Product category:
Instrument control software
News Release from: National Instruments | Subject: NI Instrument Driver Network
Edited by the Laboratorytalk Editorial
Team on 24 January 2005
Download drivers for 4000 instruments
Includes drivers for analytical instruments such as Agilent micro gas chromatographs, Eurotherm temperature controllers, Olympus microscopes and Mettler Toledo balances
National Instruments now offers more than 4000 instrument drivers in the NI Instrument Driver Network, said to be the industry's largest source for instrument drivers In 2004, NI collaborated with Instrument Driver Development Program members, including Tektronix and Rohde and Schwartz, and other vendors, such as Agilent and Fluke, to introduce more than 900 new drivers that deliver connectivity for instruments serving many industries and all standard software and bus interfaces
This article was originally published on Laboratorytalk on 26 May 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Driver network now offers more than 5000 drivers
National Instruments now offers more than 5000 drivers through the NI Instrument Driver Network, the industry's largest source for instrument drivers
Audio and vibration measurements now on PXI
For the first time on the PXI platform, engineers can make precision audio and vibration measurements - using the National Instruments NI 4472 signal acquisition module
Engineers and scientists can now download free drivers for test and design instruments such as Agilent power supplies, Keithley data acquisition systems and Fluke multimeters.
The network also now includes drivers for analytical instruments such as Agilent micro gas chromatographs, Eurotherm temperature controllers, Olympus microscopes and Mettler Toledo balances.
With these instrument drivers, engineers and scientists save development time, reduce system complexity and improve application longevity.
Further reading
Massive online sensors and automation resource
Engineers and scientists now can join an online community of experts, NI Developer Zone, to help them design and implement measurement and automation systems.
Low-cost data acquisition option for laptop users
The DAQCard-6024E multifunction I/O device packs the functions and technologies of National Instruments' full-size, low-cost E Series DAQ devices into the PCMCIA form factor
Signal Conditioning for ICP accelerometers, RTDs
National Instruments announces new Signal Conditioning Component modules for frequency-to-voltage conversion, Integrated Circuit Piezoelectric accelerometers and RTDs
At the online Instrument Driver Network (IDNet), engineers and scientists can find new Labview plug and play source code drivers that increase flexibility, ease maintenance and simplify debugging.
Because engineers and scientists can view and modify the source code of these instrument drivers, they can easily integrate additional functionality and optimise code for their particular applications.
"The NI Instrument Driver Network is a critical component in the success of our GPIB instrumentation systems.
"Using the high-level instrument drivers and a modular, dynamic architecture, we are able to seamlessly connect to and control over 20 different instruments in our laboratory", said Heinz Grueter, new product engineering technician at Texas Instruments Deutschland.
"We prefer to use Labview plug and play instrument drivers because they are more optimal for use in the Labview environment.
"These open, source code drivers also give me the capability to debug and extend them for my specific applications".
IDNet instrument drivers provide a high-level, easy-to-use programming model that offers access to the complex measurement capabilities of instruments through an intuitive application programming interface.
Based on the Virtual Instrumentation Software Architecture, these drivers feature a common foundation for interoperability of high-level multivendor system software components and abstract low-level programming to shield engineers and scientists from shifts in technology.
"National Instruments is committed to providing Labview and LabWindows/CVI instrument drivers that continue to meet our customer needs.
"This year, we expanded our instrument driver offering by more than 20%," said John Graff, NI vice president of marketing.
"We've heard from our customers and the Labview Instrument Driver Advisory Board that source code drivers are preferred because they are open and flexible, giving users the ability to modify or extend the drivers to fit their changing applications".
In 2004, the number of drivers downloaded from IDNet increased 20%, demonstrating that instrument connectivity continues to significantly benefit engineers and scientists.
Engineers and scientists can visit IDNet to access basic and advanced tutorials, an icon glossary and certification guidelines as well as download, develop, request and submit instrument drivers for controlling instruments with Labview, LabWindows/CVI and Measurement Studio for Microsoft Visual Studio.net. Request a free brochure from National Instruments ...
• National Instruments: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Laboratorytalk email newsletter
• Laboratorytalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
