How Do I Calibrate VirtualBench?
- Updated2023-09-07
- 2 minute(s) read
How Do I Calibrate VirtualBench?
The VirtualBench analog inputs and outputs on the mixed signal oscilloscope (MSO), digital multimeter (DMM), DC power supply, and function generator (FGEN) have calibration circuitry to correct gain and offset errors. You can calibrate the device to minimize errors caused by time and temperature drift at run time.
Device calibration consists of verifying the measurement accuracy of a device and adjusting for any measurement error. Verification consists of measuring the performance of the device and comparing these measurements to the published specifications. During calibration, you supply and read voltage levels or other signals using external standards, then you adjust the device calibration constants. The new calibration constants are stored in the non-volatile onboard storage. These calibration constants are loaded from memory as needed to adjust for the error in the measurements taken by the device.
External calibration, which is typically performed by a metrology lab, requires using a high-precision voltage source to verify and adjust calibration constants. This procedure replaces all calibration constants in the non-volatile onboard storage and is equivalent to a factory calibration. Because the external calibration procedure changes all non-volatile stored constants, it invalidates the original calibration certificate. If an external calibration is done with a NIST-certified voltage source, a new NIST traceability certificate can be issued.
Calibrating VirtualBench requires installation on the calibration system of one of the following:
- NI-VirtualBench and NI LabVIEW—For a detailed calibration procedure, search for the NI VirtualBench Calibration Procedure at ni.com/calibration.
- Calibration Executive—The Calibration Executive integrated environment is used for verifying and adjusting NI measurement devices. No programming is required. Refer to the Calibration Executive Help at ni.com/manuals.
Related Information