NI Introduces IVI Driver Library for Hardware-Independent Test Systems

N/Aany%> is releasing new instrument driver tools that test engineers can use to develop hardware-independent test programs. The IVI Driver Library, for Windows PCS and Sun Solaris, is based on standard instrument programming specifications created by the newly formed Interchangeable Virtual Instruments (IVI) Foundation. It includes standard drivers, simulation drivers, and soft front panels for five classes of instruments defined by the IVI Foundation. The IVI drivers build on the VXIplug&play specifications and are compatible with National Instruments LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, Visual Basic, Visual C++, and standard programming environments that can call dynamic link libraries (DLLs).

The IVI Driver Library includes class drivers, which are standard interfaces for programming instruments within particular classes. Users build their programs by calling the standard functions in the class drivers. The initial release of the IVI Driver Library includes a generic class driver for the following classes of instruments:

• Oscilloscopes/Digitizers

• Digital multimeters

• Arbitrary waveform generators/ Function generators

• Switches/Multiplexers/Matrices

• Power supplies

Class drivers communicate with instruments through a specific driver for each make and model. Users interchange instruments simply by replacing the instrument and its specific driver in their system, without touching the class driver or their test program source code. Users can build specific drivers that plug into the IVI driver architecture using the Instrument Driver Development Wizard in LabWindows/CVI 5.0.

In addition to the class drivers, the IVI Driver Library includes simulation drivers for each class. Simulation drivers return simulated data when called from user's test programs. In addition, the simulation drivers are available in source code, so users can insert their own code to generate simulated data more customized to their application.

The IVI Driver Library also includes a soft front panel for each class driver for interactively controlling any instrument that fits in the class. For example, developers can use the IVI oscilloscope soft front panel utility to interactively control any IVI-compatible oscilloscope-- regardless of vendor-- and verify that it is operating properly.

The IVI Driver Library includes interchangeable class driver DLLs that can be used in National Instruments LabVIEW and LabWindows/CVI as well as Visual C++, Visual Basic, and any programming environment capable of calling DLLs.