General remarks
Together with our transient recorder we ship driver software and a selection of ready to use LabView programs which allow you to take measurements and visualize your data. These modules can save you a lot software work.
We also offer C-routines and Visual Basic routines to control the transient recorders for integration into your own software environment.
Options
As a user of our transient recorders you have the following options:
- a) Recommended:
- Buy the actual LabView Base Package from National Instruments, use our
free LabView modules and adapt them to your local needs if necessary.
The LabView source code for all modules is included.
The LabView software contains the multiple modules, which are described in the A more detailed description of the software is given in the Ethernet Manual.
- b) Optional:
- for those users who already spent a lot of manpower into C-programs and don't want to switch to LabView: Use the C- driver routines and integrate them into your source code. The C-drivers are free.
- c) Optional:
- We also have developed Visual Basic drivers for the transient recorders. The functionality is similar to the C-drivers. Basic functions like start, stop, set range, set discriminator level and readout of transient recoders and a simple sample application. It does not include the equivalents to the track.vi, acquis.vi, live_display.vi modules like the LabView software. Please contact Licel for a quotation.
- d) File option:
- We adapt the file format of the TCPIP-Acquis module to your desired file format. All we need for this
- a format specification
- 2 or 3 sample files
This would give you a jump start with our transient reocrder system, because you can use your existing data retrieval software.
- d) Optional:
-
The Ethernet Executables have the Virtual Controller,
which does already provide this functionality.
It contains a LabView executable simulating the transient recorder system and a lidar without any necessary hardware being present. The idea behind is: Many customers want to develop software which controls their hardware (automatic alignment routines, special measurement series to observe clouds etc.). Usually this software uses a sequence of steps like:
- change the beamsteering of the laser a filter wheel, wavelength etc.
- start an acquisition
- save the data to disk
- retrieve a specific information from these data
- next step...
To test these routines you would need to run your lidar system to debug and control your own routines. This means sitting in the noisy lab and having the system running without really taking measurements. The idea of the develop package is, that you can develop and debug your software on your own computer in a place where you can concentrate and don't need the lidar hardware. The transient recorder behaviour and lidar signals are simulated. So it makes sense if you intend to develop significant amounts of own software which involves the transient recorders and other components.
Linux
Licel does support and encourages programming the devices under Linux. The hardware can be controlled via LabView, C (free, see the software description for more details).