Device Types; Listener - HP 8753E Programming And Command Reference Manual

The Hewlett-Packard Interface Bus (HP-IB) is Hewlett-Packard's
hardware, software, documentation, and support for IEEE 488.2 and
allows you to operate the analyzer and peripherals in two methods:
by an external system controller
n
by the network analyzer in system-controller mode
n

Device Types

The HP-II3 employs a party-line bus structure in which up to 15 devices
can be connected on one contiguous bus. The interface consists of
16 signal lines and 8 ground lines within a shielded cable. With this
cabling system, many different types of devices including instruments,
computers, power meters, plotters, printers, and disk drives can be
connected in parallel.
Every HP-IB device must be capable of performing one or more of the
following interface functions:
A talker is a device capable of transmitting device-dependent data when
addressed to talk. There can be only one active talker at any given
time. Examples of this type of device include:
power meters
n
disk drives
n
voltmeters
n
counters
n
tape readers
n
The network analyzer is a talker when it sends trace data or marker
information over the bus.

Listener

A listener is a device capable of receiving device-dependent data over
the interface when addressed to listen. There can be as many as 14
listeners connected to the interface at any given time. Examples of this
type of device include:
power supplies
n
'ng and Command Reference Guide
1-14
HP-IB Programmi