IEEE-488 - Use As A Computer Interface

Use As A Computer Interface

HP's designers did not specifically plan for IEEE-488 to be a peripheral interface for general-purpose computers; the focus was on instrumentation. But when HP's early microcomputers needed an interface for peripherals (disk drives, tape drives, printers, plotters, etc.), HP-IB was readily available and easily adapted to the purpose.

HP computer products which used HP-IB included the HP series 80, HP 9800 series, the HP 2100 series, and the HP 3000 series. Some of HP's advanced pocket calculators of the 1980s, such as the HP-41 and HP-71B series, also had IEEE-488 capabilities, via an optional HP-IL/HP-IB interface module.

Other manufacturers adopted GPIB for their computers as well, such as with the Tektronix 405x line.

The Commodore PET (introduced 1977) range of personal computers connected their peripherals using the IEEE-488 bus, but with a non-standard card edge connector. Commodore's following 8-bit machines, including the VIC-20, C-64, and C-128, utilized an unrelated, proprietary serial interface, using a round DIN connector, for which they retained the IEEE-488 programming interface and terminology, however.

Eventually, faster, more complete standards such as SCSI superseded IEEE-488 for peripheral access.

Rear of the Commodore CBM-II showing card edge connector IEEE-488 port
Rear of the Commodore SFD 1001 floppy disk drive with IEEE-488 port
Rear of a Tektronix TDS 210 digital oscilloscope with IEEE-488 port
Rear view of an Agilent 34970A data acquisition chassis / multimeter
C64 interface
HP 7935 disc drive HP-IB Panel

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