March 25, 2010

Vision Version 4.4.1 is now available for download from Radiant's web site at www.ferrodevices.com. There are two major changes to Vision 4.4.1. The first is the new ability for Vision to create block diagrams of the Test Definitions you create for use in your documentation. The second is the ability of Vision to measure and cancel small voltage offsets originating from the DRIVE output of our testers. The block diagrams are described below. The offset cancellation will be discussed in the next chapter of "Something New".

Program Diagrams:

Those of you who are new to Vision are probably still attempting to get a handle on how to have it collect and display your data. Over time you will come to learn how Vision will collect and document data according to the Test Definitions you create, plot the data in a myriad of ways to allow you to analyze your materials and devices, and create professional plots for export to your reports and journal papers.

For those of you with more experience with Vision, you no doubt have created complex automated test procedures for characterizing the devices and materials fabricated as part of your research. Vision 4.4.1 now provides a method for you to create and export block diagrams of the tests you create.

Vision will create for you the block diagram of a test definition in the Editor, the Current Test Definition, or the Archive.

To create a block diagram, place the cursor over the test definition of interest, click the right mouse button, and select the command "Graph Test Definition".

For example, I created in the Vision Editor a program to execute and plot opposing hysteresis loops (loops at the same voltage going in opposite directions) from 1.0 volts to 9.0 volts with 1.0 volt steps. The Editor Test Definition is shown in the figure below:

The block diagram for this test is created by placing the mouse cursor in the Editor space, pressing the right mouse key, and selecting "Graph Editor Test Definition".

Vision will create the block diagram of the program in the Editor and display it in a new window.

Using a pop-up menu called from the right mouse key, you may save this diagram for later recall by Vision. Or, you may copy it to the clipboard to be pasted into graphics program and saved as a JPEG or some other form. That is the technique I used to insert the program block diagram onto this web page.

Look at the image of the pop-up menu above. See that there are three levels of complexity that may be added to the block diagram of the program. The diagram just above is the minimal graph. The Full Graph for the same program is shown below.

The brown lines indicate data paths from measurements to data filters. The blue line represents the branch path for a loop. Note that the information in the text boxes describing the two hysteresis loops include the 1V increment request per branch loop!

Please download and use the new Vision Version 4.4.1. Persue the program block diagram feature and contact us with any questions. Stay tuned next week for an explanation of the output voltage offset correction offered by Vision 4.4.1.

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