Multiple AD2 devices in single Waveforms instance

[Piotr Rzeszut]

Hi,

I was playing for quite a bit with single AD2 and I find it great tool. Now I have two devices and I successfully connected them using triggers to have 4 analogue channels in scope, but i have to use two scope windows, with separate timebase... I have noticed other users' therads:

It would be great if one instance of Waveforms could manage two or more AD2 devices to result in multi-channel scope/generator/etc.Of course user would have to be aware of using separate clock systems on each device, what could cause some problems in specific situations.

@attila - is something like that possible in nearby future?

Kind regards

PR

[attila]

Hi @Piotr Rzeszut

The trigger signals can be used to cross trigger devices for specific purposes. It is suitable to write a dedicated script/application with WF SDK for a goal, but in the WF application there are way too many options/instruments and I think it would be complicated/confusing to use.

[Piotr Rzeszut]

@attila, thank you for the answer.

Is there a way to access other instance of Waweforms application form script? To for example copy data form second WF connected to second AD2 to reference channel in the first instance of WF?

[attila]

Hi @Piotr Rzeszut

You might try the following.
I had no time to test it with devices, but theoretically it should work if you configure proper triggering between the devices.

Slave application/device saves data to file:

{
var f = File("1.bin")
f.writeDouble(Scope.Channel1.alldata)
}
{
var f = File("2.bin")
f.writeDouble(Scope.Channel2.alldata)
}

 

Master application/device loads data to ref1/2:

{
// update time information, restore offset/range
var r = Scope.Ref1.Range.value
var o = Scope.Ref1.Offset.value
Scope.Ref1.Clone(Scope.Channel1) 
Scope.Ref1.Range.value = r
Scope.Ref1.Offset.value = o
var f = File("1.bin")
// we might have to wait for the other process to save the data
for(var i = 0; i < 1000 && !f.exist(); i++);
// read data and set it to reference channel
var rg = f.readDouble()
f.deleteFile()
Scope.Ref1.data = rg
}
{
var r = Scope.Ref2.Range.value
var o = Scope.Ref2.Offset.value
Scope.Ref2.Clone(Scope.Channel2) 
Scope.Ref2.Range.value = r
Scope.Ref2.Offset.value = o
var f = File("2.bin")
for(var i = 0; i < 1000 && !f.exist(); i++);
var rg = f.readDouble()
f.deleteFile()
Scope.Ref2.data = rg
}

[Piotr Rzeszut]

@attila, thank you for the answer, you are doing amazing job

The script is a kind of working, but quite often this happens:

As you can see I tried modifying script in order to ensure that there is no attempt to access non-existing file. Also I removed creating reference channel each time - as soon as they are created only writing is required. I suppose it can be caused by reading partially completed file?

[attila]

Hi @Piotr Rzeszut

When the time base or position is changed the information in Ref channel needs to be updated. This is done by the Clone function.

// update time information, restore offset/range
var r = Scope.Ref1.Range.value
var o = Scope.Ref1.Offset.value
Scope.Ref1.Clone(Scope.Channel1) 
Scope.Ref1.Range.value = r
Scope.Ref1.Offset.value = o

 

[Piotr Rzeszut]

Hi @attila,

In the above example I have not changed time base. I run it several times (Single) and first 5 acquisitions were OK. Than above happened.

I will test these scripts further in nearby future.