IviSwtch Class Driver Overview

This instrument driver provides programming support for the IviSwtch Class. The IviSwtch class driver conceptualizes a switch as an instrument that can establish a connection between two I/O channels. The IviSwtch class driver can support instruments that can perform triggered scanning (trigger-synchronized establishing or breaking of the paths). The driver contains all the VIs that the IVI Foundation requires for the IviSwtch specification. This driver requires NI-VISA and the IVI Compliance Package to be installed.

An IviSwtch is a vendor-defined switch module with a series of I/O capable channels. These channels can then be connected through the internals of the switch module, where not all connections are necessarily valid. Refer to the figure below. The IviSwtch class driver is designed to support the typical switch as well as common extended functionality found in more complex switch instruments. The IviSwtch class driver conceptualizes the switch as an instrument that can establish paths between its I/O channels.

Use this driver to develop programs that are independent of a particular switch. You can use this class driver with any switch that has an IVI instrument specific driver that is compliant with the IviSwtch class. The IviSwtch class driver accesses the specific driver for your instrument using the configuration information you supply with MAX.

The IviSwtch class driver divides instrument capabilities into a base capability group and multiple extension capability groups. The IviSwtchBase capability group supports switches able to connect and disconnect paths on the instrument, determine the connectivity of two switches, and query the state of the switch module. The VIs and properties of this group are implemented by all switch instrument drivers that are compliant with the IviSwtch class.