The 104-COM-8SM/4SM serial communication boards from Acces I/O Products, San Diego, CA, are eight- and four-port asynchronous boards that support field-selectable RS-232/422/485 communications. They allow for the connection of multiple serial devices for applications such as machine monitoring and control, military, and high-density networking. A crystal oscillator permits baud rate capability to 921.6K. Ports are accessed via two 40-pin IDC right-angle header connections.

Data Acquisition System

Dataforth Corp., Tucson, AZ, has introduced the isoLynx® SLX100 modular, isolated distributed data acquisition system that can interface with more than 650 SCM5B analog I/O modules. Features include up to 60 channels and the ability to mix and match I/O types on a per-channel basis. The system is comprised of a 12-channel base system with an I/O controller module and optional 8- or 16-channel expansion backplanes that can be panel- or DIN-rail mounted. The system accepts single-channel digital or analog I/O modules. All I/O is channel-to-channel and channel-to-bus isolated.

Data Acquisition Software

NI-DAQmx 7.2 measurement software from National Instruments, Austin, TX, offers plug-and-play transducer electronic data sheets (TEDS) that integrate smart sensor technology into measurement systems. The software provides dynamic display of terminal connections, showing engineers where each configured sensor should be wired. The DAQ Assistant automatically generates code for various measurement types such as sound pressure. The software can be used to integrate PXI-based data acquisition devices in control systems that run a PID loop at a rate greater than 50 Khz.

Wireless Data Radios

The RAD-DATA-BUS from Phoenix Contact, Harrisburg, PA, is a wireless I/O system for industrial applications that enables monitoring and control at low-point-count remote sites. The data radios move RS-232/422/485 serial data from a programmable logic controller (PLC) with MODBUS and Allen-Bradley DFI protocols, and also lets users read and write analog and digital I/O from remote locations. Each transceiver is a master, slave, and store-and-forward repeater/slave in one. While supporting transparent data communications, the radios self-heal in repeater networks.

Data Acquisition Boards

The PCIDAQ 04 Series of data acquisition boards from CyberResearch, Branford, CT, feature two D/A channels, two 16-bit counter/timers, bus-mastering DMA, auto calibration, and FIFO buffers. The boards are designed for applications such as automotive and cable testing, transient signal measurements, automated test equipment, lab automation, and biotechnology measurements. All signals are brought out to a single 68-pin connector. Users requiring more than four A/D channels can synchronize several boards to work together.

Data Acquisition Boards

Measurement Computing Corp., Middleboro, MA, offers the PMD-1608FS, a USB-based data acquisition module that provides eight simultaneously sampled, 16-bit analog inputs with continuous multichannel sample rates up to 100 Ks/second. It is supported by TracerDAQ™ software that provides an oscilloscope, strip chart recorder, and data logger; InstaCal™ software for calibration and test; Universal Library®, a programming interface for Windows languages; and UL for LabVIEW™, which serves as a LabVIEW driver. Uncased versions of the module with screw terminals or high-density connectors are available.

Data Acquisition Modules

DATAQ Instruments, Akron, OH, offers the DI-710 series of 16-channel data acquisition modules that provide 14 bits of resolution, up to 512 Mbytes of memory on a removable module, a built-in channel gain scan list, and computer interface via USB or Ethernet. Units are available in standalone and wire-connected versions. The standalone units feature a removable multimedia card (MMC) memory module with available capacity to 512 Mbytes that can be used with or without PC connection, and the tethered units connect directly to the PC. Both models are available with low-level or high-level inputs and feature a real-time clock and an 8-bit digital bi-directional I/O port.