The IEEE Std 488-1978, IEEE Standard Digital Interface for Programmable Instrumentation, deals with systems that use a byte-serial bit-parallel means to transfer digital data among a group of instruments and system components. The interface system described herein is optimized as an interdevice interface for system components in relatively close proximity able to communicate over a contiguous party-line bus system. This document contains seven sections as follows. Section 1 contains the scope, the object, basic definitions, and summary description of the interface. Section 2 deals with functional concepts and specifications of the interface system described ...

This standard applies to interface systems used to interconnect both programmable and nonprogrammable electronic measuring apparatus with other apparatus and accessories necessary to assemble instrumentation systems. It applies to the interface of instrumentation systems, or portions of them, in which the: (1) Data exchanged among the interconnected apparatus is digital (as distinct from analog) (2) Number of devices that may be interconnected by one contiguous bus does not exceed 15 (3) Total transmission path lengths over the interconnecting cables does not exceed 20m (4) Data rate across the interface on any signal line does not exceed 1Mb/s .

The basic functional specifications of this standard may be used in digital interface applications which require longer distances, more devices, increased noise immunity, or combinations of these. Different electrical and mechanical specifications may be required (for example, symmetrical circuit configurations, high threshold logic, special connectors, or cable configurations) for these extended applications. This standard may also be applicable to other instrumentation system elements such as processors, stimulus, display, or storage devices, and terminal units found useful in instrumentation systems. It applies generally to laboratory and production test ...