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VISUAL DESIGNER 4.0
When we talk about designing a
data acquisition system, we usually think about finding the most
practical and optimal solutions - both hardware and software.
INTRO
Most of the manufacturers of acquisition hardware offer their
own software solutions for data acquisition, analysis and
visualization, simulation, control and process control based on
acquired data. The strategy of people that deal with this job at
first is to come as fast as possible to a complete program
solution for internal multi-tasking. From data acquisition to
data processing, visual representation and if necessary
forwarding to peripheral modules. There are more program
solutions available:
- depending on the driver offered with hardware, distributed by
the manufacturer, for the popular languages like C/C++, Visual
Basic, and others, on WINDOWS 9xx/NT or other operating systems,
like UNIX, it is easy using some basic knowledge programming to
create the end target application.
- the other possibility is the
usage of acquisition program packages. They include drivers for
offered hardware but also a large number of function libraries,
first of all for monitoring, processing and control.
Programmers, writing the program, connect these libraries,
compile the program and that is it. The entire work this way is
simplified. Practically it takes much time to write an
executable code for lets say the FFT transformation or for PID
regulator. One of these packages for instance is LabWindows/CVI
by National Instruments.
- last few years, the standard of
block-graphic programming was introduced. This kind of solution
is adequate for the experts that do not or have little knowledge
of programming and using programming languages.
The philosophy of this principle
is magnificent. Using already existing modules, functional
blocks, for example in case for analysis (DSP, statistics,
histograms, RMS, Peak..), presentation (bars,plots,switches..)
or hardware access (A/D, D/A, serial communication, DIO) ,
simply calling and visually linking blocks, the user creates his
own end application.
Some of these packages are LabVIEW of National Instruments,
LabtechControl (LT), Visual Designer (Intelligent Instrum.),
InTouch (Advantech, GENESIS (Iconics), etc.
VISUAL DESIGNER 4.0
Visual Designer, a product of
Intelligent Instrument and Burr-Brown. Version 4.0 has 32-bit
architecture and it is intended for use on PC platforms, based
on WINDOWS 9xx/NT platforms.
The simplified structure of
visual programming in Visual Designer is based on two phases:
1. Create the working block
diagram (FlowGram)
2. Create the Run-time application (FlowCode)
Picture 1.
FlowGram diagram
FlowGram diagram is the basic
working module and we can compare it with the concept of
classical set of program instructions.
The work in it is based on few phases:
- selection and placing the
function block in the diagram
- interconnecting the blocks (input-output)
- configuring the block parameters
In fact, each of the
blocks is a DLL library that has its own icon, name, that
identifies the function, like
Analog Input, XYplot, Pulse block, Analog meter etc.
Calling the Block menu, we select and import the function block
on the newly opened diagram.
Picture 2.
On the picture 2, the selection
of sine generating block is shown.
The next phase in creating applications is interconnecting the
blocks that are placed in the FlowGram diagram. Connection using
the Wiring Tool toolkit is very simple, linearly connecting the
In/Out functions of the blocks.
Picture 3.
On Picture 3., sine
generator block and multiChannel plot block are shown.
The place organization of blocks, their working names, comments
and their readability on the working diagram, are a subjective
vision of each programmer. It is especially useful using a huge
number of blocks and connections, use a subgram module, which
serves to group blocks in one group (entity).
Picture 4.
Picture 4.
represents one complex FlowGram diagram that is ready for
starting in the Run Mode.
In order to properly create a Run-time application, it is
necessary to configure the parameters of each block, setting up
its operational characteristics. On picture 5, configuring of
sinewave block parameters is shown, which fits the FlowGram
diagram on Picture 3. The correct adjustments of the block
parameters suppose basical knowledge of electronics, hardware,
automation of user.
Picture 5.
One of the advantages of Visual
Designer, is the large and detailed help file attached to each
block library.
Block Libraries
Visual Designer contains a great
number of function blocks and here we give short contents with
short description:
- COMM communication
block (IEEE488, Serial communication)
- COMPARE blocks
for comparison
(Compare, Treshold alarm, Window alarm)
- CONVERT for
data conversion
(Accumulate, Bit pack, Bit unpack, Concatenate, Cut, Decimate,
Delay, Modify units, Multiplexer, Packblock, Selector, Type
conversion, Unpack)
- DATABASE the
work with MS basis
(Access Action, Access Query)
- DDE data
transition
(DDEClient, DDExecute, DDEPoke, DDEServer block)
- DISPLAY block
(Analog meter, Annunciator, Bargraph, Chart, Digital meter,
List, Multi-channel Plot, Video, XYChart, XYPlot)
- DSP data
processing
(Correlation block, FFT, Filter, Power Spectrum block)
- FILE I/O
file manipulation
(ASCIIFileRead, ASCIIFileWrite, AutoFilename, Filename, FileRead,
FileWrite, RawFileWrite)
- SIGNAL GENERATOR
(Constant, Pulse, Random, Sinewave)
- HARDWARE I/O
(8254 Counter, AnalogIn/Out, Counter, AnalogIn/OutDMA,
BurstGenerator, CounterDMA, Digitaln/Out, DigitalIn/Bit,
DigitalIn/OutDMA, Period, RateGenerator, Thermocouple)
- LOGIC FUNCTIONS
(AND, NAND, NOR, NOT, OR, SR-FF, XOR, IncrementCounter,
One-Shot)
- MATH FUNCTIONS
(Abs, Add, Clip, Derive, Divide, Integrate, Equation, Inverse,
Ln, Log, MoveAverageMultiply, Power, Square, SquareRoot,
TableLookup, Subtract, X^Y)
- MEASURMENT
(Histogram, Max, Min, Mean/Sum, Peak, RMS, QuickSort)
- MEMORY
(16bit I/O, 32bit I/O, 8bit I/O)
- MISC
(Call, Export, Extract, Import, Latch, Load, PID, Return, Run
Controller, Time, Timer, Wait, Wallpaper)
- SPECIAL
(FeedBack, Continue, Do..While, Select, LinkIn/Out, LoopCount,
SubgramIn/Out)
- STRING
(Case Convert, Find Character, Match String, String Compare,
Format, Cut, PackUnpack, Length, Interpret, Conversion)
- USERINF
(Alphanumeric Input, Audio Annunciator, MessageBeep, Numeric
Edit, Slider, SwichBar, User Prompt)
FlowCode-Run time mode
The last phase is starting the
compiling phase. Using the *.dgm and *.par files
(created in the steps above), we enter the Run-time working
environment, opening a *.fco file. The starting is simple,
clicking the Run icon, as shown in Picture 6. (mouse cursor).
Picture 6.
The program will
give a message or a correction dialog for any errors, if any
existing, in the previous steps of block linking and parameter
setting up. Here is an example of error dialog on Thermocouple
block, Picture 7.
Once we start the Run-time mode, we are allowed to change the
opened panels, to change their colors, dimensions, shapes, even
change their working parameters. The design this way is much
easier.
Version 4.0 brought a new tool, Alignment Tools. Used in
Run-time mode, it allows geometrical adjustment and alignment of
displays.
Picture 8. shows an already started Run-time application. We can
lock the final version of working display from further moving.
An also useful command is Show/Hide that allows showing or
hiding multiple working displays.
In Visual Designer, we can start many Run-time applications at
the same time, each one working for itself.
Custom Block ToolKit
Intelligent Instrum. offered for
those users that want to create their own function blocks a
development toolkit-Custom Block ToolKit. A large documentation
and many examples allow further generation of DLL libraries, for
those users who are familiar with C/C++ (Borland C++, Microsoft
Visual C++, Symantec are supported).
CRITICAL VIEW
The System Demands by Intelligent
Instr. are 80486DX, minimally 12 Mb. RAM, CD-ROM.
A more flexible work includes a 200MMX processor or PII
technology with 32 Mb. RAM, a graphic card with 4 Mb., and
resolution of 800x600, 16-bit colors.
Visual Designer supports a complete data acquisition hardware
program of Intelligent Inst., and here are the modules:
- EDAS-1002E
(Multifunction Ethernet Data Acquis.)
- PCI-460P Series IOcard
- PCI-470W Series High Speed
Board
- PCI-20377W Series Board
- PCI-20428W Series Board
- PCI-20450p Series DASports
- PCI-20098C Series Board
The advantages of this package:
programming is unnecessary and the user interface is simplified,
easy to use but on the other side powerful enough to allow
creating complex applications with its block function combining.
Picture 8.
In the previous 16-bit version of Visual Designer 3.0, there
were some problems creating and starting the *.fco files, when
using large numbers of large blocks and connection between them
(over 1000 blocks). Intelligent Instr. gave an update of
RUN.EXE file on their site www.instrument.com.
The new 4.0 version, brought new blocks. By manufacturer's
specifications, the old bugs were corrected. However, we shall
take this with caution.
You can always find the latest
information about Intelligent Inst. new products on their site www.instrument.com.,as
well as a large number of examples in Visual Designer.
The main lack of Visual Designer is a stronger graphical
support, first of all of industrial symbols. Drawing and work in
this environment may be sometimes difficult. Further new
improvement, upgrades, new blocks are warmly welcome, especially
in statistics, linear algebra, math processing. This will allow
Visual Designer to rank at the top of the list, among software
of this kind.
One thing is certain - using Visual Designer requires minimal
time to create an end application - and we know - time is money.
author:ZORAN
GROZDANIÆ, dipl.eng.
translated by: Simeon
Todoran
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