The GX1164 includes a virtual panel program, which enables full utilization of the various configurations and controlling modes. To fully understand the front panel operation, it is best to become familiar with the functionality of the board.
To open the virtual panel application, select GX1164 Panel from the Marvin Test Solutions, GXPRES menu under the Start menu. The GX1164 virtual panel opens as shown here:
GX1164 Virtual Panel
The function of the panel button controls are shown below:
Initialize - Opens the Initialize Dialog (see Initialize Dialog paragraph) in order to initialize the board driver. The current settings of the selected counter will not change after calling initialize. The panel will reflect the current settings of the counter after the Initialize dialog closes.
Reset - Resets the PXI board settings to their default state and clears the reading.
Apply – Applies changed settings to the board
Close - Closes the panel. Closing the panel does not affect the counter settings.
Help - Opens the on-line help window. In addition to the help menu, the caption shows a What’s This Help button (?) button. This button can be used to obtain help on any control that is displayed in the panel window. To display the What’s This Help information click on the (?) button and then click on the control – a small window will display the information regarding this control.
The Initialize dialog initializes the driver for the selected counter board. The counter settings will not change after initialize is called. Once initialize, the panel will reflect the current settings of the counter.
The Initialize dialog supports two different device drivers that can be used to access and control the board:
Use Marvin Test Solutions’ HW – this is the device driver installed by the setup program and is the default driver. When selected, the Slot Number list displays the available counter boards installed in the system and their slots. The chassis, slots, devices and their resources are also displayed by the HW resource manager, PXI/PCI Explorer applet that can be opened from the Windows Control Panel. The PXI/PCI Explorer can be used to configure the system chassis, controllers, slots and devices. The configuration is saved to PXISYS.INI and PXIeSYS.INI located in the Windows folder. These configuration files are also used by VISA. The following figure shows the slot number 0x105 (chassis 1 Slot 5). This is the slot number argument (nSlot) passed by the panel when calling the driver Gx1164Initialize function used to initialize driver with the specified board.
Initialize Dialog Box using Marvin Test Solutions’ HW driver
Use VISA – this is a third party device driver usually provided by National Instrument (NI-VISA). When selected, the Resource list displays the available boards installed in the system and their VISA resource address. The chassis, slots, devices and their resources are also displayed by the VISA resource manager, Measurement & Automation (NI-MAX) and in Marvin Test Solutions PXI/PCI Explorer. The following figure shows PXI9::13::INSTR as the VISA resource (PCI bus 9 and Device 13). This is VISA resource string argument (szVisaResource) passed by the panel when calling the driver Gx1164InitializeVisa function to initialize the driver with the specified board.
Initialize Dialog Box using VISA resources
After the board is initialized the panel is enabled and will display the current setting of the board. The following picture shows the Group A page settings:
GX1164 Virtual Panel – Group A Page
The following controls are shown in the Group A page:
Single Channel Ch 1, 2, 3 4 and double channels Ch 1 / 2 and 3 / 4: Each channel is displayed with edit box that is used for typing the required resistance value. The actual resistance value is displayed in the text box below the edit control. To set the channel value: type in the required resistance value and click on the Apply button.
Double Check Boxes: Two check boxes for channel 1 / 2 and 3 / 4 . When checked the channel become Double Channel (e.g. Ch 1 / 2). When the box is unchecked the channel are in Single mode. The figure above shows channel 1 and 2 in single mode and channel 3 / 4 in double mode. Clicking on the check box will show the group block diagram in red in the background.
Wiper Check box: Use to set the group to wiper mode.
Ch xA/B Text Boxes: Displays the pin name and number in the board connector of the specified resistor channel.
Similar page is available for group B
Clicking on the About tab will show the About page as shown in the figure below:
GX1164 Virtual Panel – About Page
The top part of the About page displays version and copyright of the GXPRES driver. The bottom part displays the board summary, including the EEPROM version, the board Revision, the FPGA version, the board serial number and the calibration time. The About page also contains a button Upgrade Firmware… used to upgrade the board FPGA. This button maybe used only when the board requires upgrade as directed by Marvin Test Solutions support. The upgrade requires a firmware file (.jam) that is written to the board FPGA. After the upgrade is complete you must shut down the computer to recycle power to the board.