M3601A HVI Design Environment Basics

Keysight M3601A allows the user to create or edit HVIs using an intuitive graphical flowchart interface. This section introduces the basics of this interface.

Main Window

M3601A main window is shown in Figure 1. The Properties window located on the left part of the screen is a multipurpose tool that shows the instructions and properties of all the objects which are activated by a mouse left-click. The Flowcharts of the two hardware modules comprising this HVI can be identified on the right side of the window. These flowcharts contain statements (different shaped boxes) and time arrows (Section Timing Arrows) which define the execution of the HVI.

Docking options: all windows of Keysight M3601A can be docked at will to adapt its appearance to the application and the screen size. These windows can also be undocked using the thumbtack. Take your time to familiarize with the flexible window system.

Creating an HVI Project

An HVI is defined by a group of hardware modules* that are fully synchronized, working as a single integrated hardware module. Therefore, the creation of a new HVI starts by selecting its modules (Figure 2), after clicking File ⇒ New HVI Project.

Reassigning hardware modules: (Module ⇒ Change) once the HVI was created, a hardware module can be reassigned to another hardware module of the same type. This is particularly useful when modules are changed from one physical slot to another, or when the HVI is created without the hardware connected (modules are opened offline) and must be assigned to a physical hardware module when available.

Figure 2: New Hard Virtual Instrument (HVI) project creation. Dialog to select the hardware modules that will become part of the HVI.

Creating HVI Instructions

An empty project shows all the hardware modules* with the Start. A mouse right-click over any statement (like the Start Statement ) opens a menu to create and delete new flowchart elements (see HVI Flowcharts to learn more about these elements).

HVI Compilation and Execution

HVI Projects can be compiled and executed directly within M3601A using the Build option on the main menu. An HVI Project can also be compiled into an HVI object (File ⇒ Generate HVI...). With this file, the HVI can be executed from a VI using the Keysight SD1 Programming Libraries, e.g. from C/C++, LabVIEW, Python, MATLAB, etc. See Software Programming Guide: HVI-VI Interaction for more information about the interaction between VIs and HVIs.

Hardware Module Options

Each hardware module may have different options, e.g. an AWG may be able to define arbitrary waveforms, etc., which are accessible from the module menu in the Main thread window (Module ⇒ ...).

HVI Registers

Each hardware module has 16 local registers (32 bits integers) that can be used in the programming of the HVI. Most statements can write or read into/from these registers. Registers can be read/written between modules, providing a fast tool to transfer small amounts of data (see how to access external variables External Variable Access).

PC-HVI Semaphores: HVI module registers are also useful for signaling purposes between the PC and the HVI. For example, the HVI can wait until the PC changes a register or viceversa, allowing the user to perform tasks in the PC and in the HVI simultaneously or alternatively.