Low-cost daisy chaining system for linking instruments together so that they can be controlled and monitored by a personal computer
TTi (Thurlby Thandar Instruments) has introduced a Windows-based program that supports its ARC interface for controlling multiple instruments from a single RS232 port.
Designated ARC-Windows, it is a low-cost applications package that supports the ARC interface under all version of Windows from 95 through to XP.
It provides pre-programmed commands and tools for building text-based control programs that can be stored as file macros. ARC, which stands for addressable RS232 chain, is a low-cost system for linking instruments together so that they can be controlled and monitored by a personal computer.
The interface differs from conventional RS-232 in that it allows multiple instruments (up to 32) to be controlled using a single RS-232 port of a PC.
ARC offers a low-cost alternative to GPIB where data speed is not critical.
Operating from an RS232 port, it uses inexpensive lightweight cabling and requires no special interface card.
The ARC interface is an extension of the industry standard RS-232 interface and can be used as a normal 'single instrument' RS-232 interface whenever required.
TTi offers a wide range of instruments incorporating the ARC interface, including power supplies, generators, multimeters, counters and logic analysers.
ARC-Windows costs £49 (plus VAT) in the UK.
