Data Acquisition (DAQ) Announcements

Take a look at the best new tools for your data acquisition project. Or read the full press releases.

Network-Ready Data Acquisition Packaged in a Single Box – DAPserver 400

You now can buy network-ready data acquisition server packages based on Pentium M processors and preloaded with Windows and server software. Microstar Laboratories announces new DAPserver 400 test, measurement, and control products to supersede the DAPserver 200 series. There is space in the DAPserver enclosure for up to four DAP boards and up to ten signal-interfacing Eurocards. Multiple DAP boards can work together in the same DAPserver or in different DAPservers across a network as a single synchronized system with several hundred channels controlled from any PC on the network. The system provides real-time response free from local or network-related delays.

Analog Outputs with Isolated Grounds – MSXB 076

You now can design out two serious potential problems – ground currents and phase errors – from the analog outputs in your application. A new analog output board offers high density, enables high channel counts, includes an isolated ground for each channel, and allows simultaneous updates across all channels. The MSXB 076 board includes eight analog outputs, with an isolated ground for every output.

Digital I/O for High Channel Counts, Isolated Ground – MSXB 078

If you have concerns about ground currents as a source of noise, and if you need precise timing across many – or potentially many – channels of digital I/O, then check out a product that addresses both of these issues. An expansion board from Microstar Laboratories combines simultaneous operation on all channels with a ground isolated from the PC. The new board – part number MSXB 078 – provides sixteen digital inputs and sixteen digital outputs. Eight rack-mounted MSXB 078 boards connected to a single DAP board controlled by a PC give it 128 digital inputs and 128 digital outputs. Multiple DAP boards can work together across a network as a synchronized system that provides you with maybe hundreds of digital inputs and outputs operating simultaneously – and with isolated grounds.

Create a User Interface in Minutes – DAPstudio 3.00

If you need to deliver a data acquisition system quickly and you want to develop a good user interface for it, then download DAPstudio 3.00 and see how that could help. You now can use the latest (full) version of DAP Measurement Studio software from Microstar Laboratories, maker of Data Acquisition Processor (DAP) boards and software, for an unlimited trial period at no charge. DAPstudio 3.00 includes a new custom window design capability. This lets you select, size, and place any combination of graph, table, waterfall, bar, alarm, and digital volt meter formats to display your application data.

Scalable 16-Bit Data Acquisition – DAP 5016a/527

If you need easily scalable 16-bit data acquisition or some real-time processing under Windows, use a product with an onboard processor – one that runs a real-time OS you control from software on your PC. Microstar Laboratories, Inc., announced a new mid-range board, the DAP 5016a/527, that includes a 233MHz Pentium CPU and acquires 16-bit data at 500k samples/sec. Optional software lets you create a synchronized network of multiple DAQ boards.

Simultaneous Sampling on Many Channels – DAP 5380a/526

You now have an affordable building block for creating high-channel count systems that sample inputs simultaneously. Microstar Laboratories, Inc. announced a new mid-range DAP board, model number DAP 5380a/526, powered by an Intel Pentium 233MHz CPU. An individual board has sixteen analog inputs and can acquire 14-bit data at up to 800k samples per second per channel. The company has designed the board to work well in multiples.

Fast Sampling and High Resolution – DAP 5216a/627

When your data acquisition application needs fast 16-bit sampling and significant processing under Windows, check out the latest product from Microstar Laboratories. The company announced a new high-end DAP board, model number DAP 5216a/627, powered by a 400MHz CPU.

Data Acquisition with Onboard Processing – DAP 5000a

When your data acquisition application needs real-time processing and you need to provide a Windows solution, use a product with a powerful additional processor – one that runs a real-time OS you control from Windows. Try the new mid-range board, the DAP 5000a/526, that includes an Intel Pentium 233MHz CPU. You can use DAPstudio, a Windows application, to configure the DAP board to perform whatever low-level and real-time tasks your application requires. You then can use DAPstudio – or other software – to run your complete application.

MSXB 066 and MSXB 067: Effective Signal Conditioning for Resistive Sensors

MSXB 066 and MSXB 067 are the newest members of a family of signal-conditioning expansion boards for Data Acquisition Processor (DAP) boards. The new expansion boards provide analog signal conditioning for strain gauges, load cells, RTDs, and other resistive sensors. They provide a flexible interface for quarter-bridge, half-bridge, and full-bridge sensors, with two to six wires for each sensor, with or without voltage sense feedback. Systems using these boards can scale up for applications with hundreds of resistive sensor inputs at a low cost per channel. Each board has

8 differential inputs
jumper-selectable simultaneous sampling
jumper-selectable gains of
- 20, 40, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 (for strain gauges and load cells), or
- 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, and 50 (for RTDs)
jumper-selectable differential voltage excitation of 1.024 V, 2.048 V, and 3.072 V

Each board supports

8 bridge sensors per board
one 8-pin mini-DIN connector for each sensor
force/sense feedback
sense voltage measurement

MSXB 067 also includes fourth-order anti-alias filters with cutoff frequencies from 100 Hz to 50 kHz.

MSXB 064 and MSXB 065: Effective Signal Conditioning

Microstar Laboratories proudly introduces MSXB 064 and MSXB 065 - the first products in a new line of signal conditioning expansion boards for DAP board systems. These new expansion boards make it easy to implement signal conditioning in data acquisition systems. They can eliminate alias frequencies from acquired data and they can scale up for applications with hundreds of simultaneously sampled inputs at a very low cost per channel. Each board has

differential inputs
jumper-selectable simultaneous sampling
jumper-selectable gains of 1, 5, and 25

MSXB 065 also includes fourth-order anti-alias filters with cutoff frequencies from 100 Hz to 50 kHz.