儀器電控

陳彥穆
July 19, 2007
Outline
„ Computer-based Measurement Automation
{ Design Flow
{ A Comprehensive Overview & some history
„ Labview
{ Introduction
{ Control Examples –
„ Matlab
{ Introduction
{ Control Examples – Graphic User Interface Design
„ Comparison
{ Merits and Defects
{ Hybrid
Instrument Control !?

The abilities to

„ Write
Write some bits or bytes to the instruments as commands

„ Read
Read information or measured data from the instruments
Instrument Control !?
In order to do that, we require
„ Interface
Physical connections between computers and instruments

„ Interface driver
It tells computers how to interpret the data on the interface
( Protocols )
Instrument Control !?
and we still need
„ Command book
The language of “the” instrument.
We call a complete and well-capsulated command set as
“Instrument Driver.”

„ Control Program
combinations of commands to finish our job
Why?

„ Save time and man power

„ Your instrument has no front panel
(CAMAC VXI PXI)
Part-I: Design Flow
 Measurement Automation
„ Design flow
The Control Flow Chart •Control Procedure
Problem Define
Nature of Signal • Type?
Magnitude?
Duration?

Instruments • Resolution?
Dynamic Range?
Field of View?
• Instrument Interface

Programming Language /
Programming • VB, C/C++, VC.Net, BCB…
Environment • Matlab
• Labview
Instrument Command
Interface Drivers • Serial port driver
• GPIB driver
• USB driver
User Interface
• Instrument Command
Testing
Problem Define: The control flow chart
A sample control flow chart
Problem Define: Nature of signal

„ Type
{ Electro-
voltage/current
impedance
{ Photon
wavelength
„ Magnitude
„ Duration
Problem Define: Instruments

„ Resolution
{ Intensity
{ Time response of instrument
„ Dynamic Range
{ Intensity
{ Frequency
„ Field of View

„ Instrument Interface
{ Crate Instrument: CAMAC / VXI / PXI
{ GPIB / RS-232 / USB / IEEE1394
{ PCI / ISA
A real example:
measure laser contrast automatically
A real example-
measure laser contrast automatically
Control Flow Chart
A real example-
measure laser contrast automatically
The Instruments
A real example-
measure laser contrast automatically
The Instruments

Increase dynamic range by filters, which can be changed by

a stepping motor.
Programming :
Programming Language / environment

„ text-based languages
{ C/C++, VC.Net, BCB
{ Visual Basic
{ Matlab (Scientific environment)

„ graphical programming language

{ Labview
Programming :
Instrument Command / Interface Drivers

„ Interface Drivers
{ Serial port driver
{ GPIB driver
{ USB driver …
{ VISA (Virtual Instrument Software Architecture)

„ Instrument Command
{ SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instrumentation)
{ VXI Plug&Play
{ IVI (Interchangeable Virtual Instrument )
{ Instrument specific command
Part-II: History
A Comprehensive Overview of Measurement
Automation

„ CAMAC (Computer Automated Measurement And Control)

A CAMAC “crate”
CAMAC is an IEEE-standard (583),
modular, high-performance, real-time
data acquisition and control system
concept born in 1969.
擷取自 http://www.kscorp.com

Register-based command
 H

„
fo P d
ri e
ns sig
tru ns
m H

1965
en P
ta -IB
ti o
n
sy
H st
Automation

s t P- I em
an B s

1975
da be
rd co
m
es
IE
EE
IE -4
88

1987
EE
.1
48
8.
2
Text-based command

ad
op
te
For monolithic instruments

SC d

1990
fo P
rI IS
EE p
E e ci
48 fic
8 ati
in on
st
ru int
1993 IE m ro
en du
EE
ts ce
48 d
8.
2
St
GPIB (General Purpose Interface Bus / IEEE-488)

an
da
rd
re
A Comprehensive Overview of Measurement

vi
se
d
A Comprehensive Overview of Measurement
Automation

„ VXI (VME eXtensions for Instrumentation / IEEE-1155) 1987

Text-based / Register-
based command

擷取自
Matlab Instrument Control Toolbox Help documents
A Comprehensive Overview of Measurement
Automation

„ Serial Port
RS-232 COM1
very common on personal computers

„ Parallel Port
printer port LPT
Difficulties in developing a measurement
automation system

„ Differences in all Instruments

{ every company has its own interface
{ every instrument has its own command

„ Different software support in different environments

{ Interface driver for UNIX / DOS / Window/ …
{ Instrument driver written in C/ Fortran/

Non-Interchangeable
Time inefficient
A Comprehensive Overview of Measurement
Automation

„ VISA (Virtual Instrument Software Architecture)

Is a superset of all interface driver
(from VXI plug&play)
Computer Industry Standards
(DDE, DLL, OLE, TCP/IP, etc.)

Vendor A Vendor B End Users Vendor C

Application Test Application Instrument

Software Executive Programs Programming
Environment Application Tool

NI-488.2 NI-VXI Other Other

VISA API API API API API
A Comprehensive Overview of Measurement
Automation

{ VISA provides us a unified communication “channel” from

your program to the instrument with any physical interface.
VISA-GPIB, VISA-VXI, VISA-serial port, VISA-TCP/IP …

{ Same I/O function for open, send, read, query, close…, but
not same command.

{ Now, The VISA specifications, formerly maintained by the VXI

plug&play are now being maintained by the IVI.
A Comprehensive Overview of Measurement
Automation

„ IVI (Interchangeable Virtual Instrument)

The IVI standards define an open driver architecture, a set of
instrument classes, and shared software component.
A Comprehensive Overview of Measurement
Automation

„ Utilizing VISA to achieve interface I/O (other interface drivers are also available)
„ IVI defines several Instruments class to achieve same “command”
( just like SCPI)
{ DC power supply
{ Digital multimeter (DMM)
{ Function generator & Arb
{ Oscilloscope
{ Power meter
{ RF signal generator
{ Spectrum analyzer
{ Switch
„ The IVI Config server – for instrument interchangeability
{ Two instruments with different vendors, different interfaces (e.g.
GPIB and USB) can be interchanged just in a few minutes.
 The Structure
Software

Application

Most of the time, we start

Instrument here……
IVI class driver
driver

GPIB/VXI/USB/serial… interface drivers

VISA others
Or just VISA

Hardware

Interface GPIB/CAMAC/VXI/USB interface

Instrument Hardware
Part-III: LabVIEW
 What is LabVIEW?

LabVIEW (Laboratory Virtual Instrument

Engineering Workbench) is a program
development application, much like C or
BASIC.

However, other programming systems use

text-based languages to create lines of code,
while LabVIEW uses a graphical
programming language, G, to create programs
in block diagram form.

Writing programs in Labview is just like building

real instruments.
Front Panel The GUI of your program

VI : Virtual Instrument

The front panel is the graphical user

interface of your LabVIEW VI. This
interface collects user input and
displays program output. The front
panel can contain knobs, push
buttons, graphs, and other controls
and indicators.
 Block Diagram The source code of your program

The block diagram contains the

graphical source code of your VI
(Virtual Instrument). In the block
diagram, you program your VI to
control and perform functions on
the inputs and outputs you
created on the front panel.

The block diagram can include functions and structures from the built-in
LabVIEW VI libraries. It also can include terminals that are associated with
controls and indicators created on the front panel.
Front panel demo: a virtual instrument
…\examples\apps\demos.llb\Two Channel Oscilloscope.vi
Controls and indicators
 Palettes
Functions Palette Controls Palette
LabVIEW palettes give
you the options you need
to create and edit your
front panel and block
diagram. Tools Palette

Front panel / Block diagram

 Data Flow

LabVIEW VIs follow a dataflow

model for program execution. The
block diagram consists of nodes
such as VIs, structures, and
terminals from the front panel.
These nodes are connected by
wires, which define the flow of data
through the program. The execution
of a node occurs when all its inputs
are available. When a node finishes
executing, it releases all its outputs
to the next node in the dataflow
path.
Arithmetic

z = sqrt(abs(x)) + y;

One may use a

formula node:
Boolean algebra

D = A AND (B OR C)

diagram panel
Comparison and CASE structure

if a > b then
todo list 1……
else
todo list 2……
end
FOR loop

C++ code: LabVIEW diagram:

a=1;
for (i=0, i<6, i++){
a=a+a*i;
}

Output = 720
Sequence and While loop

sequence while loop

Graph and chart

Example: plot a sine wave

 Mechanical Action

Switch When Released

Switch When Pressed Switch Until Released

Latch Until Released

Latch When Pressed Latch When Released
RS-232 pin assignments
9 way D-
Signal Full name
1 connector
6 1 RLSD Received Line Signal Detect
2
7 2 RxD Receive Data
3
8 3 TxD Transmit Data
4
9 4 DTR Data Terminal Ready
5
5 GND Ground
PC serial 6 DSR Data Set Ready
port 7 RTS Request To Send
8 CTS Clear To Send
9 RI Ring Indicator

Output from computer

Input to computer
Remote control using RS-232

Some parameters to know before using the serial port

1. Port number:
port number = 0 for COM1, 1 for COM2
2. Baud rate (or bits per sec, bps)
3. Data bits: number of bits in the incoming data
4. Number of stop bits
5. Parity bit? (None, Odd, Even)
6. Command characters used by the device

Find parameters 2~6 from the manual of the device!

 RS-232 Serial character frame

Marking level

Spacing level
Time

8 data bits
Parity bit

Start bit Stop bits

(always spacing state) (always marking state)
 Serial Port VIs in (Labview 6.1 or older version)
(Functions»Instrument I/O»Serial)

Serial Port Init

Initializes the selected serial port to

the specified settings.

Bytes at Serial Port

Returns in byte count the number of
bytes in the input buffer of the serial
port indicated in port number.
 Serial Port VIs (Cont.)

Serial Port Read

Reads the number of characters

specified by requested byte count
from the serial port indicated in
port number.

Serial Port Write

LabVIEW Function and VI
Reference Manual 36-2 Writes
the data in string to write to the
serial port indicated in port number.
 VISA Serial Port VIs in (Labview 7.0 or later version)
(Functions»Instrument I/O»Serial)

VISA Serial Port Init

Initializes the selected serial port to

the specified settings.

VISA Open
Open the VISA channel according
the VISA resource name

VISA Close
Close the VISA channel according
the VISA resource name
 Serial Port VIs (Cont.)

VISA Read

Reads the number of characters

specified by requested byte count
from the VISA interface indicated
in VISA Resource name.

VISA Write

LabVIEW Function and VI

Reference Manual 36-2 Writes
the data in string to write to the
VISA interface indicated in VISA
Resource name.
VISA Resource

„ The MAX (Measurement Automation eXplorer)

A GUI tool to manage and test your instruments
VISA driver
It usually comes along with
Labview or you can simply
download it from www.ni.com
Your Interface information Some handy knowledge
about this Interface
Part-IV: MATLAB
What is Matlab?

MATLAB is a high-performance language

for technical computing. It integrates
computation, visualization, and
programming in an easy-to-use
environment where problems and solutions
are expressed in familiar mathematical
notation.
MATLAB 7 R14 Instrument Control Toolbox Test&Measuement Tool
>> tmtool just like the MAX of Nation Instrument
How to use GPIB in Matlab

>>help gpib
„ GPIB Construct GPIB object.
„
„ OBJ = GPIB('VENDOR',BOARDINDEX,PRIMARYADDRESS) constructs a
„ GPIB object, OBJ, associated with board index, BOARDINDEX, and
„ instrument primary address, PRIMARYADDRESS. The primary address
„ can range between 0 and 30. The GPIB hardware is supplied by
„ VENDOR. Supported vendors include:
„
„ 'agilent' - Agilent Technologies hardware.
„ 'cec' - Capital Equipment Corporation hardware.
„ 'contec' - CONTEC hardware.
„ 'ics' - ICS Electronics hardware.
„ 'iotech' - IOTech hardware.
„ 'keithley' - Keithley hardware.
„ 'mcc' - Measurement Computing Corporation (ComputerBoards) hardware.
„ 'ni' - National Instruments hardware.
„ .
„ .
„ .
 H

„
fo P d
ri e
ns sig
tru ns
m H

1965
en P
ta -IB
ti o
n
sy
H st
s t P- I em
an B s

1975
da be
rd co
m
es
IE
EE
IE -4
88

1987
EE
.1
48
8.
2
Text-based command

ad
op
te
For monolithic instruments

SC d

1990
fo P
rI IS
EE p
E e ci
48 fic
GPIB (IEEE-488) bus history

8 ati
in on
st
ru int
1993 IE m ro
en du
EE
ts ce
48 d
8.
2
St
GPIB (General Purpose Interface Bus / IEEE-488)

an
da
rd
re
vi
se
d
Pin assignment of GPIB

擷取從 MATLAB HELP

擷取從 MATLAB程式設計與應用-張智星
GPIB (IEEE-488) bus topology

Listeners can only receive data and commands from the bus.

Talkers can transmit data to other devices.

The controller supervises the transfer of data along the bus.

This role is usually performed by a PC.
Data-acquisition interface devices

Parallel buses possess a separate signal line for each bit,

enables a byte to be transmitted in one operation.

Serial buses transfer one bit at a time along a single

conductor.

GPIB RS-232 RS-485

type parallel serial serial
Bandwidth 1-8 Mbytes/s <20 Kbytes/s <20 Kbytes/s
Max. number of devices 14 1 32
Max. cable length 20 m 15 m 1220 m
IEEE-488 bus lines

8 bi-directional data lines, DIO1 – DIO8.

Data transfer handshake lines,

DAV: Data Valid

Asserted by talker to indicate bus holds valid data.

NRFD: Not Ready For Data

Asserted by listener to indicate that it cannot receive data.

NDAC: Not Data Accepted

Asserted by listener while reading data.
 IEEE-488 handshaking sequence
Talker

Attention

Talker

Data Valid
Talker

Listener
Not Ready For Data

Listener
Not Data Accepted

All signal lines use active low, TTL logic levels.

IEEE-488 bus lines

Interface management lines,

IFC: Interface Clear

Asserted by controller to initialize all bus devices.

ATN: Attention
Asserted by controller to indicate that the data bus holds a
command rather than data.

REN: Remote enable

Asserted by controller to disable any front panel controls.

EOI: End or Identity

Asserted by talker to identify the last byte of data in a block.

SRQ: Service Request

Asserted by any device to request the attention of the controller.
GPIB

%Suppose We have a NI GPIB card with board index 0 Primary address 1

>>g = gpib(‘ni’, 0, 1);
%To connect the GPIB object to the instrument:
>>fopen(g)
% To query the instrument.
>>fprintf(g, '*IDN?'); %Identify yourself or else…
>>idn = fscanf(g);
% To disconnect the GPIB object from the instrument.
>>fclose(g);

It’s just like writing/reading to/from a file

>>instrhelp gpib %for further help, or

>>doc gpib %open the help
 How about serial port

First, check it out in the command line

>>help serial
And you’ll find it almost the same with GPIB

%Suppose we have a serial port ‘com1’, and we want to set its BaudRate to
%1200
>>s1 = serial('COM1', 'BaudRate', 1200)
>>fopen(s1)
% To query the instrument.
>>fprintf(g, '*IDN?'); %Identify yourself or else…
>>idn = fscanf(s1);
% To disconnect the serial port object from the instrument.
>>fclose(s1);
Matlab vs. Labview

„ serial('COM1', 'BaudRate', 1200)

„ fopen(s1)

„ fprintf(g, '*IDN?');

„ fscanf(s1);

„ fclose(s1);
 How to use VISA interface
•MATLAB has it own GPIB and serial port driver, but
you can still use the version in VISA library (vmtool)

% To construct a VISA-GPIB object connected to Board 4 with an

% instrument with primary address 1 and no secondary address.
>>g = visa('ni', 'GPIB4::1::0::INSTR');
% To construct a VISA-VXI object that communicates with a VXI
% instrument located at logical address 8 in the first VXI system.
>>v = visa('agilent', 'VXI0::8::INSTR');
% To construct a VISA-serial object that is connected to COM1 with
%BaudRate 1200.
>>s=visa(‘ni’,’ASRL1::INSTR’,’BaudRate’,1200)
%still
>>fprintf(g,’*IDN?’)
>>fscanf(s)

>>inspect(s) %GUI tool for checking all the properties of this object
Basic building blocks of GUI
and Event-driven programming in Matlab

„ Figure – a front panel of your program

„ Uicontrol
{ Check boxes
{ Editable text fields
{ List boxes
{ Pop-up menus
{ Push buttons
{ Radio buttons
{ Sliders Static
{ text labels
{ Toggle
{ buttons

圖擷取從 MATLAB程式設計與應用-張智星
Basic building blocks of GUI
and Event-driven programming in Matlab
„ Callback functions
figure
h = uicontrol(gcf,'Style','Push','position',[50 20 80 30],'string',‘Push');
cmd = 'fprintf(''Somebody pushed me!\n'');';
set(h, 'Callback', cmd);

„ Figure and Object Handle

擷取從 MATLAB程式設計與應用-張智星
Some useful commands

„ findobj
Locate graphics objects with specific properties
„ gcf
Get current figure handle
„ gca
Get current axes handle
„ gcbo
Return handle of object whose callback is executing
„ set / get
set / get properties of object
Measurement Automation in Matlab
High Voltage Main Frame
„ Retard.m

Serial Port
LPT
Pin2 and pin7 PC
FireBox
MATLAB
Pressure
Watcher
GPIB

Laser Intensity
monitor
Oscilloscope

Laser System
MCP

grid
Part-V: Comparison
 Labview > Matlab

„ Labview
{ G-Language (Graphic)
{ great GUI
{ fast response
{ Multi-threading-embedded

„ Matlab
{ M file (Text)
{ Limited GUI
{ Interpreter (Slow)
{ Single threading (M file)
readasync

擷取從 Labview Documentation

Matlab > Labview

„ Matlab
{ M file (Text), handle string well
{ Unlimited algorithms and it’s easy to add your own
{ It’s easy to modified your subroutine
{ Comment and Documentation

„ Labview
{ lots of algorithms but it takes a while to locate it.
“draw” another one?
{ Connector adding Show dataprocess.vi
{ It is messy to write documentation
Matlab == Labview

„ Matlab
{ Instrument Control ability
Serial port, GPIB interface, VISA driver
Instrument Driver, tmtool
{ Instrument driver editor – write your own or load it from IVI driver

„ Labview
{ Instrument Control ability
Serial port, GPIB interface, VISA driver
Instrument Driver, IVI, MAX
MATLAB Instrument Driver
>>midedit

擷取從 Matlab Instrument Tool Box -

Help
Outsourcing

They are both capable of calling other program or being called

„ Matlab (External Interfaces)
{ Call other DLL ( MATLAB Interface to Generic DLLs )
{ To be a COM server or client
{ Calling C from Matlab ( MEX-File wrapper )

„ Labview
{ DLL Invoke node
{ ActiveX Invoke node
{ Matlab Script node
{ CIN Code Interface Node – to call C code
 DLL Invoke node

MATLAB Script Node

How to enhance the GUI in MATLAB

„ Adding ActiveX Controls

>>h = actxcontrolselect;
>>h.get;
>>h.invoke;
>>methods(h);
>>methodsview(h);
How to design a program?
How to design a program?