Introduction to LabVIEW 8.

5
Elec 163 Electronic Design I Freshman design course at Wentworth Institute of Technology Original slides prepared by Professor Xiaobin Le of Mechanical program Adapted for Electrical program by Capn Tim Johnson, PE

Introduction to LabVIEW

Introduction to LabVIEW (1)

What is LabVIEW?
LabVIEW The Virtual Instrumentation (VI) Approach for measurement systems

LabVIEW environment
Three parts of a VI Three palettes Show context help Status bar

What is LabVIEW?
LabVIEW - Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench

LabVIEW is a software, which uses graphical programming language for data acquisition, data analysis, presentation of result and instrument control.

 LabVIEW program is called virtual instrument (VI), because their appearance and operation imitate physical instruments, such as oscilloscopes and multimeters

The VI approach for measurement systems

LabVIEW + Computer

PXI Modular Instrumentation

Desktop PC

Laptop PC

PDA

High-Speed High-Resolution Multifunction Dynamic Instrument Digitizers and DMMs Data Acquisition Signal Acquisition Control Digitizers

Digital I/O

Counter/ Timers

Machine Vision

Motion Control

Distributed I/O and Embedded Control

Signal Conditioning and Switching

Hardware + sensor
Object being tested

Unit Under Test

LabVIEW environment
LabVIEW provides an easy-to- use graphical programming environment, including all of the tools necessary for data acquisition (DAQ), data analysis and presentation of results. LabVIEW tries to make your life as hassle-free as possible. It has extensive libraries of functions and subroutines to help you with most programming tasks. Three parts of a VI Front panel Block diagram Icon and connector pane Three palettes Tools palette The Controls palette The Functions palette Show context Help Status bar

Three parts of a VI
A VI contains the following three components:
Front panelServes as the user interface for input and show results for output and presentation. Block diagramContains the graphical source code that defines the functionality of the VI. (It is a executable program.). It is similar to circuits Icon and connector paneIdentifies the VI so that you can use the VI in another VI. Actually every graphic icon is a kind of sub-VI. It can execute a simple or complicated task and with input and output terminals.

Front Panel
The front panel is the user interface of the VI. A front panel contains controls for input and indicators for output or data presentation Controls are knobs, pushbuttons, dials, and other input devices. Controls simulate instrument input devices and supply data to the block diagram of the VI. Indicators are graphs, LEDs, and other displays. Indicators simulate instrument output devices and display data the block diagram acquires or generates.

A VIs Front Panel

Front Panel
Controls = Inputs Indicators = Outputs Front Panel Toolbar Boolean Control Icon Graph Legend

Waveform Graph Plot Legend Scale Legend

Block diagram
A virtual circuit in which virtual components are wired together A executable graphical program Accompanying program for front panel

A VIs Block Diagram

Block Diagram Toolbar
SubVI Graph Terminal Wire Data

Divide Function

While Loop Structure

Numeric Constant

Timing Function

Boolean Control Terminal

Icon and connector pane

Icon and connector paneIdentifies the VI so that you can use the VI in another VI. A VI within another VI is called a sub-VI. Provide the connectors for wiring

Three LabVIEW Palettes

The Tools palette is available on the front panel and the block diagram. A tool is a special operating mode of the mouse cursor. The Controls palette is available only on the front panel. The Controls palette contains the controls and indicators you use to create the front panel. The Functions palette is available only on the block diagram. The Functions palette contains the VIs and functions you use to build the block diagram.

Tools Palette
The Tools palette is available on the front panel and the block diagram. A tool is a special operating mode of the mouse cursor. Select ViewShow Tools Palette to display the Tools palette.
Floating Palette Used to operate and modify front panel and block diagram objects.
Automatic Selection Tool Operating Tool Positioning/Resizing Tool

Scrolling Tool
Breakpoint Tool Probe Tool Color Copy Tool Coloring Tool

Labeling Tool
Wiring Tool Shortcut Menu Tool

 Select ViewShow Controls Palette or right-click the front panel workspace to display the Controls palette
In the front panel mode, right click any empty place, the control palette will be shown. After you choose proper screen, you can pin that screen.

The Controls palette

Functions Palette
Select ViewShow Functions Palette or right-click the block diagram workspace to display the Functions palette.
In the Block diagram mode, right click any empty place, the function palette will be shown. After you choose proper screen, you can pin that screen.

Show context Help

When you point at any icon (graphical code), the description of the icon will be shown if the show context help is checked.

Status Toolbar
Run Button Continuous Run Button Abort Execution

Additional Buttons on the Diagram Toolbar

Execution Highlighting Button
Retain Wire Values Button Step Function Buttons

End of Overview
The next few slides will help you get started making your own virtual instrument.

Open LabVIEW

Lab instructions
Read Ch1 in Getting Started with LabVIEW.
If your instructor hands out the pages for this chapter you wont need to open up the manual (instructions follow) This manual is found (on my machine) at C:\Program Files\National Instruments\LabVIEW 8.2\manuals or 2 selections down from where you clicked to start LabView.

Click on LV_Getting_Started.pdf to open the manual. Do NOT print out the manual!!!! If you are working as a team have one of your team mates open up the PDF and use that as your copy.

Tutorial
As you read through the chapter make the VI and modifications suggested. Turn in a screen print of the design, and Answer the questions on the following page.

Begin designing
You are on your way. This lab is part of the design process steps Gathering Information and Conceptualizing Alternate Solutions. The question you are considering is: Will this software help me with the soldering iron project? If so, how?