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An apparatus and method for synchronous communications using a serial data stream employs a housing with a controller and a back plane. The housing accepts one or more modules for interconnection with the back plane. The back plane distributes power to the modules and provides a communication link f

An apparatus and method for synchronous communications using a serial data stream employs a housing with a controller and a back plane. The housing accepts one or more modules for interconnection with the back plane. The back plane distributes power to the modules and provides a communication link from the controller to each module. Each communication link includes a data out line, a data in line and a clock line, where each clock line is derived from one clock source.

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1. A method for synchronous triggering of events in a plurality of modules, the method comprising: providing each module with a corresponding communications link to a common controller, each communication link comprising a corresponding data out line and a corresponding clock line carrying a corresp

1. A method for synchronous triggering of events in a plurality of modules, the method comprising: providing each module with a corresponding communications link to a common controller, each communication link comprising a corresponding data out line and a corresponding clock line carrying a corresponding clock signal, wherein all of the clock signals are derived from a single, common, clock source;independently selectively enabling and disabling each of the clock signals at the controller;transmitting from the controller to a first one of the modules over the corresponding clock line for the first module the corresponding clock signal, and transmitting from the controller to the first module over the corresponding data out tine for the first module a first send packet synchronous with the clock source, wherein the first send packet contains at least one bit position defined as a trigger bit for the first module;transmitting from the controller to a second one of the modules over the corresponding clock line for the second module the corresponding clock signal, and transmitting from the controller to the second module over the corresponding data out line for the second module a second send packet synchronous with the clock source, wherein the second send packet contains at least one bit position defined as a trigger bit for the second module;triggering an event in the first module upon receipt by the first module of the trigger bit in the first send packet; andtriggering an event in the second module upon receipt by the second module of the trigger bit in the second send packet. 2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the event comprises digitizing a waveform. 3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the event comprises synthesizing a waveform. 4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the communications links further comprises a data in line, the method further comprising: receiving at the controller from the first module over the corresponding data in line for the first module a first receive packet synchronous with the dock source, wherein the first receive packet includes at least one bit position defined as a measurement triggered bit for the first module that indicates that a measurement is triggered for the first module; andreceiving at the controller from the second module over the corresponding data in line for the second module a second receive packet synchronous with the clock source, wherein the second receive packet includes at least one bit position defined as a measurement triggered bit for the second module that indicates that a measurement is triggered for the second module. 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing galvanic isolation for each of the communication links between the controller and the corresponding module. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the events comprises measuring at least one of a power supply output voltage and a power supply output current. 7. The method of claim 4, further comprising assigning some on the modules to group, wherein first receive packet includes a trigger bit indicating that an event should be triggered in the group of modules. 8. An apparatus, comprising: a controller including a clock generating circuit for generating a plurality of clock signals and for independently selectively enabling and disabling each of the clock signals, wherein all of the clock signals are synchronized to a single, common, clock source;a plurality of modules;a plurality of serial communications links, each serial communications link being connected between the controller and a corresponding one of the modules, each said communications link comprising a data out line and a corresponding one of the clock lines;means for transmitting a corresponding send packet over each said data out line to each module synchronous with said clock source wherein said send packet contains at least one bit position defined as a trigger bit; andmeans in each said module for triggering a module specific event upon receipt of respective ones of said trigger hits. 9. An apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein one of said events comprises digitizing a waveform. 10. An apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein one of said events comprises waveform digitization and waveform synthesis on separate channels of said module. 11. An apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein each of the communication links further comprises a data in line and wherein the controller further comprises means for receiving over said data in line for each communication link a receive packet from said the corresponding module, wherein a predefined bit in each said receive packet comprises an indication that a measurement is -triggered. 12. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of galvanic isolators, each of the communication links including a corresponding one of the galvanic isolators for providing galvanic isolation between the controller and the corresponding module. 13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein at least one of the modules comprises a programmable power supply. 14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein at least one of the modules comprises a signal analyzer. 15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein at least one of the modules comprises a power supply module having first and second waveform generators for control of a power supply output voltage and current, and first and second digitizers for measurement of the power supply output voltage and current. 16. A method for synchronous triggering of events in a plurality of modules, the method comprising: providing each module with a corresponding communications link to a common controller, each communication link comprising a corresponding data out line, a corresponding data in line, and a corresponding clock line carrying a corresponding clock signal, wherein all of the clock signals are synchronized to a single, common, clock source;transmitting from the controller to a first one of the modules over the corresponding clock line for the first module the corresponding clock signal, and transmitting to the controller from the first module over the corresponding data in line for the first module a receive packet synchronous with the clock source, wherein the receive packet contains a trigger bit indicating that an event should be triggered in a second one of the modules;transmitting from the controller to the second module over the corresponding clock line for the second module the corresponding clock signal, and transmitting to the second module over the corresponding data. out line for the second module a. send packet synchronous with the clock source, wherein the send packet contains at least one bit position defined as a. trigger bit indicating that the event should be triggered in the second module; andtriggering the event in the second module upon receipt by the second module of the trigger bit in the send packet; andindependently selectively enabling and disabling each of the clock signals at the controller. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the event comprises synthesizing a waveform. 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing galvanic isolation for each of the communication links between the controller and the corresponding module. 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the event comprises measuring at least one of a power supply output voltage and a power supply output current.