System Programming and Computer Control

CT047-3-2-SPCC

Data Acquisition Fundamentals

Degree : Level 2
 Topic & Structure of the lesson

• Introduction
• The Personal Computer
• DAQ Hardware
• Software
• Sensors and High-voltage signals
• Signal Conditioning

CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control

 Learning Outcomes

• At the end of this session, you should be

able to:-
– Understand the concept of Data Acquisition
fundamentals.

CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control

 Key Terms you must be able to use

• If you have mastered this topic, you should

be able to use the following terms correctly
in your assignments and exams:-
– DAQ Hardware
– Software
– Sensors
– Signal Conditioning

CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control

 Introduction

• To select PC-based data acquisition

System, we have to consider the following
basic elements considerations:-
– The PC
– DAQ Hardware
– Software
– Sensors
– Signal Conditioning

CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control

 Introduction

CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control

 The Personal Computer

• The computer used in a DAQ system can drastically

affect the maximum speeds at which you can
continuously acquire data.
– Pentium IV and PowerPC class processors coupled with
high-performance bus architectures.
– External and portable PC buses such as PCMCIA, USB,
and FireWire offer a flexible alternative to desktop PC-
based DAQ systems while achieving up to 40 Mbps
transfer rates.
– Measurement nodes near sensors and signal sources and
use standard networking technology, such as Ethernet,
serial, or wireless.

CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control

 The Personal Computer

• With National Instruments driver software, NI-DAQ 7,

which serves as the interface between the hardware
and the computer, the DMA routines to transfer
waveform data across the PC bus were optimised,
thus providing the ability to transfer data as fast as
possible.
– Select a high-speed hard drive for your PC and ensure that
there is enough contiguous (unfragmented) free disk space
to hold the data.
– Traditional platforms include Mac OS, which is known for its
simple graphical user interface, and Windows 2000 or XP
which include native plug and play and power
management.
– Real-time operating systems provide reliability and
robustness that may appeal to your particular application.
CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control
 DAQ Hardware

• Depending on the application, there are

several different classes of PC-based data
acquisition devices that can be used:-
– Analog Input/Output
– Digital Input/Output
– Counter/Timers
– Multifunction – a combination of analog,
digital and counter operations

CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control

 Analog Input

• Basic Considerations of Analog Inputs

– The analog input specifications give the
information on both the capabilities and the
accuracy of the DAQ product.
– Basic specifications, which are available on
most DAQ products, tell you:-
• the number of channels
• the sampling rate
• the resolution
• the input range

CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control

 Digitised Sine Wave with a
Resolution of Three Bits

CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control

 Analog Output

• Analog output circuitry is often required to

provide stimuli for a DAQ system.
• Several specifications for the digital-to-
analog converter (DAC) determine the
quality of the output signal produced:-
– settling time
– slew rate
– output resolution

CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control

 Triggers

• Many DAQ applications need to start or stop a

DAQ operation based on an external event.
• Digital triggers synchronise the acquisition and
voltage generation to an external digital pulse.
• Analog triggers, used primarily in analog input
operations, start or stop the DAQ operation when
an input signal reaches a specified analog voltage
level and slope polarity.

CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control

 Multi-device Synchronisation

• RTSI (Real-Time Synchronisation Integration)

bus is a bus architecture used in allowing for
modules to communicate and synchronise with
one another.
• With an RTSI bus, the following can be easily
synchronised:-
– A/D conversions
– D/A conversions
– digital inputs
– digital outputs
– counter/timer operations

CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control

 Digital I/O (DIO)

• DIO interfaces are often used on PC DAQ

systems to control processes, generate patterns
for testing, and communicate with peripheral
equipment.
• Important Specifications
– number of channels, data rate, and handshaking
capabilities are all important specifications.
• Applications
– to transfer data between a computer and equipment
such as data loggers, data processors, and printers.

CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control

 Counter/Timers

• Counter/timer circuitry is useful for many

applications, including counting the occurrences
of a digital event, digital pulse timing, and
generating square waves and pulses.
• Can implement all these applications using three
counter/timer signals
– Gate – The gate is a digital input that is used to
enable or disable the function of the counter.
– Source – The source is a digital input that causes the
counter to increment each time it toggles, and
therefore provides the timebase for the operation of
the counter.
– Output – The output generates digital square waves
and pulses at the output line.
CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control
 What is Signal Conditioning?

• A process that can improve your

measurement system’s accuracy and
performance.
• Most conditioning equipment are meant to
simplify sensor connectivity, remove noise,
ensure safety, and improve accuracy.

CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control

 Signal Conditioning

CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control

 Amplification

• Amplifiers boost input signal level to better

match the analog-to-digital converter (ADC)
range, thus increasing the measurement
resolution and sensitivity.
• External signal conditioners located closer
to the signal source, or transducer,
improves the measurement signal-to-noise
ratio by boosting the signal level before it is
affected by environmental noise.
CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control
 Attenuation

• Attenuation, the opposite of amplification,

is necessary when voltages to be digitised
are beyond the digitiser input range.
• This form of signal conditioning decreases
the input signal amplitude so that the
conditioned signal is within ADC range.
• Attenuation is necessary for measuring
high voltages.

CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control

 Isolation

• Isolated signal conditioning devices pass

the signal from its source to the
measurement device without a physical
connection by using transformer, optical, or
capacitive coupling techniques.
• In addition to breaking ground loops,
isolation blocks high-voltage surges and
rejects high common-mode voltage and
thus protects both the operators and
expensive measurement equipment.
CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control
 Multiplexing

• By multiplexing, a measurement system

can sequentially route multiple signals into
a single digitiser, thus providing a cost-
effective way to greatly expand the system
channel count.
• Multiplexing is necessary for any high-
channel-count application.

CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control

 Filtering

• Filters reject unwanted noise within a

certain frequency range.
• Nearly all data acquisition applications are
subject to some level of 50 or 60 Hz noise
picked up from power lines or machinery.
• Most signal conditioners include lowpass
filters specifically designed to provide
maximum rejection of 50 to 60 Hz noise.

CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control

 Excitation

• Excitation is required for some transducers in order

to produce an electrical output. For example, strain
gages, thermistors, and RTDs require external
voltage or current excitation signals.
• RTD and thermistor measurements usually are
made with a current source that converts the
variation in resistance to a measurable voltage.
• Strain gages, which are very-low-resistance
devices, typically are used in a Wheatstone bridge
configuration with a voltage excitation source.

CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control

 Cold-Junction Compensation

• Cold-junction compensation is a technology

required for accurate thermocouple
measurements.
• Any time a thermocouple is connected to a data
acquisition system, you must know the
temperature at the connection point (as this
junction represents another "thermocouple" in
the measurement path and typically injects an
offset in your measurement) to calculate the true
temperature your thermocouple is measuring.

CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control

 Quick Review Question

• What is Data Acquisition?

• List the considerations to Select the PC as
a element of DAQ system?
• List the basic consideration of Analog
inputs.
• List the basic consideration of Analog
output.

CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control

 Summary of Main Teaching Points

• The elements of a PC-based data

acquisition system are:-
– The Personal computer
– DAQ hardware
– Software
– Sensors and High-Voltage signals
– Extensions of PC technology

CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control

 Question and Answer Session

Q&A

CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control

 Next Session

• DAQ Hardware

CT047-3-2 Systems Programming and Computer Control