Formally specifying electronic instruments

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.