DAQ

Transducers, Signals, & Signal

Conditioning

Topics
– DAQ Overview
– Transducers
– Signals
– Signal Conditioning
DAQ System Overview
 Transducer Overview

•
– What is a Transducer?
– Types of Transducers
 What is a Transducer?
Physical
Phenomenon Signal

A transducer is a device that converts a

physical phenomenon into a measurable
signal.
 Types of Transducers
Phenomena Transducers
Temperature Thermocouples
Resistive Temperature Device (RTDs)
Thermistors
Integrated circuit sensor
Light Vacuum tube photosensors
Photoconductive cells
Sound Microphone
Force and pressure Strain gages
Piezoelectric transducers
Load cells
Position/displacement Potentiometers
Linear voltage differential transformer
Optical encoder
Fluid flow Head meters
Rotational flowmeters
Ultrasonic flowmeters
pH pH electrodes

6
 Signal Overview

•
– Types of Signals
– Information in a Signal
• State, rate, level, shape,
and frequency
 Signal Classification
• Your Signal

Digital Analog
 Digital Signals
Your Signal

Digital
• Two possible levels:
– High/ON (2  5 Volts)
– Low/OFF (0  0.8 Volts)
• Two types of information:
– State
– Rate
Digital Signal Information
Your Signal

Digital
State Example

Position of
the switch
determines the
state of the signal
Rate Example
– Motor shaft spins
– Encoder converts rotation into
two digital pulse trains
– Measure rate of pulse train to
determine motor shaft speed
 Analog Signals
• Your Signal

Analog
• Continuous signal
Can be at any value with
respect to time
• Three types of information:
- Level
- Shape
- Frequency (Analysis required)
Analog Signal Information
• Your Signal

Analog

(Analysis Required)
 Level Examples

• Common examples
• of level
measurements
 Shape Examples
• Common examples
• of shape measurements
 Frequency Examples

• Common
examples
• of frequency
• measurements

(Analysis Required)
Five Ways to Measure the Same Signal
Analog Digital

(Analysis Required)
 Signal Conditioning Overview

•
– Purpose of signal conditioning
– Types of signal conditioning
 Why Use Signal Conditioning?

Noisy, Low-Level Signal Filtered, Amplified Signal

– Signal conditioning takes a signal that is difficult for

your DAQ device to measure and makes it easier to
measure.
– Signal conditioning is not always required.
• Depends on the signal being measured
 Amplification
– Used on low-level signals such as strain gauges and thermocouples
– Maximizes use of analog-to-digital converter (ADC) range and increases
accuracy
– Increases signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)

Noise
Instrumentation
Amplifier

+
_ ADC
Lead Wires

Low-Level Signal External

Amplifier DAQ Device
 Signal-to-Noise Ratio
– Large SNR is best.
– Put amplifier as close to signal source as possible
to prevent amplifying the noise.
Signal Amplification Noise in DAQ Device Digitized
Voltage Lead Wires Amplification Voltage SNR
Amplify only at
DAQ Device .01 V None .001 V x100 1.1 V 10

Amplify External
and DAQ Device .01 V x10 .001 V x10 1.01 V 100

Amplify only
Externally .01 V x100 .001 V None 1.001 V 1000
Other Types of Signal Conditioning
• Transducer Excitation
– External voltage or current applied to
transducer
– Provided by signal conditioning hardware
• Linearization
– Most transducers are not linear
– Can be done in hardware or software
• Isolation
– Protects hardware from high voltages and currents
– Used in systems with high common-mode voltages

23
 Other Types of Signal
Conditioning
• Filtering

– Removes noise or unwanted signals

– 4 Hz filter optimum for removing 50 Hz AC

noise from slowly sampled signals

– Can be done in hardware or software

 Common Types of Signal
Transducers/Signals Conditioning
Signal Conditioning
Amplification, Linearization, and
Thermocouples
Cold-Junction Compensation

Current Excitation and

RTDs
Linearization

Voltage Excitation, Bridge

Strain Gauges Configuration, and Linearization

Common Mode Isolation Amplifiers

or High Voltages (Optical Isolation)
DAQ Device
Loads Requiring AC Switching Electromechanical Relays
or Large Current Flow or Solid-State Relays

Signals with High

Low-Pass Filters
Frequency Noise
25
 Summary
– A DAQ system consists of five components: transducers,
signals, signal conditioning, DAQ hardware, and DAQ software.
– Transducers turn a physical phenomenon into a measurable
signal.
– Signals can be either digital or analog.
– Depending on the signal, you can measure the state, rate,
level, shape, or frequency.
– Signal conditioning makes your signal easier to measure with a
DAQ device.

26
DAQ Hardware and Software
Topics
• DAQ Hardware Overview
• DAQ Software Overview
 DAQ Hardware Overview

•
– Types of DAQ hardware
– Components of a DAQ device
– Configuration considerations
 Terminal Block and Cable

50-pin connector
Your Signal

Cable

Terminal Block
– Terminal block and cable route your signal
to specific pins on your DAQ device.
– Terminal block and cable can be a combination
of 68-pin or 50-pin.
 DAQ Device

– Most DAQ devices have:

• Analog input
• Analog output
• Digital I/O DAQ Device
• Counters Computer
– Connect to the bus of your computer
– Compatible with a variety of bus protocols
• PCI, PXI/CompactPCI, ISA/AT, PCMCIA, USB,
• IEEE 1394 (Firewire)
– Specialty devices exist for specific applications
• High speed digital I/O
• High speed waveform generation
• Dynamic signal acquisition (vibration, sonar)
 Components of a DAQ Device
• Real-Time System
• Integration (RTSI) Bus
– Synchronizes multiple
DAQ devices
– Allows sharing of timing
and trigger signals
between devices

• I/O Connector • Computer I/O Interface Circuitry

– Connects your signal – Connects the DAQ device to the
via terminal block and computer
cable to the DAQ device – Can be a variety of bus structures:
PCI, PXI/CompactPCI, ISA/AT, PCMCIA,
USB, IEEE 1394 (Firewire)
Components of a DAQ Device
(cont.) • Analog Input Circuitry
– Multiplexer (mux)
• Switch that has multiple
input channels but only
lets one at a time
through to the
instrumentation
amplifier
– Instrumentation Amplifier
• Either amplifies or
Channel 1 attenuates your signal
Channel 2
AMP

Channel n
Instrumentation
Multiplexer Amplifier
Components of a DAQ Device
(cont.) • ADC
– Converts analog signal to
digital number
– Used for analog input
– Applications:
• Circuit testing
• Power supply testing
• Dynamometer testing
• Weather station monitor
• Geophysical studies
• Filter analysis

Analysis Required
Components of a DAQ Device
(cont.) • DAC
– Converts digital number
to analog signal
– Used for analog output
– Applications
• Control systems
• Function generator
• Tone generator
• Servomotor control
• Valve control

No Analysis Required
Components of a DAQ Device
(cont.) • Digital I/O Circuitry
– Can input or output
digital signals
– Not suitable for
measuring rate
• No handshaking or
timing circuitry
– Applications
• Switch sensing
• Relay control
• Controlling LEDs
Components of a DAQ Device
(cont.) • Counter Circuitry
– Can input or output
digital signals
– Suitable for measuring
rate
• Built in timing signals
– Applications
• Stepper motor control
• Measuring frequency
of a rotating shaft
• Oscillator testing
Configuration Considerations
– Analog Input
• Resolution
• Range
• Gain
• Code width
• Mode: differential, referenced single-ended (RSE),
or non-referenced single-ended (NRSE)
– Analog Output
• Internal vs. external reference voltage
• Bipolar vs. unipolar
 Resolution
– Number of bits the ADC uses to represent a signal
– Resolution determines how many different voltage
changes can be measured

– Example: 12-bit
number resolution
of levels = 2resolution = 212 = 4,096 levels

•
– Larger resolution = more precise representation of
your signal
 Resolution Example
– 3-bit resolution can represent 23 = 8 voltage levels
– 16-bit resolution can represent 216 = 65,536 voltage levels
16-Bit versus 3-Bit resolution
(5kHz Sine Wave)
10.00
111
8.75
110 16-bit resolution
7.50
101
6.25
Amplitude 100 3-bit resolution
(volts) 5.00
011
3.75
010
2.50
001
1.25
000
0 | | | | |
0 50 100 150 200
Time (s)

39
 Range
– Minimum and maximum voltages the ADC can digitize
– DAQ devices often have different available ranges
• 0 to +10 volts
• -10 to +10 volts
– Pick a range that your signal fits in
– Smaller range = more precise representation of your signal
• Allows you to use all of your available resolution
 Range = 0 to +10 volts
(5 kHz Sine Wave)
Range
10.00
8.75
111
110
• Proper Range 7.50
101
6.25
3-bit resolution
• Using all eight Amplitude
5.00
100
(volts) 011
levels to 3.75
010
2.50
represent your 001
1.25
signal 0|
000
| | | |
0 50 100 150 200
Time (s)

Range = -10 to +10 volts

(5 kHz Sine Wave)
10.00 111 • Improper Range
7.50 110
5.00 • Only using four
101 3-bit resolution
2.50 100
levels to represent
Amplitude 0 your signal
(volts) 011
-2.50 010
-5.00 001
-7.50 000
-10.00| | | | |
50 100 150 200
Time (s)
 Gain
– Gain setting amplifies or attenuates the signal for
best fit in the chosen ADC range
– Gain settings are 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, or 100 for
most devices
– You don’t choose the gain directly
• Choose the input limits of your signal in LabVIEW
• Maximum gain possible is selected
• Maximum gain possible depends on the limits of your
signal and the chosen range of your ADC
– Gain = more precise representation of your signal
• Allows you to use all of your available resolution
 Gain Example
• Input limits of the signal = 0 to 5 volts
• Range setting for the ADC = 0 to 10 volts
• Gain setting applied by instrumentation amplifier = 2

Different Gains for 16-bit Resolution

(5 kHz Sine Wave)
10.00
8.75
Gain = 2
7.50
6.25
Amplitude Your Signal
5.00
(volts) Gain = 1
3.75
2.50
1.25
0 | | | | |
0 50 100 150 200
Time (s)
 Code Width
– Code width is the smallest change in the signal your system
can detect, which is determined by resolution, range, and
gain code width =
range
gain * 2 resolution

– Smaller code width = more precise representation of

your signal
Example: 12-bit device, range = 0 V to +10 V, gain = 1
range 10
= = 2.4 mV
gain * 2 resolution 1*2 12

20
Increase range: = 4.8 mV
1*2 12

10
Increase gain: = 24 V
100 * 2 12
 Grounding Issues
– To get correct measurements, you must properly ground
your system
– How the signal is grounded affects how you ground the
instrumentation amplifier on the DAQ device
– Steps to properly grounding your system:
• Determine how your signal is grounded
• Choose a grounding mode for your measurement

+
Signal Measurement
Source Vs Vm System
-
 Signal Source Categories
Signal Source

Grounded Floating

+ +
Vs Vs
_ _
 Grounded Signal Source
Signal Source
– Signal is referenced to a
system ground:
Grounded • Earth ground
• Building ground Grounded
Outlet
+ – Examples:
Vs
_ • Power supplies
• Signal generators
• Anything that plugs into
a grounded outlet
 Floating Signal Source
Signal Source

Signal is not referenced to

a system ground Floating
• Earth ground
• Building ground
+
Vs
Examples: _
• Batteries
• Thermocouples
• Transformers
• Isolation amplifiers
 Measurement System
– Three modes of grounding +

for your measurement Measurement

System
system
• Differential -

• Referenced Single-Ended
(RSE)
• Non-Referenced Single-
Ended (NRSE) DAQ device
– The mode you choose cable
depends on how your
signal is grounded.

terminal block
 Differential Mode
• Differential Mode
– Two channels used for each signal
• ACH 0 is paired with ACH 8, ACH 1 is paired with ACH 9; and so on.
– Rejects common-mode voltage and common-mode noise
ACH (n)
+
VS
+
_ ACH (n + 8)
Instrumentation +
Amplifier
AISENSE
_
VM
AIGND
_

Measurement System
Differential Mode (cont.)
 RSE Mode
• Referenced Single-Ended (RSE)
– Measurement made with respect to system ground
– One channel used for each signal
– Doesn’t reject common-mode voltage
ACH (n)
+

ACH (n + 8) +
Instrumentation +
VS Amplifier
AISENSE
_
VM
_ AIGND
_

Measurement System
 NRSE Mode
• Non-Referenced Single-Ended (NRSE)
– Variation on RSE
– One channel used for each signal
– Measurement made with respect to AISENSE not ground
– AISENSE is floating
– Doesn’t reject common-mode voltage

ACH (n)
+

ACH (n + 8) +
Vs
Instrumentation +
Amplifier
AISENSE
_ _
Vm
AIGND
_
Measurement System
 Choosing Your Measurement
System
Signal Source

Grounded Floating

+ +
Vs Vs
_ _

Measurement System Measurement System

Differential RSE NRSE Differential RSE NRSE

Options for Grounded Signal Sources
• BEST
+ rejects common-mode voltage
– cuts channel count in half
Differential
• NOT RECOMMENDED
– voltage difference (Vg) between the
two grounds makes a ground loop
RSE that could damage the device

• GOOD
+ allows use of entire channel count
– doesn’t reject common-mode voltage
NRSE
 Bias Resistors
Signal Source Measurement System

+
+ Bias current injected
R1
- into system by the
- instrumentation amp
R2

AIGND

– Needed with floating signal source and floating

measurement system (differential or NRSE)
– Bias resistors provide a return path to ground for
instrumentation amplifier bias currents
– Recommended value is between 10 k and 100 k
Options for Floating Signal Sources
BEST
+ rejects common-mode voltage
- cuts channel count in half
Differential - need bias resistors

BETTER
+ allows use of entire channel count
+ doesn’t need bias resistors
RSE - doesn’t reject common-mode voltage

GOOD
+ allows use of entire channel count
- needs bias resistors
NRSE - doesn’t reject common-mode voltage
Analog Output Considerations
– Reference Voltage (Vref)
• Can be either internal or external signal
• Used to set the range of the DAC
• Internal reference voltage is +10 V
– Bipolar
• Sets DAC range at -Vref to +Vref
– Unipolar
• Sets DAC range at 0 V to +Vref
– Choose the correct setting based on the limits of the
signal you want to generate
 DAQ Software Overview

•
– Levels of DAQ software
– NI-DAQ overview
– Measurement & Automation
Explorer (MAX) overview
Levels of Software
User

DAQ
Device
– Driver-level software
What is NI-DAQ?
• DLL that makes direct calls to your DAQ device
– NI-DAQ does not support 3rd party DAQ devices. The device vendor
can provide you with a driver.
– Supports the following National Instruments software:
• LabVIEW
• Measurement Studio
– Also supports the following 3rd party languages:
• Microsoft C/C++
• Visual Basic
• Borland C++
• Borland Delphi
 What is MAX?
Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX)
– Provides access to all your National Instruments DAQ,
GPIB, IMAQ, IVI, Motion, VISA, and VXI devices
– Used for configuring and testing devices
– Functionality broken into:
• Data Neighborhood
• Devices and Interfaces
• Scales Icon on your
Desktop
• Software
Software Architecture for Windows
DAQ VIs in LabVIEW Windows Device Manager

nidaq32.dll
MAX

Windows Registry

DAQ device
 Summary
– Typical DAQ Hardware: terminal block, cable, and DAQ device
– Typical DAQ device has connectors, ADC, DAC, digital I/O lines,
and counters
– Code Width - smallest voltage change a DAQ device can detect
based on resolution, range, and gain
– DAQ device grounding modes: Differential, RSE, and NRSE
– Choice of Differential, RSE, or NRSE mode is based on whether
signal source is grounded or floating
– LabVIEW talks to your device through NI-DAQ
– MAX has virtual channels, test panels, custom scales, and software
updates to help configure and test your system
 Analog Input
Topics
– Analog Input Considerations
– DAQ Functionality in
LabVIEW
– Single-Point Acquisition
– Buffered Acquisition
– Continuous Acquisition
– Triggered Acquisition
 Sampling Considerations
– Actual analog input signal is
continuous with respect to time.
– Sampled signal is series of
discrete samples acquired at a
specified sampling rate.
– The faster you sample, the more Actual Signal
your sampled signal looks like the
actual signal.
– If not sampled fast enough, a
problem known as aliasing occurs.

Sampled Signal
– Misrepresentation of the signal frequency
Aliasing
• Caused by undersampling
– Sine wave shown below goes through three cycles in time shown
• Adequately sampled signal also goes through three cycles
• Aliased signal only goes through one cycle

Adequately
Sampled
Signal

Aliased
Signal
 Nyquist Theorem
• Nyquist Theorem
You must sample at greater than two times the
maximum frequency component of your signal to
accurately represent the frequency of your
signal.

• Note: You must sample between 5 and 10 times

greater than the maximum frequency component of your
signal to accurately represent the shape of your signal.
 Nyquist Example
Aliased signal

100 Hz Sine Wave Sampled at 100 Hz

Adequately sampled
for frequency only
(same # of cycles)

100 Hz Sine Wave Sampled at 200 Hz

Adequately sampled
for frequency and
shape
100 Hz Sine Wave Sampled at 1 kHz
 Nyquist Frequency

– A way to state the Nyquist Theorem based on the

sampling rate instead of signal frequency
– Half the sampling frequency
– You will only get a proper representation of signals
that are equal to or less than your Nyquist
Frequency
– Signals above Nyquist Frequency will alias according
to the following formula:

Alias frequency =
|(closest integer multiple of sampling frequency - signal frequency)|
Aliasing Example
Signals
before
acquisition

Signals after
acquisition

71
 Preventing
Ideal Filter
Aliasing
– Oversampling
+ Increases your Nyquist
1.0
Frequency
Vout - ADC may not go that fast
Vin
– Low Pass Filtering
0.0
Nyquist Frequency + Eliminates most frequencies
Real Filter above cutoff
Passband Transition Region - Transition region still allows
1.0 Frequencies some frequencies to alias
attenuated
Vout but still
passed
– Best Solution
Vin • Both oversampling and low
0.0 pass filtering
Cutoff Frequency
 DAQ Device Architectures
• One amplifier and Channel 0
A/D Converter for
MUX AMP ADC
ALL channels
– Cost effective Channel n
– Used on most
E series devices Interval and Round-Robin Sampling Architecture

• One amplifier and Channel 0 AMP ADC

A/D Converter for
EACH channel
– More expensive
Channel n AMP ADC
– Used on PCI-611X
family
Simultaneous Sampling Architecture
 Sampling Terminology
– Scan
• Acquires one sample for every
channel you specify
– Scan Rate
• Number of scans per second
– Scan Clock
• Pulse train that begins a scan
• Scan Interval = Scan Clock Period = 1/Scan Rate
– Channel Clock
• Pulse train that controls when a sample is taken
• Interchannel Delay = Channel Clock Period
– Scan Duration
• Time it takes to complete one scan
• Scan Duration = (# of channels - 1) * Interchannel Delay
 Interval Sampling
– Uses both Scan clock
and Channel clock
– Gives the effect of Channel 0
simultaneous
sampling for less $
– Available on most Channel 1
National Instruments
devices Interchannel delay = 5 µs

Scan interval = 1 sec

• Two Channel Example

– Scan rate = 1 scan/sec
– Scan interval = 1/Scan Rate = 1sec/scan
– Scan duration = (# of channels - 1) * Interchannel Delay = 5 µs
 Round-Robin Sampling
– Variation on interval
sampling
Channel 0
– Uses channel clock
only
– Used on National Channel 1
Instruments legacy
devices (no scan clock)
Interchannel Interchannel
delay = 0.5 sec delay = 0.5 sec

• Two Channel Example

– Channel clock rate = 2 samples/sec
– Scan rate = (channel clock rate)/(# of channels) = 1scan/sec
– Scan duration = (# of channels - 1) * interchannel delay = 0.5 sec
 Simultaneous Sampling
– Used when time relationship between signals is important
– Available on the PCI-611X family of devices
– Only uses a scan clock to synchronize the taking of samples

Channel 0 Channel 0

Channel 1 Channel 1

Channel 2 Channel 2

Channel 3 Channel 3

Round Robin Sampling Simultaneous Sampling

15 µs (270 phase shift) between Ch 0 & 3
o
3 ns (0.054o phase shift) between Ch 0 & 3

• Example – Four 50 kHz signals sampled at 200 kHz

Buffered Acquisition Flowchart
Configure Clear Resources
the Device

Start the Display

Acquisition Errors

Return Data from

the Buffer
 Buffered Acquisition
– AI Start begins the acquisition
– Acquisition stops when the buffer is full
– AI Read waits until the buffer is full to return data
– If error input is true, AI Config, AI Start, and AI Read pass the error on but don’t
execute; AI Clear passes the error AND executes
 What’s Really Happening?
LabVIEW Buffer
(Waveform Graph)

AMP ADC FIFO

Your Signal

DMA/IRQ
– FIFO stands for First In First Out
• FIFO is used to hold data until it can be transferred to the
PC buffer.
– PC buffer and LabVIEW buffer are memory locations
to store your data.
PC Buffer
(AI Config)
 Buffer Transfer
Incoming data from the End of Data
Device to the PC (AI End of Data
Start.vi)

1 2
PC Buffer PC Buffer

End of Acquisition

PC Buffer

3
Data transferred from
PC buffer to LabVIEW
buffer (AI Read.vi)
LabVIEW Buffer
 Bucket Analogy

Data • Think of your PC buffer as a

• bucket that is filling up with water
– Buffer size = size of the bucket.
– Scan rate controls how fast water flows into
the bucket.
– When the bucket is full, you dump it into
PC Bucket another bucket (LabVIEW buffer).
Continuous Acquisition Flowchart
Configure Return data from
the device the buffer

NO
Start the Done?
acquisition
YES

Display errors Clear resources

Continuous Buffered Acquisition
• Differences from a buffered acquisition
– Number of scans to acquire = 0
– While Loop around AI Read
– Number of Scans to read does not = buffer size
– Scan backlog tells how well you are keeping up
 Circular Buffer Explanation
Incoming data from the Current Read Mark End of Data
device to the PC (AI End of Data >>>>
Start.vi)

1 2
PC Buffer PC Buffer
Data transferred from
LabVIEW Buffer PC buffer to LabVIEW
buffer (AI Read.vi)

Current Read Mark End of Data End of Data Current Read Mark
>>>> >>>>

3 4
PC Buffer PC Buffer

LabVIEW Buffer LabVIEW Buffer

 Circular Bucket Analogy
Data • With a continuous acquisition, make
sure you drain the bucket as fast as you
fill it.
– Buffer size = size of the bucket
PC Bucket – Scan rate controls how fast water flows into
the PC bucket
– Number of Scans to Read for AI Read
controls how fast you drain the PC bucket
– Scan Backlog is the amount of water still in
the PC bucket
Data

LabVIEW
Bucket
 Overwrite Error
• Overwrite Error (-10846)
• Indicates that you are not reading data from the
PC buffer fast enough
• Consequence:
– Newer data will overwrite your unread data
• How to prevent an overwrite error:
– Increase the buffer size
– Decrease the scan rate
– Increase the number of scans to read
– Return binary data (AI Read is a Polymorphic VI)
– Remove any extra processing that is inside the loop with AI Read
 Overflow Error
• Overflow Error (-10845)
• Indicates that NI-DAQ was unable to retrieve
data from the FIFO buffer on the DAQ device
fast enough
• Consequence:
– The data in the FIFO will be overwritten
• How to avoid an overflow error:
• Use DMA instead of IRQ
• Decrease the scan rate
• Purchase a device with a larger FIFO
• Purchase a faster computer with a faster bus
 Triggering
– Starting your acquisition with an external signal
– Trigger signal can be either digital or analog

• Digital
Rising Edge Falling Edge Trigger off either
the rising edge or
falling edge

Falling Slope • Analog

Choose a voltage
Level
level. Trigger off
either rising slope
Rising Slope
or falling slope
 Triggering Settings
– Edge or Slope
• Rising or falling
– Trigger Type
• Digital A or analog
– Analog Chan & Level
• Decides what to trigger off and the level to trigger off

• Time Limit
– Determines how long AI Read will
wait for data to be available
Timeout is only a warning not an
error so error Boolean stays false
Triggered Buffered Acquisition
Configure Return data from
the device the buffer

Start the
acquisition Clear resources

NO
YES
Trigger? Display errors
 Digital Triggered Acquisition
– PFI0/TRIG1 is the default trigger pin for a digital start trigger
– Digital Trigger on DAQ Signal Accessory connects to PFI0
 Analog Triggered Acquisition
– You can trigger off any analog input channel or PFI0
Note: The analog channel you trigger off must be the first in your channel list
 Summary
– Undersampling causes aliasing
• Use Nyquist Theorem to determine how fast to sample
– DAQ Channel Name and Waveform Data Type make DAQ
programming easy and flexible
– Single-Point Acquisition is software-timed, non-buffered,
and good for slow changing signals
– Choice of Round-Robin, Interval, or Simultaneous Sampling
affects phase relationship of signals
– Buffered Acquisition is hardware-timed with a regular buffer
– Continuous Acquisition is hardware-timed with a circular buffer
– Buffered or Continuous Acquisition can be triggered with either
digital or analog signal
• If device doesn’t support analog trigger use conditional retrieval
– Stream data to disk for later analysis and presentation
Signal Conditioning

•SCXI
 Why use SCXI?
Signal Conditioning eXtension for
Instrumentation

• Increased channel count

• Conditioning transducers’ signals
• Allows remote signal acquisition
• Increased protection from environmental
conditions
 Components of an SCXI System

• Chassis
• Modules
• Terminal blocks
• Cable assemblies
• DAQ Device
 Components of an SCXI System

• SCXI chassis:
– Slots where modules plug in (1,2,…)
– Slot 0 (control circuitry and power supply)
– Backplane bus (connects slots together)
Components of an SCXI System
– Chassis Types
• SCXI-1000 4-slots
• SCXI-1000DC 4-slots, DC powered
• SCXI-1001 12-slots and multi-chassis configuration
• SCXI-2000 4-slots, RS-232/485 serial communication
(Obs.)
• PXI-1010 4-slots, PXI and SCXI combined
• PXI-1011 4-Slot PXI, 8-Slot SCXI
 Components of an SCXI System

• SCXI modules:
– Analog Input
• 1100, 1102 (B & C) , 1120 (D), 1121, 1122,
1140, 1141, 1520, 1530, 1531, 1540
– Analog Output
• 1124
Components of an SCXI System
– Frequency
• 1126, CTC8*, FRQ8*
– Digital
• 1160, 1161 (relays)
– Digital Input
• 1162, 1162HV, 1163R
– Digital Output
• 1163
*third party modules
Components of an SCXI System
– Accessory
• 1180 (Feed-through Panel)
• 1181 (Breadboard)
– Analog, Digital and Timing
• 1200 (parallel port communication) (Obs)
– Serial Communication
• 2400 (RS-232/485 serial communication interface)
(Obs)
 Components of an SCXI System

• Terminal Blocks
– Provide screw terminals for signal connections
– Mount onto SCXI modules
– Terminal blocks only work with certain modules
– May include signal conditioning or CJC sensor
– BNC and TC terminal blocks available
 Components of an SCXI System

• DAQ Device
– Plug-in DAQ board or DAQCard
– PXI Module
– SCXI-1200 (Obs)
 Parallel vs. Multiplexed
Operation
SCXI modules can be configured in two modes:

Parallel: one-to-one connection to each channel on your data acquisition board.

Multiplexed: every channel on the SCXI module is multiplexed through one of

the channels on the MIO board.

Note: SCXI modules allow parallel configuration, if there are boards with enough
channels to support the board-module one-to-one channel configuration.
 Multichassis Configuration
• 1 chassis multiplexed through channel 0
• Chassis 1,2 & 3 multiplexed through ch0, ch1 and ch2
• Multichassis configuration needs SCXI-1346 adapter

Note: All channels are digitized through one A/D converter.

Multichassis Configuration
Theory of Operation
 Theory of Operation
• SCXI Digital Interface
Communication is achieved through 5 digital lines:
– SPICLK: Clocking data transfers
– MOSI: Master Out - Serial Data In / Board Data Tx
– MISO: Master In - Serial Data Out / Board Data Rx
– INTR*: Talk to Slot 0 (low) or active module (high)
– D*/A: Write/read data (low) or write to register (high)
 Theory of Operation
• Write to Slot 0
 Theory of Operation
• Enabling and talking to one module
To read from a module,
the MIO board reads
the data present in the
MISO line.

Note: Each module has

its own SS* line.

Slot 0 dictates what

module is active
through the SS* line.
 Theory of Operation

• Modules you can access simultaneously

1. Multiple AI modules as long as they are connected in parallel, each to one

MIO board.
Note: Not all modules can be configured in parallel mode.

2. An AI module and a digital module.

 SCXI Scanning
• Freedoms and Limitations of SCXI
SCXI Scanning
 SCXI Throughput

• Slot 0 needs 3 s between channels

• Maximum throughput: 333.333 kS/s

• Slowest component in system determines overall

throughput:
• Onboard A/D converter
• Filters, gain (affect settling time)
• Parallel or serial link
 SCXI Equipment Setup
• Make sure that you have the right cable assembly
(incl. cable adapter) connected to the right module.
• Connect the module to the MIO board.
• Make sure you have the right terminal blocks
connected to the right modules.
• Power up the SCXI chassis
Note: ALWAYS turn off chassis before adding or removing modules!
 Commonly Used Equipment

• SCXI-1100
• SCXI-1121
• SCXI-1120/1141 cascaded
• SCXI-1140
• SCXI-1160
• SCXI-1162HV
• Remote SCXI-1000/1200/2400
SCXI-1100
• 32-channel differential-input multiplexer with onboard
programmable-gain instrumentation amplifier.
• Voltage or Current inputs.
• Input Range ±10V.
• Jumper selectable lowpass filters of 4 Hz and 10 kHz.
• Software-selectable gains of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200,
500, 1000, 2000.
• Only works in multiplexed mode and drives channels 0
and 1 on the MIO board.
• Configuration: differential mode
SCXI-1121
• 4-channel isolation amplifier with excitation.
• 1,500 Vrms isolation per channel.
• Current or voltage excitation.
• Input range of ±5V, 240 Vrms common-mode voltage.
• Jumper-selectable lowpass three-pole RC filters (4 Hz
and 10 kHz).
• Individually configurable jumper-selectable channel
gains of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and
2000.
• Configuration: differential mode
SCXI-1120
• 8-channel isolation amplifier.
• 1,500 Vrms isolation per channel.
• Input range of ±5V, 240 Vrms common-mode
voltage.
• Jumper-selectable lowpass filters (4 Hz and 10
kHz).
• Individually configurable jumper-selectable
channel gains of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500,
1000 and 2000.
• Configuration: differential mode.
 SCXI-1520
• Universal Strain Gauge Module
• 8 Ch Strain Gauge input and Excitation for
Quarter, Half, Full bridges
• Simultaneous Sampling
• Only works with SCXI-1314 Terminal Block
• Requires NI-DAQ 6.9 or later
 SCXI-1530, 1531
• 4 (1530) or 8 (1531) Channel Accelerometer input
and Excitation
• Provide constant current excitation (4mA)
• Simultaneous sampling
• Accepts ICP type (Piezoelectric) Accelerometer
(normally specified as mV/g, V/G, mV/m/s2, V/m/s2)
• BNC connectors in front
 SCXI-1540
• 8 Channel LVDT input and Excitation
• 1 or 3 Vrms excitation
• Simultaneous sampling
• Only works with SCXI-1315 terminal block

•LVDT: Linear Variable Differential Transformers

SCXI-1141

• 8-channel lowpass elliptic filters

with differential input amplifiers.
• Used for antialiasing, amplification
and filtering
• Software-selectable cutoff
frequencies
• Software-programmable gains
• AC coupling
SCXI-1160

• Switches and controls 16

isolated SPDT relays
• Switch, route and control low-
level and power signals
• Switching capacity:
2 A @ 250 Vrms
2 A @ 30 VDC
• 250 Vrms contact-to-coil isolation
SCXI-1162HV

• 32 optically isolated digital input

channels
• 450 Vrms isolation
• 1900 Vrms breakdown
• TTL and CMOS compatible
• High speed parallel data transfer
 SCC Series

• Signal Conditioning for low channel count

applications
• Works with E-Series DAQ devices (68-pin)
 SCC Modules (SCC-XXXX)
SCC-AI Low voltage (mV or V); Thermocouples, Low
SCC-TC Thermocouples
SCC-A10 Attenuation
SCC-CI Current (4-20mA)
SCC-LP Low pass filters
SCC-DI Isolated digital input
SCC-DO Isolated digital output
SCC-FT Unconditioned or custom
SCC-SG Bridge inputs (strain); Strain gauge
SCC-ICP01 Accelerometer Input Module
SCC-RTD01 Platinum RTD Input Module
SCC-FV01 Frequency-to-Voltage Input Module
 SCC Power consumption and
configuration

SCC-TC0X 114mW •From the list on the left, you need to

SCC-SG0X 143mW choose appropriate Power module
SCC-AI0X 260mW •Calculate the total power consumption
SCC-A10 100mW for the SC-2345 by adding all the power
SCC-ICP01 128mW consumptions of each module
SCC-RTD01 128mW
SCC-LP0X 132mW
SCC-CI20 100mW from PC
SCC-FV01 100mW SCC-PWR-01 (PCI/AT bus: 1.5W,
SCC-DI01 61mW DAQCard: 700mW)
SCC-DO01 69mW SCC-PWR-02 from AC Power Supply
SCC0FT01 - SCC-PWR-03 from DC Power Supply
 OEM Products
• 5B series
– (per channel analog input/output)
• SSR Series
– (per channel digital input/output)