NI 5431 Composite Video Generator
Download Video File to NI 5431

This basic VI example downloads a binary video data file such as the file you saved using Basic Create Video File from BMP Image and Save. It then downloads the data to the NI 5431 and automatically starts the generation of a video signal. The VI automatically detects the Video type from the size of the file and adjusts the pixel frequency to the video type.

You can access this VI example in the LabVIEW palette by selecting Functions»Video Generation»Generator Examples»Download video file to NI-5431.

To generate a saved video signal, follow these steps:

1. After selecting the example VI icon in the LabVIEW palette, click the LabVIEW diagram to place the icon there. Double-click the VI example icon to open it in LabVIEW.

Note  You can also access this VI from the installation drive by double-clicking the Composite Video Generator Examples.llb library. The File Dialog box appears. Click the Download video file to NI 5431.vi, then click OK. The VI opens in LabVIEW.

2. Make sure the Device ID control value matches device number assigned in MAX during device configuration. Refer to the NI Signal Sources Getting Started Guide for more information about device configuration.

The Output Level control should be set to the default analog output level corresponding to the generated video format. The default analog output level is set to 7.000 mV/IRE, which is the normal value for all formats except NTSC, M-PAL, and N-PAL. For these three video formats, the default value should be 7.143 mV/IRE.

Caution  You should be careful modifying the Output Level control. For example, the NI 5431 can output up to 5 V in a 75 load, resulting in the potential destruction of your unit under test.

3. Run the VI. A Video bin file dialog box appears, prompting you to select a subdirectory that is storing the binary video data file to be downloaded.
4. Double-click the Video data files shortcut to access the appropriate subdirectories. Select the next subdirectory based on the video format of the binary video data file you want to download.
5. Double-click the .bin file you want to download.

A saved video signal is downloaded to your NI 5431 and the video signal starts generating.

The DigiSync enables or disables the digital output data lines on the module.

Note  Select enabled on the DigiSync control only if your application needs the four TTL video synchronization symbols.

Note  The Basic create video file from BMP image and save VI does not include the synchronization signals in your saved file.

When you select enabled on the Digital sync control, the VI inserts four digital synchronization signals in order—composite sync (Csync), horizontal sync (Hsync), vertical sync (Vsync), and field identification (Field ID)—into the four least significant bits of your video data. The video data is created and/or saved as 16-bit data, but only 12 of these bits are used to generate the analog video signal. When you create the four digital synchronization signals, it does not affect your analog signal quality.

Note  Refer to the NI 5431 device topics for information on the location of these TTL signals on the NI 5431 digital output connector.

When the VI runs, the video format of the binary video data file is detected and displayed in the Detected video format control.