GPIBB

GPIBB, which stands for General Purpose Interface Bus, is a parallel communication bus standard. It was developed by Hewlett-Packard in the 1960s and later standardized by the IEEE as IEEE 488. GPIBB is primarily used for connecting measurement and control devices, such as scientific instruments, test equipment, and data acquisition systems. It allows for communication between a controller, typically a computer, and multiple peripheral devices.

The bus operates by sending data in parallel across multiple wires, enabling relatively high data transfer rates for its time. It supports a master-slave configuration, where one device acts as the controller and manages communication with other devices. A key feature of GPIBB is its ability to address individual devices on the bus, allowing the controller to send commands and receive data from specific instruments. This makes it well-suited for automated test and measurement applications.

While GPIBB was widely adopted and remained a popular choice for instrument control for many years, its prevalence has diminished with the advent of newer interfaces like USB and Ethernet. These modern interfaces offer higher speeds, more flexibility, and simpler cabling. However, many legacy instruments and systems still utilize GPIBB, and it continues to be supported in some laboratory and industrial settings. Adapters and converters are available to bridge GPIBB with more modern interfaces.