Article

Gee Whiz, a GPIB-to USB Converter

$50 interface circuit brings 80s/90s edebris to life

GPIB (General Purpose Interface Bus) refers to an IEEE 488 standard parallel interface originally defined in 1984 for attaching sensors and programmable instruments to a computer. Using a 24-pin connector, up to 15 devices can be daisy chained together and addressed individually. Hewlett Packard’s version of the GPIB is unsurprisingly called HPIB.

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Materials

100592-PCB.pdf

100592-11.zip

Gerber file

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PCB

Download Gerber file: 100592-1.zip

Extra info / Update

GPIB-USB Converter Features
* Low-cost external adapter
* Full GPIB / IEEE488 functionality by USB
* PIC18F2550 @ 20MHz with on-chip USB interface
* Emulation and enumeration of PC COM port
* Software developed in C and MCHPFSUSB Framework

Update. November 1, 2012.

The url for the Microchip USB Framework download has moved to:

http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=2680&dDocName=en537044

Component list

Resistors
R1,R2 = 100Ohm, DIL16 array
R4 = 270Ohm, DIL16 array
R3,R5 = 10kOhm, SIL9 array
R6 = 10kOhm
Capacitors
C1 = 100µF 16V, radial
C2,C3,C4 = 100nF
C5,C6 = 22pF, ceramic, lead pitch 2.5mm
C7 = 470nF
Semiconductors
D1–D8 = LED, 3mm, red
IC1 =PIC18F2550-I/SP, programmed, Elektor # 100592-41
IC2 =74LS245
Miscellaneous
X1 = 20MHz quartz crystal
K1 = 4-pin pinheader, pitch 0.1’’ (2.54mm)
K2 = 6-pin pinheader, pitch 0.1’’ (2.54mm)
K3 = USB socket, Type B, PCB mount
K4 = 24-way IEEE488/Centronics connector, male, PCB mount. Alternatively, IDC version wired to board (Farnell # 1099278).
PCB # 100592

Discussion (0 comments)

AndersG 1 year ago

This FW corrects an issue where there would be extra NULLs after certain strings. This would mess up Binary transfers. See project page at: http://www.dalton.ax/gpib/

GPIB.production_20240325.hex (47kb)

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