted on the GPIB bus when the 4866 is addressed to talk.
Older GPIB to Serial interfaces could only pass GPIB commands onto the serial device and needed an escape code or a second GPIB address so the Bus Controller could access its internal logic. This made programming difficult and didn't give the programmer easy access to the interface's internal registers to check device status or to look for serial data. In most cases, the serial device can not respond to the IEEE-488.2 commands and, in many cases, becomes confused by them resulting in device hang-ups or false replies to the Bus Controller.
The 4866 is designed to work with all types of serial devices. For asynchronous serial devices that output periodic messages, the 4866 saves the latest message and outputs it when addressed to talk. For standard serial devices, the 4866 passes them the GPIB messages and outputs responses from the serial device when addressed to talk. The 4866 has extra capabilities for working with smart serial device like embedded computers. Using private commands, the smart serial device c(an change the 4866's IDN message, set the 4866's GPIB address and set bits in the 4866's IEEE-488.2 Status Reporting Structure registers over the serial link. This integrates the 4866 operation with the smart serial device so the 4866 real-time responses to the GPIB controller.
The 4866's serial interfaces includes both RS-232 and RS-422 signals. The serial transmitter can be automatically tristated for use with RS-485 devices. The Model 4897 is the newest member of ICS's family of Minibox GPIB products and is housed in a small 5" wide x 7" deep and 1.5" high metal case. The 4897 complies with the CE requirements for sale in Europe. Its external power adapters have UL/CSA/TUV and CE approval. Price starts at $ 475 each. Delivery is stock to 4 weeks ARO.
ICS Electronics is a pioneer and leader in the design and development of IEEE 488Y Bus and VXIbus products. The ICS's GPIB bus products includes bus controllers, bus expanders, interface modules. OEM interface cards, and accessory products.
ICS Electronics is headquartered at 7034 Commerce Circle, Pleasanton, CA 94588. Phone (925) 416-1000. Contact Jerry Mercola, Marketing Manager for more information.
Trademarks: Minibox is a trademark of ICS Electronics div Systems West. Inc. Pleasanton. CA
