Electronic test equipment is the foundation of the electronics industry. It has long occupied a very important position in the electronics industry. It is a symbol of the development level of the electronics industry in an era, and it constantly changes with the development of science and technology. Due to the fixed function, long development cycle and other shortcomings, the traditional test instruments can not meet the requirements of the information age. This provides a great space for development for a new type of measuring instrument. Due to its simple hardware structure, software-based functions are realized, and as the computer continues to improve its performance, it is highly adaptable. More and more people have drawn great attention. This article gives a detailed introduction to the creation, development process, structural principles, performance characteristics and applications of virtual instruments, so that readers can have a deeper understanding of virtual instruments.
1, the development of virtual instruments mainly use PC technology, just add A/D and D/A conversion and other hardware and software-based instruments are called virtual instruments. Virtual instruments combine general-purpose computers with functionalized hardware through applications. Users can operate the computer through a friendly graphical interface, just as they operate on an instrument that they have defined and designed themselves, to complete the collection of tested quantities. Analysis, judgment, display, data storage, etc. It is developed on the basis of PC technology and can perform complex analysis in real time while the data is being imported into the disk. It has the technical advantages of high performance, powerful expansion, saving development time, and perfect integration performance.
As early as in the early 1980s, some people used personal computers as the basis to add some plug-ins or external plug-in boxes inside the microcomputer, and connected various measurement circuit plugs to the PC internal bus, plus some software to realize the functions of traditional instruments. This instrument is called a PC instrument or a personal instrument. Because the hardware and software resources of the computer system can replace the microprocessors, memories, interface circuits, and displays in general automated test systems and smart meters, many of the hardware of the instrument are reduced, the instrument cost is reduced, and each new instrument is not required. All of them were designed from the beginning, so once the proposal was put forward, it caused a great stir in the instrument industry.
With the advent of VXI (Open Measurement System) bus systems and changes in the structure of PCs, the development of virtual instruments has continued. VXI bus standard is a fully-open card type instrument standard, which has the characteristics of flexible application, advanced performance, high-speed operation, and small portable, and is suitable for modular design instruments. The CPU speed of the microprocessor of the PC has been continuously improved, and the pipeline and RISC structure have been adopted, which has greatly improved the numerical processing capability of the test system. In recent years, due to the tremendous abundance of computer software and hardware technology resources, the improvement of digital signal processing technology, graphical interface technology, and automatic generation of programs, the virtual instrument has a strong technical foundation for further development.
2, the structure of the virtual instrument principle Virtual instrument is the use of high-performance modular hardware, combined with efficient and flexible software to complete a variety of test, measurement and automation applications. Flexible and efficient software can create a completely customized user interface. Modular hardware can easily provide a full range of system integration. Standard hardware and software platforms can meet the needs of synchronous and timing applications. The essence of virtual instruments is to use existing computers, plus specially designed instrument hardware and special software to form high-end, low-cost, new instruments that have both the basic functions of common instruments and special functions that general instruments do not have. It uses the computer's powerful graphical environment and online help functions to create a virtual instrument panel to replace the traditional instrument to complete the instrument control, data analysis and display functions. The input and output of the virtual instrument are completed by hardware modules such as data acquisition card and GPIB card. The functions of the instrument are mainly composed of software. The virtual instrument system block diagram is shown in Figure 1.
The structure of a complete virtual instrument system is generally divided into four layers:
1) Test management users use virtual instrument manufacturers to develop applications and form their own set of test instruments. This is one of the advantages of virtual instruments. It can easily allow users to build their own test instruments according to their own needs and their own style.
2) Application (program) Development Layer Software development tools provided by the manufacturer, such as NI (NATIONALINSTRUMENTS) LabVIEW software, LabWindows/CVI software. Users can use this type of software for deeper development to extend the original capabilities of the instrument.
3) The instrument driver layer is developed by the manufacturer and has different driver interfaces for different types of instruments. In order to provide users with convenient and easy-to-use instrument drivers, the 35 largest international instrument companies such as Tektronix, Hewlett Packard, and American National Instruments have established the VXIplugplay system alliance and launched VISA (Virtu-al Instrument Software Architecture) standards.
4) The I/O bus driver layer was developed by the manufacturer to connect different types of actual instruments through the same standard bus to form a complete test system, such as the widely used VXI (Open Measurement System) bus system. .
3, the performance characteristics of the virtual instrument Virtual instrument has completely changed the traditional instrument by the manufacturer to define the function of the model, but based on a small amount of additional hardware, defined by the user function of the instrument. Because its operation mainly depends on software, it is very flexible to modify or add functions and improve performance. It also facilitates the use of PC hardware and software resources and the direct use of PC peripherals and network functions. Virtual instrument is not only low cost, but also can increase its adaptability by modifying the software, thus prolonging its life cycle. It is an instrument with very good development prospect. Compared with traditional instruments, virtual instruments have obvious advantages such as high efficiency, openness, ease of use, flexibility, powerful functions, high cost performance, and good operability.
1) High level of intelligence and processing power The processing capacity and intelligence of virtual instruments mainly depend on the level of instrument software. Users can apply advanced signal processing algorithms, artificial intelligence technologies and expert systems to the design and integration of instruments according to actual application requirements, thereby raising the level of intelligent instruments to a new level.
2) Strong applicability, low system cost Applying the idea of ​​virtual instrument, using the same basic hardware to construct a variety of different test and analysis instruments, like a high-speed digital sampler, digital oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, counters, etc. Kinds of instruments. The test instrument system thus formed is more flexible, more efficient, more open, and lower in system cost. Through the connection with the computer network, distributed sharing of virtual instruments can also be realized, and the use value of the instrument can be better utilized.
3) High operability, easy to use flexible virtual instrument panel can be defined by the user, and different operation display interfaces can be designed for different applications. Using the computer's multimedia processing capabilities can make the instrument operation more intuitive, simple, and easy to understand. Measurement results can be entered directly into the database system or sent over the network. You can also print and display the desired report or curve after the measurement. All of these make the instrument's operability greatly improved and easy to use and flexible.
4. Application of Virtual Instruments The functionality and performance of virtual instruments have been continuously improved, and today it has become a major alternative to traditional instruments in many applications.
With the further update of PC, semiconductor and software functions, the development of virtual instrument technology in the future will provide an excellent model for the design of test systems, and it will have unmatched power and flexibility in measurement and control. Can be widely used in electronic measurement, vibration analysis, acoustic analysis, fault diagnosis, aerospace, military engineering, power engineering, mechanical engineering, construction engineering, railway transportation, geological exploration, biomedical, teaching and scientific research and many other aspects.
The various advantages of the virtual instrument allow users to safely abandon the old traditional measuring equipment and accept newer, computer-based virtual instrument systems. As the cost-performance ratio of computers continues to improve, the price of virtual instruments becomes more popular, users no longer have to be limited by the use of traditional instruments and expensive prices, further reducing the cost of use, reducing system development costs and system maintenance. cost. In addition, the new notebook computers take the virtual instrument's portability and power to a new level. All of these will inevitably accelerate the development of virtual instruments, so that its functions and applications continue to increase and expand.
1, the development of virtual instruments mainly use PC technology, just add A/D and D/A conversion and other hardware and software-based instruments are called virtual instruments. Virtual instruments combine general-purpose computers with functionalized hardware through applications. Users can operate the computer through a friendly graphical interface, just as they operate on an instrument that they have defined and designed themselves, to complete the collection of tested quantities. Analysis, judgment, display, data storage, etc. It is developed on the basis of PC technology and can perform complex analysis in real time while the data is being imported into the disk. It has the technical advantages of high performance, powerful expansion, saving development time, and perfect integration performance.
As early as in the early 1980s, some people used personal computers as the basis to add some plug-ins or external plug-in boxes inside the microcomputer, and connected various measurement circuit plugs to the PC internal bus, plus some software to realize the functions of traditional instruments. This instrument is called a PC instrument or a personal instrument. Because the hardware and software resources of the computer system can replace the microprocessors, memories, interface circuits, and displays in general automated test systems and smart meters, many of the hardware of the instrument are reduced, the instrument cost is reduced, and each new instrument is not required. All of them were designed from the beginning, so once the proposal was put forward, it caused a great stir in the instrument industry.
With the advent of VXI (Open Measurement System) bus systems and changes in the structure of PCs, the development of virtual instruments has continued. VXI bus standard is a fully-open card type instrument standard, which has the characteristics of flexible application, advanced performance, high-speed operation, and small portable, and is suitable for modular design instruments. The CPU speed of the microprocessor of the PC has been continuously improved, and the pipeline and RISC structure have been adopted, which has greatly improved the numerical processing capability of the test system. In recent years, due to the tremendous abundance of computer software and hardware technology resources, the improvement of digital signal processing technology, graphical interface technology, and automatic generation of programs, the virtual instrument has a strong technical foundation for further development.
2, the structure of the virtual instrument principle Virtual instrument is the use of high-performance modular hardware, combined with efficient and flexible software to complete a variety of test, measurement and automation applications. Flexible and efficient software can create a completely customized user interface. Modular hardware can easily provide a full range of system integration. Standard hardware and software platforms can meet the needs of synchronous and timing applications. The essence of virtual instruments is to use existing computers, plus specially designed instrument hardware and special software to form high-end, low-cost, new instruments that have both the basic functions of common instruments and special functions that general instruments do not have. It uses the computer's powerful graphical environment and online help functions to create a virtual instrument panel to replace the traditional instrument to complete the instrument control, data analysis and display functions. The input and output of the virtual instrument are completed by hardware modules such as data acquisition card and GPIB card. The functions of the instrument are mainly composed of software. The virtual instrument system block diagram is shown in Figure 1.
The structure of a complete virtual instrument system is generally divided into four layers:
1) Test management users use virtual instrument manufacturers to develop applications and form their own set of test instruments. This is one of the advantages of virtual instruments. It can easily allow users to build their own test instruments according to their own needs and their own style.
2) Application (program) Development Layer Software development tools provided by the manufacturer, such as NI (NATIONALINSTRUMENTS) LabVIEW software, LabWindows/CVI software. Users can use this type of software for deeper development to extend the original capabilities of the instrument.
3) The instrument driver layer is developed by the manufacturer and has different driver interfaces for different types of instruments. In order to provide users with convenient and easy-to-use instrument drivers, the 35 largest international instrument companies such as Tektronix, Hewlett Packard, and American National Instruments have established the VXIplugplay system alliance and launched VISA (Virtu-al Instrument Software Architecture) standards.
4) The I/O bus driver layer was developed by the manufacturer to connect different types of actual instruments through the same standard bus to form a complete test system, such as the widely used VXI (Open Measurement System) bus system. .
3, the performance characteristics of the virtual instrument Virtual instrument has completely changed the traditional instrument by the manufacturer to define the function of the model, but based on a small amount of additional hardware, defined by the user function of the instrument. Because its operation mainly depends on software, it is very flexible to modify or add functions and improve performance. It also facilitates the use of PC hardware and software resources and the direct use of PC peripherals and network functions. Virtual instrument is not only low cost, but also can increase its adaptability by modifying the software, thus prolonging its life cycle. It is an instrument with very good development prospect. Compared with traditional instruments, virtual instruments have obvious advantages such as high efficiency, openness, ease of use, flexibility, powerful functions, high cost performance, and good operability.
1) High level of intelligence and processing power The processing capacity and intelligence of virtual instruments mainly depend on the level of instrument software. Users can apply advanced signal processing algorithms, artificial intelligence technologies and expert systems to the design and integration of instruments according to actual application requirements, thereby raising the level of intelligent instruments to a new level.
2) Strong applicability, low system cost Applying the idea of ​​virtual instrument, using the same basic hardware to construct a variety of different test and analysis instruments, like a high-speed digital sampler, digital oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, counters, etc. Kinds of instruments. The test instrument system thus formed is more flexible, more efficient, more open, and lower in system cost. Through the connection with the computer network, distributed sharing of virtual instruments can also be realized, and the use value of the instrument can be better utilized.
3) High operability, easy to use flexible virtual instrument panel can be defined by the user, and different operation display interfaces can be designed for different applications. Using the computer's multimedia processing capabilities can make the instrument operation more intuitive, simple, and easy to understand. Measurement results can be entered directly into the database system or sent over the network. You can also print and display the desired report or curve after the measurement. All of these make the instrument's operability greatly improved and easy to use and flexible.
4. Application of Virtual Instruments The functionality and performance of virtual instruments have been continuously improved, and today it has become a major alternative to traditional instruments in many applications.
With the further update of PC, semiconductor and software functions, the development of virtual instrument technology in the future will provide an excellent model for the design of test systems, and it will have unmatched power and flexibility in measurement and control. Can be widely used in electronic measurement, vibration analysis, acoustic analysis, fault diagnosis, aerospace, military engineering, power engineering, mechanical engineering, construction engineering, railway transportation, geological exploration, biomedical, teaching and scientific research and many other aspects.
The various advantages of the virtual instrument allow users to safely abandon the old traditional measuring equipment and accept newer, computer-based virtual instrument systems. As the cost-performance ratio of computers continues to improve, the price of virtual instruments becomes more popular, users no longer have to be limited by the use of traditional instruments and expensive prices, further reducing the cost of use, reducing system development costs and system maintenance. cost. In addition, the new notebook computers take the virtual instrument's portability and power to a new level. All of these will inevitably accelerate the development of virtual instruments, so that its functions and applications continue to increase and expand.
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