If you need 16-bit resolution, a scalable data acquisition system, or some real-time processing under Windows, then read on for details on a new board that meets those requirements
Microstar Laboratories makes data acquisition processor (Dap) boards and systems for data acquisition and control, and has announced its latest mid-range Dap board, model number Dap 5016a/527, powered by an Intel Pentium 233MHz CPU.
Dap 5016a/527 - a mid-range Dap board.
The Dap 5016a/527 includes 16 analogue inputs, two analog outputs, 16 digital inputs, and 16 digital outputs.
External rack-mounted hardware can extend these channel counts to 512, 66, 128, and 1024 respectively, with 16-bit resolution on all analogue inputs and outputs.
(Signal conditioning may affect the maximum number of sensors supported by a single board; some products may use multiple channels for each sensor: to read excitation voltages, for example; see Channel Architecture, below).
The board can acquire 16-bit data at up to 500k samples per second, and can convert 833k values per second with 16-bit resolution on each of the two onboard analogue outputs.
The maximum digital input and output rates are both 1.67M samples per second on all sixteen channels.
The onboard Pentium processor allows real-time processing.
Low latency - 0.1ms task time quantum - delivers fast response.
Onboard processing.
Each Dap board gives your system an additional processor running a real-time operating system - Dapl - that you control from a Windows application.
This extra resource gives you room to make your application even better, and sets it free from system delays.
It lets you apply computing power when and where needed.
It means you can sample data and control a process anywhere, anytime.
You can analyse spectra in real time.
Your application responds reliably: in time, every time.
Synchronising Daps.
All Dap boards include built-in synchronisation hardware and support software that work together to let you create a PC-based building block for a synchronised data acquisition system with any number of Daps.
Additional Daps in a single PC can take their timing from a designated master Dap in that PC.
With optional PC software - Dapcell - and additional hardware, two or more PCs each containing one or more Daps can support a synchronised network of Daps free from conventional network or PC delays.
In other words, when you base your data acquisition on DAP boards, your application is inherently scalable.
Add more channels whenever you need them, and address each additional channel in software simply by channel number.
Channel architecture.
A single Dap board or a synchronised network of Daps forms a platform for a potentially large number of channels.
Microstar Laboratories bases all hardware and software design on a consistent channel architecture to handle the signal all the way from an analog waveform at the sensor to a stream of digital values on the PC - from signal connectors on various rack-mounted 3U Eurocard B external boards, through circuits on the Dap, through conceptual pipes in software running on the onboard processor, and on to the PC.
Some of the rack-mounted external boards reduce the maximum number of sensors supported by a single Dap.
For instance, 15 MSXB 067 boards can connect to a single DAP for resistive sensor inputs from up to 120 strain gauges.
The MSXB 067 board uses differential channels for signal quality, and additional channels to sample simultaneously and to read excitation voltages - more than four channels per sensor.
For more than 120 strain gauges, just add another Dap.
Configuring and running Daps.
Dap boards acquire data, converting analogue signals into digital values.
These digital values stream through conceptual pipes on the board that you set up ahead of time using Dapstudio, a Windows application.
The onboard processor performs any required operations as it transfers data from pipe to pipe.
Dapstudio lets you specify these onboard operations by clicking on the appropriate tools as you design the system, and it then lets you save the working configuration as a complete DAP application.
At the end of the Dapstudio session you have automatically produced documentation that completely defines your application.
You then can use Dapstudio to run your application - from any PC on a network - with no custom programming and no other vendor software.
Although Dapstudio lets you configure and control any Dap without any other Windows software, you also can do this from Labview, Matlab, and other third-party software.
And from C++, VB, and other applications that allow DLL calls.
Conclusion and next step.
When you need 16-bit resolution, a scalable data acquisition system, or some real-time processing under Windows, check out the Dap 5016a/527, with its onboard Intel Pentium 233MHz CPU.
You can configure the board using Dapstudio, a Windows application.
You also can run your entire application with Dapstudio.
You can order the board now for immediate delivery.
It costs US$3195.
Dapstudio costs $199.
The company provides hardware and software for evaluation at no charge.
You can download a full version of Dapstudio and try it out right now.
