The real-time operating system for ADwin systems has been optimized for the shortest possible response times. It manages parallel processes, which can be executed simultaneously in multitasking mode with different priorities and process cycle times. Processes with a lower priority are managed in time slice mode. Higher priority processes interrupt all processes of lower priority and are executed completely and immediately. It is important to mention the extremely short response time of just 300 nanoseconds when changing from a process of lower priority to one of higher priority. The system's integral timer, which has 25-nanosecond resolution, guarantees that processes of higher priority are called very precisely. A permanent communication process permits continuous data exchange between the ADwin system and the PC via Ethernet or USB, even during the fastest possible measurement, without affecting the real-time system's response time.

The ADbasic real-time development tool permits simple, fast generation of time-critical programs for ADwin systems. ADbasic is an integral development environment under Windows with the facility for online debugging. A standard, easily learned command syntax has been extended with a number of functions for access to inputs/outputs, as well as functions for process control and communication with the PC. This means that a fundamental knowledge of any programming language is completely sufficient for ADbasic.

ADbasic Example Code
This process is sampling analog input No. 1 and searching continuously for the maximum and minimum value in a set of 1000 samples. The result is written into a FIFO Data_min and Data_max, while all raw data is additionally written into a FIFO (e.g., for as PC OSZI view). In addition to that, analog input No. 2 is measured, and a control function is executed, and the result is written to analog output No. 1. This process can run continuously with a speed of up to hundreds of kilohertz.

Drivers are available for a wide range of PC programs under Windows or Linux

The available driver functions provide capabilities for the communication with ADbasic processes:

• Bi-directional data exchange of single variables
• Bi-directional data exchange of measurement data sets as block type
• Bi-directional data exchange of measurement data sets as fifo type
• System booting
• Program downloads
• Start and stop of processes
• Monitoring and control of system variables and resources

One of the key benefits in the ADwin <> PC communication is that it is possible to run fast, deterministic real-time processes and communicate at the same time. Neither of these operations has any influence on the other.

ADtools

ADtools are easy-to-use graphical development tools for visualization and control applications, and are supplied free of charge with all ADwin systems.

ADtools are easy-to-use elements; communication with the ADwin system and visualization of calibrated measurement data require only configuring parameter settings. These tools are ideal for many lab applications and support every software development step, because no programming is needed. ADtools offer direct access to ADwin resources, as well as data storage to files and direct links to Excel. While ADtools offers complete control of ADbasic processes, it is not a replacement for graphical user interfaces created using TestPoint, VisualBasic, C/C++/C#/LabWindowsCVI/’Win-CC, Delphi, and LabVIEW.

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