The GP-IB defines operation of a three-wire handshake that is used for all data transfers on the bus.

The bus
operation is asynchronous in nature. The data-transfer rate of the GP-IB is 500 kHz for standard applications and can go
up 1 MHz if special conventions are followed. Each transaction carries 8 bits, the maximum data bandwidth is on the order
of 4 to 8 megabits (1 M byte) per second. The bus is a two way communications channel and data flows in both directions.
Figure 2 illustrates the structure of the GP-IB bus and identifies the 16 connections of the interconnecting cable.

GPIB
Listner
and / or
Talker

GPIB
Listner
and / or
Talker

GPIB
Listner
and / or
Talker

GPIB
Listner
and / or
Talker

DAV
NRFD
NDAC

Handshake Bus

IFC
ATN
SRQ
REN
EOI

Management Bus

DIO - 1

Data Bus
DIO - 8

Figure 2. GP-IB Instrumentation Bus Structure

The cabling limitations make it a less-than-ideal choice for large separation between devices. These limitations
can be overcome with bus extenders. Those attempting to use bus extenders should be aware that few extenders are as
transparent as claimed. This is especially true in handling of continuous data and interrupts. In nonextended environments,
it provides an excellent means for high-speed computer control of multiple devices.
The following table shows the various interface functions, the mnemonics and the descriptions.
Table 1. GP-IB Interface Functions
Interface Function

Mnemonic Description

Talker (extended talker)

T (TE)

Device must be able to transmit

Listener (Extended listener)

L (LE)

Device must receive commands and data

Source Handshake

SH

Device must properly transfer a multiline message

Acceptor Handshake

AH

Device must properly receive remote multiline messages

Remote/Local

RL

Device must be able to operate from front panel and remote information from bus

Service Request

SR

Device can asynchronously request service from the controller

Parallel Poll

PP

Upon controller request, device must uniquely identify itself if it requires service

Device Clear

DC

Device can be initialized to a predetermined state

Device Trigger

DT

A device function can be initiated by the talker on the bus

Controller

Device can send addresses, universal commands, address commands, and conduct
polls

Drivers

This code describes the type of electrical drivers in a device

9-5.2

CIRCULATORS AND DIPLEXERS

A microwave circulator is a nonreciprocal ferrite device which
contains three or more ports. The input from port n will come out at port n +
1 but not out at any other port. A three-port ferrite junction circulator, usually
called the Y-junction circulator, is most commonly used. They are available
in either rectangular waveguide or strip- line forms. The signal flow in the
three-port circulator is assumed as 1v2, 2v3, and 3v1 as shown in Figure 1.

1
3

If port 1 is the input, then the signal will come out of port 2; in an
ideal situation, no signal should come out of port 3 which is called the isolated
port. The insertion loss of the circulator is the loss from 1 to 2, while the loss
from 1 to 3 is referred to as isolation. A typical circulator will have a few
tenths of a dB insertion loss from port 1 to 2 and 20 dB of isolation from port
1 to 3 for coaxial circulators (30 dB or more for waveguide circulators). When
the input is port 2, the signal will come out of port 3 and port 1 is the isolated
port. Similar discussions can be applied to port 3.

Figure 1. Symbolic Expression for a

Y-Junction Circulator

Since circulators contain magnets, they should not be mounted near ferrous metals
since the close proximity of metals like iron can change the frequency response.

As shown in Figure 2, if one port of a circulator is loaded, it

becomes an isolator, i.e. power will pass from ports one to two, but
power reflected back from port two will go to the load at port three
versus going back to port one.
2

Figure 2. Isolator From A Circulator

As shown in Figure 3 this circulator is made into a
diplexer by adding a high pass filter to port two. Frequencies
from port one that are below 10 GHz will be reflected by
port two. Frequencies above 10 GHz will pass through port
two. At the 10 GHz crossover frequency of the diplexer, a
10 GHz signal will be passed to both ports two and three but
will be half power at each port. Diplexers or triplexers (one
input and three output bands), must be specifically designed
for the application.

INPUT
8 to 12 GHz

OUTPUT

2
HIGH PASS
FILTER

8 to 10 GHz

Filter could be a
piece of waveguide
which passes
above 10 GHz

10 to 12 GHz
OUTPUT

Figure 3. Diplexer From A Circulator

6-7.1

The GP-IB defines operation of a three-wire handshake that is used for all data transfers on the bus. The bus
operation is asynchronous in nature. The data-transfer rate of the GP-IB is 500 kHz for standard applications and can go
up 1 MHz if special conventions are followed. Each transaction carries 8 bits, the maximum data bandwidth is on the order
of 4 to 8 megabits (1 M byte) per second. The bus is a two way communications channel and data flows in both directions.
Figure 2 illustrates the structure of the GP-IB bus and identifies the 16 connections of the interconnecting cable.

GPIB
Listner
and / or
Talker

GPIB
Listner
and / or
Talker

GPIB
Listner
and / or
Talker

GPIB
Listner
and / or
Talker

DAV
NRFD
NDAC

Handshake Bus

IFC
ATN
SRQ
REN
EOI

Management Bus

DIO - 1

Data Bus
DIO - 8

Figure 2. GP-IB Instrumentation Bus Structure

The cabling limitations make it a less-than-ideal choice for large separation between devices. These limitations
can be overcome with bus extenders. Those attempting to use bus extenders should be aware that few extenders are as
transparent as claimed. This is especially true in handling of continuous data and interrupts. In nonextended environments,
it provides an excellent means for high-speed computer control of multiple devices.
The following table shows the various interface functions, the mnemonics and the descriptions.
Table 1. GP-IB Interface Functions
Interface Function

Mnemonic Description

Talker (extended talker)

T (TE)

Device must be able to transmit

Listener (Extended listener)

L (LE)

Device must receive commands and data

Source Handshake

SH

Device must properly transfer a multiline message

Acceptor Handshake

AH

Device must properly receive remote multiline messages

Remote/Local

RL

Device must be able to operate from front panel and remote information from bus

Service Request

SR

Device can asynchronously request service from the controller

Parallel Poll

PP

Upon controller request, device must uniquely identify itself if it requires service

Device Clear

DC

Device can be initialized to a predetermined state

Device Trigger

DT

A device function can be initiated by the talker on the bus

Controller

Device can send addresses, universal commands, address commands, and conduct
polls

Drivers

This code describes the type of electrical drivers in a device

9-5.2

Another useful device is the

4-port Faraday Rotator Circulator
shown symbolically in Figure 4. These
waveguide devices handle very high
power and provide excellent isolation
properties.
It is useful when
measurements must be made during
high power application as shown. A
water load is used to absorb the high
power reflections so that a reasonable
power level is reflected to the receiver
or measurement port.

9 kW

ANTENNA
VSWR 2:1

* All loads and the

antenna have a
2:1 VSWR

1 kW *
Reflected power down 10 dB

CW
POWER
INPUT
SOURCE

10 kW

**
** If reverse leakage is not
attenuated by at least 20 dB,
this leakage path dominates
at the measurement port.
Normally, a coaxial circulator
will have at least 20 dB of
reverse attenuation and a
waveguide circulator will
have at least 30 dB of
reverse attenuation.

The Maximum Input Power to

a Measurement Device - The ideal
input to a measurement device is in the
0 to 10 dBm ( 1 to 10 mW) range.
Check manufacturer's specification for
specific maximum value.

1 kW
100 W *

Water 0.9 kW
Load

Reflected power now down

20 dB from power input

100 W

10 W *

40 dB attenuator

Receiver/Measurment Device (9 mW)

Figure 4. Faraday Rotator Circulator

If the RF transmission lines and their components

(antenna, hybrid, etc.) can support the wider frequency range,
circulators could be used to increase the number of
interconnecting RF ports from two as shown in Figure 5, to four
as shown in Figure 6. Figure 7 shows an alternate configuration
using diplexers which could actually be made from circulators as
shown previously in Figure 3.

AFT

FWD
Hybrid
Low Low
Rx Tx

Figure 5. Low Band Configuration

AFT

FWD
Hybrid

AFT

* High
power
device

Hybrid

Low
power
device

Low Low
Rx Tx

FWD

Low High
Rx Rx

High High
Rx
Tx

Figure 6. Low/High Band Configuration

High
power
device
L

Low High
Tx Tx

Figure 7. Alternate Low/High Band Configuration

6-7.2