diff --git a/ease.h b/ease.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e639e90
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ease.h
@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ease.c
+
+basics for (ea)sy implementable (s)ample (e)nvironment devices.
+handles background activity and connections over rs232.
+
+Markus Zolliker, March 2005
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+*/
+
+#ifndef EASE_H
+#define EASE_H
+
+#include <time.h>
+#include "rs232controller.h"
+#include "pardef.h"
+#include "fsm.h"
+
+#define EASE_ILL_ANS -3000
+#define EASE_FAULT -3001
+#define EASE_DEV_CHANGED -3002
+
+#define EASE_RUN 0
+
+typedef enum { EASE_connecting, EASE_notconnected,
+               EASE_idle, EASE_read, EASE_expect, EASE_lost } EaseState;
+typedef enum { EASE_notMonitored, EASE_inTolerance, EASE_outOfTolerance } EaseTolState;
+
+typedef struct {
+  ParData p;
+  FsmHandler handler;
+  FsmFunc start;
+  FsmFunc idle;
+  FsmFunc read;
+  FsmFunc doit;
+  FsmFunc todo;
+  rs232 *ser;
+  Fsm *task; /* a pointer to the task */
+  int errCode; /* error code of last operation. not changed on success  */
+  EaseState state;
+  time_t cmdtime;
+  int syntax; /* not used in ease, may be used by the driver. used by oicom */
+  char cmd[32];
+  char ans[64];
+  char version[64];
+  char msg[256];
+  int maxflag;
+  time_t readPeriod;
+  unsigned long *updateFlags;
+} EaseBase;
+
+typedef struct {
+  EaseBase b;
+  IDrivable *drivInt;
+  EVInterface *evInt;
+  EVMode eMode;
+  int stopped;
+  int hwstate; /* SICS driver state */
+  EaseTolState tolState;
+  float upperLimit;
+  float lowerLimit;
+  float tolerance;
+  int maxwait;
+  int settle;
+  float targetValue;
+  time_t timeout, finish;
+  int usedSettle;
+} EaseDriv;
+
+ParClass *EaseBaseClass(void);
+ParClass *EaseDrivClass(void);
+
+EaseBase *EaseBaseCast(void *object);
+EaseDriv *EaseDrivCast(void *object);
+
+void EaseWriteError(EaseBase *eab);
+void EaseWrite(EaseBase *eab, char *cmd);
+int EaseWaitRead(EaseBase *eab);
+int EaseHandler(EaseBase *eab);
+void EaseBasePar(void *object);
+void EaseSendPar(void *object);
+void EaseMsgPar(void *object);
+void EaseDrivPar(void *object, char *fmt, char *unit);
+void EaseParHasChanged(void);
+void EaseStop(EaseBase *eab);
+int EaseCheckDoit(EaseBase *eab);
+int EaseNextFullRead(EaseBase *eab);
+
+int EaseUpdate(int flag); /* used inside pardef, after ParName and before
+                             the parameter definition. 
+                             The specified flag is updated
+                             when the parameter was changed.
+                             returns 1 when changed, 0 when not changed
+                             calls ParAccess(usUser) and ParSave(1), as
+                             this seems to be useful for parameters
+                             that reflect a state of the device. */
+int EaseNextUpdate(void *object);
+                          /* get next update flag and clear it.
+                             return the next set update flag or -1 when no 
+                             flag was set. */
+int EaseGetUpdate(void *object, int flag);
+                          /* get update flag. return the state of the
+                             specified flag */
+void EaseSetUpdate(void *object, int flag, int state);
+                          /* set an update flag  */
+
+void *EaseMakeBase(SConnection *con, void *class, int argc, char *argv[],
+                   int dynamic, int maxflag,
+                   ParDef pardef,
+                   FsmHandler handler,
+                   FsmFunc start,
+                   FsmFunc idle,
+                   FsmFunc read);
+void *EaseMakeDriv(SConnection *con, void *class, int argc, char *argv[],
+                   int dynamic, int maxflag,
+                   ParDef pardef,
+                   FsmHandler handler,
+                   FsmFunc start,
+                   FsmFunc idle,
+                   FsmFunc read,
+                   FsmFunc run);
+
+#endif