Formally specifying electronic instruments

Abstract

This paper shows how formal specification techniques can be beneficially applied in the develop ment of electronic instrumentation. As an example of our approach we present a specification of a simple electronic instrument, written in the Z specification language. We argue that such specifications can be used to gain insight into software/hardware systems and to clarify the resulting design. A consequence is that formal specifications can assume a pivotal role in system design as non-executable prototypes and lead to a cost-effect application of formal techniq,ues in industrial settings.