Design Of Virtual Instrument Control Software For PXI Arbitrary Waveform Generator

The Virtual instrument (VI) technique, which is developed upon both instrumenttechniques and computer techniques, is considered as the trend of instrument technology.As a common virtual instrument, PXI arbitrary waveform generator(AWG) is appliedwidely in many fields, such as scientific research, teaching and manufacturing.Based on the introduction of virtual instrument, including the definition, principleand characteristic, the controller software for ES1413PXI AWG is developed. The mainwork includes:(1) Proposal: requirements analysis for virtual instrument controller software ofES1413AWG is conducted according to the function and characteristics. The overallscheme including interface framework, graphical waveform and parameters displaysolutions is presented. And LabWindows/CVI is selected based on the survey of severaldevelopment tools.(2) Design the user interface. The feature of user interface is analyzed, and the typeof control required is determined. Some software modules including menu, menu select,instrument initial and special parameters handle are designed, which makes userinterface simple and neat. The search and control of multiple AWGs in a same chassis isrealized.(3) Design the parameter acquisition module. The parameter of control is acquiredby calling the function of LabWindows/CVI, and the modules for parameters automaticconversion range, display precision control and parameter ranges judgment areimplemented, which make sure the correctness and visibility of the parameters.(4) Design the graphical display of waveforms and parameters. The algorithm forgenerating function waveforms and modulation waveform datum and method fordisplaying waveform are implemented. While the method for changing coordinateparameter is developed, which can avoid waveform parameters redraw frequently andimprove the efficiency of software.According to test results, ES1413PXI AWG virtual instrument control softwarecan realize all functions of the instrument, which have10function waveforms and6modulation waveforms, and the parameters can be input. Graphical waveform andparameter display can help users to understand the time-domain waveform as well as the meaning of the parameters without looking up the help file...