Step 5.3: Setting Analog Input Sensors

Analog inputs require a slight modification to the model because input sensors cannot be set directly on network components such as a 3-phase bus.

You will need to open the Target Inputs and Outputs library and add the Target input, analog block to your network.

Right-click the Target input, analog block and select Open Sensors Form to edit the sensors.

Input the values as below.

Since the voltage values were scaled down to adapt to the analog output limitations, it is necessary to multiply these values again once they are received on the analog input side.

Digital Output Sensors

In order to interface a square wave signal with the digital output, you need to convert the data format from float to integer because float values cannot be output to the digital interface.

You can distinguish both data types on the various blocks by the color of the signal name: black corresponds to float and red corresponds to integer.

You will find the square wave generator in Control Sources and the Data type, float to integer conversion block in the Signal Routing library.

Before setting the sensors, look at the square wave by double-clicking the block.

It opens a mask that presents the various parameters that can be modified.

For this tutorial, we can leave it as is; a 100 Hz pulsed signal with a duty cycle of 50% is easily recognizable on an oscilloscope.

Knowing the data format, we will set the DO sensors on the Data type, float to integer block on the y signal.

Since the square wave has an amplitude of one, no scaling is required. 

The voltage measured at the output of the simulator is always the supply voltage (5 V or 12 V with a loopback) when the value is 1.