Test & Measurement: IEEE-488 Controllers Eye USB And PCMCIA Applications

Nov. 29, 2004

Two high-performance IEEE-488 (GPIB) controllers for USB-488 PCMCIA applications can be used with any Windows laptop or notebook computer with a PCMCIA or USB interface. The PCMCIA-488 is a low-cost, high-performance controller, while the USB-488 is a compact, full-function IEEE-488.2 controller. Both are plug-and-play compatible and can control up to 14 programmable IEEE-488, GPIB, and HP-IB instruments. Updated drivers ship with all controllers at no extra cost, and they work with TestPoint, LabView, LabView/CVI, and VEE environments. The PCMCIA unit costs $595, and the USB unit costs $495.

Capital Equipment Corp. (CEC)www.cectp.com; (800) 234-4232

About the Author

Roger Allan

Roger Allan is an electronics journalism veteran, and served as Electronic Design's Executive Editor for 15 of those years. He has covered just about every technology beat from semiconductors, components, packaging and power devices, to communications, test and measurement, automotive electronics, robotics, medical electronics, military electronics, robotics, and industrial electronics. His specialties include MEMS and nanoelectronics technologies. He is a contributor to the McGraw Hill Annual Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. He is also a Life Senior Member of the IEEE and holds a BSEE from New York University's School of Engineering and Science. Roger has worked for major electronics magazines besides Electronic Design, including the IEEE Spectrum, Electronics, EDN, Electronic Products, and the British New Scientist. He also has working experience in the electronics industry as a design engineer in filters, power supplies and control systems.

After his retirement from Electronic Design Magazine, He has been extensively contributing articles for Penton’s Electronic Design, Power Electronics Technology, Energy Efficiency and Technology (EE&T) and Microwaves RF Magazine, covering all of the aforementioned electronics segments as well as energy efficiency, harvesting and related technologies. He has also contributed articles to other electronics technology magazines worldwide.

He is a “jack of all trades and a master in leading-edge technologies” like MEMS, nanolectronics, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, military electronics, biometrics, implantable medical devices, and energy harvesting and related technologies.