LabVIEW Laboratory

Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench

Graphical programming
language that allows for instrument control, data acquisition, and pre/post processing of acquired data

 Instrumentation is defined
as the art and science of measurement and control of process variables within a production or manufacturing area

An instrument is a device that

measures and/or regulates physical quantity/process variables such as flow, temperature, level, or pressure.

 It reduces development time, designs

higher quality products, and lowers design costs.

 Physical Measurements Analysis and Signal Processing Decision Making Data Logging Report Generation

LabView relies on graphical symbols rather than textual language to describe programming actions
The principle of dataflow, in which functions execute only after receiving the necessary data, governs execution in a straightforward manner.

LabVIEW programs are called: Virtual Instruments (VIs) because their appearance and operation imitate actual instruments.

 Called Virtual Instruments (VIs) Appearance and operation imitates actual physical instruments

Without

With

Good for building piecewise: using small amounts of code in a larger code Visual programing is easier to learn NI has many pieces of hardware that are easily compatible with LabVIEW, but also can be connected to any hardware Simpler system integration for all types of hardware and their corresponding software Easy to create the user-interface at the same time

Front Panel and Block Diagram

Front Panel
Built with controls (inputs) and indicators (outputs)

Block Diagram
Contains graphical source code

The front panel is the window through which the user interacts with the program.
Front Panel is like a drivers cockpit: controls inputs, shows outputs, and connects to the engine User Interface

Two Basic Components

Controls = Inputs from the user = Source Terminals

Indicators = Outputs to the user = Destinations

The block diagram window holds the graphical source code of a LabVIEW VI it is the actual executable code
Block Diagram is like the engine of a car: allows it to function and connects everything together Behind the Scenes

When you place a control (or indicator) on the FRONT PANEL

LabVIEW automatically creates a corresponding control (or indicator) terminal on the BLOCK DIAGRAM

Node is just a fancy word for a program execution element Nodes are analogous to statements, operators, functions in standard programming language

The add and subtract

functions represent one type of node

A LabVIEW VI is held together by wires connecting nodes and terminals; they deliver data from one source terminal to one or more destination terminals.

Scalar Floating-point number Integer number

1D array

2D array

Color orange blue

Boolean
String

green
pink

If you connect more than one source or no source at all to a wire,

LabVIEW DISAGREES with what youre doing, and the wire will appear broken

Toolbar
Continuous run
Run Stop Pause Font ring Alignment ring

Debugging features
Reorder objects

The Run button, which looks like an arrow, starts VI execution when you click on it It changes appearance when a VI is actually running. When a VI wont compile, the run button is broken

Thank You!