Italian, english (only if non-italian speaking students take the course)
Course Content
Handshaking between computer and measuring instruments – characteristics of ieee488 bus - use of SCPI protocol over USB and Ethernet - use of Labview and plain C programming for instruments control - “user space” and “kernel space” programming with the Linux operating system – an example kernel module for data acquisition.
With laboratory activity.
Manuals and on line help for Labview. gpib and C libraries manual pages.
Learning Objectives
Use of handshacking protocols in the computer-instrumentation links. Handling of the synchronization problems. Design and setup of measurement procedures for experiments in physics. Programming in the Labview environment; programming in C, both in “user space” and in “kernel space”.
Office hours: every day by arrangement (email: simone.valdre@fi.infn.it – tel. 055 457 2693)
website: studenti.fisica.unifi.it/~carla
Type of Assessment
Discussion about the code implemented during the laboratory experiences.
Course program
Handshaking between computer and measuring instruments – characteristics of ieee488 bus – use of Labview and plain C programming for instruments control - “user space” and “kernel space” programming - “kernel space” programming with the Linux operating system – an example kernel module for data acquisition.
Laboratory activity:
(This list is an indication only. Actual laboratory experience may differ, depending also on the available instruments.)
Labview: Data read through an ADC channel and extraction of the Fourier spectrum. Control of a VCO through a DAC channel and determination of the frequency response of a linear network.
C language: Control of a power supply and a voltmeter through an ieee488 bus and determination of the I-V relationship for a non-linear crcuit element. Signal sampling and synchronization. Implementation of a negativefeedback loop for control of process.
Use of C in kernel space: implementation of a simple driver under the control of the computer interrupt system.