Module:6

Data Acquisition System

Data Acquisition: single-channel and multi-channel data
acquisition, Data logging, Interfacing of sensors using DAQ
cards, Applications: automobile and biological systems
Analog Inputs (A/D)
• Analog to digital (A/D) conversion changes analog voltage
or current levels into digital information. The conversion is
necessary to enable the computer to process or store the
signals.
Analog Inputs (A/D)
The most significant criteria when selecting A/D hardware are:
• 1. Number of input channels
• 2. Single-ended or differential input signals
• 3. Sampling rate (in samples per second)
• 4. Resolution (usually measured in bits of resolution)
• 5. Input range (specified in full-scale volts)
• 6. Noise and nonlinearity
 Analog to Digital (A/D)
Converter

• Input signal ◼ Resolution

• Sampling rate ◼ Range
• Throughput ◼ Gain
 A/D Converter:
Input Signal
• Analog
✓Signal is continuous
Example: strain gage. Most of transducers
produce analog signals

◼ Digital
✓ Signal is either ON or OFF
Example: light switch.
 A/D Converter:
Sampling Rate

➢Determines how often conversions take place.

➢The higher the sampling rate, the better.

16 Samples/cycle
Analog 4 Samples/cycle
Input

8 Samples/cycle
 A/D Converter:
Sampling Rate
• Aliasing
✓Acquired signal gets distorted if
sampling rate is too small.
 A/D Converter:
Throughput
The effective rate of each individual channel is
inversely proportional to the number of channels
sampled.
Example:
• 100 KHz maximum.
• 16 channels.
100 KHz/16 = 6.25 KHz per channel.
 A/D Converter:
Range
• Minimum and maximum voltage levels that the
A/D converter can quantize

• Ranges are selectable (either hardware or

software) to accurately measure the signal
A/D Converter:
Resolution
Analog Outputs (D/A)
• The opposite of analog-to-digital conversion is digital-to-analog (D/A)
conversion. This operation converts digital information into analog voltage or
current. D/A devices allow the computer to control real-world events.
• Analog output signals may directly control process equipment. The process
can give feedback in the form of analog input signals. This is referred to as a
closed-loop control system with PID control.
• Analog outputs can also be used to generate waveforms. In this case, the
device behaves as a function generator.
Analog Outputs (D/A)
Advantages of Data Acquisition Processors
Data Loggers

 A data logger is an electronic

device that records data over time
or in relation to location either
with a built in instrument or
sensor or via external
instruments and sensors.

 They generally are small, battery

powered, portable, and equipped
with a microprocessor, internal
memory for data storage, and  Data Logger Cube Storing
sensors. technical & sensor data.
• Different types of data loggers and their operation

• The differences between various data loggers are based on the way that data is
recorded and stored.

• The basic difference between the two data logger types is that one type allows the
data to be stored in a memory, to be retrieved at a later time, while the other type
automatically records the data on paper, for immediate viewing and analysis.

• Many data loggers combine these two functions, usually unequally, with the
emphasis on either the ability to transfer the data or to provide a printout of it.
Applications
• Environmental monitoring
• Road traffic counting.
• Unattended soil moisture level recording.
• Motor Racing
• Temperature, Humidity and Power use for Heating and Air
conditioning efficiency studies.
• Unattended weather station recording
• Measure temperatures (humidity, etc) of perishables during
shipments
• Tank level monitoring.
Data Recovery and Transfer
• Data can be recovered from data acquisition systems in various ways
▫ Serial communication interface via direct connect, modem, cell
phone, radio, satellite
▫ PCMCIA - modem, cell phone, LAN, memory card, USB memory device
▫ Network port - Ethernet, field bus, proprietary, etc
▫ Universal Serial Bus (USB)

• Data can be transferred and published using :

▫ Local Ethernet network

▫ Intranet - email, web pages
▫ Internet - email, world wide web pages
Types of Data Acquisition Systems
• Data acquisition systems can be of a number of forms:
• Pocket loggers - small, battery powered, stand alone devices with simple functionality
• Intelligent data loggers - stand alone devices with own intelligence, sophisticated data
manipulation, alarms, backed up power supply, displays, etc. Accessed continuously or
periodically by a PC.
• Plug in cards - plugged into the ISA bus or USB port of a PC to provide basic data
acquisition functionality. The PC provides power, control, data storage, etc.
Choosing a Data Logger
When choosing a data logger the following parameters
should be considered

 AC Voltage/Current
 Light On/Off
 Shock/Acceleration
 Bridge/Strain/Load/Pressure
 Motor On/Off
 Sound
 Dew point
 PH Pressure
 Temperature
Pictures of data loggers
Types of data loggers
• Miniature Single Input Data Loggers

Miniature single input data loggers are generally low cost loggers
dedicated to a specific input type.
These types of data loggers are often used in the transportation
industry.
A typical application would be to include a temperature data logger
in a shipment of food products to insure that the food temperature
does not exceed acceptable limits. In addition to temperature
miniature data loggers are available for a large variety of input
types.
Types of Data loggers
• Fixed Mount Multi-Channel Data Loggers
Fixed input loggers have a fixed number of input channels which
are generally dedicated for a specific type of input. OMEGA offers fixed
input data loggers ranging from one to 8 channels.

• Modular Data Loggers

• A modular data logger is configurable and expandable through the use
of plug-in modules.
• The modules are normally field configurable and the user has the
option of adding as many channels to satisfy the application
requirement.
Advantages:
• Data logging devices can be sent to places that
humans can not easily get to. e.g. to the planet Mars,
in to the bottom of a volcano and on to a roof of a tall
building to get to a weather station.

• Graphs and tables of results can be produced

automatically by the data logging software.
Disadvantages:
• The main disadvantage of using a data logging system is the
initial cost of purchasing the equipment.
• While a thermometer can be purchased for less than one pound,
the price of the components of a data logging system to record the
temperature will be considerable.
Data Acquisition VS Data Logging
• Data loggers typically have slower sample rates than Data
Acquisition System.

• Data loggers are implicitly stand-alone devices, while typical data

acquisition system must remain tethered to a computer to
acquire data.

• data loggers must be extremely reliable than Data Acquisition

System
DAQ Cards or Instruments

• The purpose of this presentation is to familiarize new Lab

View users to the different computer aided test recourses
available.
• Over the years I have often been asked to help solve problems
with test set ups. These problems often stem from the use of
DAQ cards rather than test instruments.
• Test instruments can communicate with computers.
• Some instruments come in the same form factors as DAQ
cards.
• NI sells test instruments; so they cant be that bad.
Computer Aided Test Resources
• Bench top Instruments, DMMs, Function Generators, O-
scopes, spectrum analyzers, scientific instruments
• GPIB
• Serial; RS232,USB
• Ethernet
• Modular Instruments
• PXI
• PCI
• DAQ cards
• Compact DAQ
1. C-RIO; very good for robotic, or mobile applications.
2. USB
3. Wireless
4. Ethernet
What is a DAQ card
• Often multi function
• Digital I/O
• Counters
• Analog input
1. Typically Voltage
2. Some current; typically 4 - 20 mA
DAQ Advantages
• Lots of channels
• More s/S than DMMs; 1000 s/S to 100 Ks/s
1. 10ks/S to 1.5 Ms/S
2. > 1.5 Ms/S digitizer territory
• Good for recording data seamlessly
DAQ Disadvantages

• Useless without a computer

• Not faster than a scope
• Lack signal conditioning ; 3mV to 15 V typical.
• Requires more programming , and more skills
• Requires EE knowledge for signal conditioning if you
design your own
• Management challenges; Cal sticker? Inventory?
Good DAQ Application
Bad DAQ Application
Multiplexed Instrument better choice
DAQ Alternatives
• 33509B Arbitrary waveform generator $1800 no programming needed; entry
level generator
20 MHz , Standard Functions and Arbitrary functions
• 34972A Data logger switch unit $2000; > 48 channels, 300 ch/S scan, 1000
s/S,
1. DMM quality measurements, does not need a computer to record 50,000
samples; down load data to USB drive
2. 11 different measurements, free monitoring software, no programming
needed
More DAQ Alternatives
• TMX “DAQ In the Box”; No programming necessary
1. 48 Channels; 400 Ks/S simultaneous; 96 Channels; 200
Ks/S simultaneous
2. 18 Channels; 800 Ks/S simultaneous; 32 Channels at
400 Ks/S Simultaneous
3. Up to 800 Volts peak, hardware filters as well as digital
filters
4. Built in 1 TB removable hard-drive; 1.7 GB storage per
minute
5. User configurable interface, triggers, formulas,
hardware trigger outputs
6. Modules about $3K each 6 modules max.
7. Chassis about $15K
Need More Samples / Second?

• Oscilloscopes
• TDS 1000; 2 ch, 500 Ms/S, $1000
• TDS 3034; 4 ch, 2.5 Gs/S, $9,000
• Up to 25,000 Volts, built in filters, peak detect, and other
sampling modes all kids of features
DAQ in Biomedical Applications
DAQ for Automobiles
• Real time display of sensor data to driver
• Wireless display of data to pit crew
• Store data for crew
• Optimum response time of the sensors
• Data stored directly into excel sheet with time
stamp
• Tested wireless range spans over 350 meter radius
DAQ System Overview
Schematics

Tx unit
Schematics

Rx unit
An Example
• Hardware
• - Power Supply
• - Microcontroller Unit – Arduino Uno
• - XBee Pro Series 1
• - LCD
• - onboard Sensors

• Software
• - Arduino Programming Environment
• - Configurable with PC
Power Supply
300V to 24V to 12V provided

5V required for:
- Microcontroller
- Sensors
- LCD

12V to 5V dc-dc conversion

Power Supply

Input Voltage: 12V

Output Voltage: 4.91V
Duty cycle 0.416

Voltage ripples: 20mV

Tolerance < 2%
Data
• On-board LCD display (for driver):
– Vehicle speed
– Motor temperature

• Wireless transmission to pit crew:

– Vehicle speed
– Motor temperature
– Motor speed
– Battery voltage
– Coolant temperature
Motor Temperature Sensor
- Analog
- 5.0V input
- oC = 100V-50
±2oC in -40 to 125oC
Motor Temperature Sensor
Output Voltage vs. Temperature

Documented Observed
Motor Temperature Sensor
Thermometer
Sensor Temp. (°C)
Temp.(°C)
25.1 27.7
40.25 44.01
55.42 57.7
75.22 77.91
90.21 93.2
100.02 102.88

Average Error = ~ 5%
= 3 oC

Sensor Temperature vs. Thermometer Temperature

Coolant Temperature Sensor
- Digital one-wire
- Waterproof
- 5.0V input
- ±2oC in -55 to 125oC
Coolant Temperature Sensor
Thermometer
Sensor Temp. (°C)
Temp.(°C)
25.55 23.1
40 37.5
55.5 52.88
75.25 73.15
90.35 87.75
100.25 97.89

Average Error = ~ 5%
= 2.45 oC

Thermometer Temperature vs. Sensor Temperature

Speed Sensor
• Wheel and motor speed
• - Hall Effect
• - -40oC to +150oC
• - 5V input (1kΩ pull up resistor)
• - 10µs rise/fall time
• - Maximum speed 10kHz

• Target
• - Magnet or magnetic metal
• - Tooth height: 0.2 in
• - Tooth width: 0.1 in
• - Tooth separation: 0.4 in
• - Tooth thickness: 0.25 in
Speed (Hall Effect) Sensor
 Speed (Hall Effect) Sensor

Stroboscope
Sensor Reading (RPM)
Reading (RPM)
80 68
110 120
140 155
170 165
200 225
230 212

Average Error = ±16 RPM

Stroboscope RPM vs. Sensor RPM

Arduino Uno
Arduino Uno:

• Atmel ATmega328 microcontroller

• 14 Digital I/O Pins
• 6 Analog Pins
• 16 MHz speed
• Voltage required: 5 V
• Supplies 3.3V as required for Xbee
 Xbee and XBee Explorer USB
XBee Pro 60mW Wire Antenna - Series 1:

• Range: 1 km
• Observed Range: 350 m
• Voltage Required: 3.3 V
• Max data rate: 250kbps

Xbee Explorer USB:

• Transmit data received by Xbee over USB through Serial interface

• Gobetwino software
DAQ System

• All required sensor data

acquired
• Data successfully
transmitted over XBee
• Data stored in Excel sheet
• All components
successfully powered by a
dc-dc converter circuit
Module 6 ends!