Refer to the following sections for information about setting up a waveform generator instrument in InstrumentStudio.

Generating Waveforms with a Waveform Generator

Use a waveform generator to monitor and configure waveforms in InstrumentStudio.

  1. Add a waveform generator device to the large panel.
  2. Select a waveform mode from the drop-down menu in the upper-right corner of the large panel.
    • Standard waveform—Generates a waveform using the channel settings you specify.
    • Arbitrary waveform—Generates a waveform using settings specified in a waveform file and any additional channel settings you specify.
  3. Specify the type of waveform to generate.
    • If you are generating a standard waveform, select the waveform type using the Waveform drop-down menu.
      Note If you select a User-defined waveform, you must load a waveform file. User-defined waveform files must be in CSV format, with the exact number of samples listed in your device's specifications document. For example, the PXIe-5433 requires 8192 samples for a user-defined waveform. The waveform samples may be in a single row or single column.
    • If you are generating an arbitrary waveform, load a waveform file using the Filename field. The waveform file specifies the type of waveform to generate.
      Note Arbitrary waveform files must be in CSV format or binary format:
      • CSV—For single-channel instruments, waveform samples must be in a single row or a single column. For two-channel instruments, each channel's waveform samples must be in a separate column.
      • Binary—For single-channel instruments, waveform samples may be 8-byte double-prevision or 2-byte half-precision floating point, and the byte order may be little-endian or big-endian. For two-channel instruments, both channels' samples must be interleaved.
  4. Configure waveform channel settings using either the controls on the large panel or the large panel's Channel Settings window. Customizable settings change depending on the waveform mode and type you select.
    Note If you are generating an arbitrary waveform, you must select a triggering mode for the waveform using the Mode setting. For more information on arbitrary waveform trigger modes, refer to Advanced Waveform Sequencing and Triggering on Arbitrary Waveform Generators at ni.com.
  5. Select Run.
    The waveform generates with the settings you specified.

Custom Waveform Channels and Triggers

Use the following settings to configure channels, triggers, and other parameters of the waveform generator.

Waveform Channel Settings

  • Output Impedance—Sets the output impedance value to either 50 Ω or 75 Ω.
  • Load Impedance—Sets the load impedance value to one of the following settings:
    • Match output—Matches the load impedance to the output impedance.
    • High-Z—Sets the load impedance to high impedance.
    • Custom—Sets the load impedance to a custom value, in ohms.
  • Digital Filter—Enables or disables the digital filter. The digital filter increases the effective sampling rate by providing points that interpolate between generated samples.
  • Analog Filter—Enables or disables the analog filter. The analog filter is applied after the interpolated signal, and, when combined with the digital filter, can remove high-frequency images from the frequency domain.
  • Terminal config.—Returns the terminal configuration for the waveform generator. Most waveform generators support only one option (differential or single-ended).

Waveform General Settings

  • Waveform—Sets the type of waveform to generate if you are generating a standard waveform.
    Note
    • If you select User-defined, you must load a waveform file. User-defined waveform file must be in CSV format.
    • Different waveform types have different configurable settings.
  • Sample Rate—Sets the sample rate of an arbitrary waveform.

Waveform Trigger Settings

  • Trigger Mode—Sets the mode for triggering arbitrary waveform generation.
    Note For more information on arbitrary waveform trigger modes, refer to Advanced Waveform Sequencing and Triggering on Arbitrary Waveform Generators at ni.com.
  • Trigger Type—Sets the trigger type to one of the following values:
    • Immediate—Triggers waveform generation as soon as you run the waveform generator.
    • Software—Triggers waveform generation according to settings in an external application.
    • Digital edge—Triggers waveform generation on the rising edge of a specified source terminal. The source terminal must export a signal to use digital edge triggering.

Hardware Event Output Terminals

These settings determine to which chassis terminal(s) hardware events are exported.

Waveform Modes

You can generate a waveform using one of the following two modes:

  • Standard Waveform—Outputs waveforms according to the channel settings you specify in InstrumentStudio or an external application. Using a standard waveform allows you to generate several different standard waveform types (sine, square, etc.) at precise frequencies.
    Note The user-defined standard waveform type allows you to generate a periodic waveform with a finite, specified number of points using Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS). To generate a user-defined waveform of any size, use Arbitrary Waveform mode.
    You can also change the output waveform frequency of a standard waveform during generation with a short response time. You can also use the Sweep operating mode to configure a range of frequences to generate over a specified number of steps and time duration, or use the List operating mode to configure a sequence of frequencies to generate for specified durations.
  • Arbitrary Waveform—Outputs waveforms according to the settings specified in an external file. Using an arbitrary waveform allows you to define large, complex waveforms using a waveform settings file. While you can generate more complex waveforms using an arbitrary waveform, changes to arbitrary waveform settings have a longer response time than standard waveforms.

Waveform Generator Status

A waveform generator channel can be in one of the following states:
  • Stopped—Waveform generation is stopped on this channel.
  • Running—Waveform generation is running on this channel.
  • Waiting for trigger—Waveform generation is waiting until the trigger condition has been met.
Note Generation stops when closing a panel.