55:041 Electronic Circuits

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Fall 2006

A Guide to Using the NI ELVIS System

Contents:
I. .......... Introduction II. ......... Bench-top Workstation III. ........ Common Instrument Functions and Important Notes on ELVIS IV. ........ Digital Multi-Meter V. ......... Oscilloscope VI. ........ Function Generator VII. ...... Variable Power Supplies VIII. ..... Bode Analyzer IX. ........ Dynamic Signal Analyzer X. ......... Arbitrary Waveform Generator XI. ........ Digital Reader XII. ...... Digital Writer XIII. ..... Impedance Analyzer XIV. ..... Two-Wire Current-Voltage Analyzer XV........ Three-Wire Current-Voltage Analyzer

Author: Colbin Erdahl

55:041 Electronic Circuits I: Introduction:

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The Educational Laboratory Virtual Instrumentation Suite (ELVIS) produced by National Instruments (NI) is designed to simulate several pieces of electronic laboratory equipment. It eliminates the need for bulky equipment in the lab. It also allows for the design of customized instrumentation that can be used for specific projects. The entire NI ELVIS system is built on top of NIs Labview software and hardware, and is comprised three main components as shown and described below: 1. ELVIS software on the PC, which provides a graphical interface for several electronic instruments. These instruments are discussed in detail throughout the rest of this guide. 2. The PC connects to the bench-top workstation through the data acquisition board. This board has both analog and digital input and output lines. 3. The bench-top workstation provides electrical connections for the user to interface with circuits. These provide inputs and outputs for the virtual instrumentation provided by the ELVIS software. There is a prototyping board (breadboard) on the top of the workstation with several holes connected through the data acquisition board. There is also a front interface on the workstation with controls for a few select instruments.

To access the ELVIS software, go to Start>All Programs>National Instruments> NI ELVIS 2.0>NI ELVIS

or click on a shortcut: To the right is the startup screen shown when NI ELVIS first opens. The configure button establishes communication with the workstation. LabVIEW can also be launched to make user-defined custom instrumentation (This is not described in detail in this guide). All other buttons open different NI ELVIS instrumentation. 2 Author: Colbin Erdahl

55:041 Electronic Circuits II. Bench-top Workstation

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On top of the workstation is the prototyping board (referred to in this guide as the breadboard).

On the front of the workstation are several controls and interfaces to the system.

Controls and connections on the bench-top workstation are described below:

Author: Colbin Erdahl

55:041 Electronic Circuits

The University of Iowa

Fall 2006

System controls on the front of the workstation: SYSTEM POWER indicator light If the system switch on the back side of the workstation is on, this light will be lit. PROTOTYPING BOARD POWER indicator light If the breadboard power switch to the left is on, this light will be lit. Nothing on the breadboard will work without this switch turned on. COMMUNICATIONS switch and light The communications switch should be set to normal while the ELVIS software is being used. The two most widely-used voltage producing instruments have controls on the front of the workstation. The two most widely-used measuring instruments have connections on the front of the workstation, which are also connected to the same holes on the left side of the breadboard. (NOTE: do not use the same connections for these instruments on the breadboard and on the front of the workstation at the same time) Breadboard holes: The bulk of the breadboard is made up of holes that are not connected to the data acquisition board and the PC. These connections are just like a normal breadboard that can be found in any circuits laboratory. The connections on the four red and blue +/sections are made in vertical columns. The connections in the three other sections are made in sets of five horizontal holes separated by the valley in the middle. Special holes on the breadboard: These are the holes that are found on the far left and far right of the breadboard. They consist of several sets of four horizontal holes that are also connected to the PC for special functions. The different types of holes are described below. DC Power Supplies These holes are always on, and produce a constant DC voltage as long as the breadboard power switch is flipped. Communication These holes communicate in one way or another with t he data acquisition board and the PC. They often have multiple functions, and are described in more detail throughout the rest of this guide. User Configurable I/O These holes connect to the several connecters on the left and right edges of the circuit board on which the breadboard rests. NOTE: Grounding All of the special holes that are marked as ground on the breadboard are connected and equivalent. This does not include black or minus holes as found on the analog channels, the oscilloscope channels or the voltage low hole for the DMM. Make sure to ground these when using. 4 Author: Colbin Erdahl

55:041 Electronic Circuits

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Fall 2006

III. Common Instrument Functions and Important Notes on ELVIS Common Functions: These are buttons or functions common to two or more instruments in the ELVIS software package. Their functions are described below. RUN or RUN / SINGLE buttons There are three different types of RUN buttons. On some measurement instruments, there is a RUN button next to a SINGLE button. If the RUN button is pressed, the measurements are taken continuously. If the SINGLE button is pressed, a single measurement is taken at that instant. The Bode and Current-Voltage Analyzers are special because they both produce signals and make measurements. They have a RUN button that, when pressed, starts the function of these instruments. LOG function On some measuring instruments, the user can save a text file that records all data of the current display. This text file can be used by another program to analyze the data. For example, if the text file is opened using Microsoft Excel, the graph can be recreated, and trend-lines added to it. MANUAL switch / indicator lights The Variable Power Supplies and the Function Generator can be controlled either by their ELVIS software components or the controls on the front of the workstation. Turn the MANUAL switch on to use the controls on the front. There is an indicator of this in the software. The software cannot be used if the switch is on. CURSORS / MARKERS Many plotting instruments have cursors or markers that can be displayed on the plots. They are turned on by buttons and manipulated by clicking directly on the cursor in the plot display. IMPORTANT NOTES on the particularities of certain ELVIS instruments: DC Voltage & Signal producing instruments These instruments dont always produce exactly what the displays say they are producing. They should be measured and readjusted until the desired signal is produced. Measuring Instruments Because these measurements are on digital displays and have many significant digits, tiny fluctuations may cause changes in the value displayed. There are often more digits than are necessary, so the fluctuations represent very tiny movements that arent important. When measuring, try to take the average value. Using Multiple ELVIS Instruments Simultaneously Many instruments can be used at once, so long as they do not have the possibility of using the same connections on the workstation. If such conflicts may exist between two instruments, the ELVIS system will display an error message when the second instrument is opened, and one of the instruments will not function. IMPORTANT: Read about nulling the DMM to current before measuring it. 5 Author: Colbin Erdahl

55:041 Electronic Circuits

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IV. Digital Multi-Meter (DMM) Purpose: To Measure AC and DC voltages and currents, values of resistance, capacitance and inductance. Also has a diode test and a continuity test. Connections: Current Hi/Lo & Voltage Hi/Lo banana clip terminals on the front of the workstation or sets of holes on the lower-left side of the breadboard. Do not use the banana clips and the holes at the same time when making measurements. Operation: Depending on the function, connect the Current Hi/Lo or the Voltage Hi/Lo connections to a circuit or element in various ways that are described in detail below.

Controls: FUNCTION buttons Toggle through the 9 different functions available. Each function is described in detail below. Buttons common to all functions: NULL button Each function must be nulled separately before measuring in that function. This is done to immediately calibrate the instrument to lab and circuit conditions. Every function, with the exception of current, only needs to be nulled once and can then measure many different values. RANGE buttons On the lower-left of the DMM. Each function will have different choices for the maximum values of each range. The range can be user-selected by pressing the buttons below each maximum value, or the range can be automatically set by the DMM as values change by pressing the AUTO button on the left.

Operation of each function: Voltage (AC and DC): Connection: Voltage Hi/Lo holes or banana clip terminals Nulling: Short the high and low connections and press NULL Measuring: Always measure voltage in parallel between two nodes

Author: Colbin Erdahl

55:041 Electronic Circuits

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Fall 2006

Current (AC and DC): Connection: Current Hi/Lo holes or banana clip terminals Nulling: 1. Attach either lead to the circuit where you intend to break it 2. Make sure the other lead is not connected to anything 3. Press the NULL button 4. Break the circuit and measure NOTE: If you measure in a different place in the circuit, you have to null the circuit again. Measuring: Measure current in series with the element (break the circuit) Resistance: Connection: Current Hi/Lo holes or banana clip terminals Nulling: Short the high and low connections and press NULL Measuring: Attach one lead to each side of the resistor. Never measure resistance while the resistor is connected to anything else. Capacitance: Connection: Current Hi/Lo holes or banana clip terminals Nulling: Open the high and low connections and press NULL Measuring: Attach one lead to each side of the capacitor. Never measure capacitance while the capacitor is connected to anything else. Inductance: Connection: Current Hi/Lo holes or banana clip terminals Nulling: Short the high and low connections and press NULL Measuring: Attach one lead to each side of the inductor. Never measure inductance while the inductor is connected to anything else. Diode Test: Connection: Current Hi/Lo holes or banana clip terminals Nulling: Short the high and low connections and press NULL Measuring: Put the high lead on the anode and the low lead on the cathode Continuity Test: Connection: Current Hi/Lo holes or banana clip terminals Nulling: Short the high and low connections and press NULL Measuring: Attach one lead to each end of the wire or circuit to see if there is a connection

Author: Colbin Erdahl

55:041 Electronic Circuits V. Oscilloscope (Scope)

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Purpose: To Measure voltage waveforms on two different channels. Connections: 3 BNC terminals on the front of the workstation or 3 sets of +/- holes on the upper-left side of the breadboard. The three sets are Channel A, Channel B and External Trigger inputs.

Operation: Connect the black lead or terminal to ground and the red terminal to the voltage to be measured. The separate controls for channel A and channel B are identical. There are also time and trigger controls that apply to both channels. Channel A / B separate controls: ON / OFF button Controls whether this channel is currently displayed MEAS button If selected, the frequency, VRMS and Vp-p of the channel will be displayed SOURCE pull-down menu The scope can actually use one of several inputs from the breadboard. They are selected from this menu. VERTICAL dial Moves the display of the waveform measured on either channel A or B up or down on the screen. ZERO button Removes any vertical display offset made using the vertical dial. SCALE dial and menu Controls the voltage scale of each channel. The voltage displayed in the menu box is per each horizontal green line on the display. COUPLING menu DC coupling displays the true signal with any DC offset. Selecting AC coupling removes this DC offset on the display. AUTOSCALE button The scope will automatically select a voltage scale for this channel. 8 Author: Colbin Erdahl

55:041 Electronic Circuits

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Controls that dont depend on channel: TIMEBASE dial and menu Controls the time scale of the display. The time displayed in the menu box is per each vertical green line on the display. TRIGGER controls The trigger controls what part of the waveform is placed at the left of the display, and keeps the display in one place horizontally (if it can find what it is set to trigger on). There is a menu for the source of the trigger, a dial and for the voltage level to trigger on, an analog/digital selector and a button that tells whether to trigger on the upstroke or the downstroke of the waveform. CURSOR controls The user can place two cursors on the display by toggling the ON/OFF button. The menus select whether each cursor is on channel A or B. The cursors can be moved by using the mouse directly on the display. Also, measurements displayed directly below the scope display are from the voltage values and difference in time between the two cursors. TIMEOUT / ACQUIRED indicators The timeout indicator will light up if the signal is temporarily lost.

VI. Function Generator Purpose: To produce simple sinusoidal, square and triangle waveform voltages. Connections: One single-ended set of holes on the lower-left side of the breadboard. It is assumed that the ground connection found elsewhere is used. Operation: The output of the function generator is between the FUNC_OUT holes and ground. There are manual controls on the front of the workstation. They parallel the software controls, but have less functionality. Controls: ON button When pressed, the function generator will continuously produce a signal. 9 Author: Colbin Erdahl

55:041 Electronic Circuits

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Frequency controls The frequency range of the dial is set by the COARSE adjustment buttons. The exact frequency is set by the FINE dial. The frequency can also be directly changed using the box below the dial. Waveform buttons The button that is depressed determines whether the signal produced is a sinusoidal, square or triangle wave. Peak Amplitude knob Controls the single-sided (not peak-to-peak) amplitude of the output. DC Offset knob Controls the offset voltage of the output waveform. Frequency Sweep controls The instrument can automatically sweep through several frequencies in a short time. The start, stop and step frequencies can be set. The frequency sweep starts with the play button and ends when the stop frequency is reached or the stop button is pressed.

VII. Variable Power Supplies Purpose: To produce two different DC voltages; one between -15 and 0 volts, and another between 0 and +15 volts. Connections: 3 sets of holes on the lowerleft side of the breadboard. The holes are Supply+, Supply- and Ground. Also, there are manual controls on the front of the workstation. Operation: The outputs exist between either ground and Supply+ or ground and Supply- on the breadboard. There are manual controls that parallel the software controls with the same functionality. The manual controls can be accessed separately for each supply. Controls: Voltage controls The dials control the voltages of the two voltage supplies independently. The voltages can also be set by typing the voltages into the boxes below the dials.

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Author: Colbin Erdahl

55:041 Electronic Circuits VIII. Bode Analyzer Purpose:

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To analyze filter circuits to produce both gain vs. frequency and phase vs. frequency semi-logarithmic bode plots.

Connections: Uses analog channels 0 and 1, two sets of +/- holes located at the top-left corner of the breadboard. Operation: The FUNC_OUT holes must be connected to ACH1 as well as to the input of the circuit to analyze. The output of the circuit must be connected to ACH0. This is shown in the simple diagram below.
ACH1+ FUNC_OUT Input ACH1ACH0+

Filter Circuit

Output ACH0-

Controls: Settings The function generator output (input to your circuit) can be controlled using these settings. Controls the frequency sweep start, stop and number of steps as well as amplitude and whether or not the signal is inverted. Display Controls the Y scales of the phase and gain plots separately. Decibels can be toggled on or off. Also, the user can display a set of cursors on the plots which can be moved by clicking directly on the display. 11 Author: Colbin Erdahl

55:041 Electronic Circuits IX. Dynamic Signal Analyzer Purpose:

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To display the input signals in the frequency domain.

Connections: Choose between one of eight sets of +/- analog channels on the top-left corner of the breadboard. Operation: Any voltage signal can be connected to an analog channel and analyzed with this instrument. It will display the signal in the frequency domain, as well as a smaller display in the time domain. Controls: Input Settings Selects the source of the input as well as the range of voltages of the input signal. FFT Settings This instrument uses a Fast Fourier Transform algorithm to produce the frequency domain analysis of the input signal. Control the frequency range and space between frequencies with these settings. Averaging Settings This instrument also averages the input signal using different modes of averaging which can be selected. Triggering Settings Control the source, voltage level and type of triggering used when measuring the input signal. Frequency Display Settings Control the units and type of magnitude displayed. Also, display markers on the plot or change the scale. 12 Author: Colbin Erdahl

55:041 Electronic Circuits

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X. Arbitrary Waveform Generator Purpose: To produce arbitrary voltage waveforms as designed by NIs waveform editor. Connections: The two sets of analog output holes labeled DAC0 and DAC1 on the lower-left side of the breadboard. Operation: The two output channels are between either DAC0 and ground or DAC1 and ground. It is assumed that ground is found elsewhere. In order to produce a waveform, the user must first be create a .wdt file using NIs Waveform Editor. There is a shortcut to this program just below the display.

Controls: DISPLAY controls In the lower-right corner of the display window. Zoom in and out and manipulate the axes of the current display. OPEN FILE button Once a .wdt file is created, it can be loaded into either output channel by first opening it with the OPEN FILE button. The box to the left shows which file is currently loaded. The CLEAR button empties the loaded file. GAIN box The input waveform is scaled according to the value in this box. UPDATE RATE box Adjusts how many points per second are produced. TRIGGER SOURCE menu Selects which source to trigger on. MODE button Toggles between repeating the output and just running it once. PLAY/STOP buttons These buttons start and stop the instrument from actually outputting the waveforms on the two different channels. They can be produced at the same time or separately.

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Author: Colbin Erdahl

55:041 Electronic Circuits XI. Digital Reader

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Purpose: To read eight digital inputs with either high or low values. Connections: The eight holes labeled DI 0 through DI 7 located on the upperright side of the breadboard. It is assumed that a ground connection found elsewhere is used. Operation: The eight digital inputs correspond to the eight different indicator lights in the display. The lighter blue (lit) corresponds to a logic-1 value, which is +5V. The darker blue (unlit) corresponds to a logic-0, which is 0V. The byte measured is also displayed as hex above these eight indicators. The instrument can take a single measurement, or be set to read continuously. XII. Digital Writer Purpose: To produce eight digital outputs as either +5V (hi) or 0V (lo). Connections: The eight holes labeled DO 0 through DO 7 located at the topright corner of the breadboard. It is assumed that a ground connection found elsewhere is used. Operations: The eight blue indicators and numeric value are the same as in the digital reader. They correspond to the eight digital outputs. Controls: WRITE button Starts and stops the instruments output. MODE button Toggles between repeating the output and just running it once. PATTERN menu Selects manual or automatic pattern production. MANUAL PATTERN switches These eight switches correspond to the eight outputs in manual pattern selection. ACTION controls Pressing each of these three buttons manipulates the current pattern in three different ways. The direction switch toggles between moving the pattern to the left or right when ROTATE or SHIFT is pressed. 14 Author: Colbin Erdahl

55:041 Electronic Circuits XIII. Impedance Analyzer Purpose: To analyze the full impedance (resistance and reactance) of an element or a simple circuit. Connections: Uses either the Current Hi/Lo holes on the lower-left side of the breadboard or the same banana plugs on the front of the breadboard. Operation: Connect one or more simple elements using the breadboard, but do not connect them to ground. Connect Current Hi to one side of this simple circuit, and Current Lo to the other. The total impedance is displayed in both polar and complex forms:

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Z = MagnitudePhase = R + jX

Controls: DISPLAY settings The VISIBLE SECTION controls cycle through the quadrants of the plot that are currently visible. The SCALE button toggles between linear and logarithmic scales. MEASUREMENT FREQUENCY box Remember that the reactance is a combination of the capacitance and/or inductance values and the frequency of the current/voltage in the circuit. The frequency used to analyze the current simple circuit can be changed in this box. RUN button Toggles between taking a single measurement and measuring continuously.

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Author: Colbin Erdahl

55:041 Electronic Circuits

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XIV. Two-Wire Current-Voltage Analyzer Purpose: To analyze the current-voltage characteristic of a twoterminal element or simple circuit. Connections: Uses either the Current Hi/Lo holes on the lower-left side of the breadboard or the same banana plugs on the front of the breadboard.

Operation: Connect Current Hi to one side of the element or simple circuit, and Current Lo to the other. The instrument sweeps through several voltages and measures the current for each.

Controls: VOLTAGE SWEEP settings Control the start, stop and step values of the voltages applied by the instrument. CURRENT LIMITS settings Set the cut off limits for measuring current. There is a maximum amplitude that the instrument can handle and it wont let the user set the CURRENT LIMITS higher than this. RUN button Starts the instruments analysis of the current circuit. LOG button Creates a text file with current plot information. DISPLAY settings Toggle the auto-scale function of the instrument, and the linear, semi-log or logarithmic plots available. Also, a cursor can be displayed and manipulated on the plot.

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Author: Colbin Erdahl

55:041 Electronic Circuits

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Fall 2006

XV. Three-Wire Current-Voltage Analyzer Purpose: To analyze the current-voltage characteristic of a threeterminal device or simple circuit. Connections: Uses Current Hi, Current and 3-Wire holes on lower-left side of breadboard. the Lo the the

Operation: Connect the device as shown in the lower-left corner. B, C and E nodes are G, D and S in MOSFETs. The instrument sweeps through collector voltages for a number of base currents and measures the collector current. Each base current lends a different colored curve on the plot.

Controls: BASE CURRENT settings Control the base current applied to the circuit with start, step and number of currents. COLLECTOR VOLTAGE settings Control the collector voltage sweeps with start, stop and step values. Also controls the limit to the output collector current. There is a maximum current allowed by the instrument. RUN button Starts the instruments analysis of the current circuit. LOG button Creates a text file with current plot information. DISPLAY settings Toggle the auto-scale function of the instrument, and the linear, semi-log or logarithmic plots available. Also, a cursor can be displayed and manipulated on the plot.

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Author: Colbin Erdahl