ZTEC Instruments continues to provide cutting edge software technology for their PCI, PXI, and VXI-based oscilloscopes. This software helps decrease test system maintenance costs through code re-use and standardization between different instruments while supporting key programming environments and the latest major computer operating systems.
The new software developer’s kit (SDK) and drivers package for ZTEC’s C-Class and M-Class oscilloscopes adds support for Windows Vista and Linux 2.6.x to its existing support for Windows 2000 and XP. Class-level instrument drivers provide seamless integration of ZTEC’s PCI, PXI and VXI modular oscilloscopes into key programming environments including C, LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, COM, Visual Studio and others. MATLAB support has also been added, making it easy to transfer acquired waveform data between ZTEC’s oscilloscopes and MATLAB.
The new ZT4610 performance oscilloscope series is ZTEC’s first M-Class product. ZTEC will soon release other M-Class products, including precision and economy series oscilloscopes and function / arbitrary waveform generators. ZTEC’s C-Class instruments consist of the ZT450 series of performance oscilloscopes, the ZT410 series of precision oscilloscopes, the ZT430 series of economy oscilloscopes and the ZT530 series of function / arbitrary waveform generators.
Class-level instrument drivers enable scope users to use the same programming interface for all instruments of the same instrument class. This is a major benefit for anyone wanting to avoid changing code when changing instruments, computing platforms, or modular instrumentation bus architectures. For example, if a user’s instrument requirements change, they can replace a ZTEC C-class precision ZT410 PCI oscilloscope with any C-class performance ZT450 VXI oscilloscope without rewriting any test code. Likewise, if a customer wishes to migrate from VXI to PXI, no software changeover is required.
With this new software release, ZTEC has not left behind existing customers using previous versions of its drivers. Customers with code written for an existing ZTEC oscilloscope can easily upgrade and take advantage of the new software. A key benefit for existing customers will be the ability to use the latest ZScope soft front panel application.
The newly released version of the ZScope soft front panel runs on Windows Vista, XP, and 2000. ZScope for Linux and for native Mac will be available in the near future. ZScope is the key control and viewing application for all ZTEC modular oscilloscopes. ZScope provides an easy and intuitive way to interface with all ZTEC scopes of the same class. ZScope makes modular oscilloscopes as easy to use as traditional benchtop instruments. With ZScope, users can completely control the instrument; view captured, computed and reference waveforms; save and recall waveform data and instrument settings, and more. With a single ZScope application, users can easily switch between multiple instruments and view and control many different instruments within a test system.
The new SDK, instrument drivers and ZScope application are available for free, and can be downloaded at www.ztecinstruments.com/download-software Even if you don’t have a ZTEC oscilloscope, you can still download the software and evaluate the ZScope interface.
