US5361336A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for controlling an instrument through a common instrument programming interface
Assignee: Agilent Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1991-11-21
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Granted: 1994-11-01
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Expires: 2011-11-21
Abstract
Abstract A system that defines a programming interface between a computer system and a test instrument independently of the electronic interface or operating system being used. This independence is accomplished by building a data structure, from a configuration system, which contains the operating system and electronic interface information that allows the system to perform different commands to different electronic interfaces or different operating systems. The system implements all commands that will be used by all operating systems and performs these commands even in operating systems where they are not necessary. The system also provides a formatted input/output capability for the instrument control functions. In addition to commonly understood formatting capability, such as conversion and printing of integer numbers, the interface provides instrument specific formatting capability, such as creating numbers that are compatible with the IEEE 488 interface.
Inventors
- 👤 Lee A. Atchison
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:58
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F13/382; G06F13/385; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/317; G01R31/3181; G01R31/319; G01R31/31903; G01R31/31907; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/448; G06F9/4482; G06F9/4484; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/961; Y10S715/965; Y10S715/97
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A method of performing input and output operations between an electronic instrument and a computer system, said computer system comprising a plurality of types of interfaces, wherein said method is independent of the type of interfaces used to connect said instrument to said computer system, said method comprising the steps of: (a) retrieving an interface type and interface address of said instrument from a configuration means, wherein said configuration means is separate and independent from said instrument; (b) using information from said configuration means to create an instrument identification data structure; (c) receiving all input and output operation subroutine calls from a user program through an instrument programming interface means; (d) creating a plurality of interface module means, one of said plurality of interface module means being created for each of said types of interfaces; (e) using said instrument identification data structure to select one of said plurality of interface module means; (f) performing said input and output operations using said selected interface module means; and (g) performing said input and output operations through a commander interface means and through a second computer system acting as a commander.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
188 words
A method of performing input and output operations between an electronic instrument and a computer system, said computer system comprising a plurality of types of interfaces, wherein said method is independent of the type of interfaces used to connect said instrument to said computer system, said method comprising the steps of: (a) retrieving an interface type and interface address of said instrument from a configuration means, wherein said configuration means is separate and independent from said instrument; (b) using information from said configuration means to create an instrument identification data structure; (c) receiving all input and output operation subroutine calls from a user program through an instrument programming interface means; (d) creating a plurality of interface module means, one of said plurality of interface module means being created for each of said types of interfaces; (e) using said instrument identification data structure to select one of said plurality of interface module means; (f) performing said input and output operations using said selected interface module means; and (g) performing said input and output operations through a commander interface means and through a second computer system acting as a commander.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step (f) further comprises the steps of: (f1) formatting any output data before sending said data to said instrument using formatted data types defined by said type of interface connecting said instrument and said computer system; and (f2) unformatting any data received from said instrument using formatted data types defined by said type of interface connecting said instrument and said computer system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: (h) performing a second set of input and output operations within said instrument programming interface means, said second set being identical to the input and output operations performed in step (f), a subset of the second set may include operations which are unnecessary in some of said types of interfaces, whereby said user program uses a same set of operations regardless of said type of interface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step (f) further comprises the step of: (f1) if said user program requests a combined output and input operation, performing both said output and input operations without allowing interrupts between said output and said input operations.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
153 words
A system for performing input and output operations between an electronic instrument and a computer system through one of a plurality of types of interfaces used to connect said instrument to said computer system, wherein said method is independent of said plurality of types of interfaces, said system comprising: instrument programming interface means for receiving all input and output operation subroutine calls from a user program; a plurality of interface module means, one for each of said plurality of interface types; configuration means, separate and independent from said instrument, for providing an interface type and interface address of said instrument; means for accessing said configuration means and for creating an instrument identification data structure; means within said instrument programming interface means for using said instrument identification data structure to select one of said plurality of interface module means; and means for performing said input and output operations using said selected interface module means.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
153 words
A system for performing input and output operations between an electronic instrument and a computer system through one of a plurality of types of interfaces used to connect said instrument to said computer system, wherein said method is independent of said plurality of types of interfaces, said system comprising: instrument programming interface means for receiving all input and output operation subroutine calls from a user program; a plurality of interface module means, one for each of said plurality of interface types; configuration means, separate and independent from said instrument, for providing an interface type and interface address of said instrument; means for accessing said configuration means and for creating an instrument identification data structure; means within said instrument programming interface means for using said instrument identification data structure to select one of said plurality of interface module means; and means for performing said input and output operations using said selected interface module means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said instrument programming interface means further comprises commander interface means for performing input and output operations through a second computer system acting as a commander.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
86 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said instrument programming interface means further comprises means for performing a second set of input and output operations within said instrument programming interface, said second set being identical to the input and output operations performed by said means for performing said input and output operations, a subset of the second set may include operations which are unnecessary in some of said types of interfaces, whereby said user program uses a same set of operations regardless of said type of interface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said means for performing said input and output operations further comprises: means for performing both said output and input operations without allowing interrupts between said output and said input operations, if said user program requests a combined output and input operation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said instrument programming interface means further comprises formatted input and output operation means for converting internal data to a format usable by said instrument.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 9 wherein said format usable by said instrument comprises number formats unique to at least one of said interface types.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
225 words
A method of accessing an electronic instrument from a computer system, said computer system comprising a plurality of types of interfaces, wherein said method is independent of the type of operating system used within said computer system, said method comprising the steps of: (a) retrieving an interface type and interface address of said instrument from a configuration means, wherein said configuration means is separate and independent from said instrument; (b) accessing said configuration means and creating an instrument identification data structure; (c) receiving all input and output subroutine calls from a user program through an instrument programming interface means; (d) creating a plurality of interface module means, one of said plurality of interface module means being created for each of said types of interfaces; (e) using said instrument identification data structure to select one of said plurality of interface module means; and (f) performing said input and output subroutine calls using said selected interface module means; and (g) performing a second set of input and output functions within said instrument programming interface means, said second set being identical to the input and output operations performed in step (f), a subset of the second set may include functions which are unnecessary in some of said types of operating systems, whereby said user program uses a same set of functions regardless of said type of operating system.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
225 words
A method of accessing an electronic instrument from a computer system, said computer system comprising a plurality of types of interfaces, wherein said method is independent of the type of operating system used within said computer system, said method comprising the steps of: (a) retrieving an interface type and interface address of said instrument from a configuration means, wherein said configuration means is separate and independent from said instrument; (b) accessing said configuration means and creating an instrument identification data structure; (c) receiving all input and output subroutine calls from a user program through an instrument programming interface means; (d) creating a plurality of interface module means, one of said plurality of interface module means being created for each of said types of interfaces; (e) using said instrument identification data structure to select one of said plurality of interface module means; and (f) performing said input and output subroutine calls using said selected interface module means; and (g) performing a second set of input and output functions within said instrument programming interface means, said second set being identical to the input and output operations performed in step (f), a subset of the second set may include functions which are unnecessary in some of said types of operating systems, whereby said user program uses a same set of functions regardless of said type of operating system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of: (h) performing said input and output through a commander interface means and through a second computer system acting as a commander.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 11 wherein step (e) further comprises the steps of: (f1) formatting any output data before sending said data to said instrument using formatted data types defined by said type of interface connecting said instrument and said computer system; and (f2) unformatting any data received from said instrument using formatted data types defined by said type of interface connecting said instrument and said computer system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 11 wherein step (f) further comprises the step of: (f1) if said user program requests a combined output and input operation, performing both said output and input operation without allowing interrupts between said output and input operation.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-10-31 | 1998-05-02 | 1998-11-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-10-31 | 2002-05-02 | 2002-11-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-10-31 | 2006-05-02 | 2006-11-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |