Configure the channels group to set up communication between the device drivers and the test.

Before you begin, refer to Creating Objects to add a new Channels group to the desired location in the database. When adding a new object, you can use the search bar to find the Channels group.
  1. Double-click Channels from the list of objects where you added the group.
    The channels group appears in a new configuration tab.
  2. Enter a unique name for the channels group.
  3. Click + New channel.
  4. In the Name column, click ... and select the name of the channel.
  5. In the Channel Type column, select the hardware driver for the installed device.
  6. In the Channel Type Parameters column, click ... and enter channel parameters.
    The configurable Channel Type Parameters depend on the Channel Type that you select.
  7. Optional: In the Description column, enter a description of the channel.
  8. Click Save.

Configuring FPGA Channel Type Parameters

Configure Channel Type Parameters for the following FPGA channel types.

Configuring the FPGA Device Channel Type Parameters

The FPGA device provides the current status of the FPGA connection.

Before you begin, select FPGA_DEVICE as the Channel Type when configuring the Channels group.
  1. Select a Device number.
    FPGA cards of the same type are differentiated by the Device number. Numbering starts with 0.
  2. Select the CIC Filter setting of the FPGA card.
    The CIC filter filters the output data stream. Therefore, the data from the FPGA module can be read with a smaller frequency. The CIC Filter parameter affects the PXI load directly.
  3. Select the Frame Reduction Ratio to define the width of the transmission packages.

    Only the last received data package is returned to the test. The frequency of the input data stream is calculated with the following formula:

    F   =   f F P G A C I C   ×   F r a m e   R e d u c t i o n   R a t i o
  4. Click Apply.

Configuring the FPGA Control Channel Type Parameters

The FPGA control channel starts and stops the device.

Before you begin, select FPGA_CONTROL as the Channel Type when configuring the Channels group.
  1. In the Device column, select the Name of the FPGA_DEIVCE.
    When the channel variable is 1, the module activates. When the channel variable is 0, the module deactivates. Deactivation also resets the model state. Therefore, Matlab controllers are reinitialized during deactivation.
  2. Click Apply.

Configuring the FPGA Stream In Channel Type Parameters

FPGA stream in is a burst channel. The burst channel reads data cyclically from the driver. The burst channel blocks the channel until the driver can read data from the FPGA card.

Before you begin, select FPGA_STREAM_IN as the Channel Type when configuring the Channels group.
  1. In the Device column, select the Name of the FPGA_DEIVCE.
  2. Select a Channel from one of the following options.
    • OutWide01 to OutWide16
    • OutShort01 to OutWide48
    • TimeStamp
    • Overflow
    • Underflow
    • FillLevel
  3. Select a Data type from one of the following options.
    • Single
    • Double
    • Fixpoint signed
    • Fixpoint unsigned
  4. Select a Binary point value between 0 and 63.
  5. Click Apply.

Configuring the FPGA Stream Out Channel Type Parameters

FPGA stream out is a burst channel. The burst channel provides data cyclically to the driver. The burst channel blocks the channel until the driver can send data to the FPGA card.

Blocking the channel allows the driver to avoid an overflow of the send buffers. You can only update the streaming out channels in one frequency group.
Before you begin, select FPGA_STREAM_OUT as the Channel Type when configuring the Channels group.
  1. In the Device column, select the Name of the FPGA_DEIVCE.
  2. Select a Channel from one of the following options.
    • InWide01 to InWide16
    • InShort01 to InWide48
  3. Select a Data type from one of the following options.
    • Single
    • Double
    • Fixpoint signed
    • Fixpoint unsigned
  4. Select a Binary point value between 0 and 63.
  5. Click Apply.

Configuring the FPGA AXI Out Channel Type Parameters

FPGA AXI out sets the new output value for the channel. The channel values you configure in FPGA AXI out are transferred separately to the FPGA card. Access is implemented synchronously.

Before you begin, select FPGA_AXI_OUT as the Channel Type when configuring the Channels group.
  1. In the Device column, select the Name of the FPGA_DEIVCE.
  2. Select a Channel between Cf001 and Cf064.
  3. Select a Data type from one of the following options.
    • Single
    • Double
    • Fixpoint signed
    • Fixpoint unsigned
  4. Select a Binary point value between 0 and 63.
  5. Click Apply.

Configuring the FPGA Burst In Channel Type Parameters

FPGA burst in channel allows you to read data from the internal ring buffer of the FPGA card.

Before you begin, select FPGA_BURST_IN as the Channel Type when configuring the Channels group.
  1. In the Device column, select the Name of the FPGA_DEIVCE.
  2. Select a Control Variable to define when the ring buffer is filled.
  3. For Buffer size, enter the number of entries the buffer records.
  4. Select a Ring buffer value between 0 and 15.
  5. Select a Data type from one of the following options.
    • Single
    • Double
    • Fixpoint signed
    • Fixpoint unsigned
  6. Select a Binary point value between 0 and 63.
  7. Click Apply.

Configuring Modbus Channels

Configure input and output channels for Modbus devices. In addition, configure Modbus TCP or serial Modbus channels as applicable for your system.

Configuring Modbus Input and Output Channel Type Parameters

Define one input channel and one output channel for each Modbus device that you configured in PAtools PCU Configuration.

Before you begin, select Modbus Input or Modbus Output as the Channel Type when configuring the Channels group.
  1. In the Device column, select the number of the Modbus device that you defined in PAtools PCU Configuration.
  2. Enter the Station or slave number of the Modbus device.
    Valid values include 0 through 255.
  3. Enter the Register Address for the Modbus command.
  4. In the No. of Registers column, enter the number of 16-bit registers to be read.
    You can also enter the number of bits depending on the selected Type.
  5. Select the register Type according to manufacturer documentation.
  6. In the Data Format column, select the arrangement of data in the register.
  7. Optional: In the Status column, select the variable that is written into the status of the channel.
  8. If you are configuring a Modbus input, select one of the following options for the Error reaction.
    OptionDescription
    Freeze The channel does not update when an error occurs. The value of the channel corresponds to the last valid value before the error occurred.
    KWE (no value) The value of the channel fall to KWE.
    Standard value If the signal fails, the value parameterized in the Standard Value column is used.
  9. Optional: If you are configuring a Modbus input, select the definition of the Standard Value.
  10. Click Apply.

Configuring Modbus TCP Channel Type Parameters

Configure Modbus TCP channel type parameters for Modbus devices that act as a slave. The real-time system acts as a Modbus master.

Before you begin, select Modbus TCP as the Channel Type when configuring the Channels group.
  1. For Channel Type Parameters, click ….
  2. Select the Device number of the Modbus device that you defined in PAtools PCU Configuration.
  3. Select the Hostname of the Modbus device.
  4. Enter the Port for Modbus communication.
    The default port number is 502.
  5. Click Apply.

Configuring Serial Modbus Channel Type Parameters

Configure serial Modbus channel type parameters.

Before you begin, select Modbus serial as the Channel Type when configuring the Channels group.
  1. For Device column, select the number of the serial interface that you defined in PAtools PCU Configuration.
  2. For Interface column, select the number of the serial interface that you defined in PAtools PCU Configuration.
    Enter an integer greater than 0.
  3. Select the Baud rate for the serial Modbus system.
  4. Select the Parity for the Modbus system.
  5. Select the number of StopBits for communication.
  6. Select one of the following for the Type of communication.
  7. Click Apply.