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Mastering Instrument Control for Automated Test Systems

The Anatomy of a Test System: Understanding the Key Components

Mastering Instrument Control for Automated Test Systems

In any automated test environment, the key to speed and accuracy lies in the ability of your software to communicate seamlessly and reliably with your physical instrumentation. Instrument Control is the critical service that enables this communication, transforming individual pieces of hardware like DMMs, oscilloscopes, power supplies, and signal generators into a unified, programmable test system.

The Challenge of Device Communication

Modern test benches are complex, featuring instruments from various vendors using diverse communication standards (GPIB, VISA, Ethernet, USB, PXI). The challenge is not just connecting them, but writing robust software that can:

  1. Initialize and Configure each device correctly.

  2. Send Commands for measurements or stimulus generation.

  3. Retrieve Data reliably and quickly.

  4. Handle Errors and disconnections gracefully.

A poorly implemented control layer leads to slow test times, flaky results, and massive maintenance overhead.

Makkal's Expertise in Instrument Control

We specialize in developing the software layer that sits between your test executive (like NI TestStand) and your hardware, ensuring rapid, reliable, and vendor-agnostic instrument control. We build on industry-leading software like NI LabVIEW and established communication standards to create systems that are fast and flexible.

1. Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) Development

Our primary focus is implementing a Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL). The HAL separates the test logic from the specific instrument driver.

  • Benefit: If you decide to replace a Keysight DMM with an NI DMM, you only update the code within the HAL. The main test sequences and higher-level software remain untouched. This significantly reduces maintenance costs and future-proofs your investment.

2. Communication Protocol Mastery

We have deep expertise in all common instrument interfaces:

  • GPIB (IEEE 488): Essential for legacy and high-performance benchtop equipment.

  • VISA (Virtual Instrument Software Architecture): The universal standard for unifying communication across various buses (USB, Ethernet, Serial).

  • PXI/PXI Express: Utilizing the high-speed backplane for integrated, deterministic control and data transfer.

  • SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments): Creating reusable command sets for vendor-agnostic control.

3. Optimized Driver Development

We utilize and customize existing device drivers or develop lean, custom drivers when necessary. We focus on optimizing communication routines to achieve the fastest possible measurement speeds, often leveraging features like bus optimization and asynchronous communication to minimize command latency.

By partnering with Makkal, you transform your collection of benchtop and modular instruments into a high-speed, unified, and intelligently managed automated test platform

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