Data Acquisition Using LabVIEW

Behzad Ehsani

• Publisher: Packt Publishing
• Year: 2016
• ISBN:
  9781782172178
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: Programming in C
• Index: Computer Science

Transform physical phenomena into computer-acceptable data using a truly object-oriented languageAbout This Book• Create your own data acquisition system independently using LabVIEW and build interactive dashboards• Collect data using National Instrument's and third-party, open source, affordable hardware• Step-by-step real-world examples using various tools that illustrate the fundamentals of data acquisitionWho This Book Is ForIf you are an engineer, scientist, experienced hobbyist, or student, you will highly benefit from the content and examples illustrated in this book. A working knowledge of precision testing, measurement instruments, and electronics, as well as a background in computer fundamentals and programming is expected.What You Will Learn• Create a virtual instrument which highlights common functionality of LabVIEW• Get familiarized with common buses such as Serial, GPIB, and SCPI commands• Staircase signal acquisition using NI-DAQmx• Discover how to measure light intensity and distance• Master LabVIEW debugging techniques• Build a data acquisition application complete with an installer and required drivers• Utilize open source microcontroller Arduino and a 32-bit Arduino compatible Uno32 using LabVIEW programming environmentIn DetailNI LabVIEW's intuitive graphical interface eliminates the steep learning curve associated with text-based languages such as C or C++. LabVIEW is a proven and powerful integrated development environment to interact with measurement and control hardware, analyze data, publish results, and distribute systems. This hands-on tutorial guide helps you harness the power of LabVIEW for data acquisition. This book begins with a quick introduction to LabVIEW, running through the fundamentals of communication and data collection. Then get to grips with the auto-code generation feature of LabVIEW using its GUI interface. You will learn how to use NI-DAQmax Data acquisition VIs, showing how LabVIEW can be used to appropriate a true physical phenomenon (such as temperature, light, and so on) and convert it to an appropriate data type that can be manipulated and analyzed with a computer. You will also learn how to create Distribution Kit for LabVIEW, acquainting yourself with various debugging techniques offered by LabVIEW to help you in situations where bugs are not letting you run your programs as intended.By the end of the book, you will have a clear idea how to build your own data acquisition system independently and much more.Style and approachA hands-on practical guide that starts by laying down the software and hardware foundations necessary for subsequent data acquisition-intensive chapters. The book is packed full of specific examples with software screenshots and schematic diagrams to guide you through the creation of each virtual instrument.

Data Acquisition Using LabVIEW

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Data Acquisition Using LabVIEW

Copyright © 2016 Packt Publishing

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Every effort has been made in the preparation of this book to ensure the accuracy of the information presented. However, the information contained in this book is sold without warranty, either express or implied. Neither the author, nor Packt Publishing, and its dealers and distributors will be held liable for any damages caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this book.

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First published: December 2016

Production reference: 1121216

Published by Packt Publishing Ltd.

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B3 2PB, UK.

ISBN 978-1-78217-216-1

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Credits

Author Behzad Ehsani	Copy Editor Safis Editing
Reviewer Yik Yang	Project Coordinator Devanshi Doshi
Commissioning Editor Amarabha Banerjee	Proofreader Safis Editing
Acquisition Editor Tushar Gupta	Indexer Tejal Daruwale Soni
Content Development Editor Narendrakumar Tripathi	Production Coordinator Melwyn Dsa
Technical Editor Anushree Arun Tendulkar

About the Author

Behzad Ehsani is a computer engineering graduate who lives in the Silicon Valley in San Jose, California. He was born in Iran and came to the US with no money, planning to finish school in 4 years and go back to Iran as an engineer. That was 35 years ago! He worked night shifts at McDonald's and went to school in the morning. He recalls those years as a foggy dream (Fresno has foggy mornings). For all of those who remember what went on 35 years ago in Iran and the hostage crisis in US, it all may be (and, to an extent, is) the propaganda of one side or the other, but for Behzad, it had an immediate consequence. Being an Iranian was unimaginable during those years of his life, unimaginable in the sense that one would have to be in that position to know what each Iranian in the US, even those who had nothing to do with the events, had to endure. Immediately after the hostage crisis, Behzad had to drop out of university. After being fired from McDonald’s for being an Iranian, he worked many blue-collar jobs, from pizza places to Italian restaurants and tutoring in first- and second-grade schools, and came to the conclusion that he should try his skills as a mechanic.

This was another turning point for him, since he soon met an American girlfriend in school, and the relationship ended with a citizenship after about 10 years. Behzad went back to his old routine; working at a gas station and going to school part time. He started studying electrical engineering. However, there was another revolution that took place: Sacramento State University was the first university that completely separated computer engineering from electrical engineering. Although it cost Behzad some units, he transferred his major to computer engineering. Connecting a telephone headset and a monitor to a central computer that took up several rooms was the most exciting thing for him. Many years later, personal computers were introduced, and Behzad describes opening a Mac SE with two floppies as one of the most delightful days of his life. Behzad was recruited as an engineer when Packard Bell opened a giant PC manufacturing company. While Behzad was in Sacramento, Silicon Valley was forming, and when he received a call from Apple Computers for a senior position, life became much better for him. Afterward, Behzad left Apple to work at Spectra Physics and, finally, he moved to work for Sentient Energy in Burlingame, by the San Francisco airport.

Acknowledgments

I am dedicating this book to my wife Susan Baradaran.

For without her love, tolerating my numerous mood changes (to anger) when things would not go my way.

For gradually changing our living room and kitchen table to a make messy lab.

For her calm and blind faith in me and my abilities.

I can not remember when I first seriously considered to actually write the book but I do remember well encouragements from my nephew Arash Kashani. I also should mention support of my family specially my mom and dad for without them in words of LabVIEW I would be "Device not found".

About the Reviewer

Yik Yang is a licensed professional engineer and a certified LabVIEW developer. He is the author of the LabVIEW Graphical Programming Cookbook. He has been working in the test and automation field for over 10 years in different industries: semiconductor, automotive, and power. Currently, he manages the validation and verification team for a company that designs and manufactures Smart-Grid Protection Systems.

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Preface

One of my most concerns, after finishing the book still is that the relationship of this book and the rest of the many of the other valuable functions is not appropriately mentioned.

What I would like from the readers to explore tons of videos and descriptions of functions from the www.NI.com.

Throughout the book I have tried to keep a balance between information for a novice to LabVIEW to intermediate user. I am came to this conclusion by more than a decade of working as design and automation and converting systems (hardware/software) from many other languages and hardware to products from National instruments mostly LabVIEW and and TestS...