Real World Instrumentation with Python

Preface;
Who Is This Book For?;
The Programming Languages;
Why Python?;
The Systems;
Methodology;
How This Book Is Organized;
Conventions Used in This Book;
Using Code Examples;
Safari® Books Online;
How to Contact Us;
Acknowledgments;
Chapter 1: Introduction to Instrumentation;
1.1 Data Acquisition;
1.2 Control Output;
1.3 Applications Overview;
1.4 Summary;
Chapter 2: Essential Electronics;
2.1 Electrical Charge;
2.2 Electric Current;
2.3 Basic Circuit Theory;
2.4 Circuit Schematics;
2.5 DC Circuit Characteristics;
2.6 AC Circuits;
2.7 Interfaces;
2.8 Summary;
2.9 Suggested Reading;
Chapter 3: The Python Programming Language;
3.1 Installing Python;
3.2 The Python Programming Language;
3.3 Python Development Tools;
3.4 Summary;
3.5 Suggested Reading;
Chapter 4: The C Programming Language;
4.1 Installing C;
4.2 Developing Software in C;
4.3 C Development Tools;
4.4 Summary;
4.5 Suggested Reading;
Chapter 5: Python Extensions;
5.1 Creating Python Extensions in C;
5.2 Python's C Extension API;
5.3 Using the Python C Extension API;
5.4 Python's ctypes Foreign Function Library;
5.5 Summary;
5.6 Suggested Reading;
Chapter 6: Hardware: Tools and Supplies;
6.1 The Essentials;
6.2 Advanced Tools;
6.3 Supplies;
6.4 New Versus Used;
6.5 Summary;
6.6 Suggested Reading;
Chapter 7: Physical Interfaces;
7.1 Connectors;
7.2 Serial Interfaces;
7.3 GPIB/IEEE-488;
7.4 PC Bus Interface Hardware;
7.5 Old Doesn't Mean Bad;
7.6 Summary;
7.7 Suggested Reading;
Chapter 8: Getting Started;
8.1 Defining the Project;
8.2 Requirements;
8.3 Designing the Software;
8.4 Functional Testing;
8.5 Implementation;
8.6 User Documentation;
8.7 Summary;
8.8 Suggested Reading;
Chapter 9: Control System Concepts;
9.1 Basic Control Systems Theory;
9.2 Control System Types;
9.3 Implementing Control Systems in Python;
9.4 Summary;
9.5 Suggested Reading;
Chapter 10: Building and Using Simulators;
10.1 What Is Simulation?;
10.2 Using Python to Create a Simulator;
10.3 Serial Terminal Emulators;
10.4 Displaying Simulation Data;
10.5 Creating Your Own Simulators;
10.6 Summary;
10.7 Suggested Reading;
Chapter 11: Instrumentation Data I/O;
11.1 Data I/O Interface Software;
11.2 Data I/O: Acquiring and Writing Data;
11.3 Summary;
11.4 Suggested Reading;
Chapter 12: Reading and Writing Data Files;
12.1 ASCII Data Files;
12.2 Binary Data Files;
12.3 Summary;
12.4 Suggested Reading;
Chapter 13: User Interfaces;
13.1 Text-Based Interfaces;
13.2 Graphical User Interfaces;
13.3 Summary;
13.4 Suggested Reading;
Chapter 14: Real World Examples;
14.1 Serial Interfaces;
14.2 USB Example: The LabJack U3;
14.3 Summary;
14.4 Suggested Reading;
Free and Open Source Software Resources;
Instrument Sources;
Manufacturers;
Used Test Equipment Sources;
Manuals;
Colophon;