PURSUE Project PP-105-01S
Enhancement of the EECE
Introductory Laboratories Through
LabVIEW Data Acquisition System
Presented by Michael J. Elyea
Introduction
• EECE lab needs modernization
• LabVIEW as the centerpiece of upgrade
• Investigate LabVIEW in industry and
schools
• Define equipment needs
• Propose options for lab upgrade
What is LabVIEW?
• Flexible software which allows:
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Control/Data acquisition of remote instruments
Creation of virtual instrumentation
Test sequencing
Process control
Becoming the industry standard
LabVIEW in Industry
• Some industries segments using LabVIEW
– Defense aerospace
– Semiconductor manufacturing
– Biomedical
• Common uses
– Research and development
– Production testing
– Chemical analysis
LabVIEW in Industry
• Sample of those using LabVIEW
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CTS Wireless Components
Honeywell
Intel
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Motorola
Philips
Sandia National Laboratory
LabVIEW in Education
• Now common in engineering programs
– Mechanical engineering
• Beam deflection
• Vibration analysis
– Electrical engineering
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•
•
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Introductory programming labs
Component characterization
Circuit response
Process control
LabVIEW in Education
• Sample of schools using LabVIEW
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Duke University
University of Minnesota
University of Pennsylvania
University of Sydney
University of Toronto
Tufts University
University of New Mexico
EECE Laboratory Today
• Tektronix test stations
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Six stations for EECE 206; six for EECE 327
All equipment 10-15 years old
Limited ability to control via computer
Equipment no longer supported by
manufacturer
Current Laboratory Equipment
Equipment
GPIB
Interface?
Tektronix 2252 Digital Oscilloscope Yes
LabVIEW Manufacturer Current Units in
controllable? Supported? Value
Lab
Yes
No
NA
6
Tektronix 2246 Analog
Oscilloscope
Tektronix PG508 50MHz Pulse
Generator
Tektronix DC504 Counter/timer
Tektronix DM501A Multimeter
Tektronix FG501A 2MHz Function
Generator
Tektronix PS503A Dual Power
Supply
Gateway E3000 PC, Windows NT
Software
No
No
No
NA
6
No
No
No
NA
6
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
NA
NA
NA
12
12
12
No
No
No
NA
12
NA
NA
NA
NA
12
Recent Upgrade by SIPI
• Needed modern equipment for electronics
program
• Gained feedback from local industry
• Required physical instruments
• LabVIEW integrated into upgrade
Laboratory Equipment Needs
• New test stations
– Hardware
• Test equipment controllable via local or PC
• High quality
• Common to industry
– Software
• LabVIEW implementation
• Instrument drivers
Options
Qty.
Equipment
Features
1
Tektronix 2252
1
National Instruments LabVIEW
4 Channel, 100MHz
Digital Oscilloscope
GPIB Interface
Control/ Data
acquisition
Unit
Cost
$0
$150
6i software
1
National Instruments Legacy
GPIB Interface edge
Card for PC
$350
Individual instrument
control, virtual control
panel
Instrument
Interconnection
$0
card
1
National Instruments instrument
1
Driver for 2252 oscilloscope1
GPIB Cable
$25
= $525
Options
Qty.
Equipment
Features
1
Tektronix 2252
1
National Instruments LabVIEW
4 Channel, 100MHz
Digital Oscilloscope
GPIB Interface
Control/ Data
acquisition
Unit
Cost
$0
$150
6i software
1
National Instruments 6035 card
1
National Instruments Legacy
Digital/Analog I/O
Card
16 single-ended inputs
8 differential inputs
2 counter/timers
4 Digital I/0 lines
GPIB Interface edge
Card for PC
$700
Individual instrument
control, virtual control
panel
Instrument
Interconnection
$0
$350
card
1
National Instruments instrument
1
Driver for 2252 oscilloscope
GPIB Cable
$25
= $1225
Qty.
Equipment
Features
Unit
Cost
Note 3
1
National Instruments 5102
2 Channel, 15MHz
Digital Oscilloscope
Card mounted
1
National Instruments 4060
Digit Digital
Multimeter
Card mounted
Note 3
1
National Instruments
Dual DC Power
Supply 0 – 30VDC
$900
1
National Instruments 5401
Function Generator
20MHz
Card mounted
Note 3
1
National Instruments 6035 card2
$700
1
National Instruments LabVIEW
Digital/Analog I/O
Card
16 single-ended inputs
8 differential inputs
2 counter/timers
4 Digital I/0 lines
Control/ Data
acquisition
Individual instrument
control, virtual control
panel
Instrument
Interconnection
$0
Options
Note 3
6i software
4
National Instruments instrument
4
Drivers
GPIB Cables
$25
= $4125
Qty.
Equipment
Features
1
Agilent 54600B
1
Agilent 54621A
1
Agilent 34401A
1
Agilent 3632A
1
Agilent 33120A
1
National Instruments PCI card2
1
National Instruments 6035 card
1
National Instruments LabVIEW
2 Channel, 100MHz
Digital Oscilloscope
GPIB Interface
2 Channel, 60MHz
Digital Oscilloscope
GPIB Interface
6.5 Digit Digital
Multimeter
GPIB Interface
Dual DC Power
Supply 0 – 30VDC
GPIB Interface
Function Generator
20MHz
GPIB Interface
GPIB Interface edge
Card for PC
Digital/Analog I/O
Card
16 single-ended inputs
8 differential inputs
2 counter/timers
4 Digital I/0 lines
Control/ Data
acquisition
Unit
Cost
$2900
$2200
Options
$900
$900
$1600
$445
$700
$150
6i software
4
National Instruments instrument
4
Drivers
GPIB Cables
Individual instrument
control, virtual control
panel
Instrument
Interconnection
$0
$100
= $6995/$7695
Observations
• Internal PC instrumentation good but lacks
hands-on control
• Less costly than adding external equipment
• Same functionality as more costly option
• Instrumentation limited by PC bus slots
Observations
• Purchase of new physical equipment
expensive
• With physical equipment, students get
hands-on and LabVIEW experience
• Security issues with physical equipment
Recommendations
• If budget allows, purchase physical
instrumentation and LabVIEW package
• Consider both types of stations to save
money:
– PC instrumentation option
– Physical instrumentation
Conclusion
• EECE lab must be upgraded
• LabVIEW is pervasive in industry and
academia
• LabVIEW provides a flexible platform for
electronics testing
• Several viable upgrade options exist
• Options can be combined for cost savings
Acknowlegements
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Eric Boysen – NM LabVIEW Users Group
Dr. John Panitz – UNM Physics Department
Dean Pershall – SIPI
National Instruments - Technical Sales
Tektronix – Technical Support Group
Countless others who endured my questions