Dr.

Mahalingam College of Engineering and Technology, Pollachi –

642003.
(An Autonomous Institution affiliated to Anna University)
Question Paper Code:180EI030
Regulation: 2011
B.E./B.Tech., DEGREE EXAMINATION, NOV / DEC 2018
ECE
11EC930 – VIRTUAL INSTRUMENTATION

PART – A (15 x 1 = 15 marks)

1. C)virtual instrument

2. D)all the above

3. B)project

4. C)while loop

5. B)elements and dimensions

6. D)waveform chart

7. C)indicator

8. C)microphone

9. B)create standalone ES with graphical approach

10. D)development

11. Graphical programming language

12. 2

13. Array size

14. Virtual Instrument Software Architecture

15. Image Acquisition

PART – B (5 x 2 = 10 marks)

16.

`17.
Can reduce the space requirement in the block diagram
It can be called again and again and no need of writing the same code again and again
It gives modular approach

18.
Strip Chart: This mode has a scrolling display that is similar to a paper tape strip chart
recorder. This mode first plots values from left to right. From here, it continues to plot
new points at the rightmost point and shifts old values to the left.

Scope Chart: This mode has a retracing display similar to an oscilloscope. As it

receives each new value, it plots the value to the right of the last value. When the plot
reaches the right border of the plotting area, it erases the plot and begins plotting again
from the left border.

Sweep Chart: This mode acts much like the scope chart, but the plot is not erased
when the plot hits the right border. Instead, a moving vertical line marks the beginning of
new data and moves across the display from left to right as it adds new data.
19.

20.
LabVIEW RT
 LabVIEW RT has grown from a niche product to become a staple of automation.
 LabVIEW RT on one of National Instruments’ many industrial computers
conveniently fills the gap between a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and
a PC.
 The result is a whole new class of industrial controller called the Programmable
Automation Controller (PAC).
 PACs fill a need for high-loop-rate, closed-loop control systems requiring
advanced analysis and integration with the corporate network.
 And PACs do it for a reasonable cost.
Whether you’re programming a PAC or just need a reliable DAQ system in the lab,
LabVIEW RT has the hardware and software to fill most needs.

PART – C (1 x 10 = 10 marks)

21. acquiring temperature

The RTD can be used to convert temperature into resistance this can be given to signal
conditioning circuit and output of the signal conditioning circuit (voltage )can be acquired
in LabVIEW
Place the Daq assistant express VI from Functions>> Measurement I/o >> NI daq mx
Select acquire signal >> Analog input > Voltage and select the physical channel and
task timing and acquisition mode as continuous
Then select Ok. This vi create a Block diagram code in which we can see a port called
data. From this terminal we can able to see the voltage on the selected physical
channel.
Chart can be obtained from controls palette. In the empty space of Frontpanel if we right
click the controls palette will be shown . From that we can select wave form chart and
we can wire the terminal to the data as shown.

(ii) student can choose system of his choice

Here we give a idea about bio medical tool kit overview
LabVIEW BIOMEDICAL APPLICATION
 The NI LabVIEW Biomedical Toolkit is a collection of ready-to-run applications,
utilities, and algorithms designed to simplify the use of LabVIEW software in
physiological DAQ, signal processing, and image processing.
 The toolkit includes applications commonly used in teaching physiology,
bioinstrumentation, and biomedical signal processing and provides researchers
with tools to create powerful custom LabVIEW applications to accelerate their
research.
  Ready-to-run applications include BiosignalDatalogger and Player, File Viewer,
Biosignal Generator, ECG Feature Extractor, Heart Rate Variability Analyzer,
Non-invasive Blood Pressure Analyzer, 3D Image Reconstructor, and File
Format Converter.

PART –D

22. a)(i) block diagram of VI and its functions

Virtual instrumentation combines mainstream commercial technologies, such as the PC,

with flexible software and a wide variety of measurement and control hardware.
Engineers use virtual instrumentation to bring the power of flexible software and PC
technology to test, control and design applications making accurate analog and digital
measurements. Engineers and scientists can create user-defined systems that meet
their exact application needs. Industries with automated processes, such as chemical or
manufacturing plants use virtual instrumentation with the goal of improving system
productivity, reliability, safety, optimization and stability. Virtual instrumentation is
computer software that a user would employ to develop a computerized test and
measurement system for controlling from a computer desktop, an external
measurement hardware device, and for displaying, test or measurement data collected
by the external device on instrument-like panels on a computer screen. It extends to
computerized systems for controlling processes based on data collected and processed
by a computerized instrumentation system. The front panel control function of the
existing instrument is duplicated through the computer interface. The application ranges
from simple laboratory experiments to large automation application.

Virtual instrumentation as shown below uses highly productive software, modular I/O
and commercial platforms. National Instruments LabVIEW, a premier virtual
instrumentation graphical development environment, uses symbolic or graphical
representations to speed up development. The software symbolically represents
functions. Consolidating functions within rapidly deployed graphical blocks further
speeds up development.
Another virtual instrumentation component is modular I/O, designed to be rapidly
combined in any order or quantity to ensure that virtual instrumentation can both
monitor and control any development aspect. Using well-designed software drivers for
modular I/O, engineers and scientists quickly can access functions during concurrent
operation.
The third virtual instrumentation element using commercial platforms, often enhanced
with accurate synchronization, ensures that virtual instrumentation takes advantage of
the very latest computer capabilities and data transfer technologies. This element
delivers virtual instrumentation on a long-term technology base that scales with the high
investments made in processors, buses and more. In summary, as innovation mandates
use of software to accelerate a new concept and product development, it also requires
instrumentation to rapidly adapt to new functionality. Because virtual instrumentation
applies software, modular I/O and commercial platforms, it delivers instrumentation
capabilities uniquely qualified to keep pace with today’s concept and product
development.

22 b(i)
Text-based programming
● Syntax must be known to do Graphical programming
programming. ● Syntax is knowledge but is not required
● The execution of the program is from top for
to bottom. programming.
● To check for the error the program has ● The execution of program is from left to
to be right.
compiled or executed. ● Errors are indicated as we wire the
● Front panel design needs extra coding blocks.
or needs extra ● Front panel design is a part of
work.
● Text-based programming is non
interactive.
● This is text-based programming where
the
programming is a conventional method.
● Logical Error finding is easy in large
programs.
● Program flow is not visible.
● It is test-based programming.
● Passing parameters to sub routine is
difficult.
programming.
● Graphical programming is highly
interactive.
● The programming is Data Flow
Programming.
● Logical Error finding in large programs is
quiet
complicated.
● Data flow is visible.
● It is icon-based programming and wiring.
● Passing parameters to sub VI is easy.

22 b (ii)

VI Traditional instruments
A virtual instrument (VI) is defined as an
A traditional instrument is designed to
industry-standard computer equipped with
collect data from an environment, or from
user friendly application software, cost-
a unit under test, and to display
effective hardware and driver software that
information to a user based on the
together perform the functions of collected data. Such an instrument may
traditional instruments. Simulated physical
employ a transducer to sense changes in
instruments are called virtual instruments
a physical parameter such as temperature
(VIs). or pressure, and to convert the sensed
information into electrical signals such as
voltage or frequency variations.
displays, knobs and switches of a a virtual instrument uses a personal
conventional, external box-based computer for all user interaction and
instrumentation products control.

23. a(i)
Front Panel Windows
When you open a new or existing VI, the front panel of the VI appears. The front panel
is the interactive user interface for the VI. It is named a front panel because it stimulates
the front panel of a physical instrument. Build the front panel with controls and indicators
Block Diagram Windows
The block diagrams accompany the program for the front panel. Front panel objects
appear as terminals on the block diagram and the components wired together. After the
front panel is built, codes are added using graphical representations of functions in the
block diagram to control the front panel objects. The block diagram contains the
graphical source code composed of nodes, terminals, and wires.

Icon/Connector Pane
To use a VI as a subVI, it must have an icon and a connector pane. Every VI displays
an icon in the upper-right corner of the front panel and block diagram windows. An icon
is a graphical representation of a VI. The icon can contain both text and images. To use
a VI as a subVI, you need to build a connector pane. The connector pane is a set of
terminals that correspond to the controls and indicators of that VI.
Front panel tool bar
Additional to these tool we have block diagram tool bar that includes following tools

23. b(i)
FOR LOOPS
A For Loop executes a subdiagram, a set number of times.
The For Loop is located on the Functions>>Programming>>Structures Palette. Select
the For Loop from the palette and use the cursor to drag a selection rectangle to create
a new For Loop or around the section of the block diagram you want to repeat. You also
can place a While Loop on the block diagram, right-click the border of the While Loop,
and select Replace with For Loop from the shortcut menu to change a While Loop to a
For Loop.

The value in the count terminal ‘N’ (an input terminal) indicates how many times to
repeat the sub diagram. Set the count explicitly by wiring a value from outside the loop
to the left or top side of the count terminal, or set the count implicitly with auto-indexing.
The iteration terminal ‘i’ (an output terminal) contains the number of completed
iterations. The iteration count always starts at zero. During the first iteration, the iteration
terminal returns 0.
WHILE LOOPS
A While Loop executes a subdiagram until a condition is met. The While Loop is similar
to a Do Loop or a Repeat-Until Loop in text-based programming languages.

The Conditional Terminal is used to control the execution of the loop, whereas the
Iteration Terminal is used to know the number of completed iterations.
23. b(ii)

SEQUENCE STRUCTURES
A sequence structure contains one or more subdiagrams, or frames, that execute in
sequential order. Within each frame of a sequence structure, as in the rest of the block
diagram, data dependency determines the execution order of nodes. Sequence
structures are not used commonly in LabVIEW.
Use the sequence structures to control the execution order when natural data
dependency does not exist and flow-through parameters are not available.
Flat Sequence Structure
The Flat Sequence structure, shown as follows, displays all the frames at once and
executes the frames from left to right and when all data values wired to a frame are
available, until the last frame executes.
Student can use his own example
24. a(i)
ARRAYS
A group of homogeneous elements of a specific data type is known as an array, one of
the simplest data structures. Arrays hold a sequence of data elements, usually of the
same size and same data type placed in contiguous memory locations that can be
individually referenced. Hence arrays are essentially a way to store many values under
the same name. Individual elements are accessed by their position in the array. The
position is given by an index, which is also called a subscript. The index usually uses a
consecutive range of integers. Some arrays are multi-dimensional, but generally,
one- and two-dimensional arrays are the most common.

CLUSTERS
Clusters group data elements of mixed types. An example of a cluster is the LabVIEW
error cluster, which combines a Boolean value, a numeric value and a string. A cluster
is similar to a record or a struct in text-based programming languages.
Bundling several data elements into clusters eliminates wire clutter on the block
diagram. It also reduces the number of connector pane terminals that subVIs need by
passing several values to one terminal.
ASSEMBLING CLUSTERS
The Bundle function assembles a cluster from individual elements as shown in Figure
You also can use this function to change the values of individual elements in an existing
cluster without having to specify new values for all elements. To do so, wire the cluster
you want to change to the middle cluster terminal of this function. When you wire a
cluster to this function, the function resizes automatically to display inputs for each
element in the cluster.

DISASSEMBLING CLUSTERS
The Unbundle function splits a cluster into each of its individual elements (not
resizable). When you wire a cluster to this function, the function resizes automatically to
display outputs for each element in the cluster you wired as shown in following Figure.
The connector pane displays the default data types for this polymorphic function.
Unbundling elements from clusters accesses and arranges all elements in a cluster in
their cluster element order. After you unbundle elements from clusters, you can wire
each element to VIs, functions and indicators.
The Unbundle By Name function returns the cluster elements whose names you
specify. You do not have to keep track of the order of the elements within the cluster.
This function does not require the number of elements to match the number in the
cluster. After you wire a cluster to this function, you can select an individual element
from the function.(resizable)

24. a(ii)

24. (b) (i) GRAPHS

(i) WAVEFORM GRAPHS

LabVIEW includes the waveform graph and chart to display data typically
acquired at a constant rate. The waveform graph displays one or more plots of evenly
sampled measurements.
Displaying a Single Plot on Waveform Graphs
The waveform graph accepts several data types for single-plot waveform graphs.
The graph accepts a single array of values, interprets the data as points on the graph
and increments the x index by one starting at x = 0. The graph accepts a cluster of an
initial x value, a delta x and an array of y data. The graph also accepts the waveform
data type, which carries the data, start time and delta t of a waveform. The waveform
graph also accepts the dynamic data type, which is for use with Express VIs.
Displaying Multiple Plots on Waveform Graphs
The waveform graph accepts several data types for displaying multiple plots. The
waveform graph accepts a 2D array of values, where each row of the array is a single
plot. The graph interprets the data as points on the graph and increments the x index by
one, starting at x = 0. Wire a 2D array data type to the graph, right-click the graph and
select Transpose Array from the shortcut menu to handle each column of the array as a
plot.
XY GRAPHS
The XY graph is a general-purpose, Cartesian graphing object that plots multivalued
functions, such as circular shapes or waveforms with a varying time base. It displays
any set of points, evenly sampled or not. You also can display Nyquist planes, Nichols
planes, S planes and Z planes on the XY graph. Lines and labels on these planes are
the same color as the Cartesian lines, and you cannot modify the plane label font.
Displaying a Single Plot on XY Graphs
The XY graph accepts three data types for single-plot XY graphs. The XY graph
accepts a cluster that contains an x array and a y array. The XY graph also accepts an
array of points where a point is a cluster that contains an x value and a y value. It also
accepts an array of complex data in which the real part is plotted on the x-axis and the
imaginary part is plotted on the y-axis.
Displaying Multiple Plots on XY Graphs
The XY graph accepts three data types for displaying multiple plots. It accepts an array
of plots where a plot is a cluster that contains an x array and a y array. The XY graph
also accepts an array of clusters of plots where a plot is an array of points. A point is a
cluster that contains an x value and a y value. The XY graph also accepts an array of
clusters of plots where a plot is an array of complex data, in which the real part is
plotted on the x-axis and the imaginary part is plotted on the y-axis.

25. a(i) VISA

Virtual Instrument Software Architecture (VISA) is the lower layer of functions in the
LabVIEW instrument driver VIs that communicates with the driver software. VISA by
itself does not provide instrumentation programming capability. VISA is a high-level API
that calls low-level drivers.
In LabVIEW, VISA is a single library of functions you use to communicate with GPIB,
serial, VXI and computer-based instruments. You do not need to use separate I/O
palettes to program an instrument.
GPIB
GPIB is a digital, 8-bit parallel communication interface with data transfer rates of 1
Mbyte/s and higher, using a three-wire handshake. The bus supports one system
controller, usually a computer, and up to 14 additional instruments. The GPIB protocol
categorizes devices as controllers, talkers, or listeners to determine which device has
active control of the bus. Each device has a unique GPIB primary address between 0
and 30. The controller defines the communication links, responds to devices that
request service, sends GPIB commands, and passes/receives control of the bus.
Controllers instruct talkers to talk and to place data on the GPIB. You can address only
one device at a time to talk. The controller addresses the listener to listen and to read
data from the GPIB. Youcan address several devices to listen.

Data Transfer Termination

Termination informs listeners that all data has been transferred. You can terminate a
GPIB data
transfer in the following three ways:
● The GPIB includes an end-or-Identify (EOI) hardware line that can be asserted with
the last data byte. This is the preferred method.
● Place a specific end-of-string (EOS) character at the end of the data string itself.
Some instruments use this method instead of or in addition to the EOI line assertion.
● The listener counts the bytes transferred by handshaking and stops reading when the
listener reaches a byte count limit. This method is often used as a default termination
method because the transfer stops on the logical OR of EOI, EOS (if used) in
conjunction with the byte count. Thus, you typically set the byte count to equal or
exceed the expected number of bytes to be read.
HARDWARE SPECIFICATIONS
The GPIB is a digital, 24-conductor parallel bus. As shown in Figure 10.4, it consists of
eight data lines (DIO 1-8), five bus management lines (EOI, IFC, SRQ, ATN, REN),
three handshake lines (DAV, NRFD, NDAC), and eight ground lines.

25. b(i)
DATA acquisition system consists of ANALOG INPUTS to acquire the analog signals
from the plant/process. And digital input module to acquire the digital signals.

ANALOG INPUTS
Analog input is the process of measuring an analog signal and transferring the
measurement to a computer for analysis, display or storage. An analog signal is a signal
that varies continuously. Analog input is most commonly used to measure voltage or
current.
Analog-to-Digital Conversion
Acquiring an analog signal with a computer requires a process known as analog-to-
digital conversion which takes an electrical signal and translates it into digital data so
that a computer can process it. Analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) are circuit
components that convert a voltage level into a series of ones and zeroes.

COUNTERS
A counter is a digital timing device. Counters are used for event counting, frequency
measurement, period measurement, position measurement and pulse generation. Pulse
generation counter/timer circuitry is useful for many applications, including counting the
occurrences of a digital event, digital pulse timing, and generating square waves and
pulses.
DIGITAL I/O (DIO)
DIO interfaces are often used on PC DAQ systems to control processes, generate
patterns for testing and communicate with peripheral equipment. In each case, the
important parameters include the number of digital lines available, the rate at which you
can accept and source digital data on these lines and the drive capability of the lines.