This is a question out of pure curiosity.
In my job I regularly work on electronic data aquisition systems and I'm always wondering how experimental data (in a laboratory for example) was aquired and processed in the "HP-41 era".
After some googling I wonder if the following "HP-only" system would have been a viable solution:
- an HP-41CV/CX
- a Agilent HP 3468A Digital Multimeter
- an HP 82160A HP-IL module to connect to the 3468A
- an HP 82162A printer
- another HP 82160A HP-IL module to connect to the printer.
Using this system you could read the voltage samples from a sensor, convert and process them, store them temporarily and finally print them. In case you have a 41CX or a C/CV with time module it could even be done time triggered. Some kind of mass storage device would come in handy as well...
As I said, it's really just to sattisfy my interest in engineering history. Maybe there are a few guys here on the forum who did actually work on such laboratory systems in the late seventies or early eighties. I'd really be interested to know whether a system like the one outlined aboe was actually ever used professionally in a laboratory.
Thanks for your feedback in advance and best regards,
Timo
PS.:
And before you ask: No I do not own all of this equipment! However, I'd lie if I said that it is not tempting to try and get all the components together... ;)
Edited: 5 Mar 2010, 2:08 p.m.