Summary of Open source hardware GPIB USB Adapter
This project describes the GPIBUSB Adapter rev3: an open-source USB-to-GPIB adapter board evolved to simplify connecting GPIB test-and-measurement devices to modern computers by presenting a virtual serial port and improving hardware and software (FT230X, proper GPIB line drivers, reliability and command set). The author also helped create InstrumentKit, a Python library to further abstract device and adapter details.
Parts used in the GPIBUSB Adapter rev3:
- GPIB line drivers (correct pull-up replacement)
- FT230X USB-to-UART IC (replaces FT232RL)
- PCB/board (custom adapter PCB)
- Passive components (resistors, capacitors as required on PCB)
- Connectors for GPIB cable/interface
- Microcontroller or UART interface circuitry (as part of USB-UART solution)
- Power supply components (voltage regulator, decoupling)
- Firmware/software for command handling and reliability
Greetings to all! I have observed that in the previous period, I have received some links to my GPIBUSB adapter project from this forum, so I decided to create a specific thread for it.
GPIBUSB Adapter rev3
A couple of years ago, during my last year of college, I was employed at a new university laboratory where I later pursued my master’s degree. During the installation of some devices, I needed to link a group of T&M devices to a computer using GPIB. Nevertheless, I soon realized how difficult it is to get GPIB functioning properly. I discovered that there are no MATLAB bindings in the Linux GPIB drivers. If they had done it, we wouldn’t have been able to make it function. Using pyvisa with Python was easy, but this project mandated the use of MATLAB. In the end, we ended up installing Windows instead (resulting in future problems with SSH, but that’s a different matter).
Several months later, I reflected on the situation and decided to create my own solution. I made a board that utilized a virtual serial port to circumvent these problems. Using this method, any up-to-date software could communicate with a GPIB linked device.
This weekend, I completed the third significant revision of my GPIBUSB adapter board. Significant hardware modifications involve replacing the pull-up resistors with the correct GPIB line drivers, and replacing the FT232RL with the updated FT230X. There are several software enhancements ranging from increased reliability to extra commands.
In order to help abstract the user away from having to deal with adapter-specific commands (eg: setting the target GPIB address, etc) my friend and I started a Python library project called InstrumentKit. Here, we took things another step further and abstracted hardware-channel specific instructions away.
Source : Open source hardware GPIB USB Adapter
- What is the main purpose of the GPIBUSB Adapter rev3?
To provide a USB-to-GPIB adapter that exposes a virtual serial port so modern software can communicate with GPIB devices. - Which USB interface chip was used in rev3?
The FT230X USB-to-UART IC was used in place of the FT232RL. - Why were the pull-up resistors replaced in rev3?
They were replaced with the correct GPIB line drivers as a significant hardware improvement. - Does the project include software changes?
Yes, rev3 includes software enhancements for increased reliability and additional commands. - Can the adapter be used with modern software without special drivers?
Yes, by using a virtual serial port approach, up-to-date software can talk to GPIB devices via the adapter. - Was MATLAB support available in Linux GPIB drivers per the article?
No, the author noted Linux GPIB drivers lacked MATLAB bindings, motivating the adapter solution. - Is there a higher-level software library associated with the adapter?
Yes, the author and a friend started InstrumentKit, a Python library to abstract hardware-channel specific instructions. - Is the project open source?
Yes, the source is described as open source hardware GPIB USB Adapter.
