03-05-2014, 04:58 PM
VIRTUAL INSTRUMENTATION
INTRODUCTION
A virtual instrumentation system is computer software that a user would employ to develop a computerized test and measurement system for controlling from a computer desktop an external measurement hardware device and for displaying test or measurement data collected by the external device on instrument-like panels on a computer screen.
ADVANTAGES OF VIRTUAL INSTRUMENTS
Lower costs of instrumentation
Portability between various computer platforms
Easy-to-use graphical user interface
Graphical representation of program structures
Code can be compiled to standalone .EXE or .DLL file
TCP/IP connectivity (Web server integrated into
virtual instrument)
BASIC COMPONENTS OF VI
Computer and Display
Software
-Driver level software
- Register Level Software
-High-level tool software
Interconnect Buses
Instrument Hardware
Interfaces of a VI
Front pane: Serves as the user interface.
Block diagram: Contains the graphical source code that defines the functionality of the VI.
Icon and connector pane: Identifies the VI so that you can use the VI in another VI. A VI within another VI is called a sub VI.
A sub VI corresponds to a subroutine in text-based programming languages
INTRODUCTION
A virtual instrumentation system is computer software that a user would employ to develop a computerized test and measurement system for controlling from a computer desktop an external measurement hardware device and for displaying test or measurement data collected by the external device on instrument-like panels on a computer screen.
ADVANTAGES OF VIRTUAL INSTRUMENTS
Lower costs of instrumentation
Portability between various computer platforms
Easy-to-use graphical user interface
Graphical representation of program structures
Code can be compiled to standalone .EXE or .DLL file
TCP/IP connectivity (Web server integrated into
virtual instrument)
BASIC COMPONENTS OF VI
Computer and Display
Software
-Driver level software
- Register Level Software
-High-level tool software
Interconnect Buses
Instrument Hardware
Interfaces of a VI
Front pane: Serves as the user interface.
Block diagram: Contains the graphical source code that defines the functionality of the VI.
Icon and connector pane: Identifies the VI so that you can use the VI in another VI. A VI within another VI is called a sub VI.
A sub VI corresponds to a subroutine in text-based programming languages