Using LabVIEW 2010 to Achieve More Efficient Measurements

Contents1
. MAX2
. NI-DAQmx Driver Software3
. Customizing Front Panels4
. Example Finder and LabVIEW Community5
. The Easiest Way to Collect, Analyze, and Log DataLabVIEW
2010 is a graphical programming environment that makes it easy to use any sensor to take measurements on any PC bus. Compared with traditional text-based programming languages, LabVIEW can help you collect data more efficiently, whether it is a simple temperature measurement or data capture for a complex system with 10,000 channels.
LabVIEW programs are called virtual instruments (VIs). Each VI includes a front panel and a block diagram. The front panel is equivalent to the user's operating interface, on which you can place various controls such as buttons, switches, graphics, and tables.

Figure 1. The LabVIEW front panel is a user interface that can be customized using buttons, knobs, graphics, and charts.
On the block diagram, you can develop graphical code to collect and analyze measurement data, and you can also derive and reuse code and interact with front panel controls.

Figure 2. On the block diagram, you can write graphical code that includes nodes, wires, and loop structures.
Data acquisition applications generally involve acquiring signals, displaying data in a graph or chart on the front panel, and saving data to a file. In LabVIEW, these functions can be easily implemented, and its configuration and creation are very distinctive.
MAX
All NI data acquisition (DAQ) devices include Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX), a configuration and testing tool. MAX features include:
• Configure and test data acquisition hardware using interactive test panels
• Query device pinouts and documentation
• Create virtual channels
Test Panels
MAX can display all data acquisition devices connected to the computer. In MAX, you can open the test panel of a device and use it to verify that the signal connection is correct and observe the specific signal values ​​in real time (as shown in Figure 3).

Figure 3. In the Test Panel in MAX, you can test the functionality of your data acquisition device and verify signal connections. [page]

In MAX, right -
click the data acquisition device and select "Device Pins" to immediately view the terminals corresponding to the device's analog, digital, and counter channels (as shown in Figure 4).

Figure 4. Use MAX to quickly query device pins.
Virtual Channels
In MAX, you can create virtual channels to map configuration information to a specific physical channel on the device, such as scaling factors and input limits. MAX has many virtual channel measurement types, including pressure, force, and torque (see Figure 5). By using virtual channels, you can quickly convert raw voltages into engineering units, such as newtons or pounds per square inch.

Figure 6. The DAQ Assistant can help you quickly acquire or generate data without programming.
NI-DAQmx API
Although the DAQ Assistant provides a quick and easy way to acquire or generate data without programming, more advanced users may need increased flexibility and low-level control, and for them, the DAQ Assistant alone is not enough. The NI-DAQ driver provides a comprehensive API that includes basic and advanced functions that can be used to control parameters such as timing, synchronization, data processing, and execution control (see Figure 7).

Figure 7. Use the API provided by NI-DAQmx to specify advanced parameters, such as triggering and synchronization.
Customizing the Front Panel
LabVIEW 2010 has hundreds of controls, including drag-and-drop controls, graphics, and 3D drawing tools, that help you quickly create graphical user interfaces. Right-click these built-in controls to customize their position, size, alignment, scale, and color in seconds.

Figure 8. You can easily create custom user interfaces, including graphs, knobs, and buttons, on the LabVIEW front panel.
Figure 8 shows two controls—Number of Measurements and Delay (sec) and a waveform graph indicator named Temperature Graph. By changing the values ​​of the Number of Measurements and Delay (sec) control inputs, you can see the results generated by this VI on the Temperature Graph indicator. The results generated by this VI on the indicator are based on the code you create on the block diagram. [page]

In LabVIEW 2010, you can completely customize the front panel using custom controls, graphics, and decorations (see Figure 9).

Figure 9. Advanced users can fully customize the look and feel of the LabVIEW front panel.
Example Finder and LabVIEW Community
LabVIEW 2010 includes hundreds of example VIs to help you quickly implement data acquisition applications. You can search for examples using the LabVIEW Example Finder (see Figure 10).

Figure 10. The LabVIEW Example Finder includes hundreds of example VIs for specific applications and industries.
NI Developer Community
In the NI Developer Community, you can exchange the latest example code, technical tutorials, reference books, and more with engineers and scientists around the world. While sharing development experiences, you can also learn the latest technologies and connect with experts who are developing the same applications with LabVIEW or other NI products. Visit the community at ni.com/community.
The Easiest Way to Acquire, Analyze, and Log Data
Using LabVIEW 2010 is the easiest and most flexible way to acquire, analyze, and log measurement data. And with tools like MAX, NI-DAQmx, and the LabVIEW Example Finder, you can quickly create your application and customize it to your system and needs.