© National Instruments Corporation
1-1
GPIB-LPT User Manual
Section One
Introduction
The National Instruments GPIB-LPT is a high-performance talk-only interface that converts data
sent to a standard parallel port into an IEEE-488 General Purpose Interface Bus (GPIB) format for
use with IEEE-488 printers and plotters. The GPIB-LPT looks like a standard parallel port for the
IBM PC operating system and software. It can be used to communicate with GPIB printers and
plotters with PC application programs, such as AutoCAD, that use parallel ports for printer and
plotter output.
Features
The GPIB-LPT has the following hardware features:
•
emulates the standard PC parallel printer interface so that no additional software is needed
•
can be configured as either LPT1 (PRN), LPT2, or LPT3
•
compatible with any software using the parallel ports on the IBM PC compatibles
•
small dimensions so that it fits into any slot of a personal computer
•
transparent addressing of unaddressed listeners
•
interrupt synchronization circuitry which holds off interrupts until the GPIB handshake is
complete
•
choice of REN mode which operates an instrument in the remote mode
•
choice of SRQ enable which monitors of asynchronous service requests
•
choice of IFC mode which sends an interface clear when the computer is powered on