Virtual instruments in VXI

Author

Wolfe, Ron

Author_Institution

National Instruments, Austin, TX, USA

fYear

1993

fDate

20-23 Sep 1993

Firstpage

183

Lastpage

190

Abstract

VXI is an exciting and fast-growing platform for modular instruments on plug-in boards. Because VXI combines a modern computing architecture with a sophisticated instrumentation environment, it makes possible the construction of unique new instrument components and measurement methodologies. This paper discusses the term virtual instrument, a term that has become a buzzword in the VXI industry. Historically, architectural limitations have resulted in hard boundaries between vendor-defined instruments and user-defined functionality in an instrumentation system. The author discusses instrument connectivity and software frameworks for building virtual instruments, and also describes the key architectural and philosophical issues that are changing because of VXI. The purpose is to show how these changes create a new generation of instrumentation tools that empower users, rather than vendors, to define the functionality of instruments

Keywords

computer architecture; computer peripheral equipment; peripheral interfaces; user interfaces; virtual machines; VXI; computing architecture; hard boundaries; instrument connectivity; modular instruments; plug-in boards; software frameworks; virtual instrument; Bridges; Buildings; Computer architecture; Computer networks; Construction industry; Data acquisition; Data analysis; Hardware; Instruments; Timing;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

AUTOTESTCON '93. IEEE Systems Readiness Technology Conference. Proceedings

Conference_Location

San Antonio, TX

Print_ISBN

0-7803-0646-5

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/AUTEST.1993.396351

Filename

396351