/Labview-Acquisition-Software

Software to aquire and measure the signals using Multimeter, Lock-In and DAQ

MIT LicenseMIT

                    LabVIEW Dependencies Contributions welcome License

Basic Overview

Every experiment implies acquiring some measurement data, saving and analyzing it. While workinng at P.L. Kapitza Institute for Physical Problems of Russian Academy of Sciences I was asked to wrtite a software to perform afore mentioned tasks for several instruments:

  • 6221 Keithley Precision DC and AC+DC Low Noise Current Source
  • 2000 Keithley Precision Multimeter
  • 5110 EG&G Princeton Applied Research Lock-In Amplifier
  • KUSB-3116 Keithley 16-Bit USB DAQ Module

As a result I have written 9 Pre-Alpha versions, 6 Alpha versions and 3 Beta versions.

The current version is Beta Ver 1.2.vi.

Details

Instruments

Most of the instruments did not give any trouble while indtalling all the necessary libraries. Practically all of them had a support from National Instruments. However, Lock-In's libs were a little bit outdated, so I had to fix it by replacing the 'Visa open' function with the new one.

To our greatest fears the DAQ was a pain in the ass. Not only did it have faulty drivers, it also got possesed by a demon. Actually, Keithley company was purchased by Tektronix and consequently they canceled the support for this product. As a result, the libs could only be installed only on the LabVIEW 7.1. After some magic was applied I found the manufacturing company who producers the original DAQ boards for other brands and got from their official website all the needed drivers and libs.

Software

Here I will explain the main parts in order for the users to speed up the compilation process.

  1. Beta Ver 1.2.vi

This is the main VI which acquires data from our instruments writes it into the measurement file and also represents it in the real time plot figure.

  1. File creation.vi

This subVI creates the measurement file in this pattern: 'hh_mm_ss.dat'. It can be used in other projects.

  1. Folder creation.vi

This subVI checks if the folder has already been created or creates one in this pattern: 'prename_dd_mm_yyyy'. It can be used in other projects too.

  1. Instruments Readings.vi

This subVI outputs a string with initial instruments' settings that is futher written into the measurements file. As a part of the experiment the users need to know how the instruments were preconfigured.

  1. Get Lock-In's sensitivity.vi

This subVI gets Lock-In's sensitivity.

  1. Get Lock-In's time constant.vi

This subVI gets Lock-In's Time Constant.

If by any chance you know Russian, you can read a very detailed explanation of the project in this report: Report

Testing the Software without Preamps

Here is a demonstration of the working software without preamplifiers.

Testing the Software with Preamps

Here is a demonstration of the working software with preamplifiers.

Results

The results of the measurement of the 1kOhm sample with preamplifiers

# 1kOhm 08/12/2017  PREAMPS EXPERIMENT
# Lock-In: 5110 Sensitivity: 100mV Time Constant: MIN | | Keithley: 6221 Start current: 1.00E-6 A Stop current: 2.00E-6 A
# t, ms   6221, A      2000, V      5110_X, V      5110_Y, V    DAQ A0, V      DAQ A1, V    DAQ A2, V    DAQ A3, V     DAQ A4, V     
00000648   1.00E-6     0.998236     3.35000E-3    9.1000E-4   -9.0332E-1    -3.0518E-4    0.0000E+0    -3.0518E-4     -0.000610 
00001857   1.02E-6     1.016245     3.24000E-3    1.8300E-3   -9.6069E-1     6.1035E-4    0.0000E+0    -3.0518E-4      0.000000 
00002216   1.04E-6     1.037809     3.95000E-3    2.6800E-3   -9.9365E-1    -3.0518E-4    0.0000E+0    -3.0518E-4      0.000000 
00003000   1.06E-6     1.048590     3.28000E-3    2.1600E-3   -1.0294E+0    -6.1035E-4   -3.0518E-4    -3.0518E-4      0.000000 
00004000   1.08E-6     1.076034     3.24000E-3    2.1800E-3   -1.0544E+0    -3.0518E-4   -3.0518E-4     0.0000E+0     -0.000305 
00005000   1.10E-6     1.095850     3.21000E-3    1.6600E-3   -1.0739E+0    -3.0518E-4   -3.0518E-4    -3.0518E-4     -0.000305 
00006000   1.12E-6     1.115176     3.19000E-3    2.0600E-3   -1.0947E+0     0.0000E+0   -3.0518E-4     0.0000E+0     -0.000305 
00007000   1.14E-6     1.136197     3.42000E-3    2.1100E-3   -1.1148E+0     0.0000E+0   -3.0518E-4     3.0518E-4      0.000000 
00008000   1.16E-6     1.155186     3.49000E-3    2.2300E-3   -1.1346E+0     0.0000E+0    0.0000E+0    -3.0518E-4      0.000000 
00009000   1.18E-6     1.175308     3.57000E-3    2.6300E-3   -1.1545E+0    -6.1035E-4    0.0000E+0     0.0000E+0      0.000000 
00010000   1.20E-6     1.196291     4.00000E-3    6.7000E-4   -1.1749E+0     0.0000E+0   -6.1035E-4     0.0000E+0     -0.000305 
00011000   1.22E-6     1.197205     3.77000E-3    4.2000E-4   -1.1942E+0     0.0000E+0   -3.0518E-4     0.0000E+0      0.000000 
00012000   1.24E-6     1.236288     3.62000E-3    8.4000E-4   -1.2149E+0    -3.0518E-4   -6.1035E-4     0.0000E+0      0.000000 
00013000   1.26E-6     1.243644     3.56000E-3    6.8000E-4   -1.2344E+0     0.0000E+0   -6.1035E-4    -3.0518E-4     -0.000305 
00014000   1.28E-6     1.275445     3.46000E-3    4.7000E-4   -1.2537E+0    -6.1035E-4    3.0518E-4     0.0000E+0      0.000000 
00015000   1.30E-6     1.295473     3.34000E-3    8.1000E-4   -1.2747E+0     0.0000E+0    0.0000E+0    -6.1035E-4     -0.000610 
00016000   1.32E-6     1.316456     3.27000E-3    1.0800E-3   -1.2946E+0     3.0518E-4    0.0000E+0    -3.0518E-4     -0.000305 
00017000   1.34E-6     1.335293     3.28000E-3    1.1600E-3   -1.3147E+0     0.0000E+0   -6.1035E-4     0.0000E+0     -0.000305 
00018000   1.36E-6     1.356196     3.17000E-3    1.3600E-3   -1.3339E+0     0.0000E+0   -3.0518E-4     3.0518E-4     -0.000305 
00019000   1.38E-6     1.375481     3.19000E-3    2.0100E-3   -1.3538E+0     0.0000E+0    3.0518E-4    -3.0518E-4     -0.000305 
00020000   1.40E-6     1.395838     4.01000E-3    2.1300E-3   -1.3727E+0    -6.1035E-4   -3.0518E-4    -3.0518E-4     -0.000610 
00021000   1.42E-6     1.414718     3.98000E-3    2.4900E-3   -1.3943E+0    -3.0518E-4   -3.0518E-4    -3.0518E-4     -0.000305 
00022000   1.44E-6     1.435626     3.75000E-3    2.7700E-3   -1.4139E+0     0.0000E+0    0.0000E+0    -3.0518E-4      0.000000 
00023000   1.46E-6     1.454992     3.62000E-3    2.4700E-3   -1.4349E+0    -3.0518E-4   -3.0518E-4    -3.0518E-4      0.000305 
00024000   1.48E-6     1.475668     3.55000E-3    2.5500E-3   -1.4542E+0     0.0000E+0   -6.1035E-4     0.0000E+0     -0.000305 
00025000   1.50E-6     1.495000     3.52000E-3    2.7600E-3   -1.4743E+0     0.0000E+0   -3.0518E-4    -3.0518E-4     -0.000305 
00026000   1.52E-6     1.515557     3.32000E-3    2.5200E-3   -1.4941E+0    -3.0518E-4    0.0000E+0     0.0000E+0      0.000000 
00027000   1.54E-6     1.534987     4.25000E-3    2.2000E-3   -1.5137E+0    -3.0518E-4   -3.0518E-4    -6.1035E-4     -0.000305 
00028000   1.56E-6     1.555247     4.23000E-3    2.1800E-3   -1.5338E+0    -3.0518E-4    0.0000E+0     0.0000E+0      0.000000 
00029000   1.58E-6     1.574216     4.28000E-3    1.8600E-3   -1.5533E+0    -3.0518E-4    0.0000E+0    -3.0518E-4      0.000000 
00030000   1.60E-6     1.582733     4.30000E-3    1.2500E-3   -1.5738E+0    -3.0518E-4   -3.0518E-4    -3.0518E-4     -0.000305 
00031000   1.62E-6     1.613834     4.12000E-3    1.1600E-3   -1.5933E+0     0.0000E+0   -3.0518E-4    -3.0518E-4     -0.000305 
00032000   1.64E-6     1.621248     4.03000E-3    9.6000E-4   -1.6135E+0    -3.0518E-4    0.0000E+0    -6.1035E-4      0.000000 
00033000   1.66E-6     1.654703     3.88000E-3    5.5000E-4   -1.6336E+0    -3.0518E-4    0.0000E+0    -3.0518E-4     -0.000305 
00034000   1.68E-6     1.668042     3.68000E-3    6.2000E-4   -1.6531E+0    -3.0518E-4   -6.1035E-4     0.0000E+0     -0.000305 
00035000   1.70E-6     1.694603     3.58000E-3    7.9000E-4   -1.6733E+0     0.0000E+0   -3.0518E-4    -3.0518E-4     -0.000305 
00036000   1.72E-6     1.702710     3.54000E-3    4.8000E-4   -1.6934E+0     0.0000E+0   -9.1553E-4    -3.0518E-4      0.000000 
00037000   1.74E-6     1.734313     3.38000E-3    2.7100E-3   -1.7136E+0     0.0000E+0    0.0000E+0    -3.0518E-4     -0.000610 
00038000   1.76E-6     1.744599     3.27000E-3    1.0700E-3   -1.7325E+0    -3.0518E-4   -3.0518E-4     0.0000E+0     -0.000305 
00039000   1.78E-6     1.773869     3.33000E-3    2.1700E-3   -1.7529E+0    -3.0518E-4    0.0000E+0    -3.0518E-4     -0.000305 
00040000   1.80E-6     1.779540     3.21000E-3    2.0300E-3   -1.7722E+0     0.0000E+0    0.0000E+0    -3.0518E-4     -0.000305 
00041000   1.82E-6     1.812543     3.21000E-3    1.3200E-3   -1.7935E+0    -3.0518E-4   -3.0518E-4    -3.0518E-4      0.000000 
00042000   1.84E-6     1.829009     3.33000E-3    1.2000E-3   -1.8130E+0     0.0000E+0    0.0000E+0     0.0000E+0      0.000000 
00043000   1.86E-6     1.852889     3.48000E-3    1.1600E-3   -1.8329E+0    -3.0518E-4    0.0000E+0     0.0000E+0     -0.000305 
00044000   1.88E-6     1.872276     3.54000E-3    8.1000E-4   -1.8527E+0    -3.0518E-4   -3.0518E-4    -3.0518E-4      0.000000 
00045000   1.90E-6     1.893485     3.71000E-3    5.6000E-4   -1.8732E+0     0.0000E+0    3.0518E-4     0.0000E+0      0.000000 
00046000   1.92E-6     1.911982     3.89000E-3    6.4000E-4   -1.8927E+0    -3.0518E-4    3.0518E-4    -3.0518E-4     -0.000610 
00047000   1.94E-6     1.931789     3.98000E-3    8.3000E-4   -1.9128E+0     3.0518E-4   -3.0518E-4     3.0518E-4     -0.000610 
00048000   1.96E-6     1.953195     3.98000E-3    5.5000E-4   -1.9327E+0    -3.0518E-4    0.0000E+0    -3.0518E-4     -0.000610 
00049000   1.98E-6     1.972151     4.15000E-3    4.9000E-4   -1.9528E+0    -3.0518E-4    0.0000E+0    -3.0518E-4      0.000000 
00050000   2.00E-6     1.993207     4.28000E-3    1.0700E-3   -1.9730E+0    -3.0518E-4   -3.0518E-4    -3.0518E-4      0.000000 

Another example of the measurement file in which case the Lock-In's sensitivity was changed

# 16/11/17
# Lock-In: 5110 Sensitivity: 500mV Time Constant: MIN | | Keithley: 6221 Start current: 1.00E-3 A Stop current: 1.20E-3 A
# t, ms   6221, A      2000, V      5110_X, V      5110_Y, V    DAQ A0, V      DAQ A1, V    DAQ A2, V    DAQ A3, V     DAQ A4, V     
00000664   1.00E-3     0.999635     2.30000E-2    3.0000E-4    9.9945E-1     0.0000E+0   -6.1035E-4     0.0000E+0     -0.000305 
00001862   1.00E-3     1.003631     1.88500E-2    9.6000E-3    1.0037E+0     0.0000E+0    0.0000E+0    -3.0518E-4      0.000000 
00002267   1.01E-3     1.007625     2.01500E-2    3.6000E-3    1.0083E+0    -6.1035E-4    0.0000E+0    -3.0518E-4      0.000000 
00002995   1.01E-3     1.011620     1.56000E-2    1.3900E-2    1.0110E+0    -3.0518E-4    0.0000E+0     0.0000E+0      0.000000 
00003995   1.02E-3     1.015577     2.14500E-2    7.9500E-3    1.0165E+0    -3.0518E-4   -3.0518E-4     0.0000E+0     -0.000610 
00004995   1.02E-3     1.019607     1.87500E-2    8.4000E-3    1.0196E+0    -3.0518E-4   -3.0518E-4     0.0000E+0      0.000000 
00005995   1.02E-3     1.023602     1.88500E-2    6.8000E-3    1.0242E+0    -3.0518E-4    0.0000E+0     0.0000E+0      0.000000 
00006995   1.03E-3     1.027670     1.87500E-2    8.6000E-3    1.0269E+0    -3.0518E-4   -3.0518E-4    -3.0518E-4     -0.000305 
00007995   1.03E-3     1.031628     1.84000E-2    8.8000E-3    1.0278E+0     0.0000E+0   -3.0518E-4    -3.0518E-4     -0.000305 
00008995   1.04E-3     1.035662     1.89000E-2    8.6000E-3    1.0355E+0     0.0000E+0    0.0000E+0     3.0518E-4      0.000000 
# Sensitivity: 100mV
00009995   1.04E-3     1.039618    -6.20000E-4   -2.3400E-3    1.0394E+0    -6.1035E-4   -3.0518E-4     0.0000E+0      0.000000 
00010995   1.04E-3     1.043662     2.68000E-3    2.1200E-3    1.0437E+0    -3.0518E-4   -3.0518E-4    -6.1035E-4      0.000000 
00011995   1.05E-3     1.047620     1.51000E-3   -1.3900E-3    1.0464E+0    -3.0518E-4   -3.0518E-4    -3.0518E-4     -0.000305 
00012995   1.05E-3     1.051651     3.72000E-3    1.7600E-3    1.0519E+0    -3.0518E-4    3.0518E-4     0.0000E+0      0.000000 
00013995   1.06E-3     1.055608     3.79000E-3    1.7100E-3    1.0550E+0    -6.1035E-4    0.0000E+0    -3.0518E-4      0.000000 
00014995   1.06E-3     1.059641     2.89000E-3   -2.0000E-5    1.0587E+0     0.0000E+0   -3.0518E-4    -3.0518E-4     -0.000610 
00015995   1.06E-3     1.063635     4.79000E-3    3.3600E-3    1.0635E+0    -3.0518E-4    0.0000E+0    -6.1035E-4      0.000000 
00016995   1.07E-3     1.067631     3.75000E-3    1.7300E-3    1.0675E+0    -3.0518E-4   -9.1553E-4    -3.0518E-4     -0.000305 
00017995   1.07E-3     1.071624     3.79000E-3    1.9200E-3    1.0712E+0    -3.0518E-4   -6.1035E-4     0.0000E+0      0.000305 

Authors

  • Sergey Chernayev - Initial work - lordonium

All other known bugs and fixes can be sent to chernayev.sergey.work@gmail.com

Reported bugs/fixes will be submitted to correction

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE.md file for details

Acknowledgments