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LabVIEW Introduction ThreeHour

This document provides an overview of the Virtual Instrumentation with LabVIEW course. The course goals are to understand LabVIEW components, build a simple data acquisition application, and create a subroutine in LabVIEW. The document then covers LabVIEW programming concepts like virtual instruments, front panels, block diagrams, controls, indicators, loops, arrays, and file input/output. It also presents exercises on temperature conversion, data acquisition, using loops, and analyzing/logging data.

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bhstudent_537083349
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© © All Rights Reserved
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73 views

LabVIEW Introduction ThreeHour

This document provides an overview of the Virtual Instrumentation with LabVIEW course. The course goals are to understand LabVIEW components, build a simple data acquisition application, and create a subroutine in LabVIEW. The document then covers LabVIEW programming concepts like virtual instruments, front panels, block diagrams, controls, indicators, loops, arrays, and file input/output. It also presents exercises on temperature conversion, data acquisition, using loops, and analyzing/logging data.

Uploaded by

bhstudent_537083349
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Virtual Instrumentation With LabVIEW

Course Goals
• Understand the components of a Virtual Instrument
• Introduce LabVIEW and common LabVIEW functions
• Build a simple data acquisition application
• Create a subroutine in LabVIEW
Section I
• LabVIEW terms
• Components of a LabVIEW application
• LabVIEW programming tools
• Creating an application in LabVIEW
LabVIEW Programs Are Called Virtual Instruments (VIs)

Front Panel
• Controls = Inputs
• Indicators = Outputs

Block Diagram
• Accompanying “program”
for front panel
• Components “wired”
together
VI Front Panel
Front Panel Icon
Toolbar

Boolean
Control Graph
Legend

Waveform
Graph

Plot Scale
Legend Legend
VI Block Diagram
Block
Diagram
Toolbar Divide
Function

SubVI

Graph
Terminal

Wire
Data

While Loop Numeric Timing Boolean Control


Structure Constant Function Terminal
Express VIs, VIs and Functions
• Express VIs: interactive VIs with configurable dialog page
• Standard VIs: modularized VIs customized by wiring
• Functions: fundamental operating elements of
LabVIEW; no front panel or block diagram
Function

Express VI Standard VI
Controls and Functions Palettes

Controls Palette
(Front Panel Window)

Functions Palette
(Block Diagram Window)
Tools Palette
• Floating Palette
• Used to operate and modify
front panel and block diagram
objects.
Automatic Selection Tool

Operating Tool Scrolling Tool

Positioning/Resizing Tool Breakpoint Tool

Labeling Tool Probe Tool

Wiring Tool Color Copy Tool

Shortcut Menu Tool Coloring Tool


Status Toolbar

Run Button

Continuous Run Button Additional Buttons on


the Diagram Toolbar
Abort Execution

Pause/Continue Button Execution Highlighting


Button
Text Settings
Step Into Button
Align Objects
Step Over Button
Distribute Objects
Step Out Button
Reorder

Resize front panel


objects
Open and Run a Virtual Instrument
Example finder
Creating a VI
Front Panel Window

Block Diagram Window

Control Indicator
Terminals Terminals
Creating a VI – Block Diagram
Wiring Tips – Block Diagram
Wiring “Hot Spot” Click To Select Wires

Use Automatic Clean Up Wiring


Wire Routing
Dataflow Programming
• Block diagram executes
dependent on the flow of data;
block diagram does NOT
execute left to right

• Node executes when data is


available to ALL input terminals

• Nodes supply data to all output


terminals when done
Help Options

Context Help
• Online help
• Lock help
• Simple/Complex Diagram help
• Ctrl + H

Online reference
• All menus online
• Pop up on functions in diagram to access online info directly
Exercise 1 - Convert °C to °F
Debugging Techniques
• Finding Errors
Click on broken Run button
Window showing error appears
• Execution Highlighting
Click on Execution Highlighting button; data
flow is animated using bubbles. Values are
displayed on wires.
• Probe
Right-click on wire to display probe and it
shows data as it flows through wire segment

You can also select Probe tool from Tools


palette and click on wire
Section II – SubVIs

• What is a subVI?
• Making an icon and
connector for a subVI
• Using a VI as a subVI
Block Diagram Nodes
Icon Expandable Node Expanded Node

• Function Generator VI
• Same VI, viewed three different ways
• Yellow field designates a standard VI
• Blue field designates an Express VI
SubVIs
• A SubVI is a VI that can be used within another VI
• Similar to a subroutine
• Advantages
– Modular
– Easier to debug
– Don’t have to recreate code
– Require less memory
Icon and Connector

• An icon represents a VI in other block


Icon
diagrams
Terminals
• A connector shows available
terminals for data transfer
Connector
SubVIs Sub VIs
Steps to Create a SubVI
• Create the Icon
• Create the Connector
• Assign Terminals
• Save the VI
• Insert the VI into a Top Level VI
Create the Icon
• Right-click on the icon in the
block diagram or front panel
Create the Connector
Right click on the icon pane (front panel only)
Assign Terminals
Save The VI
• Choose an Easy to Remember Location
• Organize by Functionality
– Save Similar VIs into one directory (e.g. Math Utilities)
• Organize by Application
– Save all VIs Used for a Specific Application into one
directory or library file (e.g. Lab 1 – Frequency
Response)
• Library Files (.llbs) combine many VI’s into a single file, ideal for
transferring entire applications across computers
Insert the SubVI into a Top Level VI
Accessing user-made subVIs
Functions >>All Functions >> Select a VI
Or
Drag icon onto target diagram
Tips for Working in LabVIEW
• Keystroke Shortcuts
– <Ctrl-H> – Activate/Deactivate Context Help Window
– <Ctrl-B> – Remove Broken Wires From Block Diagram
– <Ctrl-E> – Toggle Between Front Panel and Block
Diagram
– <Ctrl-Z> – Undo (Also in Edit Menu)
• Tools » Options… – Set Preferences in LabVIEW
• VI Properties – Configure VI Appearance,
Documentation, etc.
Section III – Data Acquisition
DAQ Device
• Data acquisition (DAQ) basics
• Connecting Signals
• Simple DAQ application
Computer
Sensors
Cable

Terminal Block
DAQ – Data Acquisition
Temperature Acquisition using the DAQ Assistant
Data Acquisition Terminology
• Resolution - Determines How Many Different Voltage
Changes Can Be Measured
– Larger Resolution  More Precise Representation of Signal
• Range - Minimum and Maximum Voltages
– Smaller range  More Precise Representation of Signal
• Gain - Amplifies or Attenuates Signal for Best Fit in
Range
Hardware Connections
SC-2075
BNC-2120

NI-ELVIS
SCB-68
Exercise 2 – Simple Data Acquisition
Complete Convert C to F.vi, then create Thermometer.vi.
Section IV – Loops and Charts
• For Loop
• While Loop
• Charts
• Multiplots
Loops
• While Loops
– Have Iteration Terminal
– Always Run at least Once
– Run According to Conditional
Terminal

• For Loops
– Have Iteration Terminal
– Run According to input N of
Count Terminal
Loops (cont.)
1. Select the loop 2. Enclose code to be repeated

3. Drop or drag additional nodes and then wire


Charts

Waveform chart – special


numeric indicator that can
display a history of values
Controls >> Graph Indicators
>> Waveform Chart
Wiring Data into Charts
Single Plot Charts Multiplot Charts
Exercise 3 – Using loops
Students build Use a loop.vi.
Section V – Arrays & File I/O
• Build arrays manually
• Have LabVIEW build arrays automatically
• Write to a spreadsheet file
• Read from a spreadsheet file
Adding an Array to the Front Panel
From the Controls >> All Controls >> Array and
Cluster subpalette, select the Array Shell

Drop it on the screen.


Adding an Array (cont.)
Place data object into shell (i.e. Numeric Control)
Creating an Array with a Loop
• Loops accumulate arrays at their boundaries
Creating 2D Arrays
File I/O
File I/O – passing data to and from files
- Files can be binary, text, or spreadsheet
- Write/Read LabVIEW Measurements file (*.lvm)

Writing to LVM file Reading from LVM file


Write LabVIEW Measurement File
• Includes the open, write, close and error handling functions
• Handles formatting the string with either a tab or comma
delimiter
• Merge Signals function is used to combine data into the
dynamic data type
Exercise 4 – Analyzing and Logging Data
Students build Temperature Logger.vi
Where Do I Go From Here?
• Example programs (Help» Find Examples…)
• LabVIEW Student Edition (www.ni.com/labviewse)
• Web resources (ni.com)
– NI Developer Zone (zone.ni.com)
– Application Notes
– Info-labview newsgroup (www.info-labview.org/)
– Instrument Driver Library (www.ni.com/idnet)

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