LabVIEW™

Hands-On Seminar
An Introductory Look at
Graphical Development

ni.com
Agenda

• Overview
• Data acquisition with LabVIEW
• Instrumentation with LabVIEW
• The LabVIEW platform
• LabVIEW beyond the seminar
• Appendix topics

ni.com
 Computer-Based Measurement
and Automation
Hardware and Driver Software Application Software

GPIB
Corporate
Serial
Network
DAQ

VXI
Image
Acquisition
Motion
Control
Process
or PXI
Unit under Test
ni.com
Measurement and Automation
Software Platform

ni.com
LabVIEW Graphical Development

• Wires and icons

• Compiled graphical development environment
• Development time reduction of 4 to 10X
• Complete programming environment
ni.com
Programming Paradigm
• Front panel
– Graphical user interface
– Controls and indicators

• Block diagram
– Source code window
– Rapid code development
– Self-documenting

ni.com
 Dataflow Programming

Plot
Execute
RMS in parallel
Save
• Wires pass data (nonlinear)
• Data flows from sources to sinks
• Diagram can execute multiple operations in parallel

ni.com
Hierarchy of VIs

• Modular design
• Reusable building blocks
• Hierarchal system
ni.com
Multiplatform Compatibility

Migrate Applications
Transparently between
Platforms

ni.com
Explore LabVIEW

ni.com
 Data Acquisition

ni.com
 Data Acquisition Basics
• NI-DAQ driver software

• Measurement devices for:

– Analog and digital I/O
– Counter/timers
– Networked applications
– Plug-in or industrial systems

• Signal conditioning through

SCXI or built-in

ni.com
DAQ Host Platforms
Desktop PXI VXI

Laptop PXI/SCXI FieldPoint

ni.com
Why Desktops?
• Advantages
– Latest technologies
– Inexpensive
– Readily available
• Disadvantages
– Rack-mounting difficult
– Not rugged
– Few expansion slots

ni.com
Why PXI/CompactPCI?
• Advantages
– Well-suited for rack-mounting
– Rugged
– More slots
PXI – Backplane timing and triggering
– Embedded or external control
– Same software as desktops
– DAQ and SCXI in same chassis
• Disadvantages
PXI/SCXI
– Cost compared to
ni.com desktop
 Scalable DAQ Solutions

PXI VXI
Ethernet PCMCIA PCI, ISA

Network Laptop Desktop

Industrial Workstation

NI provides solutions for all your

development environments.
ni.com
DAQ Solution Wizard

Common and Custom

Applications

ni.com
Measurement & Automation
Explorer

ni.com
Explore LabVIEW

ni.com
 Instrumentation

ni.com
Instrument Drivers
and Application Software
Application • LabVIEW
Software • Measurement Studio
(Program) • Visual C/C++
• Visual Basic…

Instrument
Driver

Instrument
ni.com
Interchangeable Virtual Instruments
• High performance
– State-caching
• High productivity
– Simulation
• Lower maintenance cost
– Instrument interchangeability
• Two-tier architecture
– Specific driver (one instrument)
– Class driver (any instrument)
ni.com
 Technical Enterprise

PCI
GPIB
Serial I/O
USB
1394 Wireless

ni.com
N N N
 Technical Enterprise
Web
Browsers

Internet

Database Data Analysis/Reporting

Information
Management

Wireless
Measurement IP Nodes - Ethernet
Nodes
N N N

GPIB/Serial Distributed I/O

PCI
GPIB PXI Real-Time
Serial I/O
USB
1394 Wireless
ni.com N N N
Explore LabVIEW

ni.com
 LabVIEW—Beyond the Seminar

ni.com
LabVIEW Benefits

• Rapid application development

• Tight integration between software and
hardware
• High-performance compiled execution
• Long-term compatibility
• Open development environment

ni.com
 National Instruments Benefits
Vendor Defined User Defined
M
RO th
Ma P
µ g DISPLAY
nin
µP RY it i o AND
MO Co
nd
CONTROL µP
PR ME T
OC OR
Te
mp
Y
8P
er
LA
a tu
ES re
D
SP D OL
DI ANNTR SO
RB 48 A/ BU
S
CO
OR
Flo
US w
S
CE S
Co
Tim n tro
Mat
PRO
lP
an

µP h
el
D ing
Pre

A/
s
TI
su re
Ala

/O
rm
A
D/
Co
nd
itio
ns

/O MEMORY
Co
n DI O
ST Tim
dit TI /
OP

i ng
ion RT
ing PO
D/ 488
A
ROM /O
DI

• Limited expansion • Network/Internet connectivity

• Fixed functionality • Customizable functionality
• Fixed interface • Software defined interface

ni.com
Global Support and Services
• Support and Services
– ni.com/support
• NI Alliance Program
– ni.com/alliance
• Training
– ni.com/training
• Literature
– ni.com/library

ni.com
Training Services

• Fundamentals courses
• Advanced courses
• Technical Workshops
• Custom On-Site courses
• Austin, TX and Nationwide

ni.com
LabVIEW Fundamentals

• Learn the LV environment

• Understand and use key features
• Develop real applications with LV
• Develop high speed LV code
• Learn how to use LV to publish or
subscribe data

ni.com
LabVIEW Advanced
Performance & Communication

• Optimize your LabVIEW code

• Interface LabVIEW to PC networks
• Manage memory usage for large applications
• Synchronize VI execution
• Control remote applications
• Communicate with external APIs

ni.com
Questions or Comments?

ni.com/labview

ni.com
Appendix A: The LabVIEW Platform

ni.com
LabVIEW Development Systems

• Base Package

• Full Development System

• Professional Development System

• Software Subscription Program

ni.com
LabVIEW Real-Time Module

• Real-time data
acquisition and control

• Dedicated processor for

reliable performance

• Scalable hardware
targets for custom
solutions
ni.com
 LabVIEW Datalogging and
Supervisory Control Module
Ideal tool for monitoring applications
• Built-in tools for:
– Tag management
– Alarm and Event management
– Distributed logging
– Trending
– Easy networking
– Security
• Event-driven architecture
• OPC connectivity

ni.com
 Machine Vision
and Image Processing
• Machine vision and
scientific imaging
– Inspection
– Gauging
– Pattern matching
– Color matching
– Blob analysis and
morphology
• Vision Builder
• Optical character recognition
ni.com
 Motion Control
• Easy-to-use
– Configuration
– VIs
• Powerful feature set
• Easy integration
– Data acquisition
– Vision
• Single and multi-axis
• Servo and stepper motors

ni.com
Application Builder
• Generates executables or shared libraries (DLLs)
• Creates installers for distribution
• Installs directly into LabVIEW environment
• Royalty-free

ni.com
Internet Toolkit

• E-mail E-mail FTP/Telnet Web

• FTP
• CGI
• Telnet

ni.com
SPC Toolkit

• Control charts
• Process statistics
• Pareto analysis

ni.com
Database Connectivity Toolset
• Insert, select data from OLE DB, ODBC databases
– Microsoft Access, SQL Server, Oracle, etc.
• Create, drop tables
• Save records in XML format
• Execute SQL queries
– Immediate, parameterized
• Execute stored procedures
• Accept, reject multiple
operations (transactions)

ni.com
Report Generation Toolkit for
Microsoft Office
• Create Microsoft Word, Excel reports
– Text, tables, graphs, pictures
• Control formatting
– Fonts, colors, alignment, etc.
• Populate templates
• E-mail reports
• Run macros

ni.com
 PID Control Toolset

• PID Control
– Autotuning
– Gain scheduling
• Fuzzy Logic
– Control strategies
– Decision making

ni.com
System Simulation & Design
Toolset
• Common control
elements
• Hardware integration
• Different system
representations
• Dynamic system
response
• Bode, Nyquist, and
root-locus plots

ni.com
 Signal Processing Toolset
• Joint Time-Frequency
Analysis
• Super-resolution
spectral analysis
• Wavelet and filter
bank design
• Digital filter design

ni.com
Sound & Vibration Toolset
• Sound/Vibration level measurement
– Conventional sound/vibration measurement technique
• Fractional Octave analysis
– Offers ANSI/IEC standard compliant measurement
– Provides useful analysis because it is similar to how people
perceive sound
• Measurement oriented
– Units
– Frequency-domain calibration
• Display
– Waterfall plot

ni.com
TestStand
• Off-the-shelf, SPC
Test
Database

customizable test Management

Services Config
executive Reports Mgmt

• Executes tests
Test Modules
written in most
popular languages Measurement Services

• Automatic report
generation
– Text
– HTML/XML
– Database

ni.com
Developer Suite
Comprehensive Software Subscription Program
• Development environments
– LabVIEW, Measurement Studio
• Add-on toolkits and accessories
– Database, Internet, Signal Processing…
• Application specific software modules
– TestStand, Datalogging and Supervisory Control Module,
LabVIEW Real-Time Module
• Automatic quarterly software updates

ni.com