ZTEC Instruments now provides IVI-C drivers for its ZT530 series of PCI, PXI and VXI function generators / arbitrary waveform generators. The IVI-C driver architecture is defined by the Interchangeable Virtual Instruments (IVI) Foundation and is supported and used by instrumentation manufacturers and end users around the world.
The ZT530 series IVI-C driver complies with the IviFgen specification, including the IviFgenBase Capability Group and the following extensions: StdFunc, ArbWfm, ArbFrequency, Trigger, SoftwareTrigger, and ZtecExtensions.
In addition to IVI-C, ZTEC also offers ZT530 drivers that provide hooks into key programming environments such as: C, LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, COM, Visual Studio and others. The ZWave soft front panel (SFP) application has also been improved and updated. This convenient GUI enables complete instrument control via a Windows PC (Windows 2000/XP/Vista) or a workstation running Linux 2.6.x. In fact, ZWave looks and operates just like a benchtop function generator.
The new ZWave application and drivers all operate at a class-level, meaning that they work with any ZT530 PCI, PXI or VXI instrument. Users can change instrument platforms, if necessary, and still use the same software. For example, if a user writes code for a ZT530 VXI instrument, they can also use that same code with a ZT530 PXI or PCI instrument without any changes.
The ZFind utility is also included as part of the ZWave application and driver installer. ZFind enables users to easily identify what ZTEC instruments are installed on the current host. ZFind also lets users send commands to connected instruments and read back information from those instruments.
The new ZWave and instrument drivers are available for free, and can be downloaded from the ZTEC Software page. Even if you don’t have a ZTEC function generator, you can still download the software and evaluate the ZWave interface.
