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| Software |
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The LX700 system software is provided as a Windows® 32 bit application. It is likely that future versions may also include a Windows® 64 bit version, and possibly a Linux version if demand develops. Not only does it include all of the necessary features and capabilities to control the LX700 mainframes and modules, but it also includes a substantial complement of data processing, post processing, specialized utilities, and extensive 2D & 3D graphics capabilities. |
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The software provides a large array of powerful computer based features ideal for both R&D and production QC/QA testing requirements: •
LX7
Data File Format with standard waveform import/export |
| LX7 Data File Format |
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There are many different digital signal processing data and file formats in use today. The majority of these data formats were created to only store the sampled data signal content. The requirements for instrumentation require more bookkeeping information to be maintained along with the signal data. This can include: date and time stamps, equipment model and serial numbers, test conditions, notes, etc. Moreover, there are a wide variety of different numeric parameters which can be involved such as: sampling rate, number of channels, full scale reference, type of units, resolution, binary format, precision, filtering, and sample length just to name a few. Therefore a more generalized file format is highly desirable with the capabilities to include all of the additional text and numeric information, as well as flexible representation of actual signal data content. The LX7 data file format was created for the LX700 software, and is the native data file format. The file structure approach chosen for LX7 was inspired by the TIFF - Tagged Image File Format, one of the most well known and successful raster image graphics file formats. The LX7 file format is a multi-waveform format, since each file may contain any number of channels or measurements as defined by the internal tags. The file consists of a variety of known tag structures, and each tag points to the next tag as a chain. The structure can contain both text and numeric array information efficiently, as well as uncompressed or compressed data. The structure and data within each tag type is uniquely defined, but the number of different tag types and definitions can be expanded as required in the future. Tag types unknown by a particular reader are simply ignored. The tag structure offers unparalleled flexibility and extensiblity. Conversion, import, and export of many common signal processing and waveform files to the LX7 format is provided such as: WAV, AIFF, WMA, BWF, APE, FLAC, OGG, and CoolEdit. The LX7 data file format specification will be provided publicly for 3rd parties that wish to utilize/support it in other software. |
| Graphics Processing |
| The rich graphical user interface provides a host of features which greatly enhance the ease of operation and power of the system. All graphics are designed on a generalized artboard layout, rather than screen specific fashion. The screen display is identical to the printed output. The user has full control over many of the design elements of the artwork including fonts, colors, and line styles. Custom graph documentation is also provided for project name, person, and company. Note and comment areas are also included in the graph layouts. Full high resolution color printing is supported through any standard Windows® printer driver. |
| Numerical Processing |
| All digital signal processing algorithms such as FFTs are performed in the LX700 software using 80x87 floating point algorithms. Both single precision (32 bit) and double precision (64 bit) foating point algorithms are utilized. All of the intensive numeric functions are hand coded in 80x87 assembler for high performance. Extensive profiling was also conducted on the algorithms using the Intel VTune® Analyzer to further optimze and tune algorithm performance for maximum speed with hyperthreaded processors. |
| Macro Scripting |
| For production testing applications the LX700 software can be controlled by user written Macro script programs. The Macro programming language allows for messages to be written to the screen to prompt operators, control test sweeps, run utilities, control printing of graphs, export data, and conduct Pass/Fail tests. A custom macro editor is also provided featuring syntax highlighting and color printing. |
| Post Processing |
| The software also provides post processing mathematical functions, data processing functions, and other specialized curve processing capabilities which can be applied to measured data or imported data. Smoothing, scaling, splicing, and other dsp operations give the user complete control over the measured data without the need for using external data processing programs. The post processing features in the software enhance the user's ability to derive maximum use of the measured data. |
| Utility Tools |
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LX700 provides a rich set of utilities for manipulating data and graphics. Numerical data can be imported and exported from the program as simple ASCII text files. The graphic artwork can be exported as either vector or raster image files in many different formats including: PDF, AI, EPS, WMF, EMF, BMP, TIF, PNG. A powerful Curve Capture utility can distill numerical curve data from raster images. These can be pictures from books, manuals, or scanned images of plotter output. The Curve Editor utility allows you to graphically create your own curves, or edit the data of any curve in the library. Specialized computational and control utilities are also provided. Examples include: advanced derivation of loudspeaker parameters, polar plot data processing and conversion, and LT360 turntable control. |
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