Get started building labAlive apps

Give it a try and see how easy it is to build a runnable app. Take these steps to create a simulation. In this example a sine signal shall be fed into a low pass.

Step 1

First look for a source that generates the wanted signal. Use any of the waveforms or sources listed below. Let's take a sine waveform and type in:

sine
Step 2

Now the signal is input to the next system for further processing. Use any system name listed below to create an instance. Here we take the lowpass. To connect a system type in ' - ' and the subsequent system's name. Optionally proceed with further systems.

sine - lowpass
Step 3

The signals can be analyzed with measures. The oscilloscope, "scope", shows the signal over time what is useful for our lowpass experiment. You can just open any measure interactively at runtime. This script opens all scopes right from the start. All its parameters are set to default values.

sine - lowpass scope show
Step 4

To adjust specific system settings, use an extra line in the format 'system method value'. However, you can change all settings manually interactively at runtime.

sine - lowpass scope show sine(frequency 20k amplitude 10) lowpass(cutoffFrequency 20k)

Now start and create your very own simulation. The following table gives an overview of usefull systems.

Basic systems

Waveforms

sine

cosine

triangle

sawtooth

dc

DiracDelta

signalgenerator
Pulse

sinc

sinc2

ExponentialPulse

SqarePulseGenerator

TimeLimitedPulse
Connectors

adder

multiplier

splitter

sink

delay

gain
Systems

Lowpass

RcLowpass

GaussLowpass

RectLowpass

RectBandpass

RectHighpass

RectPass
Measures

scope

spectrum

multimeter

powermeter

Create your own simulation app on the fly!

Give it a try and see how easy it is to build a runnable app. Connect systems and start. labAlive text looks like a simple programming language. Please note that the documentation is in progress...

Start with a source. Type in a waveform to create a signal generator or any other source. (The first letters are sufficient, e.g. 'saw'.)
Type in ' - ' to indicate that you want to connect it to another system.
Continue with a system. Use any system name listed below, e.g. 'lowpass' to create an instance (case insensitive). This serves a variable name refer to this system later on (case sensitive).
Optionally proceed with further systems. Finally a sink is automatically appended to terminate the system sequence.
All required parameters are set to default values and can be adjusted when the app is executed.
Set system attributes in an extra line in the format 'system method value'. Use the variable name of the system instance, e.g 'lowpass cutoffFrequency 20k'. Refer to the javadoc to see what setter methods the specific system offers.
Further system sequences can be defined in extra lines. It might terminate with a previously used multiple input system, e.g. an adder.
Split a system's output signal by connecting the same system to another.
Separate systems of the same type can be created by using the system's name with postfix '1', '2'...., e.g. lowpass1.

Enter your simulation description:
sine - lowpass lowpass cutoffFrequency 20k

Available waveforms:

sine
cosine
triangle
sawtooth
square
dc
randomSquare
laplaceDistributed
diracDelta

Available sources:

Available systems:

myLabAlive - examples

Hello World!

Create a sine wave	sine label "Hello World!"
Show sine wave in a scope.	sine show scope
Show sine wave signal s(t) in a scope.	sine label "s" show scope

System chain

Systems are connected to a chain.	sine-lowpass
Systems are connected to a chain.	sine-rect 1m
Additional spaces and explicit sink.	sine - lowpass - sink
Two system chains and adder.	sine-lowpass-adder square-adder

Initialization

Create sine wave of specific frequency and amplitude.	sine 5kHz 3V
Same as above using explicit method names.	sine frequency 5k amplitude 3
Initialization of systems (in separate line).	sine-lowpass sine 5kHz 3V lowpass cutoffFrequency 4e3
Same as above with inline initialization.	sine 5kHz 3V - lowpass cutoffFrequency 4e3
Same as above with inline Lowpass constructor (parameter cutoff frequency)	sine 5kHz 3V - lowpass 4e3
Gain has a one parameter constructor.	sine 5kHz 3V - lowpass 4e3 - gain 2
Brackets might be used. Equivalent to expression above.	sine(5kHz, 3V) - lowpass(4e3) - gain(2)

Active

Example for user interactive scope settings	sine-lowpass lowpass.scope ampl/div 0.2 time/div 0.2m show On
	sine show
Initialization of systems (in separate line).	sine-lowpass sine 5kHz 1V lowpass cutoffFrequency 5e3 scope amplitude 0.2 show
Fourier transformation example.	dirac-rect 2m-adder dirac-rect2 1m -gain -0.5 -delay -adder dirac 100Hz 1V delay delay 0.5m adder show scope 5000V time 0.2m adder scope show

Measures

Spectrum analyzer settings are done using 'spectrum'. It is the general setting for all spectrum analyzer.	sine-lowpass spectrum draw Dirac show
Scope settings are done using 'scope'. It is the general setting for all scopes.	sine-lowpass scope show
A special scope setting can be set for a system's out signal. Note that it inherits prior general settings for all scopes.	sine-lowpass scope 0.5V time 0.2m lowpass show scope1 0.2V
Same as above.	sine-lowpass scope 0.5V time 0.2m scopeLp = scope1 0.2V show lowpass set scopeLp

Further

constructor with parameter followed by method call	gain 2 gain 3 sine - gain
constructor with parameter followed by method call	gain 2 gain 3 sine - gain
constructor with parameter followed by method call	i = string abcd indexOf b sine - sink
A special scope setting can be set for a system's out signal.	sine sine show scope1 amplitude 0.5 time 0.2m
	sine scope amplitude 0.2 show sine getOutWire set scope
	sine sine getOutWire set scope show label x
	sine sine getOutWire set scope label x
	sine1-adder sine2(2kHz 3V)-adder sine1 1.3V 3kHz
	sine - gain 1 - sink scope amplitude 1
	sine connect gain 1 connect sink
	sine 12kHz amplitude 2.2-sink square 3V
	sine-lowpass-adder square-adder sine 12kHz amplitude 2,2
	sine-gain(1)-adder-multi DC-adder cosine-multi sine 10MHz 1.1V cosine 1.2V 50MHz
	SignalGenerator(sine)-gain(1)-adder-multi DC-adder cosine-multi sine toString
	sine(1.1V)-gain(1)-adder-multi DC-adder cosine-multi sine 1.2V toString
	sine(12kHz 2.2V)-gain(1)-adder-multi DC-adder cosine-multi sine 1.2V toString
	SignalGenerator(cosine 12kHz 2.2V)-gain(1)-adder-multi DC-adder cosine-multi square 3V
Two system chains and adder.	sine-lowpass-adder square-adder
x	sine - lowpass - gain - adder - sink sine2 - adder
	sine - adder - multi - adder2 - lowpass2 - delay - sink DC - gain1 - gain2 - gain3 - adder cosine - gain4 - multi DC2 - lowpass3 - lowpass4 - lowpass5 - adder2
x	sine - lowpass -adder - sink sine - gain - delay - lowpass2 - adder
x	sine - lowpass - gain - delay - adder - sink sine - lowpass2 - gain2 - adder

Basic systems

In order to make using labAlive for the first time as simple as possible, the following chapter shows you an overview of basic systems. With these systems you are able to construct simple simulations.

Signals & waveforms

sine
cosine
triangle
sawtooth
square
dc
randomSquare
LaplaceDistributed
DiracDelta
SignalGenerator
SineGenerator
GaussianNoise

Pulse

sinc
sinc2
Pulse
ExponentialPulse
SqarePulseGenerator
TimeLimitedPulse

Filter

Lowpass
RcLowpass
GaussLowpass
RectLowpass
RectBandpass
RectHighpass
RectPass

Else (need better name)

adder
multiplier
multi
splitter
sink
delay
gain

Measures

scope
multimeter
spectrum
powermeter

Preferences (Diagram- Settings)

Simulations can use a graphic-based measuring device e.g. oscilloscope or spectrum analyzer. Most times, default settings fit the purpose.

But to give the user the chance to change the settings, labAlive has implemented the preferences menu. Picture 1 shows the variety of functions. Every function is listed in the tables 1 & 2 with the given options.

Picture 1: Preferences GUI

Table 1: Spectrum analyzer settings

	Minimum	Maximum
XY-meter beam stroke	0.3	10
XY-meter beam stroke
XY-meter subdivisions	1	10
XY-meter subdivisions

Table 2: Given options of the preferences menu

Preferences
Setting	Options	Example
XY-meter beam stroke Hover over the setting to see the changes	1.0pt - 10.0pt
XY-meter presentation Hover over the setting to see the changes 🛈 The Presentation-designs are a combination of the following preferences	Measure Diagram Scope R Scope T Diagram w/o Grid Diagram script Squared paper Graph paper Plot
XY-meter Colors Hover over the setting to see the changes	black-white-gray black-white-black yellow-black yellow-green-black black-white-pink black-white-cyan red-black random beam color
XY-meter Style Hover over the setting to see the changes	Measure Measure-small Scope T Scope R Diagram Diagram-small Diagram w/o Grid Diagram plot Plot axes only Curve only Axes & grid Axes
XY-meter Stroke widths Hover over the setting to see the changes	fine x-fine fine & bigger font bold bold & bigger font x-bold xx-bold xxx-bold
XY-meter grid Hover over the setting to see the changes	fine dash dash dotted dash solid
XY-meter unit-line Hover over the setting to see the changes	bold grid normal

Signal generator - operate and control

The signal generator is one of the key instrument for the simulations. The basic function of a signal generator is to provide a waveform. Table 1 contains a preview available waveforms.

For a better overview of waveforms, check out the waveform website.

Picture 1: GUI signal generator

Table 1: Overview of signal generator settings

Signalgenerator
Amplitude	Changes amplitude.
Frequency	Adjust frequency
Output	Turn signal generator output on / off.
Waveform	sine cosine triangle sawtooth square dc random square laplace distributed dirac delta

TextCode fuer Oscilloscope Demo

TextCode fuer Oscilloscope Demo	signalGenerator - lowpass signalGenerator(waveform sine 2MHz 1V) signalGenerator label x lowpass cutoffFrequency 2M lowpass label y signalGenerator show signalGenerator show scope(0.2V time 0.1u)
TextCode fuer Fourier transforms	signalGenerator signalGenerator(waveform dc 1mV 10kHz) signalGenerator label x show signalGenerator show scope(0.5mV time 0.1m) signalGenerator show spectrum(5Hz 0.2mV)
TextCode fuer LTI system example:RC-lowpass	signalGenerator- RcLowpass(10MHz) signalGenerator (waveform sine 10MHz 1V) signalGenerator label x signalGenerator show scopechannel(0.2V time 20n) RcLowpass label y RcLowpass show scopechannel(0.2V time 20n)
TextCode fuer AM example: Amplitude Modulation	signalGenerator-gain(0.5)-adder-multi signalGenerator(waveform sine 1MHz 1V) signalGenerator label s DC name s-adder cosine-multi label t cosine(1V 20MHz name "coswtCarrier") multi show scope(0.5V time 200n) multi show spectrum(frequency 500k amplitude 50m) multi show spectrum(startfrequency 18M)
TextCode fuer Signal Spectra 1	signalGenerator(DC 1mV 1kHz name Quelle) signalGenerator label x show signalGenerator show scope(1mV time 0.1m) signalGenerator show spectrum(amplitude 0.2m frequency 10k)
TextCode fuer Signal Spectra 2	dirac(0.001mV 50kHz)- RectLowpass(20MHz) dirac label x RectLowpass(setDeltaTs 20)label y RectLowpass show scope(amplitude 1 time 500n) RectLowpass show spectrum(200nV 500kHz)

zu Fourier transforms

Centerfrequency einstellen!(Spectrum)

zu LTI system example:RC-lowpass

Simulation Speed!c

zu AM example: Amplitude Modulation

Draw Funktion noch implementieren

zu Signal Spectra 1

Draw Funktion noch implementieren

zu Signal Spectra 2

Window Funktion und Filter length stimmen nicht Ã¼berein

How o change the signal

sine

spectrum draw Dirac amplitude 0.2 show frequency 2e3

List of waveforms

The table contains all common waveforms. Use this table to get an overview of various waveforms. The corresponding code can be used to simulate the waveform.

Name	Form	Code
sine		sine show scope
cosine		cosine show scope
triangle		triangle show scope
sawtooth		sawtooth show scope
square		square show scope
dc		dc show scope
random sqare		random square show scope
laplace distributed		laplace distributed show scope
dirac delta		dirac delta show scope