IviFgen Class Driver Overview
This instrument driver provides programming support for the IviFgen Class. The IviFgen class driver conceptualizes a function generator as an instrument capable of generating an analog voltage waveform, and can be applied to a wide range of instruments. The output signal is typically functional in nature (such as, sinusoidal or square). Some instruments support the generation of arbitrary waveforms, which consist of user-specified data. If the function generator also supports the generation of arbitrary waveform sequences, the output signal can consist of a sequence of repeated arbitrary waveforms. The IviFgen class driver is divided into base capabilities and extensions. The base capabilities configure a function generator for basic signal output. With the extensions, you can configure a function generator to generate a specific type of waveform. An instrument driver must support either the IviFgenStdFunc or IviFgenArbWfm extension. The driver contains all the functions required in the IviFgen specification defined by the IVI Foundation. This driver requires NI-VISA and the IVI Compliance Package to be installed.
Use this driver to develop programs that are independent of a particular function generator. You can use this class driver with any function generator that has an IVI instrument specific driver that is compliant with the IviFgen class. The IviFgen class driver accesses the specific driver for your instrument using the configuration information you supply in MAX.
The IviFgen class driver divides instrument capabilities into a IviFgenBase capability group and multiple extension capability groups. The IviFgenBase group supports function generators capable of configuring output impedances and the reference clock source, and enabling and disabling the function generator's outputs. The base capabilities alone do not support the generation of an output signal. Instead, a function generator must support at least one of the signal output extensions: IviFgenStdFunc, IviFgenArbWfm, or IviFgenArbSeq. These functions and attributes are implemented by all function generator instrument drivers that are compliant with the IviFgen class.
Extension Capability Groups
The IviFgen class driver identifies functions and attributes that belong to an extension group with the following group names. Instrument specific drivers are not required to implement any of the extension capability groups. If you use functions and attributes that belong to extension capability groups, every instrument specific driver that you use must implement those extensions.
| Group Name | Description |
|---|---|
| IviFgenStdFunc | For instruments capable of generating standard periodic waveforms. |
| IviFgenArbWfm | For instruments capable of generating user-defined arbitrary waveforms. |
| IviFgenArbFrequency | For instruments capable of specifying the rate at which the function generator produces an entire cycle of an arbitrary waveform. |
| IviFgenArbSeq | For instruments capable of generating a user-defined sequence of arbitrary waveforms. |
| IviFgenTrigger | For instruments capable of producing a signal upon receipt of a trigger. |
| IviFgenInternalTrigger | For instruments capable of producing a signal upon receipt of a trigger from an internal trigger source. |
| IviFgenSoftwareTrigger | For instruments capable of producing a signal upon receipt of a software trigger. |
| IviFgenBurst | For instruments capable of generating a fixed number of waveform cycles signal upon receipt of a trigger. |
| IviFgenModulateAM | For instruments capable of applying amplitude modulation to an output signal. |
| IviFgenModulateFM | For instruments capable of applying frequency modulation to an output signal. |