Configuration Options (Digital I/O)

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Updated2023-02-17
5 minute(s) read

Use configuration options on the Digital I/O Soft Front Panel (SFP) to control how to acquire and generate digital signals. For example, you can configure it to work as a 8-bit digital counter.

Toolbar Controls

Use toolbar controls to perform common tasks for the Digital I/O. The toolbar is located at the top of the SFP.


Control	Description
Drag and drop	Drags and drops the SFP to the desired position within the browser window. Large SFPs such as the Oscilloscope are always located to the left of small SFPs such as the Variable Power Supplies (VPS). Your window size decides whether the SFPs are arranged vertically or horizontally.
Dropdown	Click to open the current SFP in a separate browser window. To restore it to the original window, close the SFP by clicking and launch it again.
Run/Stop	Click Run to start data acquisition or generation. Click Stop to stop data acquisition or generation.
Collaboration	Indicates whether you are controlling or viewing the instrument, and whether others are using the instrument simultaneously. Click the button to request or release your control over the instrument. For more information, refer to Collaborating with Your Team Members.

Read Mode

Configure a group of lines to the Read mode to read digital data from the lines. You can view the readback value in real time and change the format of the value.


Setting	Description
Readback value	Displays the real-time readback value for the group of lines.
Format	Configures the format of the readback value. You can choose from the following four formats: Binary Octal Decimal Hexadecimal

Note A line is an individual signal. It refers to a physical terminal. The data that the line carries are called bits, or binary values, which are either 0 (low) or 1 (high).

Write Mode

Configure a group of lines to the Write mode to write digital data to the lines. You can configure the value of the lines using Value or Line status.


Setting	Description
Value	Configures the value for the group of lines. You can choose the format from the drop-down list by clicking the radix box on the left side.
Line status	Toggles the bit of each line. Click the toggle to change a bit from 0 to 1 or from 1 to 0.

Pattern (Auto) Mode

Configure a group of lines to the Pattern (Auto) mode to write digital data to the lines at a fixed rate and in a desired pattern mode. You cannot change the configuration options when the SFP is running.


Setting	Description
Readback value	Displays the real-time readback value for the group of lines.
Value	Value written to the lines when the SFP runs. You can enter a value in binary, decimal, or hex format. Choose the format from the drop-down list by clicking the radix box on the left side.
Mode	Shift—Moves all the bits to the left or right by one and places 0 in the vacated bit on either end at the configured update rate. Rotate—Moves all the bits to the left by one and moves the first bit to the final position, or performs the opposite operation, at the configured update rate. Count—Increases/decreases all the bits by one at the configured update rate. Invert—Flips the value of all the bits to the opposite at the configured update rate. To learn more about the different modes, refer to the pattern mode examples at the end of the this topic.
Update rate	Frequency of updating the value to the lines. The valid value must be an integer ranging from 1 Hz to 10 Hz.

Pattern (Manual) Mode

Configure a group of lines to the Pattern (Manual) mode to write digital data to the lines in a desired pattern mode. You can change the value and mode manually when the SFP is running.


Setting	Description
Readback value	Displays the readback value for the group of lines.
Value	Value written to the lines when the SFP runs. You can enter a value in binary, decimal, or hex format. Choose the format from the drop-down list by clicking the radix box on the left side.
Shift	Moves all the bits to the left or right by one and places 0 in the vacated bit on either end.
Rotate	Moves all the bits to the left by one and moves the first bit to the final position or performs the opposite operation.
Count	Increases/decreases all the bits by one.
Invert	Flips the value of all the bits to the opposite.