Data Acquisition Using LabVIEW

By Behzad Ehsani

If you are an engineer, scientist, experienced hobbyist, or student, you will highly benefit from the content and examples illustrated in this book. A working knowledge of precision testing, measurement instruments, and electronics, as well as a background in computer fundamentals and programming is expected.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Packt Publishing
• Release date: Dec 14, 2016
• ISBN: 9781782172178

Book preview

Table of Contents

Data Acquisition Using LabVIEW

Credits

About the Author

Acknowledgments

About the Reviewer

www.PacktPub.com

Why subscribe?

Preface

What this book covers

What you need for this book

Who this book is for

Conventions

Reader feedback

Customer support

Downloading the example code

Downloading the color images of this book

Errata

Piracy

Questions

1. LabVIEW Basics

Introduction to LabVIEW

Installing LabVIEW

A basic LabVIEW VI

LabVIEW menu bar icons

Example 1 - counter with a gauge

Creating a project is a must

Chapter highlights

Summary

2. Most Common Communication Buses

Wired connections and drivers

Serial communication

GPIB

SCPI commands sets

Arduino for LabVIEW driver installation

Arduino photo sensor board

Summary

3. Using the DAQ Assistant to Automatically Generate LabVIEW Code

Capturing a triangular signal

Devices required

Capturing triangular wave VI

Summary

4. DAQ Programming Using LabVIEW

Definition of data acquisition

Capture signal generator waveforms

Staircase signal (USB DAQ version)

Staircase signal (Oscilloscope version)

Oscilloscope functions in LabVIEW function pallets

Stepping through voltages

Create serial Read-Write sub VI

Power supply voltage steps

Verify Data Acquired

Power Supply Voltage Steps: Revision 1

Summary

5. Debugging Techniques

Error conditions

Debugging - broken arrow

Debugging - highlight execution

Debugging - Set Breakpoint

Debugging - Probe, Custom Probe

Summary

6. Real-World DAQ Programming Techniques

Using event manager

Installing LINX

Acquiring distance measurements using Parallax USR with an Arduino

LabVIEW Program - serial communication through USB

Duty cycle and PWM

Connections

Simultaneous data acquisition - NI DAQ and the Arduino Uno

Connections

LabVIEW block diagram

Summary

7. Real-Time Issues

Resolving upgradation issues

Compatibility

Deployment strategy

Backward compatibility

Compatibility with another existing software application on a system

In real-time testing

NI's native instruments

Hardware wise

National Instrument's myRIO-1900

8. DAQ at a Distance - Network and Distributed Systems

Verifying the computer's connection

A distributed test application using GPIB-ENET

Handling errors

Summary

9. Alternate Software for DAQ

Industry direction

Missing from the LabVIEW arsenal

LabVIEW does not support secure transfer of data or files

Serial terminal emulator software

Tera Term

Measurement computing DASYLab

10. Non-National Instrument Devices DAQ

Safety

There are two major parts to any power supply

A more correct name

Why such an introduction?

The simplest test

MB-102 MB102 Solderless Breadboard, power supply, and jumper cable

Summary

11. LabVIEW and Simple Microcontrollers

DAQ devices versus microcontrollers

Using the Arduino as a DAQ with LabVIEW

Installing the Arduino firmware

Data Acquisition Using LabVIEW

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Data Acquisition Using LabVIEW

Copyright © 2016 Packt Publishing

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews.

Every effort has been made in the preparation of this book to ensure the accuracy of the information presented. However, the information contained in this book is sold without warranty, either express or implied. Neither the author, nor Packt Publishing, and its dealers and distributors will be held liable for any damages caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this book.

Packt Publishing has endeavored to provide trademark information about all of the companies and products mentioned in this book by the appropriate use of capitals. However, Packt Publishing cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.

First published: December 2016

Production reference: 1121216

Published by Packt Publishing Ltd.

Livery Place

35 Livery Street

Birmingham 

B3 2PB, UK.

ISBN 978-1-78217-216-1

www.packtpub.com

Credits

About the Author

Behzad Ehsani is a computer engineering graduate who lives in the Silicon Valley in San Jose, California. He was born in Iran and came to the US with no money, planning to finish school in 4 years and go back to Iran as an engineer. That was 35 years ago! He worked night shifts at McDonald's and went to school in the morning. He recalls those years as a foggy dream (Fresno has foggy mornings). For all of those who remember what went on 35 years ago in Iran and the hostage crisis in US, it all may be (and, to an extent, is) the propaganda of one side or the other, but for Behzad, it had an immediate consequence. Being an Iranian was unimaginable during those years of his life, unimaginable in the sense that one would have to be in that position to know what each Iranian in the US, even those who had nothing to do with the events, had to endure. Immediately after the hostage crisis, Behzad had to drop out of university. After being fired from McDonald’s for being an Iranian, he worked many blue-collar jobs, from pizza places to Italian restaurants and tutoring in first- and second-grade schools, and came to the conclusion that he should try his skills as a mechanic.

This was another turning point for him, since he soon met an American girlfriend in school, and the relationship ended with a citizenship after about 10 years. Behzad went back to his old routine; working at a gas station and going to school part time. He started studying electrical engineering. However, there was another revolution that took place: Sacramento State University was the first university that completely separated computer engineering from electrical engineering. Although it cost Behzad some units, he transferred his major to computer engineering. Connecting a telephone headset and a monitor to a central computer that took up several rooms was the most exciting thing for him. Many years later, personal computers were introduced, and Behzad describes opening a Mac SE with two floppies as one of the most delightful days of his life. Behzad was recruited as an engineer when Packard Bell opened a giant PC manufacturing company. While Behzad was in Sacramento, Silicon Valley was forming, and when he received a call from Apple Computers for a senior position, life became much better for him. Afterward, Behzad left Apple to work at Spectra Physics and, finally, he moved to work for Sentient Energy in Burlingame, by the San Francisco airport.

Acknowledgments

I am dedicating this book to my wife Susan Baradaran.

For without her love, tolerating my numerous mood changes (to anger) when things would not go my way.

For gradually changing our living room and kitchen table to a make messy lab.

For her calm and blind faith in me and my abilities.

I can not remember when I first seriously considered to actually write the book but I do remember well encouragements from my nephew Arash Kashani. I also should mention support of my family specially my mom and dad for without them in words of LabVIEW I would be Device not found.

About the Reviewer

Yik Yang is a licensed professional engineer and a certified LabVIEW developer. He is the author of the LabVIEW Graphical Programming Cookbook. He has been working in the test and automation field for over 10 years in different industries: semiconductor, automotive, and power. Currently, he manages the validation and verification team for a company that designs and manufactures Smart-Grid Protection Systems.

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