Virtual

The virtual interface can be found in the Analytics tab of the I/O Manager. When updating from older ibaPDA versions to v8.4.0 or higher this interface will be moved automatically to the Analytics tab.

The virtual interface is a special feature, which enables the user to create virtual signals, i.e. generate or calculate signals and to use them like real input signals for acquisition. Calculation results in virtual modules can be stored with high accuracy (64 bit).

A group of different module types is available for this interface. Each module offers predefined functions for particular purposes. A maximum of 4096 modules are supported at the Virtual data interface.

Module types	Function	Application fields
16 bit decoder	Splits a 16 bit integer (e.g. analog input) into 16 single bits (digital signals)	Using analog values as container for digital signals (e.g. status words)
32 bit decoder	Splits a 32 bit integer or real (e. g. analog input) into 32 single bits (digital signals)	Using analog values as container for digital signals (e.g. status words)
Multidecoder module	Collection of multiple decoders (8, 16 or 32 bit) in one module; decoding and naming of the discrete bits are determined by profiles.	Using analog values as container for digital signals (e.g. status words)
16-bit encoder	Packs multiple digital signals into one 16-bit integer analog signal	Transmission of multiple binary data in one analog value (e.g. status word)
32-bit encoder	Packs multiple digital signals into one 32-bit integer analog signal	Transmission of multiple binary data in one analog value (e.g. status word)
Electric modules	Provide effective values for voltage and current as well as power factor, reactive, real and apparent power in a standard delta, single-phase, two-phase or star system.	Power generation and distribution.
Energy aggregation module	Calculates the energy based on a power signal and various time ranges.	Energy
Trigger module	Provides customized digital trigger signals based on complex trigger conditions.	Event-driven control of data storage and/or creation of events in HD event store
Virtual	Provides customized virtual signals created with the expression builder.	Any mathematical or logical calculation
Virtual retentive	Provides analog virtual signals, which have been created with the expression editor.	When restarting the acquisition the signals in this module retain their last value or use a configured default value, e. g. for elapsed time meters.
Shift register	Stacks actual values of a signal, controlled by a trigger.	Visualization of the last n values
ibaQPanel input	Provision of the signals specified via the QPanel input element. The function is now integrated in the ibaQPanel text input.	Still available for compatibility with older QPanels; only the text input element is available for creating new QPanels.
ibaQPanel text input	Provides text signals, which can be determined via the ibaQPanel text input control.	Interactive visualization of measurement; Adding manually entered texts to the data file
Text shift register See Text shift register.	Stacks actual values (texts) of a text signal, trigger-controlled.	Visualization of the last n values (texts)
Text creator See Custom text (text creator).	Used to configure custom text signals	Creation of static or dynamic texts
Text splitter See Text splitter module.	Creates additional text signals or signals of other data types from a text signal	Splits long texts into smaller units, conversion of digits into numerical values
Computation module	Provides arbitrary, self-generated signals similar to the virtual module with the difference that calculation operands can be occupied by placeholders. The calculation is saved in a profile.	Efficient configuration of extensive, complex, recurring and/or protection deserving calculations. Comparable to "Macros" in ibaAnalyzer.
Computation retentive module	Basically, this module works the same way as the the computation module but it allows the use of retentive functions.	When restarting the acquisition the signals in this module retain their last value or use a configured default value, e. g. for elapsed time meters.
Lookup table	Translation of different values based on a predefined profile via selection of key values	E.g., to translate error codes into understandable, meaningful error messages.
Parameter set	Selection of different analog and digital parameters stored in a profile and selected via the value of a signal	Application of different parameters depending on an input signal, e.g. calculation of material-dependent quantities such as weight, heating curve, etc.
Phasor module	Computation of RMS value, phase angle, effective frequency and ROCOF of a current or voltage signal	Acquisition of charcteristic values of a signal in the field of electrical power.
Process condition	Definition of different process states that are stored in a profile.	Consideration of the influences of different process conditions during process analysis, such as material properties, geometries, temperatures, speeds, etc.
NMEA 0183 decoder	Decoding a telegram according to NMEA 0183 standard, e.g. reading GPS information	Acquisition of GPS coordinates for tracking moving goods (ships, locomotives, trucks, etc.); visualization on map with ibaAnalyzer maps
Vector calculation module	Calculation of statistical values on the crossprofile of a vector (min. max, median. average, sum, standard deviation)	E.g. determination of maximum and minimum values of a measured variable over the width of a web-shaped product over time