Teaching Computer-Based

Data Acquisition and Analysis

Research Skills Using LabVIEW
John Essick
Reed College
OUTLINE:

• Reed Advanced Laboratory

• LabVIEW-Based Instruction
• Required Cost and Time for Instruction
 BASIC RESEARCH SKILLS
Apply Classroom Theory
Background Literature Searches
PHYSICAL Consultation With Experts
UNDERSTANDING Adequate Level of Precision
Range of an Approximation
Suppression of Competing Effects

Electronics
Computer-Assisted Data Acquisition
Optics
DATA-TAKING SKILLS Vacuum Technology
Data Analysis Techniques
Design of Sophisticated Instrumentation
Patience
Consistency Checking

Outside Interest In Results

RESPONSIBILITY TO THE
Benefit Of Peer Review
COMMUNITY
Honest, Timely, Concise Report of Results
 BASIC RESEARCH SKILLS
Apply Classroom Theory
Background Literature Searches
PHYSICAL Consultation With Experts
UNDERSTANDING Adequate Level of Precision
Range of an Approximation
Suppression of Competing Effects

Electronics
Computer-Assisted Data Acquisition
Optics
DATA-TAKING SKILLS Vacuum Technology
Data Analysis Techniques
Design of Sophisticated Instrumentation
Patience
Consistency Checking

Outside Interest In Results

RESPONSIBILITY TO THE
Benefit Of Peer Review
COMMUNITY
Honest, Timely, Concise Report of Results
REED JUNIOR-LEVEL ADVANCED LAB
Novice
Student

ELECTRONICS Amplifier, Filter, Oscillator, Logic

A/D, D/A Hardware

COMPUTER
Microprocessor
(Low-Level) Assembly Language

PHYSICS Guided and Independent Experiments

Senior Thesis
Autonomous
Summer Internship
Researcher
Graduate School
Career
REED JUNIOR-LEVEL ADVANCED LAB
Novice
Student

ELECTRONICS Amplifier, Filter, Oscillator, Logic

Data Acquisition Board

COMPUTER Communicate via Interface Bus
(High-Level) Symbolic Language
Data Analysis

PHYSICS Guided and Independent Experiments

Senior Thesis
Autonomous
Summer Internship
Researcher
Graduate School
Career
OCCIDENTAL SOLID STATE LAB EXPERIENCE
Require Students to Write GPIB Code (BASIC, FORTRAN, C):
10 REAL Rdg
20 ASSIGN @Dmm TO 722
30 OUTPUT @Dmm;
“MEASURE:VOLTAGE:DC? 10,0.003”
40 ENTER @Dmm; Rdg
50 PRINT Rdg
60 END
OCCIDENTAL SOLID STATE LAB EXPERIENCE
Require Students to Write GPIB Code (BASIC, FORTRAN, C):
10 REAL Rdg
20 ASSIGN @Dmm TO 722
30 OUTPUT @Dmm;
“MEASURE:VOLTAGE:DC? 10,0.003”
40 ENTER @Dmm; Rdg
50 PRINT Rdg
60 END

Lesson Learned for Computer-Based Instruction:

Need to Teach a Programming Language

(with Short Learning Curve)
 ADVANTAGES OF LABVIEW SYSTEM
1. Well-Designed, Popular System
LabVIEW System

Multi-Function Data Acquisition (DAQ) LabVIEW

Computer
General Purpose Interface Bus (GPIB) Software

National Instruments Products

 ADVANTAGES OF LABVIEW SYSTEM
1. Well-Designed, Popular System
LabVIEW System

Multi-Function Data Acquisition (DAQ) LabVIEW

Computer
General Purpose Interface Bus (GPIB) Software

National Instruments Products

• Integrated Hardware & Software

• Extensive Data Acquisition & Analysis Capabilities

• Widely Used in Research Labs 


 ADVANTAGES OF LABVIEW SYSTEM
2. LabVIEW Programming Language is Graphical
Block Diagram (Program Code):

Front Panel (User Interface):

 ADVANTAGES OF LABVIEW SYSTEM
2. LabVIEW Programming Language is Graphical
Block Diagram (Program Code):

• Novel

Front Panel (User Interface): • Intuitive

• Do Useful Things Quickly


 ADVANTAGES OF LABVIEW SYSTEM
3. Express VIs for Streamlined Programming of Common Tasks
Digital Oscilloscope Using DAQ Assistant Express VI
Digital Oscilloscope Using DAQ Assistant Express VI
Digital Oscilloscope Using DAQ Assistant Express VI
 Thermistor Calibration Using Curve Fit Express VI

Steinhart-Hart Equation:
Digital Thermometer

Voltage Ohm’s Law Temperature

A/D
Steinhart-Hart

Software
 ADVANTAGES OF LABVIEW SYSTEM
4. Flexibility is Ideal for Independent Projects

DAQ Assistant
Digital Oscilloscope
 ADVANTAGES OF LABVIEW SYSTEM
4. Flexibility is Ideal for Independent Projects

DAQ Assistant FFT

Spectrum Analyzer
 OVERVIEW OF LABVIEW INSTRUCTION
Week 1: Structures and Plotting (6 Hours)
While Loop and Waveform Chart
For Loop and Waveform Graph
Mathscript Node and XY Graph Oxford University Press

Week 2: Data Acquisition and Generation with DAQ Assistant (3 Hours)

Analog-to-Digital Conversion, Digital Oscilloscope
Digital-to-Analog Conversion, Function Generator

Week 3: Data Files, Local Variables, Structures (6 Hours)

Data Files and Character Strings
Shift Registers
Case Structure
Sequence Structure

Week 4: Data Analysis (3 Hours)

Least-Squares Curve Fitting, Digital Thermometer
Fast Fourier Transform, Spectrum Analyzer

Week 5: PID Temperature Control System (3 Hours)

Spring Semester: Instrument Control via Interface Bus (4 Hours)

GPIB/USB Control of Instrument
DATA FILES
Spreadsheet Format

DATA ANALYSIS
Numerical Integration
Numerical Differentiation
Curve Fitting
Fast Fourier Transform
DATA ACQUISITION
Digital Oscilloscope
Function Generator
Digital Thermometer
Spectrum Analyzer
PID Temperature Control System

GPIB/USB CONTROL
Agilent 34410A Multimeter
SPRING-SEMESTER PHYSICS EXPERIMENTS
Guided Experiments:

• Optical Bandgap of Semiconductor (Monochromator)

• Doppler-Free Saturated Absorption Spectroscopy (Laser Diode)

• Temperature Dependence of Diode’s Saturation Current (Cryostat)

• Isotope Shift of Balmer Series in Hydrogen (Spectrometer)

• Mass of Cosmic Ray Muon (Fast-Timing Electronics)

• Fabrication of Fullerenes (Materials Fabrication)

• Proof of Existence of Photons (Single-Photon Detection)

Chaotic Circuit
(Kiers et al, AJP 72, 503)

LabVIEW
 High-Temperature Superconductor
Four-Probe Resistance
LabVIEW
Agilent 34410A
Insulated
Sample

GPIB
Thermocouple

Agilent 34410A
Thermocouple Voltage
 COST

1. PCIe-6351: ($1400):
Analog Input 16-Bit, 1.25 MSample/s
Analog Output 16-Bit, 2.86 MSample/s

2. USB-6009: ($250):
Analog Input 14-Bit, 48 kSample/s
Analog Output 12-Bit, 150 Sample/s
Limited Signal Generation

3. myDAQ: ($199 for Students):

Analog Input 16-Bit, 200 kSample/s
Analog Output 16-Bit, 200 kSample/s
No Hardware Triggering
 TIME

1. Seven-Week Intermediate Skill Level

2. Three-Week Introduction (Basic LabVIEW + DAQ Assistant)

3. Student Edition of LabVIEW $20

Learn Programming as Homework
Control Hardware in Lab

4. myDAQ + Student Edition of LabVIEW $199

Learn Programming and Control Hardware as Homework