Instrument Driver Communication

Instrument communication using instrument drivers

You need to create an interface object, for example gpib or i2c, to communicate with instruments, as described in many of the sections of the documentation. You can also create a device object that allows you to configure and query an instrument without knowledge of its command set. See Creating and Connecting Device Objects for more information about using device objects.

Functions

`clear`	Remove instrument objects from MATLAB workspace
`delete`	Remove instrument objects from memory
`disp`	Display instrument object summary information
`get`	Instrument object properties
`inspect`	Open Property Inspector
`length`	Length of instrument object array
`load`	Load instrument objects and variables into MATLAB workspace
`methods`	Class method names and descriptions
`save`	Save instrument objects and variables to MAT-file
`set`	Configure or display instrument object properties
`size`	Size of instrument object array

`instrhwinfo`	Information about available hardware
`instrid`	Define and retrieve commands that identify instruments
`isvalid`	Determine whether instrument objects are valid
`obj2mfile`	Convert instrument object to MATLAB code
`propinfo`	Instrument object property information

`connect`	Connect device object to instrument
`devicereset`	Reset instrument
`disconnect`	Disconnect device object from instrument
`geterror`	Check and return error message from instrument
`icdevice`	Create device object
`invoke`	Execute driver-specific function on device object
`selftest`	Run instrument self-test

Apps

Test and Measurement Tool

Control oscilloscopes and other instruments

Topics

Creating and Connecting Device Objects
Includes the general procedure for the creation and use of device objects.
Communicating with Instruments
Configuring and exchanging data through device objects.
Device Groups
Obtaining and using group device properties.
Device Objects
Device objects allow you to configure and query an instrument without knowledge of its command set. The low-level communication is performed through a MATLAB^® instrument driver.
Instrument Control Toolbox Properties
These properties are available in the toolbox.

Featured Examples

Fetch Waveform Through NI-SCOPE MATLAB Instrument Driver in Simulation Mode

Acquire digital waveform from two channels of a National Instruments® NI-SCOPE driver in the simulation mode.

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Using NI-FGEN Instrument Driver to Generate a Sine Wave

Generate a sine wave on a function generator using the NI-FGEN software.

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Fetch Spectrum Through Ocean Optics Spectrometer Using MATLAB Instrument Driver

Acquire the spectrum of a fluorescent light source from an Ocean Optics Spectrometer.

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Read Voltage Through NI-DMM MATLAB Instrument Driver in Simulation Mode

Read voltage from a National Instruments® NI-DMM driver in the simulation mode.

Open Script

Using a NI Switch Module and a NI DMM to Perform Resistance Measurements

A switch module consists of an array of controllable relays/switches that can be arranged and addressed to provide various connection configurations. When used with an appropriate terminal block, an NI switch module can be configured to use a certain switch topology, such as multiplexer or matrix topology with one- or multi-wire switching modes. One common application is to combine one or more measuring instruments with a switch module to perform automated measurements on a number of devices or circuit test-points. This example uses an NI switch module together with an NI digital multimeter (DMM) to measure the resistance of 5 resistive devices in two-wire resistance measurement mode.

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Generate DC Voltage Using NI-DCPOWER MATLAB Instrument Driver in Simulation Mode

Generate DC voltage from a National Instruments® NI-DCPOWER driver in the simulation mode.

Open Script