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This document summarizes the Settings field groups used by the instruNet field hierarchy.  Each group may be used many times; for example, the Display group contains 4 fields (Digitize On/Off, Display Min, Display Max, View Show/Hide) and is used with 25 Channels in the Model 100 hardware device.  Each Settings group contains 1 to 8 fields, as described in the following table.  And each field can be set to a different value, as described in this table.

For Programmers:

Each Setting Group has an associated settingType value, which are passed to the iNet() subroutine in the 'settingGroupNumOrType' argument.  These are listed in the 1st column of the table in subscript form.  For example, the settingType of the Filter Settings group is -11.  These are also listed in the ion_settingGroupType area of the interface .h file.

Each Field has an associated fieldNum value, which are be passed to the iNet() subroutine in the 'fieldNum' argument.  These is listed in the 2nd column of the table in subscript form.  For example, the fieldNum of the PassB Ripple field within the Filter Settings group is 2.  These are also listed in the fldnum_.... areas of the interface .h file.

Some Fields have several possible values which are passed to the iNet() subroutine in the 'ptrToArg' argument.  These are listed in the 3rd column of the table in subscript form.  For example, the fieldValue for the Elliptic option of the Filter field within the Filter Settings group is 2.  These are also listed in the fldnum_.... areas of the interface .h file.

Settings Group (settingType) Field (fieldNum) Field Description
(fieldValue)
Bandpass Filter (-10) Defines a digital bandpass filter.  For more information, please refer to Working with Digital Filters
Filter1 Selects filter model = {Off1, Elliptic2, Chebyshev P3, Chebyshev S4, or Butterworth5 }.
PassB Ripple2 Specifies maximum allowable passband ripple, in dB. 
StopB Attn3 Specifies the minimum stop band attenuation, in dB.
Filter Order4 Displays filter order.  Automatically determined by the filter design, which is based on the specified criteria.
PassB F1 Hz5 Specifies lower cutoff frequency of the band that is passed.  Frequencies between PassB F1 Hz5 and PassB F2 Hz7 are passed.
StopB F1 Hz6 Frequencies below StopB F1 Hz6 are attenuated.
Pass B F2 Hz7 Specifies high cutoff frequency of the band that is passed.  Frequencies between PassB F1 Hz5 and PassB F27 Hz are passed.
Stop B F2 Hz8 Frequencies above StopB F2 Hz8 are attenuated.

Bandstop Filter -11

Defines a digital bandstop filter.  For more information, please refer to Working with Digital Filters
Filter1 Selects filter model = {Off1, Elliptic2, Chebyshev P3, Chebyshev S4, or Butterworth5 }.
PassB Ripple2 Specifies maximum allowable passband ripple, in dB. 
StopB Attn3 Specifies the minimum stop band attenuation, in dB.
Filter Order4 Displays filter order.  Automatically determined by the filter design, which is based on the specified criteria.
PassB F1 Hz5 Frequencies below PassB F1 Hz5 are passed.
StopB F1 Hz6 Specifies lower cutoff frequency of the band that is stopped.   Frequencies between StopB F1 Hz6 and Stop B F2 Hz8 are stopped (i.e. attenuated).
Pass B F2 Hz7 Frequencies above PassB F2 Hz7 are passed.
Stop B F2 Hz8 Specifies higher cutoff frequency of the band that is stopped.  Frequencies between StopB F1 Hz6 and Stop B F2 Hz8 are stopped (i.e. attenuated).

Constants -4

Defines constants used to calculate engineering units when measuring sensors (e.g. RTD, strain gage, etc).  For more information, please refer to Connecting to Sensors.
Ro1 Specifies value of bridge completion resistor, unstrained strain gage, load cell w/ 0 force, potentiometer, or resistance of an RTD at 0°C.  Units are ohms.
Rshunt2 Specifies value of shunt resistor in voltage divider or current measurement circuit.  Units are ohms.
Vout3 Sets excitation voltage in bridge/voltage divider circuits. Units are Volts.
Vinit4 Specifies voltage across an unstrained bridge (e.g. strain gage, load cell); the voltage of a pot in the CCW position; or the voltage out of an accelerometer at 0 G's.
alpha5 Specifies temperature coefficient of an RTD at 0°C (typically .00385 for American RTD's, and .00392 for European RTD's), as specified by the manufacturer of the RTD (ohms/ohms/C units); maximum force (Kg) in the case of a load cell; or maximum acceleration (G's) in the case of an accelerometer.
delta, Rlead6 When connecting to an RTD, delta is the Callendar-Van Dusen delta constant (typically 1.492).  This constant is specified by the manufacturer of the RTD.  When doing measurements using quarter-bridge and half-bridge circuits, Rlead specifies the lead resistance of the wires connecting the sensor (i.e. strain gage) to the bridge.
GF7 Specifies the gage factor of a Strain Gage as specified by the manufacturer of the gage (i.e. relates resistance change to strain); V/V per Kg of force in the case of a Load Cell; and V per G in the case of an accelerometer.
u_Poisson8 Specifies Poisson's ratio in axial strain gage measurements.

Directory -19

Contains fields that specify where and how information is saved to, and retrieved from, disk.  For the most part, this is only used by programmers. 
Path Name1 Specifies the path name for the directory/folder that is used when loading or saving files via the Save or Open buttons in the Record page.
New Name2 When the Save button is pressed in the Record page to save waveforms to disk, a new directory/folder is created for the new files.  If the New Name field is set to Prompt User1, the user is prompted for the new folder's name and location, otherwise, if New Name is set to Auto Generate2, the folder is automatically created and named.
Save Fields3 When the Save button is pressed in the Record page to save waves to disk, the user has the option of saving the network Fields with the waveforms.  Save Fields is set to On1 if Fields are to be saved, and Off2 if they are not.
Load Fields4 If Load Fields4 is set to On1, the network Fields are loaded from disk when one presses the Open button in the Record page = {On1, or Off2}.
File Type5 Specifies the file type for waveforms saved to disk via the Save button in the Record page = { Binary1, Text (ASCII)2, Text  Merge (ASCII)3, Binary Merge4,}.  Binary and Binary Merge are fast and compact, whereas Text is compatible with other programs such as word processors and spreadsheets. Text Merge saves an additional "Excel Waveform Data.txt" text file that contains all waves in one file. Binary Merge saves all channels in 1 file and spools to disk very fast; whereas Binary saves each channel in its own file and uses less RAM memory.
Command6 Writing New Directory1 to the Command6 field causes a new directory/folder to be created.  Writing Show Dialog2 to the Command6 field causes the File Open dialog to appear, which enables one to modify the Path Name field.  Command6 is used primarily by programmers.

Display -7

Defines the vertical scale of Record page Displays, and allows one to enable a channel for digitizing. 
Digitize1 If Digitize1 is set to On1, the channel is enabled for digitizing when the Start button is pressed in the Record page = {On1, or Off2}.  When turned On within instruNet World, Input channels are Digitized and Plotted; whereas Output channels are only plotted (one must use the iW+ Control calculate field or Control script to drive output channels).  When turned On while programming (e.g. C/BASIC), input channels are enabled for digitizing and their data is sent to data buffers; whereas output channels are placed into the digitize list and fed with data from their data buffers at the digitize sample rate.

             

Display Max2 Specifies the Engineering Units value that corresponds to the top line of a Record page or Probe dialog snapshot display.
Display Min3 Specifies the Engineering Units value that corresponds to the bottom line of a Record page or Probe dialog snapshot display.
View4 Show1 or Hide2 Display in Record page while digitizing.

Driver Ram -15

Defines a buffer, in RAM memory, that is maintained by the instruNet Driver.  This is used by programmers to hold digitized data. 
Digitize1 If Digitize1 is set to On1, the channel is enabled for digitizing, and the digitized data is sent to the Driver Ram buffer at runtime = {On1, or Off2}.
Buffer Addr2 This is the address, in RAM memory, of the Driver Ram Buffer; 0 if not used (off).  The Buffer size corresponds to 1 Scan of data points, where each point is stored in a 32bit floating point number (4 bytes per point).
Ptr Byte Size3 This is the size of the Driver Ram Buffer in Bytes.  This is often equal to 4 * PtsPerScan.
Scan Num In4 Scan Number of last data point pushed into Driver Ram Buffer = {1... numScans}.
Pt Num In5 Point Number of last data point pushed into Driver Ram Buffer = {1... PtsPerScan}
Scan Num6 Scan Number of last data point pulled out of Driver Ram Buffer by Access_Digitized_Data_In_Ram_Buffer() = {1...numScans}.
Pt Num Out7 Point Number of last data point pulled out of Driver Ram Buffer by Access_Digitized_Data_In_Ram_Buffer() = {1...PtsPerScan}.

File -17

Specifies a file that contains digitized data.  This is used primarily by programmers. 
File1 If File1 is set to On1 the channel is linked to the file = {On1, or Off2}.
Digitize2 If Digitize2 is set to On1 the channel is enabled for digitizing, and the digitized data is sent to the Driver Ram buffer at runtime = {On1, or Off2}.
File Name3 Specifies the file name that is linked to the channel.  This is often the same as the channel name (e.g. "Ch1 Vin+").
Command4 Writing to the Command4 field causes the following to occur (use the Record window Open/Save commands to connect with datasets on disk):File > Ram buf2   Transfer Num Pts7 (number of points) from the Scan Num5 scan, starting at PointNum6, from the File to the Driver Ram Buffer.  If FileType is Binary Merge, this occurs for all channels stored in the file for this network.File > User buf4   Same as File > Ram buf2, yet to User Ram Buffer.Ram buf > File3   Transfer the data in the Driver Ram Buffer to the file on disk.  If FileType is Binary Merge, this occurs for all channels stored in the file for this network.User buf > File5   Same as Ram buf > File3, yet from User Ram Buffer.Get File Info6      Get information about the File.  Load {Scan Num5 PointNum6} with the last point in the file, and load Num Pts7 with the number of points per scan .
Scan Num5 Refers to a scan number = {1...numScans}.
PointNum6
Num Pts7 Refers to the number of points in the last Scan = {1...PtsPerScan}.

General -6

Specifies general information about a channel, such as its name and value.
Value I/O1 Specifies realtime value of the channel, in engineering Units.  If the channel is a voltage input, this reflects the realtime voltage at the input terminals.  If the channel is a voltage output, this is the voltage at the output terminals.
Units Label2 Specifies vertical label that is shown in the Record page and Probe dialog displays (e.g. "Volts", "C").
User Name3 Specifies the name of the channel that is shown in the displays (e.g. "Pressure1", "Temp2").
% Sample Rate4 Specifies the channel's sample rate as a percentage of the master sample rate that is defined in the Timing dialog (press Timing in Setup dialog) = {.001...100}.  For example, if the master sample rate is 1Ks/sec, and Ch1's % Sample Rate4 is set to 25, then Ch1 will digitize at 250s/sec.

Hardware -3
with Voltage Input

Specifies parameters that control a Voltage Input channel.  For more information, please refer to Connecting to Sensors.

Channels

Sensor1 Specifies type of sensor attached to Voltage input terminals = { Voltage1, Current2, Resistance3, Strain Gage4, RTD5, Types J6, K7, T8, E9, R10, S11, B12, N13 Thermocouple, Thermistor14, Load Cell16, Potentiometer17, Accelerometer18 }.
Wiring2 Specifies wiring at Voltage input terminals = { Vin+ - Vin-1, Vin - Gnd2, Shunt Resistor3, Voltage Divider4, Bridge5, Quarter Bridge6, Half Bridge Bend7, Half Bridge Axial8, Full Bridge Bend9, Full Bridge Axial I10, Full Bridge Axial II11 }.


Low Pass3 Specifies lowpass analog filter cutoff frequency in Hz (e.g. 0Hz = off, 40Hz, 4000Hz).
Integrate4 Specifies amount of integration (i.e. smoothing) in units of seconds.  Signal are sampled and averaged for the duration specified in this field.  For details, please see Sample Rate Vs. Integration Time Vs. Noise.
Range5 Specifies maximum input range for the measured voltage, in units of Volts.  For the most accurate readings, specify the smallest range possible without causing the measured voltage to hit the bound.  For example if your maximum expected input range is +-50 mV select a range of +-.3V (i.e. set the Range5 field to .3).

Hardware -5
with Digital I/O

Specifies parameters that control a Digital I/O channel (e.g. Ch25 Dio on the Model 100 Device). 
Digital Output1 Specifies the logic level of bits that have been set up as digital outputs in the Direction2 field. 
Direction2 Sets the direction of the various digital bits as an input (0) or an output (1).

Highpass Filter -9

Defines a digital highpass filter.  For more information, please refer to Working with Digital Filters
Filter1 Selects filter model = {Off1, Elliptic2, Chebyshev P3, Chebyshev S4, or Butterworth5 }
PassB Ripple2 Specifies maximum allowable passband ripple, in dB. 
StopB Attn3 Specifies the minimum stop band attenuation, in dB.
Filter Order4 Displays filter order.  Automatically determined by the filter design, which is based on the specified criteria.
PassB F1 Hz5 Frequencies above PassB F1 Hz5 are passed.
StopB F1 Hz6 Frequencies below StopB F1 Hz6 are attenuated.
Pass B F2 Hz7 Not used.
Stop B F2 Hz8 Not used.

Lowpass Filter -8

Defines a digital lowpass filter.  For more information, please refer to Working with Digital Filters
Filter1 Selects filter model = {Off1, Elliptic2, Chebyshev P3, Chebyshev S4, or Butterworth5 }
PassB Ripple2 Specifies maximum allowable passband ripple, in dB. 
StopB Attn3 Specifies the minimum stop band attenuation, in dB.
Filter Order4 Displays filter order.  Automatically determined by the filter design, which is based on the specified criteria.
PassB F1 Hz5 Frequencies below PassB F1 Hz5 are passed.
StopB F1 Hz6 Frequencies above StopB F1 Hz6 are attenuated.
Pass B F2 Hz7 Not used.
Stop B F2 Hz8 Not used.

Display Options -18

Specifies how waveforms are displayed and stored while digitizing. 
Horiz Scale1 Specifies the horizontal scale of the displays in the Record page and Probe dialog (i.e. Seconds per horizontal division).  Use 0.0 to enable automatic scale selection, which is based on the sample rate and Scan size.
Horiz Pos2 Specifies the horizontal position of the displays in the Record page and Probe dialog (i.e. seconds associated with the display left edge).  This, in effect, is linked to the horizontal scrollbar.
Plot3 Specifies whether to plot one dot per data point, or to connect data points with lines = { Lines1, orDots2 }.  Lines1 requires more processor time.
Grid4 Turns display grid on or off = { On1, or Off2 }.
Max Pts/Pix5 Sets the maximum number of points plotted in each vertical column of pixels.
Digitize Into6 Specifies where digitized data is saved = { Off1, ToRamBuffer2, ToFile3, or UserControl4 }.
Overflow Alrt7 Specifies whether or not the instruNet driver shows an alert when the Digitizer buffer overflows = { On1, or Off2 }.

Timer -14

Specifies the function of the Digital Timer I/O Channels on the Model 200 instruNet Controllers (not iNet-230). 
Function1 Sets the channel function as one of = { Digital In1, Digital Out2, Clock Output3, Period Measurement4 }. 
Clk Period2 Sets the cycle time, in seconds, when doing Clock Output.
Clk Out Hi3 Sets the high time, in seconds, when doing Clock Output.
Measure4 When doing Period Measurement, this specifies if the cycle time or the high time is measured = { Cycle Time1, or High Time2 }.
Meas. Resol.5 When doing Period Measurement, this specifies the measurement accuracy to one of = { .25µs1, or 4ms2 }.
Meas. Cycles6 When doing Period Measurement, this specifies the number of cycles or high times that must elapse during the measured duration = {0...255}.

Timing -12

Specifies parameters for the DSP based digitizing via the Model 200 and 230 instruNet Controllers. 
Digitize1 Turns digitizing on or off for all channels = { On1, or Off2 }.  This field is automatically set to On1 when the Start button is pressed and Off2 when the Stop button is pressed.
Pts Per Scan2 Specifies the number of points digitized for each Scan, at the master Sample Rate5.
No. of Scans3 Specifies the number of Scans that are digitized when the Start button is pressed.
Scan Mode4 Specifies whether consecutive Scans are continuous with respect to each other = { Strip Chart1, Oscilloscope2, Oscillo Queued3 }. 
Sample Rate5 Specifies the master sample rate, in units of samples-per-second-per-channel.  If the specified rate is too fast, instruNet will adjust to the fastest possible rate.  All channels run at this rate, unless their % Sample Rate4 field is requesting a slower rate.
Min sec/tsfr6 Specifies the minimum acceptable time to transfer a 16bit value on the instruNet network, in units of seconds.
Network BPS7 Specifies the instruNet network data transfer rate in bits per second = {100,000 ...4,000,000}.  This is automatically set to the fastest possible rate when instruNet is reset.  Long network cables and/or many network Devices sometimes require a slower rate.
Switching8 Specifies analog channel switching to run Fast2 or Accurate1.  If Fast is used, the system switches from one channel to another as fast as possible; otherwise, with Accurate, the switching is a little slower, yet provides the amplifiers more time to settle, and is therefore a little more accurate.

Trigger -13

Specifies the Trigger condition that must be met before digitizing (after the Start button is pressed).
Trigger1 Sets the trigger mode to one of: { Off1, Auto2, or Norm3 }. Off1 specifies no trigger, Norm3 mandates that the digitizing cannot begin until the trigger condition is met, and Auto2 waits for the trigger condition yet digitizes anyway if the condition is not met within several seconds.
Threshold EU2 Specifies the trigger threshold in engineering units (EU).
Slope3 Specifies the direction the waveform must cross the threshold in order to trigger = {Rising1, or Falling2}.
Expansion4
Trig. Net#5 Specifies the Network number of the trigger channel.
Trig. Dev#6 Specifies the Device number of the trigger channel.
Trig. Mod#7 Specifies the Module number of the trigger channel.
Trig. Chan#8 Specifies the Channel number of the trigger channel.

User Ram -16

Defines a buffer, in RAM memory, that is maintained by the programming end user.  This buffer is used to hold digitized data. 
Digitize1 If Digitize1 is set to On1, the channel is enabled for digitizing, and the digitized data is sent to the User Ram buffer at runtime = {On1, or Off2}.
User Addr2 This is the address, in RAM memory, of the User Ram Buffer; 0 if not used (off).  The Buffer size must be enough to hold 1 Scan of data points, where each point is stored in a 32bit floating point number (4bytes/point).
Buff Byte Size3 This is the size of the User Ram Buffer in Bytes.  This must be greater than or equal to 4 * PtsPerScan.
Scan Num In4 Scan Number of last data point pushed into User Ram Buffer = {1... numScans}.
Pt Num In5 Point Number of last data point pushed into User Ram Buffer = {1... PtsPerScan}
Scan Num6 Scan Number of last data point pulled out of User Ram Buffer by Access_Digitized_Data_In_Ram_Buffer() = {1...numScans}.
Pt Num Out7 Point Number of last data point pulled out of User Ram Buffer by Access_Digitized_Data_In_Ram_Buffer() = {1...PtsPerScan}.

Table 8.1 Channel Setting Group Reference

 


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