Lesson 9 Data Acquisition and Waveforms

TOPICS Plug-in DAQ devices Data Acquisition in LabVIEW Analog Input Data Logging Analog Output Counters Digital I/O
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Overview and Configuration

Fundamental task of a DAQ system is to measure or generate real-world physical signals DAQ system consists of: Transducers Signal Conditioning Plug-in DAQ device Driver Software

Measurement Software Framework

NI-DAQ contains: Traditional NI-DAQ NI-DAQmx

DAQ Hardware Configuration

Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX)

Channels and Tasks

Channel names

Signals

ai 0 ai 1 ai 2

Sine Wave 1 Sine Wave 2 Sine Wave 3

Tasks
Timing and Triggering

The DAQ Signal Accessory

NI-DAQmx versus Traditional NI-DAQ

Feature Test Panels NI-DAQmx Traditional NI-DAQ no

Productivity Performance Accuracy Quality Compatibility

DAQ Assistant with code generation

On-line diagnostics
Scaling to voltage and physical units 50 kS/s with single point I/O Measurement multithreading

Instant calibration
Automatic selection of optimal gains Guaranteed lossless data 650 Alliance members Integration with LabVIEW Developer Exchange discussion forum Compatible with Legacy ISA Boards

no

Best Good Fair

Data Acquisition in LabVIEW

Traditional NI-DAQ Specific VIs for performing: Analog Input Analog Output Digital I/O Counter operations

NI-DAQmx Next generation driver: VIs for performing a task One set of VIs for all measurement types

NI-DAQmx Data Acquisition

Single set of VIs used to perform analog I/O, digital I/O, and counter operations
DAQ Assistant Express VI Quickly and easily program the DAQ device Creates a local task Most applications can use the DAQ Assistant Express VI

NI-DAQmx Data Acquisition Task Types

Measurement type can be: Analog Input Analog Output Counter Input Counter Output Digital I/O

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Analog Input

Analog Input task is specific to the measurement

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Analog Input Task Timing and Triggering

Configures the number of samples and sample rate for the task

Configures the start and reference triggers for the task

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Data Logging
It is often necessary to permanently store data that is acquired from the DAQ device LabVIEW includes the ability to read and write a LabVIEW Measurement File LabVIEW Measurement File is an ASCII text file

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Analog Output

Analog Output task is specific to the generation type

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Analog Output Task Timing and Triggering

Configures the number of samples and sample rate for the task

Configures the start and reference triggers for the task

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Counters
A counter is a digital timing device Typical uses of a counter: Gate Output Event counting Frequency measurement Count Register Period measurement Source Position measurement Pulse generation
Count register Stores the current count of the counter Source Input that causes the counter to increment each time it toggles Gate Input that is used to enable or disable the function of the counter Output Signal that generates pulses or a series of pulses

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Digital Input and Output

Digital I/O can read from or write to a line or an entire digital port A digital port is a collection of digital lines

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Summary
MAX is the primary configuration and testing utility that is available for the DAQ device. The DAQ Assistant is used to configure the DAQ device and perform data acquisition. Most application can use the DAQ Assistant. For applications that require advanced timing and synchronization use the VIs that come with NI-DAQmx. The DAQ Assistant can perform Analog Input, Analog Output, Digital I/O, and Counter operations.

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Lesson 10 Instrument Control

TOPICS Instrument Control Overview GPIB Communication and Configuration Instrument I/O Assistant Virtual Instrument Software Architecture (VISA) Instrument Drivers Serial Port Communication Waveform Transfers

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Instrument Control Overview

Control any instrument if you know the following:
Type of connector on the instrument Electrical properties involved Software drivers available
Instruments

Type of cables needed Communication protocols used

Computer

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GPIB Communication
GPIB Interface

GPIB Instruments

GPIB Cable

Standards Introduction
1965 1975 1987 1990 1992 1993 1999 HP designs HP-IB (Hewlett Packard Interface Bus) HP-IB becomes IEEE 488 IEEE 488.2 adopted IEEE 488 becomes IEEE 488.1 SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments) added to IEEE 488.2 IEEE 488.2 revised HS488 proposed

HS488 approved

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GPIB Hardware Specifications

Max cable length between devices = 4 m (2 m average) Max cable length = 20 m Max number of devices = 15 (2/3 powered on)

DIO1 DIO2 DIO3 DIO4 EOI DAV NRFD NDAC IFC SRQ ATN SHIELD

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12 24

DIO5 DIO6 DIO7 DIO8 REN GND (TW PAIR W/DAV) GND (TW PAIR W/NRFD) GND (TW PAIR W/NDAC) GND (TW PAIR W/IFC) GND (TW PAIR W/SRQ) GND (TW PAIR W/ATN) SIGNAL GROUND

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GPIB Software Architecture Windows

Diagnostics Tools: GPIB Diagnostic Tool NI-Spy

Interface Board (GPIB, PXI, VXI, computer based, etc.)

Driver Software (*.DLL)

NI-VISA

Instrument Driver VIs LabVIEW

Configuration Tools: Measurement & Automation Explorer

Configuring GPIB Board and Instruments

Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX)

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What is the Instrument I/O Assistant?

Accessed through a LabVIEW Express VI Sets up device communication and data parsing step by step through a configuration interface

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Communicating with an Instrument

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Virtual Instrument Software Architecture

VISA

Serial

GPIB

VXI

PXI

Platform independent VISA is the backbone of the IVI and Plug & Play Instrument Drivers

Interface independent Must know SCPI command set to program directly with VISA

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VISA Terminology
ResourceInstrument, Serial Port, or Parallel Port SessionConnection to a Resource Instrument DescriptorResource location
Format: Interface Type::Address::INSTR

Examples:

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Instrument Descriptor Syntax

Resource Name contains interface info VISA Aliases also work
Interface Serial GPIB Resource Name Grammar
ASRL[board][::INSTR] GPIB[board]::primary address[::INSTR]

VXI
GPIB-VXI

VXI[board]::VXI logical address[::INSTR]

GPIB-VXI[board][::GPIB-VXI primary address]::VXI logical address[::INSTR]

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VISA Resource Name

Exact name and location of the instrument Use the VISA Resource Name control You can specify the full resource name of the VISA Alias

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Instrument Drivers
More than 1200 LabVIEW Instrument drivers Programming simplified to high-level API

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Installing and Finding Instrument Drivers

Drivers available at ni.com/idnet Install the instrument driver VI Library into LabVIEW 7.0\instr.lib directory Access drivers from FunctionsInputInstrument Drivers subpalette

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IDNET - Instrument Driver Network

Learn about drivers Get help with developing drivers Submit your driver to the network Download drivers

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Instrument Driver Model

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Instrument Driver VIs

Initialize
Configure

Action/Status
Data

Utility
Close
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Instrument Driver Inputs and Outputs

HP34401A Initialize.vi

Instrument Descriptor VISA Sessions

- A connection or link to a specific instrument - Created after instrument is initialized - Used throughout VI whenever you communicate with that specific instrument

Error cluster

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Putting It All Together

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Initialize instrument Do operation(s) Close instrument Check error status

Serial Communication
Popular means of communication between computer and peripheral device

Data sent one bit at a time across the cable

Used for low transfer rates or long distances Only a cable is needed since most computers have at least one available serial port
PC Serial Port RS-232 Cable RS-232 Instrument

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Serial Hardware Connection

RS-232

DCE or DTE configurations

9-pin or 25-pin
Pin 1 DCD 2 RxD 3 TxD 4 DTR 5 Com 6 DSR 7 RTS 8 CTS 9 RI DTE DCE Input I O O I O I I Output O I I O I O O

RS-422
DCE or DTE 8-pin

RS-485
Multidrop

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Serial Communication

Terminology Baud rate bits per second Data bits inverted logic and LSB first Parity optional error-checking bit Stop bits 1, 1.5, or 2 inverted bits at data end Flow control hardware and software handshaking options

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Using the Instrument I/O Assistant with Serial

Select COMX as the instrument address Use the I/O Assistant as done with GPIB

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Summary
LabVIEW can communicate with any instrument that connects to your computer if you know the interface type Use the Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) to detect, configure, and test your GPIB interface and instruments Use the Instrument I/O Assistant for easy and fast GPIB and serial programming. An instrument driver eliminates the need for your to have detailed knowledge of the specific strings used by an instrument Instrument Library more than 2000 instruments supported Instrument driver VIs share a common hierarchy and come with an example to help you get started

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Lesson 11 VI Customization

TOPICS Configuring Appearance of Front Panel SubVI Front Panels Keyboard Shortcuts VI Properties Customizing Palettes

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Customizing VI Properties
Access VI Properties by right-clicking the icon pane or selecting it from the File menu Affects every instance of that VI in all applications

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Window Appearance
Only affects VI panel while VI is running

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Window Size
Set minimum and current panel size Adjust size of panel relative to the monitor Scale objects on panel as window resizes

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Creating Pop-Up Panels Every Instance

Use Top-Level Application Window or Dialog appearance types Create custom window appearance

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Creating Pop-Up Panels Single Instance

Access SubVI Node Setup by right-clicking on subVI icon on calling VIs diagram

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Key Navigation
Assigns keyboard strokes to front panel controls

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Preventing Editing of a VI
Opens, runs, and closes LabVIEW without user intervention Remove menus, Abort button, etc Save with Options

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Summary
Use VI Properties to set VI execution, window, and documentation options Use SubVI Node Setup to set execution options for a single instance of a subVI Use the Key Navigation option to assign front panel controls to a keyboard key combination Use the Save with Options from the file menu to make backups of your VIs You can often edit VIs by aborting them from the diagram of another VI

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Technical Support Resources

Award-Winning Website www.ni.com/support Drivers & Updates Product Manuals KnowledgeBases Example Code Tutorials Application Notes Discussion Forums
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Info-LabVIEW Listserve
User-sponsored Internet mailing list Send subscription messages to the Info-LabVIEW list processor listmanager@pica.army.mil Send other administrative messages to the Info-LabVIEW list maintainer at info-labview-REQUEST@pica.army.mil Post a message to subscribers at info-labview@pica.army.mil

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LabVIEW Publications
LabVIEW Technical Resource quarterly newsletter by LTR Publishing LabVIEW Graphical Programming and LabVIEW Power Programming by Gary W. Johnson, McGraw-Hill LabVIEW for Everyone by Lisa K. Wells and Jeffrey Travis, Prentice-Hall LabVIEW Signal Processing by Mahesh Chugani, Abhay Samant, and Michael Cerna, Prentice-Hall LabVIEW Applications and Solutions by Rahman Jamal and Herbert Pichlik, Prentice-Hall

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