Data Acquisition Hardware Products

By Control Engineering Staff September 1, 1999
Data acquisition through the USB port
Marlboro, Mass. -The DT9800 Series family of USB data acquisition function modules offer 16SE/8DI inputs with 12- or 16-bit resolution, up to 100kS/s throughput, 16 digital I/O lines, and 2 user counter/timers. Users also have optional 12- or 16-bit analog outputs. Users are said to obtain all the benefits previously available only with plug-in boards, in the convenience of a plug-and-play USB module. Modules are small and portable, enabling users to transport them to and from different PCs. They’re also hot swappable, allowing users to plug and unplug while the computer is on. No rebooting is required. The on-board processor takes the workload off the host PC processor by controlling and supervising all subsystems on board. No additional power is needed, and its 500 V isolation is said to provide safe, low-noise measurements. This isolation also guards against ground loops, protecting the user’s PC and data.
Data Translation

12- and 16-bit PCI data acquisition boards

Akron, O. -Quatech’s new PCI data acquisition line is designed to provide board options for low-, mid-, and high-range systems. All products in the new line support the company’s SignalPro Series of board-level signal conditioning equipment, and come with the company’s DaqSuite data acquisition application software CD to provide a custom configurable system solution for a wide range of process and monitoring applications. The line includes 12- and 16-bit boards capable of analog input and output. These boards all provide 16 single-ended or 8 differential A/D channels, and are available in unipolar or bipolar versions.
Quatech
Line of DAC boards
Austin, Tex. -PCI-6034E and PCI-6035E are 16-bit, 200 kS/s plug-in boards with 16 single-ended, eight differential analog input channels. PXI-6025E for CompactPCI/PXI computer systems is a 12-bit, 200 kS/s plug-in module with 32 digital input/output lines. The PCI-6035E and PXI-6025E also feature two 12-bit analog output channels. All three products feature National Instruments E-series design technologies and custom ASICs for accurate and reliable measurements. These devices are said to integrate seamlessly with easy-to-use application software, including National Instruments LabView and LabWindows/CVI.
National Instruments

Multichannel counter/timer card series

San Diego, Calif. -PCIDCCx-P Series PCI bus counter/timer cards are typically used for PC-based data acquisition applications such as monitoring encoder pulse outputs for motion control, or as a frequency/pulse counter. The series offers 5-, 10-, and 20-channel cards. The heart of each board is an AMD AM9513 counter/timer chip, which provides five independent 16-bit up/down counters. The counters can be programmed to count either up or down in binary or BCD. A selection of various internal and external frequency sources and outputs may be chosen as inputs for individual counters, with software selectable active-high or active-low polarities. Other features include frequency measurement to 7MHz, internally cascadable counters, and 0-50 ° C operating temperature range.
Industrial Computer Source
Family of PCI bus DAC boards
San Diego, Calif. -Acces I/O Products’ new family of cards for PCI bus computers offer 40 models from which to choose. Each model supports most popular data acquisition applications. The series includes several models each of digital-to-analog, digital I/O, serial communications, and utility cards-all designed to operate in harsh environments. Acces I/O keeps costs down by porting what were the most popular ISA data acquisition applications to the PCI bus without extra enhancements. All cards are able to withstand temperatures of 0-60 °C and 0-90% relative humidity (noncondensing). PCI Series cards can be installed in any 5 V PCI bus long slot.
Acces I/O

Analog module with digital calibration

Eugene, Ore. -VCM-DAS-1 high-density data acquisition and control modules include 16 analog input channels, two analog output channels, and two digital I/O ports on a standard 3.8 x 3.6-in. form factor. The high resolution, 16-bit analog inputs use a high-speed 10 m sec converter for 100 kHz throughput. Sixteen input channels have selectable ranges of
VersaLogic
Temperature indicator/logger
San Diego, Calif. -The Doric 5000 is a programmable, PC-compatible digital temperature indicator/data logger. The unit also features RS-232 serial communications and Microsoft Windows-based software. Configuration is performed via the front panel, including calibration of sensor input type, sampling rate, limit settings, and resolution. Other key features include a four digit alphanumeric display; the ability to take readings from six thermocouple types or two RTD types; and scalable analog ouput, dual alarm, and multiple input options. All front-panel setup commands can be executed remotely from a PC through the Doric 5000’s software, which allows for simultaneous viewing of all channel data, limit/alarm status, and minimum/maximum values.
Doric Instruments

Series of recorders to complement instruments

Spring House, Pa. -Series 36 recorders offer PCMCIA card data storage and employ the Modbus RTU communications link to communicate to higher-level systems. The 36 V paperless, microprocessor-based recorder offers easy-to-read, full-color VGA display of up to 12 traces and the convenience of eight preconfigured displays. 36P is a four-pen continuous trace recorder includes a four-color vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) for easy reading of each channel’s measured values, and a bar graph indicator of three selected values. 36M is a multipoint industrial recorder with a six-color fiber tip dotting system for easy-to-view traces, and also comes with a VFD. 36C is a circular recorder that accepts up to six universal isolated inputs and uses a four-color fiber tip dotting system for six traces.
Moore Process Automation Solutions
High-speed sampling
Bellevue, Wa. -DAP 440a/446 has four on-board A/D converters that each can acquire 800k 14-bit resolution samples per second simultaneously, for an aggregate throughput of 3.2M samples per second. The board has 16 Mb of on-board memory for data buffers and uses DMA bus-mastering to transfer data to the PC. Sixteen on-board single-ended inputs, multiplexed in groups of four, share the 3.2 million samples per second throughput of the DAP 4400a. If an application requires sixteen simultaneous inputs, each acquiring data at 800k samples per second, then four synchronized DAP 4400a boards, installed in one PC, can deliver the aggregate throughput of 12.8 million samples per second shared by these 16 simultaneous inputs.
Microstar Laboratories

Process adapter

North Andover, Mass. -Momentum M1E process adapter delivers data acquisition, peer-to-peer communications, and I/O scanning over Ethernet. Module specs include 512K of RAM with Ethernet and I/O bus ports or RS-485 ports. Specific functions include I/O servicing of up to 4,000 messages per second, logic solve time of 0.25 msec per K of user logic and an I/O capacity of 512 words. Additional communications functionality includes handling messages of up to 125 words. -This combination of Ethernet-enabled features is said to give users optimal connectivity, performance, and ease of use.
Schneider Electric
Seriplex master
Palatine, Ill. -Square D’s Momentum Master for Seriplex is said to reduce installation costs up to 70%. Interfacing Seriplex enabled I/O products to the Momentum line of PLCs and communication adapters, analog, digital, and diagnostic data is shared over a single serial link between multiple levels of networking and control while eliminating copper wire. The master module is also said to allow for deterministic control, adaptable topology, hundreds of inputs and outputs per network, and runs up to 5,000 feet per network. Communication adapters enable Seriplex I/O products to link with Ethernet, Modbus Plus, Profibus DP, DeviceNet, and other analog I/O-supporting network protocols.
Square D