LabVIEW Core 1

What You Need To Get Started

LabVIEW Core 1 Course Manual

LabVIEW Core 1 Exercise Manual
LabVIEW Core 1 Course CD
Multifunction DAQ device
GPIB interface
DAQ Signal Accessory, wires, and cable
NI Instrument Simulator and power supply
Serial and GPIB cables

Computer running
LabVIEW 2009 or later
and Windows 2000 or later

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File Locations

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Instructional Methods

The course installer places the course files in the following

location:
Root Directory

Exercises
<or>
Solutions

Demonstrations
Concept
Exercise

Quizzes

LabVIEW
Core 1
Lecture

Topic

Development
Exercise

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Courses

Getting The Most Out Of This Course

Ask questions!
Experiment with hands-on exercises to understand the
methods used
Explore solutions
Implementations explore a possible solutionyou may find
a better one

New User

Experienced User

LabVIEW Core 1

LabVIEW Core 3

LabVIEW Core 2
Skills learned:
LabVIEW environment
navigation
Dataflow programming
Use of common design
techniques
Event driven programming
Programmatic UI control

Certifications

Certified LV Associate
Developer Exam
Skills tested:
LabVIEW environment
knowledge

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Skills learned:
Modular application
development
Structured design and
development practices
Inter-application
communication and
connectivity techniques

Certified LabVIEW
Developer Exam
Skills tested:
LabVIEW application
development expertise

Managing Software
Engineering in LabVIEW
LabVIEW OOP System
Design

Advanced Architectures
in LabVIEW
Skills learned:
Manage a LabVIEW project from
design to deployment
Object-oriented programming for
LabVIEW
Develop scalable applications and
reusable code
Advanced design patterns for LabVIEW

Certified LabVIEW
Architect Exam
Skills tested:
LabVIEW application
development mastery

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Course Learning Map

Course Goals

Lesson 1

Lesson 4

Lesson 7

Setting Up Hardware

Implementing a VI

Developing Modular
Applications

Lesson 2

Lesson 5

Lesson 8

Navigating LabVIEW

Relating Data

Common Design Techniques

and Patterns

Lesson 3

Lesson 6

Lesson 9

Troubleshooting & Debugging

VIs

Managing Resources

Using Variables

This course prepares you for the following:

Solve problems using LabVIEW
Use data acquisition and instrument control in LabVIEW
applications
Use modular programming practices
Develop, debug, and test LabVIEW VIs
Effectively use a state machine architecture
Parallelism and variables

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TOPICS
DAQ Hardware
Using DAQ Software
Instrument Control
GPIB

Setting Up Hardware

Lesson 1
Setting Up Hardware

A.
B.
C.
D.

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E. Serial Port
Communication
F. Using Instrument Control
Software

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LabVIEW is a graphical programming environment used by

millions of engineers and scientists to develop sophisticated
measurement, test, and control systems
LabVIEW can integrate with wide variety of hardware
devices
In this course, you will interact with DAQ, GPIB, and serial
hardware

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A. DAQ Hardware

DAQ Hardware Terminal Block & Cable

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

DAQ Signal Accessoryterminal block used in this course

Signal
Terminal Block
Cable
DAQ Device
Computer

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DAQ Hardware DAQ Device

DAQ Hardware Analog Input

Most DAQ devices have four standard elements: analog

input, analog output, digital I/O, and counters
You can transfer the signal you measure with the DAQ
device to the computer through a variety of different bus
structures

The process of measuring an analog signal and transferring

the measurement to a computer for analysis, display, or
storage
An analog signal is a signal that varies continuously
Analog input most commonly measures voltage or current

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DAQ Hardware Analog Output

DAQ Hardware Digital I/O

The process of generating analog signals from your computer

Performing digital-to-analog (D/A)
conversions generates analog output
The available analog output types
are voltage and current
To perform a voltage or current
output, a compatible device must be
installed that can generate that
type of signal

Digital signals:

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Electrical signals that transfer digital data (on/off, high/low, 1/0)

using a wire
Used to control or measure digital or finite state devices, such
as switches and LEDs
Used to transfer data
program devices
communicate between devices

Use digital signals as clocks or triggers to

control or synchronize other measurements
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DAQ Hardware Counters

B. Using DAQ Software Configuration

A counter is a digital timing device typically used for event

counting, frequency measurement, period measurement,
position measurement, and pulse generation
A counter has a fixed number it can count to as determined
by the resolution of the counter
For example, a 24-bit counter
can count to:

Configure and test your DAQ device using the Measurement

& Automation Explorer (MAX)

2(Counter Resolution) 1 = 224 1 = 16,777,215

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Exercise 1-1
Concept: Measurement and Automation Explorer

Simulating a DAQ Device

Using NI-DAQmx simulated devices, you can try NI products
in your application without the hardware
With NI-DAQmx simulated devices, you also can export a
physical device configuration onto a system that does not
have the physical device installed

Use MAX to examine, configure, and test a DAQ device.

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Exercise 1-1
Concept: Measurement and Automation Explorer

GOAL

C. Instrument Control
Use software on a PC to control an instrument over an
instrument control bus
Mix and match instruments from various categories
Understand the properties of the instrument, such as the
communication protocols to use

What is a possible real-world application using DAQ?

DISCUSSION

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D. GPIB

C. Instrument Control
Benefits of Instrument Control
Automate processes
Save time
One platform for multiple tasks
Ease of use
Many types of instruments available

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GPIB (general purpose

interface bus) is a
standard interface for
communication between
instruments and controllers
from various vendors

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GPIB

E. Serial Port Communication

The bus supports one system controller, usually a computer,

and up to 14 additional instruments
Controller:

Serial communication
Transmits data between a computer and a peripheral
device, such as a programmable instrument or another
computer
Uses a transmitter to send data one bit at a time over a
single communication line to a receiver
Best method when data transfer rates are low, or you must
transfer data over long distances
Most computers have one or more serial ports, so you do
not need any extra hardware other than a cable

Defines the communication links

Responds to devices that request service
Sends GPIB commands
Passes/receives control of the bus

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Exercise 1-2
Concept: GPIB Configuration with MAX

F. Using Instrument Control Software

Interface Drivers: Instrument interfaces such as GPIB
include a set of drivers for the interface
Configuration: Use MAX to configure the interface

Learn to configure the NI Instrument Simulator and use MAX

to examine the GPIB interface settings, detect instruments,
and communicate with an instrument.
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Exercise 1-2
Concept: GPIB Configuration with MAX

GOAL

SummaryQuiz
1. You can use the Measurement & Automation Explorer
(MAX) to examine, configure, and test your DAQ device
and GPIB instruments.
a) True
b) False

What is a possible real-world application using instrument

control?
DISCUSSION

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SummaryQuiz Answer

SummaryQuiz

1. You can use the Measurement & Automation Explorer

(MAX) to examine, configure, and test your DAQ device
and GPIB instruments.

2. Which of the following are benefits of instrument control?

a) True
b) False

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a)
b)
c)
d)

Automate processes
Save time
One platform for multiple tasks
Limited to only one type of instrument

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SummaryQuiz Answers
2. Which of the following are benefits of instrument control?
a)
b)
c)
d)

Automate processes
Save time
One platform for multiple tasks
Limited to only one type of instrument

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