Learning with LabVIEW 2009

Cover......Page 1
Contents......Page 8
Preface......Page 18
1 LabVIEW Basics......Page 32
 1.2 Installing the LabVIEW Student Edition......Page 33
 1.3 The LabVIEW Environment......Page 34
 1.4 The Getting Started Screen......Page 36
 1.5 Panel and Diagram Windows......Page 39
  1.5.1 Front Panel Toolbar......Page 41
  1.5.2 Block Diagram Toolbar......Page 43
 1.6 Shortcut Menus......Page 45
  1.7.2 Edit Menu......Page 47
  1.7.3 View Menu......Page 48
  1.7.5 Operate Menu......Page 50
  1.7.6 Tools Menu......Page 51
  1.7.8 Help Menu......Page 53
  1.8.1 Tools Palette......Page 54
  1.8.2 Controls Palette......Page 55
  1.8.3 Functions Palette......Page 57
  1.8.4 Searching the Palettes and Quick Drop......Page 58
 1.9 Opening, Loading, and Saving VIs......Page 61
  1.10.1 Context Help Window......Page 64
  1.10.2 LabVIEW Help......Page 65
 1.11 Building Blocks: Pulse Width Modulation......Page 66
 1.12 Relaxed Reading: Controlling the World's Largest Particle Accelerator......Page 68
 1.13 Summary......Page 70
 Exercises......Page 72
 Problems......Page 76
 Design Problems......Page 79
2 Virtual Instruments......Page 83
 2.1 What Are Virtual Instruments?......Page 84
 2.2 Several Worked Examples......Page 86
  2.3.1 Numeric Controls and Indicators......Page 93
  2.3.2 Boolean Controls and Indicators......Page 95
 2.4 The Block Diagram......Page 99
  2.4.1 VIs and Express VIs......Page 100
  2.4.2 Nodes......Page 101
  2.4.3 Terminals......Page 102
  2.4.4 Wiring......Page 105
 2.5 Building Your First VI......Page 108
 2.6 Data Flow Programming......Page 113
 2.7 Building a VI Using Express VIs......Page 115
 2.8 Building Blocks: Pulse Width Modulation......Page 122
 2.9 Relaxed Reading: Autonomous Driving in the DARPA Urban Challenge......Page 124
 2.10 Summary......Page 127
 Exercises......Page 128
 Problems......Page 133
 Design Problems......Page 137
3 Editing and Debugging Virtual Instruments......Page 142
  3.1.1 Creating Controls and Indicators on the Block Diagram......Page 143
  3.1.2 Selecting Objects......Page 145
  3.1.3 Moving Objects......Page 147
  3.1.5 Resizing Objects......Page 148
  3.1.6 Labeling Objects......Page 150
  3.1.7 Changing Font, Style, and Size of Text......Page 151
  3.1.8 Selecting and Deleting Wires......Page 153
  3.1.9 Wire Stretching and Broken Wires......Page 154
  3.1.10 Aligning, Distributing, and Resizing Objects......Page 159
  3.1.11 Coloring Objects......Page 161
  3.1.12 Cleaning Up the Block Diagram......Page 168
  3.1.13 Routing Wires......Page 170
  3.1.14 Reusing Snippets of Code......Page 171
 3.2 Debugging Techniques......Page 172
  3.2.1 Finding Errors......Page 173
  3.2.2 Highlight Execution......Page 175
  3.2.3 Single-Stepping Through a VI and Its SubVIs......Page 177
  3.2.4 Breakpoints and Probes......Page 178
  3.2.5 Navigation Window......Page 183
 3.3 Property Nodes......Page 184
 3.4 A Few Shortcuts......Page 186
 3.5 Building Blocks: Pulse Width Modulation......Page 187
 3.6 Relaxed Reading: Using Graphical System Design for Tumor Treatments......Page 189
 3.7 Summary......Page 191
 Exercises......Page 193
 Problems......Page 195
 Design Problems......Page 199
4 SubVIs......Page 203
 4.1 What Is a SubVI?......Page 204
 4.2 Review of the Basics......Page 205
  4.3.1 Icons......Page 208
  4.3.2 Connectors......Page 211
  4.3.3 Selecting and Modifying Terminal Patterns......Page 213
  4.3.4 Assigning Terminals to Controls and Indicators......Page 214
 4.4 The Help Window......Page 215
 4.5 Using a VI as a SubVI......Page 219
 4.6 Creating a SubVI from a Selection......Page 222
  4.7.1 Automatic Error Handling......Page 224
  4.7.3 Error Clusters......Page 225
 4.8 Saving Your SubVI......Page 226
 4.9 The VI Hierarchy Window......Page 227
 4.10 Building Blocks: Pulse Width Modulation......Page 229
 4.11 Relaxed Reading: Embedded Graphical System Design Empowers Life-Saving Spider Robots......Page 232
 4.12 Summary......Page 234
 Exercises......Page 235
 Problems......Page 238
 Design Problems......Page 241
5 Structures......Page 244
 5.1 The For Loop......Page 245
  5.1.1 Numeric Conversion......Page 247
  5.1.2 For Loops with Conditional Terminals......Page 251
 5.2 The While Loop......Page 252
  5.3.1 Shift Registers......Page 258
  5.3.2 Using Shift Registers to Remember Data Values from Previous Loop Iterations......Page 260
  5.3.3 Initializing Shift Registers......Page 262
  5.3.4 Feedback Nodes......Page 264
 5.4 Case Structures......Page 267
  5.4.1 Adding and Deleting Cases......Page 270
  5.4.2 Wiring Inputs and Outputs......Page 272
 5.5 Flat Sequence Structures......Page 278
  5.5.1 Evaluate and Control Timing in a Sequence Structure......Page 279
 5.6 The Formula Node......Page 281
  5.6.2 Formula Statements......Page 282
 5.7 Diagram Disable Structures......Page 285
  5.8.1 Creating Local Variables......Page 286
  5.8.3 Initializing Local Variables......Page 288
  5.9.1 Sequential Programming......Page 289
  5.9.2 State Programming and State Machines......Page 291
  5.9.3 Parallelism......Page 295
  5.10.1 Failing to Wire a Tunnel in All Cases of a Case Structure......Page 296
  5.10.3 Wiring Underneath Rather Than through a Structure......Page 297
 5.11 Building Blocks: Pulse Width Modulation......Page 298
 5.12 Relaxed Reading: Refining the Process of Steel Recycling......Page 302
 5.13 Summary......Page 303
 Exercises......Page 306
 Problems......Page 310
 Design Problems......Page 315
6 Arrays and Clusters......Page 319
 6.1 Arrays......Page 320
  6.1.1 Creating Array Controls and Indicators......Page 321
  6.1.2 Multidimensional Arrays......Page 323
 6.2 Creating Arrays with Loops......Page 324
  6.2.1 Creating Two-Dimensional Arrays......Page 327
  6.3.1 Array Size......Page 328
  6.3.2 Initialize Array......Page 329
  6.3.3 Build Array......Page 331
  6.3.4 Array Subset......Page 332
  6.3.5 Index Array......Page 333
 6.4 Polymorphism......Page 341
 6.5 Clusters......Page 344
 6.6 Creating Cluster Controls and Indicators......Page 345
  6.6.1 Cluster Order......Page 347
  6.6.2 Using Clusters to Pass Data to and from SubVIs......Page 349
  6.7.1 The Bundle Function......Page 350
  6.7.3 Creating Cluster Constants on the Block Diagram......Page 354
  6.7.4 Using Polymorphism with Clusters......Page 356
  6.8.1 Creating Matrix Controls, Indicators, and Constants......Page 357
  6.8.2 Matrix Functions......Page 359
 6.9 VI Memory Usage......Page 361
 6.10 Building Blocks: Pulse Width Modulation......Page 362
 6.11 Relaxed Reading: User Friendly and Intelligent Acupuncture......Page 365
 6.12 Summary......Page 367
 Exercises......Page 369
 Problems......Page 372
 Design Problems......Page 375
7 Charts and Graphs......Page 379
 7.1 Waveform Charts......Page 380
 7.2 Waveform Graphs......Page 388
 7.3 XY Graphs......Page 396
  7.4.1 Axes Scaling......Page 399
  7.4.2 The Plot Legend......Page 403
  7.4.3 The Graph Palette and Scale Legend......Page 405
  7.4.4 Special Chart Customization Features......Page 407
  7.4.5 Special Graph Customization Features: Cursor Legend......Page 408
  7.4.6 Using Graph Annotations......Page 411
  7.4.8 Using Context Help......Page 412
  7.5.1 2D Graphs......Page 413
  7.5.2 3D Graphs......Page 417
 7.6 Building Blocks: Pulse Width Modulation......Page 421
 7.7 Relaxed Reading: Environmental Monitoring in the Costa Rican Rain Forest......Page 422
 7.8 Summary......Page 425
 Exercises......Page 427
 Problems......Page 428
 Design Problems......Page 430
8 Data Acquisition......Page 433
 8.1 Components of a DAQ System......Page 434
 8.2 Types of Signals......Page 435
  8.2.1 Digital Signals......Page 437
  8.2.2 Analog DC Signals......Page 438
  8.2.3 Analog AC Signals......Page 439
  8.2.4 Analog Frequency-Domain Signals......Page 440
  8.2.5 One Signal—Five Measurement Perspectives......Page 442
 8.3 Common Transducers and Signal Conditioning......Page 443
  8.4.1 Signal Source Reference Configuration......Page 447
  8.4.2 Measurement System......Page 448
 8.5 Analog to Digital Conversion Considerations......Page 453
 8.6 DAQ VI Organization......Page 458
 8.7 Choosing Your Data Acquisition Device......Page 459
  8.7.3 Simulated Data Acquisition......Page 460
  8.7.4 Macintosh, Linux, Palm OS, Windows Mobile for Pocket PC, and Select Windows CE OS Devices......Page 461
  8.8.1 Windows......Page 462
  8.8.2 Channels and Tasks......Page 470
 8.9 Using the DAQ Assistant......Page 472
  8.9.1 DAQmx Task Name Constant......Page 476
  8.10.1 Task Timing......Page 479
  8.10.2 Task Triggering......Page 480
 8.11 Analog Output......Page 484
  8.11.1 Task Timing......Page 485
  8.11.2 Task Triggering......Page 486
 8.12 Digital Input and Output......Page 491
 8.13 Building Blocks: Pulse Width Modulation......Page 497
  8.13.1 Generating Pulse Width Modulated Signals with Hardware Counters......Page 498
  8.13.2 Applications of Pulse Width Modulation......Page 499
 8.14 Relaxed Reading: Structural Health Monitoring of the Olympic Venues......Page 500
 8.15 Summary......Page 502
 Exercises......Page 505
 Problems......Page 506
 Design Problems......Page 507
9 Strings and File I/O......Page 509
 9.1 Strings......Page 510
  9.1.1 Converting Numeric Values to Strings with Build Text Express VI......Page 517
 9.2 File I/O......Page 518
  9.2.1 Writing Data to a File......Page 522
  9.2.2 Reading Data from a File......Page 525
  9.2.3 Manipulating Spreadsheet Files......Page 526
  9.2.4 File I/O Express VIs......Page 529
  9.2.5 Obtaining the Path to the System Directories......Page 534
 9.3 Building Blocks: Pulse Width Modulation......Page 535
 9.4 Relaxed Reading: Optimizing Professional Cyclist Performance......Page 537
 9.5 Summary......Page 539
 Exercises......Page 540
 Problems......Page 542
 Design Problems......Page 543
10 MathScript RT Module......Page 547
 10.1 What Is MathScript RT Module?......Page 548
 10.2 Accessing the MathScript Interactive Window......Page 549
  10.2.1 The Command History and Output Windows......Page 551
  10.2.2 Viewing Data in a Variety of Formats......Page 552
 10.3 MathScript Help......Page 555
 10.4 Syntax......Page 557
  10.4.1 Key MathScript Functions......Page 566
 10.5 Defining Functions and Creating Scripts......Page 567
  10.5.1 User-Defined Functions......Page 568
  10.5.2 Scripts......Page 571
  10.6.1 Saving and Loading Data Files......Page 574
  10.6.2 Exporting Data......Page 577
 10.7 MathScript Nodes......Page 578
  10.7.1 Accessing the MathScript Node......Page 579
  10.7.3 Input and Output Variables......Page 581
  10.7.4 Script Highlighting......Page 585
  10.7.5 Debugging Scripts......Page 587
  10.7.6 Saving Scripts from within the MathScript Node......Page 592
  10.8.1 Instrument Your Algorithms......Page 594
  10.8.2 Graphical Signal Processing, Analysis, and Mathematics......Page 595
  10.8.3 Integrating Measurement Hardware......Page 596
 10.9 Building Blocks: Pulse Width Modulation......Page 597
 10.10 Relaxed Reading: Acquiring and Analyzing the Bioacoustic Communication of Killer Whales......Page 599
 10.11 Summary......Page 601
 Exercises......Page 603
 Problems......Page 604
 Design Problems......Page 605
11 Analysis......Page 607
  11.1.1 Review of Matrices......Page 608
  11.1.2 Systems of Algebraic Equations......Page 612
  11.1.3 Linear System VIs......Page 615
  11.2.1 Curve Fits Based on Least Squares Methods......Page 618
  11.2.2 Fitting a Curve to Data with Normal Distributions......Page 622
  11.2.3 The Curve Fitting Express VI......Page 624
 11.3 Differential Equations......Page 628
 11.4 Finding Zeroes of Functions......Page 637
 11.5 Integration and Differentiation......Page 640
  11.6.1 Normalized Frequency......Page 642
  11.6.2 Wave, Pattern, and Noise VIs......Page 646
  11.6.3 The Simulate Signal Express VI......Page 649
  11.7.1 The Fourier Transform......Page 651
  11.7.2 Smoothing Windows......Page 655
  11.7.3 The Spectral Measurements Express VI......Page 660
  11.7.4 Filtering......Page 663
  11.7.5 The Filter Express VI......Page 672
 11.8 Building Blocks: Pulse Width Modulation......Page 675
 11.9 Relaxed Reading: Controlling the World's Largest Telescope in Real Time......Page 677
 11.10 Summary......Page 679
 Exercises......Page 681
 Design Problems......Page 682
A: Instrument Control......Page 684
  A.1.1 What Is GPIB?......Page 685
  A.1.2 GPIB Messages......Page 686
  A.1.3 GPIB Devices and Configurations......Page 688
  A.1.4 Serial Port Communication......Page 690
  A.1.5 Other Bus Technologies......Page 692
  A.2.2 Macintosh OS X......Page 693
 A.3 Using the Instrument I/O Assistant......Page 696
 A.4 Instrument Drivers......Page 703
  A.4.1 Developing Your Own Instrument Driver......Page 710
 A.5 Future of Instrument Drivers and Instrument Control......Page 711
 A.6 Summary......Page 712
B: LabVIEW Developer Certification......Page 715
 B.2 Logistics of the CLAD Examination......Page 716
 B.3 Benefits of CLAD......Page 717
 B.4 Sample CLAD Examination......Page 718
 B.5 Detailed Sample CLAD Test Solutions......Page 729
 B.7 Summary......Page 736
 B......Page 738
 C......Page 739
 E......Page 740
 F......Page 741
 M......Page 742
 O......Page 743
 R......Page 744
 S......Page 745
 W......Page 746
 Z......Page 747