Digital Oscilloscope Host Computer Software Compatibility Technology Research

While digital oscilloscope is developing, models and series with various functionalities and different capabilities and performances were derived rapidly, which decays the current framework design of DSO's host software (on PC). In order to make the framework compatible with all existing digital oscilloscope series while reducing the software maintaining costs, this paper focused on the designing issue of universal and generic modules for the host software.The host software comprises three modules—data transmission, data analysis and virtual panel. This paper presented the analyzing, designing and implementing of compatibility features of each module.1. Data transmission module: the functionality of the host software was redefined based on a thorough requirement analysis. The cooperating mechanism and communication protocols between PC and digital oscilloscope were revised. Software framework was redesigned to enable the host software to intelligently adapt to and be compatible with all digital oscilloscope series.2. Virtual Panel module: the versatility of the virtual panel was enhanced by making advantage of CVI's sophisticated features. An oscilloscope will be identified by the host software in its power-up procedure and a matched virtual panel will be automatically configured and loaded.3. Data analysis module: the framework of host software was redesigned and rescheduled into a sequence of function modules of reasonable grains. An universal API was designed to encapsulate all specifications of LAN, USB, GPIB and RS232 PC-end drivers; hence application layer and driver layer became independent to each other. By designing a language loading interface, function entities were separating from language objects (panel tags and prompts). Therefore, entities can be combined with arbitrarily language on demand. Several versions of language dependent host software were finally substituted by a universal multi-language version.The oscilloscope's PC host software framework should have following features: independence of oscilloscope's hardware and system language, downward compatibility, modularization (reusability), upgrading and maintaining easiness. In this process, design pattern, interface programming and software refactoring technique were used. Meanwhile, insightful understanding of program compatibility, commonality and module reusability and maintainability were emerged.