How to Make an Embedded Data Logger
Ryan King
Systems Engineer
National Instruments
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What is a Data Logger?
• “An electronic instrument used to take measurements
from sensors and store those measurements for
future use”
• “Stand alone device that can read various types of
electrical signals and store the data in internal
memory for later download to a computer”
• “Self contained, stand alone data acquisition system
or device”
2
NI Embedded Data Logger Offerings
Compact FieldPoint
+ Factory Installation
Services (FIS)
pre-installed Data Logger
+ Simple programming
- No CAN support
- Lower acquisition rates
- Smaller storage space
3
NI Embedded Data Logger Offerings
CompactRIO
+ Durability
+ CAN support
+ High acquisition rates
+ Well suited to custom or unusual requirements
- Advanced programming
4
CompactRIO Data Logger Applications
Environmental Field Testing
• Requirements • Requirements
High durability High durability
Fault-tolerant High acquisition rates
Large storage
5
CompactRIO Data Logger Applications
In-Vehicle
• Requirements
CAN support
Custom functionality
• Custom file formats
Multi-rate scanning • J1939 support
High durability • Instant log on power-up
6
CompactRIO Data Logger Implementations
• CompactRIO Embedded Datalogger
Reference Example
Supports multiple FPGA configurations for swapping
module
• CompactRIO In-Vehicle Datalogger
Reference Application
Advanced feature set for in-vehicle applications
• Custom Implementations
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CompactRIO In-Vehicle Data Logger Ref
erence Application
• Features:
CAN support (channel level)
Multi-Rate scanning support
TDMS file format support
Safe storage removal
Basic host for monitor and override
Support for calibrated or raw channels
8
Demo
9
Building Your Own CompactRIO Data Logger
• Data loggers have a wide variety requirements for I/O
and features
• A custom implementation allows you to implement
only the features you need
• LabVIEW 8.6 features simplify development of basic
data loggers
Use Scan Mode to avoid writing FPGA code
Use Hybrid mode for CAN or high-speed data
10
LabVIEW 8.6 Real-Time Features for
CompactRIO
• New Scan Mode makes cRIO as easy as cFP
Program I/O quickly from LabVIEW Real-Time
No compile necessary
Add counter, PWM, and quadrature functionality to
any eight channel digital module without programming
• Distributed System Manager for fast maintenance
Test panels
I/O forcing
CPU/memory status
11
cRIO Data Logger in LabVIEW 8.5
8.6
FPGA Interface FPGA I/O Physical
LabVIEW Real-Time LabVIEW FPGA
12
LabVIEW 8.6 FPGA Hybrid Mode
• Waveform acquisition
• Custom triggering
• Hardware based analysis
• Highest performance
• Access to unsupported Scan Mode
modules
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Summary
• CompactRIO Embedded Datalogger Reference
Example
http://decibel.ni.com/content/docs/DOC-1049
• CompactRIO In-Vehicle Datalogger
Reference Application
http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/epd/p/id/5751
• CompactRIO Scan Mode in LabVIEW 8.6
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