Data Acquisition (DAQ)

Hardware and software

 What is DAQ System?

• DAQ systems capture, measure, and analyze physical phenomena from

the real world.

• Light, temperature and pressure are examples of the different types of

signals that a DAQ system can measure.

• Data acquisition is the process of collecting and measuring electrical

signals and sending them to a computer for processing.

• Electrical signals comes from Transducers.

 What is DAQ System?
The building blocks of a DAQ system includes:

1. Transducer: A device that converts a physical phenomenon such as light,

temperature, pressure, or sound into a measurable electrical signal such as
voltage or current.

2. Signal: The output of the transducer.

3. Signal conditioning: Hardware that you can connect to the DAQ device to
make the signal suitable for measurement or to improve accuracy or reduce
noise.

4. DAQ hardware: Hardware you use to acquire, measure, and analyze data.

5. Software: NI application software is designed to help you easily design and

program your measurement and control application (LABVIEW).
 What is DAQ System?
There are two methods of communicating the measured signal to the computer
Sensors (Transducer)
 Why Signal Conditioning
• To measure signals from transducers, you must convert them into a form a
measurement device can accept.

• Common types of signal conditioning include amplification, linearization,

transducer excitation, and isolation .
 What type of device to use?
The trade-off usually falls between

1- Resolution (bits) & Code Width

2- Sampling rate (samples/second)

3- Number of channels, and data transfer rate

(usually limited by “bus” type: USB, PCI, PXI,
etc.).
 Resolution
• Precision of the analog to digital conversion
process is dependent upon the number (n) of bits
the ADC of the DAQ uses.

• The higher the resolution, the higher the number

of divisions the voltage range is broken into
(2^n), and therefore, the smaller the detectable
voltage changes.
 Resolution
• An 8 bit ADC gives 256 levels (2^8) compared to a
12 bit ADC that has 4096 levels (2^12).
16-Bit versus 3-Bit Resolution
(5 kHz Sine Wave)
10.00
111
8.75
110 16-bit
7.50
101
6.25
3-bit
Amplitude 100
5.00
(Volts) 011
3.75
010
2.50
001
1.25
000
0 | | | | |
0 50 100 150 200
Time (ms)
 Code Width
• Code width is the smallest change in a signal that a
DAQ system can detect

• Calculated using the formula

Code width

Where D is DAQ device input range and n is the

resolution

• Larger resolution implies smaller code width and

more accurate representation of the signal
 Code Width
For example, a 12-bit DAQ device with a 0 to 10 V
input range detects a 2.4 mV change, while the same
device with a -10 to 10 V input range would detect a
change of 4.8 mV.
 Sampling Rate
• The data is acquired by an ADC using a process
called sampling.
• Sampling an analog signal occurs at discrete
time intervals.
• The rate at which the signal is sampled is known
as the sampling frequency.
 Sampling Rate
• The sampling frequency determines the quality of the analog signal
conversion process.

• A Higher sampling frequency achieves better conversion of the

analog signals.

• The minimum sampling frequency required to represent the signal

should be at least twice the maximum frequency of the analog signal
under test (this is called the Nyquist rate).

• If the sampling frequency is equal or less than twice the frequency of

the input signal, a signal of lower frequency is generated from such a
process (this is called aliasing).
 Sampling Rate

• For accurate frequency representation:

– Sample at least 2x the highest frequency
signal being measured.

• For accurate shape representation

– Sample 5–10x the highest frequency signal
being measured.
Sampling Rate
 What Type of Device to Use?

There are many types of data acquisition and control devices on the market.
A few have been highlighted above.
 DAQ Device Properties?
DAQ devices have four standard elements:

• Analog input (AI)

• Analog output (AO)
• Digital I/O (DIO)
• Counter/Timers
DAQ Device Available in the Lab.
Low-Cost Multifunction DAQ for USB NI
USB-6008 • Small and portable
• 12-bit input resolution, at 10 kS/s
• Built-in connectors for connectivity
• 2 analog outputs (range 0 to 5 V)
• 12 digital I/O lines
• 8 single ended inputs (4 differential inputs)
• Input range ±1 to ±20V
• The NI USB-6008 and NI is ideal for
students.
• 32 bit counter
• 5 mA Output current drive

Around KD. 50
DAQ Device Available in the Lab.
• NI USB-6008 Pinout
 Similar DAQ.
Low-Cost Multifunction DAQ for USB
NI USB-6009

14-bit input resolution, at 48 kS/s

DAQ Device Available in the Lab.
M Series Multifunction DAQ NI USB-6211
• 16 analog inputs single ended inputs (8 differential
inputs);(16-bit, 250 kS/s); Input range ±10 V
• 2 analog outputs (16-bit, 250 kS/s); Output range ±10 V
• 4 digital inputs
• 4 digital outputs
• 32-bit counters
• Output current drive ±2 mA
KD 210
DAQ Device Available in the Lab.

NI USB-6211 Pinout
DAQ Device Available in the Lab.
M Series Multifunction DAQ NI USB-6259
• 32 analog inputs (16-bit); 1.25 MS/s single-
channel (1 MS/s aggregate) Input range ±10 V
• 4 analog outputs (16-bit, 2.8 MS/s) output
range ±10 V
• 48 digital I/O (32 clocked) KD 510

• two 32-bit counters

• OUTPUT Current Drive is
(Channel/Total)5 mA/20 mA
DAQ Device Available in the Lab.

NI USB-6259 Pinout
DAQ Device Available in the Lab.
NI USB-9215A
• 4 analog input channels of (16-bit)
• Sampling rates at 100 kS/s per channel

KD 200
DAQ Device Available in the Lab.
NI USB-9211A
Portable USB-Based DAQ for Thermocouples
4 channels of 24-bit thermocouple input

Compatibility with J, K, R, S, T, N, E, and B thermocouple

types

KD 160
 DAQ Device Available in the Lab.
E Series devices:6024E, and 6251E
both DAQ:
16 channels (8 differential) of analog input ±10 V
Two channels of analog output ±10 V

For 6251E: 32 lines of digital I/O; (16-bit); 1.25 MS/s; 100-pin connector.
Output current drive is 5 mA per channel; Two 32-bit counters

For 6024E: 8 lines of digital I/O; (12-bit); 200 KS/s; 68-pin connector
Output current drive is 5 mA per channel; Two 24-bit counters
6024E

6251E
 Analog Input
• Signal Sources: A transducer may either be a
grounded signal source or a floating signal
source. Knowing which type is critical for making
your measurement correctly
 Analog Input
• Input Modes:
The devices have three different input modes
Differential (DIFF) input.
Referenced single-ended (RSE)
Nonreferenced single-ended(NRSE)

• The single-ended input configurations provide up to

16 channels.
• The DIFF input configuration provides up to eight
channels.
 Differential (DIFF) Input
• Neither of the inputs of a differential measurement system are
tied to a fixed reference.
 Differential (DIFF) Input
• A channel configured in DIFF mode uses
two analog input lines. One line connects
to the (ACH#+) of the device, and the
other connects to the (ACH#-)

• The ground of the input circuit is

connected to AIGND (analog input ground)
pin of the DAQ
 Referenced single-ended (RSE)
Input
• A referenced single-ended (RSE) measurement system
measures voltage with respect to the ground, AIGND, which is
directly connected to the measurement system ground.
Referenced single-ended (RSE)
Input
Since the input signal and DAQ system has the
same reference (AIGND), which is the earth
(The reference of DAQ)

A channel configured in RSE mode uses one

analog input line connected to the (ACH#+) of
the device The negative input is internally tied
to analog input ground (AIGND).
NonReferenced single-ended(NRSE)
• In a non-referenced single-ended (NRSE) measurement system, all measurements
are made with respect to a single-node analog input sense (AISENSE on E Series
devices), but the potential at this node can vary with respect to the measurement
system ground (AIGND).
NonReferenced single-ended(NRSE)

• A channel configured in NRSE mode uses

one analog input line, which connects to
the (ACH#+) of the device. The negative
input connects to analog input sense
(AISENSE).
 Analog Output

• Data written to the terminals DAC0OUT

and DAC1OUT and the ground is AOGND
 E Series 6024E device Accessories
1) CB-68LP I/O Connector Block
Low-cost termination accessories with 68
screw terminals for easy connection
 E Series 6024E device Accessories
2) BNC-2120 Connector
• 8 BNC analog inputs.
• 2 BNC analog outputs
• 2 user configurable BNC inputs
• 8 digital I/O lines with LED indicators
• Function generator with sinusoidal, triangular and
TTL output.
• Thermocouple jack and an IC sensor for
temperature measurement
• Resistance measurement input
 E Series 6024E device Accessories
3) The SC-2075 is a desktop
• Binding posts
– Three for ±15 V outputs
– Two for 0 to 5 V outputs
– Two for measuring analog signals
or DC voltages
• BNC connectors
– Two for analog inputs
– Two for analog outputs
– One for triggering
• Spring terminals
– Eleven for analog inputs
– Seven for analog controls
– Seven for counter controls
– Two for TTL-level power and ground signals
– Eight for digital input/output (DIO) signal
 E Series 6251E device Accessories
4) NI ELVIS: NI Educational Laboratory
Virtual Instrumentation Suite
• A custom-designed benchtop workstation and prototyping board to provide
the functionality of a suite of common laboratory instruments
• provides the functionality of the following
Arbitrary Waveform Generator (ARB) Bode Analyzer
Digital Bus Reader Digital Bus Writer
Digital Multimeter (DMM)
Function Generator (FGEN)
Impedance Analyzer
Oscilloscope (Scope)
Two-Wire Current Voltage Analyzer
Three-Wire Current Voltag
Analyzer
Variable Power Supplies
 How to Select DAQ Device &
Accessories
1) Run the MAX program from the labview
software by selecting Tools Measurement
and Automation Explorer.
What is MAX?
 How to Select DAQ Device &
Accessories
2) Select “Devices and Interfaces” from the
configuration column.
 How to Select DAQ Device &
Accessories
3) Choose the NI-DAQmx Devices and
select the “PCI-6024E” or other if there.
 How to Select DAQ Device &
Accessories
4) Using right click on the PCI-6024E and select
“property”. In the new window, where the RTSI
cable tab select None while select CB-68LP or
BNC-2120 in the Accessory tab then click OK
 How to Select DAQ Device &
Accessories
5) Open the Labview program, in the front
panel select functions, input then select
the DAQ Assistant icon.
 How to Select DAQ Device
(Input & Output Channels)
6) Select “Analog Input” so as to input your
analog data to the computer and Labview.
 How to Select DAQ Device
(Input & Output Channels)
7) We have 16 physical input channels from
ai0 to ai15, select a channel like ai0.
 How to Select DAQ Device
(Input & Output Channels)
8) Select your input voltage setup
 How to Select DAQ Device
(Input & Output Channels)
9) Now make the connections and select
test then Run to see the input voltage.
 How to Select DAQ Device
(Input & Output Channels)
• Example
Verify your sound card and prepare
it for use with a microphone
1. Prepare your microphone for use. Double-click the
volume control icon on the task bar to open up the
configuration window. The sound configuration window
can also be found from the Windows Control Panel:
Start Menu»Control Panel»Sounds and Audio
Devices»Advanced.

2. If you do not see a microphone section, go to

Options»Properties»Recording and place a
checkmark in the box next to Microphone. This will
display the Microphone volume control. Click “OK”.
Verify your sound card and prepare
it for use with a microphone
3. Uncheck the Mute box if it is not already
unchecked. Make sure that the volume
isturned up.
Verify your sound card and prepare
it for use with a microphone
4. Close the volume control configuration window.

5. Open the Sound Recorder by selecting

Start»Programs»Accessories»
Entertainment»Sound Recorder.

6. Click the record button and speak into your

microphone. Notice how the sound signal is
displayed in the Sound Recorder.
Verify your sound card and prepare
it for use with a microphone
7. Click stop and close the Sound Recorder
without saving changes when you are
finished. Uncheck Mute
Verify your sound card and prepare
it for use with a microphone
• Examples