National Instruments ExpressCard-GPIB GPIB Instrument Control Device

The ExpressCard-GPIB is a high-performance compact size device for personal systems, such as laptops or desktops at a low cost with the use of the ExpressCard/34 standard connector interface. There is a 26-position latching connector with cable to IEEE 488 24-pin connector for the GPIB connector on the device. This device provides plug and play configuration. The manufacturer of the NI ExpressCard-GPIB is National Instruments. This device can control a maximum of 14 GPIB instruments at a time.

The NI ExpressCard-GPIB Interface gives maximum GPIB performance because of the National Instruments TNT application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). This device provides up to 1.8 MB/s sustained data transfer rate if used with the standard IEEE 488.1. The GPIB device can also be controlled from laptops in an effective way if the design of the ExpressCard-GPIB device is based on the National Instruments GPIB-USB-HS, which is a USB based controller device for computers.

This GPIB Instrument Control Device is compatible with Windows 2000 and XP only, working with different software such as Measurement Studio, LabWindows/CVI, or LabVIEW. The NI-488.2 driver is used with the device, which provides easy troubleshooting and decreases the development time. The NI ExpressCard-GPIB hardware and other system components can be damaged from electric shock when it comes under ground loops, so the device should be at the same ground potential as all the components of the system. The power requirements are 140 mA typical or 500 mA maximum at +3.3 V.