How do I output a digital signal

[New to This]

Does anyone have a diagram wherein I can operate a boolean from the front panel and output it to an external light? I have read the Digital I/O part of the book but the explanation of channels, lines, and ports is ambiguous. If I see a diagram I will know how to do it. I am using LabVIEW for Everyone and this book says a lot of words but doesn't have an example.
Bob

[Sastry V.]

Hi,

Go to LabVIEW>>Help>>Find examples>>Hardware Input and Output>>DAQ>>Digital Input and Output.

Then please take a look at the examples on Write to Digital Line, write to Digital port etc. from the type of board that you might want to use.

Please let me know if you have further questions.

Sincerely,
Sastry
Applications Engineer
National Instruments

[New to This]

I viewed the examples before posting the original question. These examples do not have anything before the output icon so therefore it is impossible to know how to feed the signals into the Digital Output icon. That's why I need a diagram from a switch to an output. Then I will understand. I do not know the difference between what is called a port and a line. Which wire do I connect my Boolean to so it will output a signal?

[Sastry V.]

Hi,

To get an understanding about how the digital I/O applications work, the best way to start is to refer to the LabVIEW measurement manual which can accessed through labVIEW>>Help>>Search Bookshelf

A line is nothing but can be compared to a wire that can take a bit that is high or low.
A port is collection of lines. You can define it as a collection of 8 lines, 16 lines or 32 lines.

Lets take the example of Write to Digital Port VI under E-Series:

a) DIO Port Config configures the the device. The inputs for example, are what is the device number which refers to the number of the card when you configure in MAX (Measurement and Automation Explorer). The port refers to the port you are writing to.

b) after you configure the port, then you write to the port. All the inputs are explained in the help for each VI.

You will need a connector block to connect external devices or signals to your digital I/O card.

For example, say you are using an E series card. Then you will connect a cable from the card to a terminal block say, SCB-68. SCB-68 has a set of screw terminal which refer to different pinouts of the card. The pinouts of any card can be found in its user manual.

Now you will connect a wire from your boolean light to the digital line to which you are writing data through the card. So the data is written to the digital line and then it i reflected in your boolean light which will either glow (when the signal is high or 1) or turn off (when the signal is low or 0).

Here are my suggested references to get a good understanding of how the whole operation works and also to get an idea about the terminologies :


1. Digital I/O

2. LabVIEW Measurements manual found under LabVIEW help>>Bookshelf

3. Help for the VIs that are used in the application.

Please do let me know if you have further questions.

Sincerely,
Sastry
Applications Engineer
National Instruments