Patent ID: 6085156
Filing Date: 2000-07-04
Classification: G05B,G06F,Y02P

Abstract:
A computer-implemented method for controlling an instrument in an instrumentation system, wherein the method allows instrument interchangeability, wherein the instrumentation system includes a computer system comprising a CPU and memory, wherein the instrumentation system also includes at least one first instrument coupled to the computer system, wherein the first instrument is of a first class, wherein the first instrument is interchangeable with other instruments of the first class, the method comprising:creating an initialization file in the computer system which includes information regarding the first instrument;configuring the instrumentation system according to said initialization file;a user application making a call to a function in a class driver to control the first instrument, wherein the class driver is common to a plurality of instruments of the first class;the class driver performing said function to control the first instrument in response to the call;replacing said first instrument with a second instrument of said first class, wherein said replacing comprises:changing at least a portion of said initialization file in the computer system to include information regarding said second instrument;replacing said first instrument of said first class with said second instrument of said first class in said instrumentation system;wherein the user application is executable to control the second instrument after said replacing.