Conventions

	The following conventions are used in this manual:
<>	Angle brackets that contain numbers separated by an ellipsis represent a
	range of values associated with a bit or signal name—for example,
	AO <3..0>.
»	The » symbol leads you through nested menu items and dialog box options
	to a final action. The sequence File»Page Setup»Options directs you to
	pull down the File menu, select the Page Setup item, and select Options
	from the last dialog box.
	This icon denotes a note, which alerts you to important information.
	This icon denotes a caution, which advises you of precautions to take to
	avoid injury, data loss, or a system crash. When this icon is marked on the
	product, refer to the Read Me First: Safety and Radio-Frequency
	Interference document, shipped with the product, for precautions to take.
	When symbol is marked on a product, it denotes a warning advising you to
	take precautions to avoid electrical shock.
	When symbol is marked on a product, it denotes a component that may be
	hot. Touching this component may result in bodily injury.
bold	Bold text denotes items that you must select or click in the software, such
	as menu items and dialog box options. Bold text also denotes parameter
	names.
italic	Italic text denotes variables, emphasis, a cross-reference, or an introduction
	to a key concept. Italic text also denotes text that is a placeholder for a word
	or value that you must supply.
monospace	Text in this font denotes text or characters that you should enter from the
	keyboard, sections of code, programming examples, and syntax examples.
	This font is also used for the proper names of disk drives, paths, directories,
	programs, subprograms, subroutines, device names, functions, operations,
	variables, filenames, and extensions.

Contents

Chapter 1

About NI ELVIS II

What You Need to Get Started ......................................................................................	1-1
NI ELVIS II Overview ..................................................................................................	1-1
NI ELVIS II in Academic Disciplines...........................................................................	1-2
NI ELVIS II in Engineering ............................................................................	1-2
NI ELVIS II in Biological Sciences ................................................................	1-3
NI ELVIS II in Physical Sciences ...................................................................	1-3
Related Documentation..................................................................................................	1-3

Chapter 2

NI ELVIS II Hardware

NI ELVIS II Benchtop Workstation ..............................................................................	2-2
NI ELVIS II Rear Panel ..................................................................................	2-5
NI ELVIS II Bottom Panel ..............................................................................	2-6
NI ELVIS II Circuit Protection .......................................................................	2-6
NI ELVIS II Series Prototyping Board..........................................................................	2-7
Prototyping Board Power ................................................................................	2-8
Signal Descriptions..........................................................................................	2-9
Connecting Signals ........................................................................................................	2-10
Analog Input....................................................................................................	2-11
Grounding Considerations ................................................................	2-12
Resource Conflicts ............................................................................	2-12
DMM ...............................................................................................................	2-12
Voltage, Current, Resistance, Diode, and Continuity .......................	2-12
Capacitance and Inductance..............................................................	2-14
Oscilloscope ....................................................................................................	2-14
Analog Output .................................................................................................	2-14
Function Generator (FGEN)............................................................................	2-14
Power Supplies ................................................................................................	2-14
Digital I/O........................................................................................................	2-14
Programmable Function Interface (PFI)..........................................................	2-15
User-Configurable I/O.....................................................................................	2-15
Bode Analyzer .................................................................................................	2-15
Two-Wire Current-Voltage Analyzer..............................................................	2-15
Three-Wire Current-Voltage Analyzer............................................................	2-15
Counter/Timer .................................................................................................	2-16

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Contents

Chapter 3

NI ELVISmx Software

Using NI ELVIS II with SFP Instruments.....................................................................	3-1
NI ELVISmx Instrument Launcher.................................................................	3-1
Arbitrary Waveform Generator (ARB)...........................................................	3-2
Bode Analyzer.................................................................................................	3-2
Digital Reader .................................................................................................	3-2
Digital Writer ..................................................................................................	3-2
Digital Multimeter (DMM).............................................................................	3-3
Dynamic Signal Analyzer (DSA) ...................................................................	3-3
Function Generator (FGEN) ...........................................................................	3-3
Impedance Analyzer .......................................................................................	3-3
Oscilloscope (Scope).......................................................................................	3-4
Two-Wire and Three-Wire Current-Voltage Analyzers .................................	3-4
Variable Power Supplies.................................................................................	3-4
Using NI ELVIS II with LabVIEW...............................................................................	3-5
LabVIEW Express VIs....................................................................................	3-5
Using NI-DAQmx with NI ELVIS II .............................................................	3-6
Using NI ELVIS II in SignalExpress ............................................................................	3-6

Chapter 4

Calibration

Figures

Figure 2-1.	Typical NI ELVIS II System ................................................................	2-1
Figure 2-2.	Top View of NI ELVIS II Benchtop Workstation with
	Prototyping Board ..............................................................................	2-2
Figure 2-3.	Rear View of NI ELVIS II System .......................................................	2-5
Figure 2-4.	Bottom View of NI ELVIS II Benchtop Workstation ..........................	2-6
Figure 2-5.	NI ELVIS II Series Prototyping Board .................................................	2-8
Figure 2-6.	Connections for DMM Measurements..................................................	2-13

Tables

Table 2-1.	Benchtop Workstation USB LED Patterns ...........................................	2-3
Table 2-2.	Signal Descriptions ...............................................................................	2-9
Table 2-3.	Analog Input Signal Mapping ..............................................................	2-11
Table 2-4.	Transistor to Prototyping Board Connections.......................................	2-15
Table 3-1.	NI ELVISmx Express VIs ....................................................................	3-5

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About NI ELVIS II

This document contains information about the National Instruments Educational Laboratory Virtual Instrumentation Suite II (NI ELVIS II) architecture and instruments.

This chapter provides an overview of the NI ELVIS II and its possible uses in various academic disciplines.

Note Refer to the Where to Start with NI ELVIS II document for information about how to set up the NI ELVIS II.

What You Need to Get Started

Refer to Where to Start with NI ELVIS II for a list of hardware, software, documentation, and tools you need to set up and use the NI ELVIS II.

NI ELVIS II Overview

NI ELVIS II uses LabVIEW-based software instruments and a custom-designed benchtop workstation and prototyping board to provide the functionality of a suite of common laboratory instruments.

NI ELVISmx is the software that supports NI ELVIS II hardware. It provides the following LabVIEW soft front panels (SFPs):

•Arbitrary Waveform Generator (ARB)

•Bode Analyzer

•Digital Reader

•Digital Writer

•Digital Multimeter (DMM)

•Dynamic Signal Analyzer (DSA)

•Function Generator (FGEN)

•Impedance Analyzer

•Oscilloscope (Scope)

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