Virtual instrument software architecture: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Test and measurement API}}

'''Virtual Instrument Software Architecture''', commonly known as '''VISA''', is a widely used [[Input/output|I/O]] [[Application programming interface|API]] in the Test & Measurement industry for communicating with [[Measuring instrument|instruments]] from a [[Personal computer|PC.]] VISA is an [[industry standard]] implemented by several T&M (Test & Measurement) companies, such as [[Agilent|Agilent Technologies]] and [[National Instruments|National Instruments.]]

{{for|other uses of the term visa|Visa (disambiguation)}}

'''Virtual Instrumentinstrument Softwaresoftware Architecturearchitecture''', commonly known as ('''VISA''',) is a widely used [[Input/output|I/O]] [[Applicationapplication programming interface|API]] (API) in the Testtest &and Measurementmeasurement (T&M) industry for communicating with [[Measuring instrument|instruments]] from a [[Personal computer|PC.]] VISA is an [[Technical standard|industry standard]] implemented by several T&M (Test & Measurement) companies, such as, [[Agilent|AgilentAnritsu]], Technologies[[Bustec]], [[Keysight andTechnologies]], Kikusui, [[National Instruments|National]], Instruments.[[Rigol]], [[Rohde & Schwarz]], and [[Tektronix]].

The VISA standard includes specifications for communication with resources (usually, but not always, instruments) over T&M(Test and Measurement)-specific I/O interfaces such as [[GPIB]] and [[VXI|VXI.]] There are also some specifications for T&M-specific [[Protocol (computing)|protocols]] over PC-standard I/O, such as VXI-11 (over [[TCPIP|TCP/IP]] ) and USBTMC (over [[USB]]).

The VISA standard<ref name="VISA Specification">{{cite news |url=http://www.ivifoundation.org/specifications/default.aspx

The VISA library has standardized the presentation of its operations over several software reuse mechanisms, including through a C [[Application programming interface|API]] exposed from Windows [[Library (computer science)#Dynamic linking|DLL]], visa32.dll and over the Microsoft [[Component Object Model|COM]] technology. Although there are several VISA vendors and implementations, applications written against VISA are (nominally) vendor-interchangeable thanks to the standardization of VISA's presentation and operations/capabilities. Implementations from specific vendors are also available for less common programming languages and software reuse technologies.

The|publisher=IVI Foundation |title=VISA standardSpecification}}</ref> includes specifications for communication with resources (usually, but not always, instruments) over T&M(Test and Measurement)-specific I/O interfaces such as [[GPIB]] and [[VXI|VXI.]] . There are also some specifications for T&M-specific [[Protocol (computing)|protocols]] over PC-standard I/O, such as VXI-11 (over [[TCPIPHigh_Speed_LAN_Instrument_Protocol|TCP/IPHiSLIP]]<ref )name="IVI-6.1: andHigh-Speed USBTMCLAN (overInstrument [[USB]]Protocol (HiSLIP)">{{cite news |url=http://www.ivifoundation.org/downloads/Class%20Specifications/IVI-6.1_HiSLIP-2010-06-08.pdf

|publisher=IVI Foundation |title=IVI-6.1: High-Speed LAN Instrument Protocol (HiSLIP)}}</ref> or VXI-11<ref name="VXI-11 Bus Specification">{{cite news |url=http://www.vxibus.org/?q=node/206

|publisher=VXI Bus Consortium |title=VXI-11 Bus Specification}}</ref> (over [[TCP/IP]]) and USBTMC<ref name="USB Test & Measurement Class Specification">{{cite news

|url = http://www.usb.org/developers/devclass_docs

|publisher = USB Implementers Forum Inc.

|title = USB Test & Measurement Class Specification

|access-date = 2010-04-30

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100326005605/http://www.usb.org/developers/devclass_docs/

|archive-date = 2010-03-26

|url-status = dead

}}</ref> (over [[USB]]).

The VISA library has standardized the presentation of its operations over several software reuse mechanisms, including through a C [[Application programming interface|API]] exposed from Windows [[Library (computer science)#Dynamic linking|DLL]], visa32.dll and, over the Microsoft [[Component Object Model|COM]] technology, and through a [[.NET Framework|.NET]] API. Although there are several VISA vendors and implementations, applications written against VISA are (nominally) vendor-interchangeable thanks to the standardization of VISA's presentation and operations/capabilities. Implementations from specific vendors {{Specify|date=August 2015}} are also available for less common programming languages {{Specify|date=August 2015}} and software reuse technologies.

== History ==

VISA was originally standardized through the VXI plug&play Alliance, a now-defunct T&M standards body. The current standard, "VISA Specification 4.2", is maintained by the [http://www.ivifoundation.org IVI Foundation].

== References History==

VISA was originally standardized through the VXI plugVXIplug&play Alliance, a now-defunct T&M standards body. The current standard, "VISA Specification 45.20", is maintained by the [http://www.ivifoundation.org IVI Foundation].

* [http://www.ivifoundation.org/specifications/default.aspx VISA specifications] from IVI Foundation. (MS Word or PDF format)

== See also ==

* [[Interchangeable Virtual Instruments]] (IVI)

* [[SICL]]

* [[Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments]] (SCPI)

* [[High Speed LAN Instrument Protocol]] (HiSLIP)

* [[Instrument driver]]

==References==

[[Category:Input/Output]]

{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Electronic test equipment]]

== External links ==

[[de:Virtual Instrument Software Architecture]]

* [http://www.rohde-schwarz.de/appnote/1MA208 Fast Remote Instrument Control with HiSLIP - Application Note]

[[fr:Virtual Instrument Software Architecture]]

* [http://www.ivifoundation.org/specifications/default.aspx VISA specifications] from IVI Foundation. (MS Word or PDF format)Specifications]

[[ru:VISA (программная архитектура)]]

[[Category:Input/Outputoutput]]

[[Category:Electronic test equipment]]