Virtual Instrumentation
Virtual Instrumentation
Virtual Instrumentation
DEPARTMENT OF
ELECTRONICS AND INSTRUMENTATION
ENGINEERING
Dr. Mahalingam College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering
16EIE19 – Virtual Instrumentation – Question Bank
[Common to ECE, EEE & EIE]
Two Marks:
1. Define Virtual Instrumentation.
Virtual instrumentation is defined as combination of hardware and software with
industry-standard computer technologies to create user-defined, Re-configurable
instruments. Here software will be the end instrument.
2. What is Graphical System Design model? Mention its three phases.
Ref notes
3. Draw the VI and GSD model.
Ref notes
4. Draw the architecture of VI and indicate the parts.
Ref notes
5. Distinguish between Virtual Instrument and Traditional Instrument.
Ref the table in notes
6. Mention the role of hardware’s in VI
I/O modules:Modular and scalable hardware with adaptability to new concepts
Computer
Communication interfaces with USB, PCI, ETHERNET, etc
7. Mention the role of software’s in VI
Creating user interfaces
Creating data acquisition systems
Manipulating and storing data
Making instrument with intelligent and decision making
8. Name the different layers of VI software.
Application software
Test and Data management s/w
Measurement and control software
9. Mention the different challenges in Test.
Increasing customer expectation
New validation, Verification and manufacturing requirements
Innovation
Adaptable to new design
10. What is G programming?
G or Graphical programming is a visually oriented approach to programming
Ex: LabVIEW
11. Compare Graphical programming with Textual programming.
Ref notes or VI using LabVIEW by JOVITHA JEROME page no 18
12. Mention the characteristics and advantages of VI.
Characteristics and Advantage:
o User – friendly
o High performance
o Cost effective
o High flexible
o Customizability
Descriptive Questions:
1. Draw and explain the graphical and VI models with design flow.
o VI model diagram and intro
o GSD model using VI model
o Design with example
o Prototype with example
o Deployment with example
o Design flow
2. Explain the essential need for Virtual Instrumentation and compare it with the
traditional instruments.
Ref book VI using LabVIEW by JOVITHA JEROME page no 6 to 9
(Topics 1.4 and 1,5) OR Topic 1.5 and Difference table given in notes
3. Explain the role of different hardware’s and software’s in VI.
Role of Hardware
Explanation about
I/O modules: Modular and scalable hardware with adaptability to new
concepts
Computer
Communication interfaces with USB, PCI, ETHERNET, etc
Three layers and Software Layer Diagram
Application software
Test and Data management s/w
Measurement and control software
Role of software
Creating user interfaces
Creating data acquisition systems
Manipulating and storing data
Making instrument with intelligent and decision making
Ref book VI using LabVIEW by JOVITHA JEROME page no 10 and 11
4. Explain how VI can be used in test, Control and Design process.
Ref book VI using LabVIEW by JOVITHA JEROME page no 12 to 15
[Link] Graphical programming with traditional programming
Ref book VI using LabVIEW by JOVITHA JEROME pages no 17 and 18 or
difference table given in class notes
Two Marks:
1. Name the three parts of LabVIEW.
Front panel→ Contains Controls and Indicators
Block diagram→Graphical Code based control program
Icon/Connector pane → for making subVI
2. Mention the different debugging process in LabVIEW.
Setting probes and break points, highlight execution and single stepping
3. Mention any four merits of LabVIEW,
Page no 21,22 - JOVITHA JEROME
4. What is icon/connector pane?
Page no 25 - JOVITHA JEROME
5. Name the three palette of LabVIEW.
Control palette→ front panel(contains controls and indicators)
Functions palette→block diagram(contains subVI,functions and constants)
Tools palette→ available in front panel and block diagram(tools for creating editing)
6. What is module or Sub VI?
A VI within another VI is called a module or subVI. A subVI corresponds to a
subroutine in text-based programming languages. A subVI node corresponds to a
subroutine call in text based programming languages. The node is not the subVI
itself, just as a subroutine call statement in a program is not the subroutine itself.
7. Write the syntax for two types of WHILE loop.
Pre Test Mode
Syntax: WHILE<CONDITION=TRUE>
:
:
DO
Shift register is created on border of FOR and WHILE loops and is used to
access data from previous iterations.
Stacked shift register
Stacked shift register collects and remembers values from multiple previous
iterations and remembers to the next iterations. It can be created by left click on left
terminal of shift register and selecting Add element.
11. What is the role of tunnel in a loop?
Data can be passed out of or into a loop through a tunnel. Tunnel feed data
into and out of structures.
12. Define Local & Global variables.
Local variables:
Local variables are used to access front panel objects from more than one
location in a single VI and pass data between block diagram structures that cannot
be connect with a wire. With a local variable, read or write function can be done from
a control or indicator on the front panel.
Global variables:
Global variables are used to access and pass data among several VIs that
run simultaneously. Global variables are built-in LabVIEW objects. While creating a
global variable, LabVIEW automatically creates a special global VI, which has a front
panel but no block diagram.
Descriptive Questions:
1. Explain the three parts of LabVIEW with three floating palette.
Three parts of LabVIEW
Detailed explanation of Front panel, block diagram, and Icon and Connector
pane with diagrams
Three floating palettes
Detailed explanation of tools palette, functions palette, and control palette
with diagrams.
For answer refer Jovitha Jerome book pages 23 to 30
2. List out the various advantages of LabVIEW.
For answer refer Jovitha Jerome book pages 21 to 23
Two marks:
1. What is array in LabVIEW and subscript?
A group of homogeneous elements of same data types is known as
array. Individual elements of array are accessed by their positions. The
position is given by an index, which is also called as subscript.
2. Mention any four operations carried on an array.
Initialize array, Array indexing, Array subset replacement, array size,
Insert into arrayetc
3. What is mean by polymorphic VI?
All Lab VIEW arithmetic functions are polymorphic. This means that
the inputs to these functions can be different data structures such as scalar
values and arrays. By definition Polymorphism is said to be the ability of a
numeric function to adjust to input data of different data structures.
4. What is auto indexing?
For and While loops can index and accumulate arrays at their
boundaries. This is known as Auto indexing. If any array is wired to a FOR or
WHILE Loops input tunnel, it can read and process every element in that
array by enabling auto indexing. When the auto index is done on array output
tunnel, the output array receives a new element from every iteration of the
loop.
5. State the default auto index of FOR and WHILE Loops.
FOR loop-Auto indexing for While Loop is enabled by default
WHILE Loop- Auto indexing for While Loop is disabled by default
6. Define cluster.
Cluster group of data elements of mixed type. It is similar to record or
struct in text based language. Elements of clusters must be all controls or all
indicators or constants.
7. Name the different operations of cluster.
1. Bundle(assembling individual elements )
2. Unbundle (assembling individual elements by name)
3. Bundle by name (Extracting individual elements )
4. Unbundle by name (Extracting individual elements by name )
Descriptive Questions:
1. Explain array and its function in detail.
Definition for array
Short intro about array parts and dimension
Array generation using for loop
Different array functions
Instrument control: GPIB – VISA – Instrument drivers – Serial Port communication. Data
Acquisition: Review of Transducers and signal conditioning, DAQ hardware – AI, AO, DIO.
DAQ Assistant and configuration.
Two marks:
1. Define data acquisition systems.
The system used for data processing, data conversion, data transmission and
data storage is called Data Acquisition System.
Data Acquisition Systems are used to measure and record analog signals
basically in two different ways.
• Signal which originate from direct measurement of electrical quantities.
These signal may be dc (or) ac voltages, frequency or resistance etc..
• Signals which originate from use of transducers.
2. What is Instrument I/O assistant?
The Instrument I/O assistant is a Lab VIEW Express VI which can be used to
communicate with message based instruments and converts the response from raw
data ti ASCII representation.
3. Mention some example for Parallel and serial interfaces.
• Parallelinterfaces – GPIB or IEEE488
• Serialinterfaces - RS232, RS422, and RS485
4. What is VISA? Mention the various types of instruments can be controlled by
VISA.
VISA or Virtual Instrumentation Software architecture is the lower level of
functions in the LabVIEW instrument driver Vis that communicates with the driver
software of interfaces.
It can control 1. Serial
2. GPIB
3. VXI (VME (Versa Module Europa) extensions for instrumentation)
4. PXI (Extended PCI (peripheral Component interface)
5. List out the three different commands used for configuring Instrument
assistant.
Query and Parse—Combines the Write and Read and Parse commands
Write—Sends a command to the instrument
Read and Parse—Reads and parses data from the instrument
6. Mention the various methods to terminate communication in GPIB.
– Assert the End Or Identify (EOI) hardware line 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
– The listener counts the bytes transferred by handshaking and stops reading
when the listener reaches a byte count limit
7. Mention different programming terminology used with VISA.
• Resource—Instrument, Serial Port, or Parallel Port
• Session—Connection to a Resource
• Instrument Descriptor—Resource location
– Format: Interface Type::Address::INSTR
8. Mention few Instrument driver VI functions.
Initialize
Configure
Action/Status
Data
Utility
Close
9. Compare RS232, RS422 and RS485.
• RS-232—this is a single-ended communication method where only one
device can be connected per port. Two connector types, 8- or 25-pin. Two
configurations, DCE or DTE.
• RS-422—this is a differential communication method. Connector has 8 pins.
• RS-485—this is a differential communication method with multiple
master/slave with less noise immunity.
10. What is mark and Space?
Mark- Off sate or Logic level low
Space- ON sate or Logic level high
11. What is MAX?
MAX or Measurement and Automation Explorer is a VI and is used to detect,
configure and test the GPIB interface and instruments.
12. List the primary characteristics of Analog signal and Digital signal.
Analog: Level, Shape, and Frequency
Digital: Level, State, and rate
13. List out the various functions of Signal conditioning.
Amplification, Isolation, Multiplexing, Filtering, Transducers excitation,
Linearization.
Descriptive Questions:
1. Explain in detail about GPIB or IEEE488 with block diagram, various signals.
Also explain the procedure for acquiring data from GPIB using MAX.
Refer notes and jovitha Jerome book pages:223 to 228
2. Explain the following in detail.
a. Instrument I/O assistant (3)
b. VISA (3)
c. Instrument drivers (4)
Refer notes and jovitha Jerome book pages: 228 to 235
3. Explain serial port communication in Lab VIEW. Compare RS232, RS422 and
RS485.
Refer notes and jovitha Jerome book pages: 236 to 239
4. Explain the different functions of Signal conditioning system. How the Signal
conditioning system is chosen to a transducer.
Refer notes and jovitha Jerome book pages: 256 to 260
5. Explain about DAQ hardware’s and its configuration
Refer notes and jovitha Jerome book pages: 260 to 265
6. Discuss in detail about Analog Inputs, Analog outputs, Digital I/O.
Refer notes and jovitha Jerome book pages: 265 to 269
7. Explain how DAQ Assistant is used to acquire and generate signals with
procedure for creating, configuring, Test and generate Lab VIEW code using
DAQ Assistant.
Refer notes and jovitha Jerome book pages: 270 to 275
20. What are the problem arises due to shared resources in LabVIEW RT? How
they are rectified?
• Priority inversion and Deadlock situation
• It can be prevented by using MUTEX(Mutually Exclusion) and Priority
boosting.
21. Mention the Four different priority levels assigned to enabled tasks by RT.
• Time Critical or Highest
• High
• Above normal
• Normal
22. How to obtain high performance in LabVIEW RT?
For obtaining high performance in LabVIEW RT, there should be only one
time critical thread at same time. It can be obtained by creating temporary sleeping
functions by using Hardware timing or Software timing (wait ms or wait until next ms).
23. Name the tool kit used for process control applications in LabVIEW.
DSC(Dataloging and SupervisoryControl)
24. What is P&I Diagram? Mention the abbreviation meaning for letters used in
P&ID tag name.
Piping and Instrument Diagram is a important diagram of a plant which shows
the interconnection of vessels, pipes,valves, pumps, transducers, transmitters and
control loops.
Usually the Tagnames are used to identify the particular component and it
comprises of two or three letters.
1st letter→ Measured or initiating variable
2nd letter→Readout or output function
3rd letter→Succeeding letters (if required)
25. Draw few P&I Diagram symbols.
Page 441 garyjhonson
26. Mention the methods used to measure High voltage.
Resistance voltage dividers or High voltage probes
Resistance probes with frequency compensation for pulsed high voltage
Any one from above with Isolation Amplifier for floating measurements
27. Mention the methods used to measure High current.
Current Transformer
Descriptive Questions:
1. Discuss in detail about LabVIEW RT
Refer Material
2. Describe in detail about Process control applications of LabVIEW
Refer Material
3. Explain how LabVIEW based data acquisition systems are more efficient in
physical application. Explain in detail about physics applications of LabVIEW.
Refer Material
4. Explain the different data visualization techniques available in LabVIEW.
Refer Material
5. Explain in detail about Image processing using IMAQ.
Refer Material
6. Explain motion and speed control using Lab VIEW.
Refer Material
7. List out the functional areas of Image processing. Explain the parts, functions,
and various functions carried out by IMAQ with a example.
Refer Material
8. Explain in detail about pulse rate measurement using LabVIEW.
Refer Material