Data Acquisition System: by Shiv Chamkure, 2011BIN004

Data Acquisition
system
By Shiv chamkure,2011BIN004 1
• What Is Data Acquisition?
• What data acquisition system consist of ?
• Block diagram of data acquisition system
• Transducers(sensors)
• Signal conditioning
• Ground loops
• Data acquisition and control hardware
• Functions of a DAQ device
• Data Acquisition Software 2
What Is Data Acquisition?
Data acquisition (DAQ) is the process of

measuring an electrical or physical
phenomenon such as voltage, current,
temperature, pressure, or sound ,flow rate
with a computer.
3
A data acquisition system consists of :
1. Sense of physical variables ( transducers )
2. Signal Conditioning for electrical signal to make it

readable by an A/D board
3. Convert the signal into a digital format acceptable by

a computer(DAQ device)
4. Process, analyze, store, and display the acquired

data with the help of software
4
Data Acquisition System
Block Diagram :
5
What is a Transducer?
Transducer
converts a physical phenomenon into a

measurable electrical signal
6
Variety of Transducers
7
Signal Conditioning
Noisy, Low-Level Signal
Filtered, Amplified Signal
Noisy, Low-Level Signal Filtered, Amplified

Signal
Improving the quality of signals
Amplification
Filtering
Isolation
8
Amplification :
When the input signal is as small as microvolts, electrical
noise can drown out the signal itself, leading to
meaningless data.
For reducing the effects of noise on your signal is to

amplify the signal as close to the source as possible.
Increases Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR)
e.g. A J-type thermocouple outputs a very low-level

voltage signal that varies by about 50 µV/°C.
9
Filtering :
To reject unwanted noise within a certain frequency
range.
Many systems will exhibit 50 Hz periodic noise from
sources such as power supplies or machinery.
e.g Butterworth Filter

Bessel Filter
Chebyshev Filter
Simple RC Filter
Passive & Active Filters
10
Isolation :
Improper grounding of the DAQ system is the most common
cause of measurement problems and damaged DAQ boards.
There is no physical wiring between the input and output.
The input is normally transferred by converting it to an optical or

magnetic signal then it is reconstructed on the output.
Isolation is one way to eliminate ground loop errors.
Isolation breaks ground loops, rejects high common-mode

voltages, and protects expensive DAQ boards.
Protects from power lines, lightning. 11
.
Grounding Issues
To get correct measurements you must properly

ground your system.
Signal Source
Grounded Floating
+ +
Vs Vs
_ _
12
Grounded Signal Source
Signal is referenced to a system ground

-earth ground
+
Vs
-building ground
_ Examples:
-Power supplies
-Signal Generators
-Anything that plugs into an outlet
13
Floating Signal Source
Signal is NOT referenced to a system

ground
– earth ground
– building ground
Examples: +
– Batteries Vs
_
– Thermocouples
– Transformers
– Isolation Amplifiers
– building ground
14
Ground Loops :  There are two grounds.
 The grounds are at different potentials.
 There is a galvanic path between the
grounds.
15
Breaking this galvanic path can be accomplished by
isolators
optical isolation:- optical isolators,
photo-transistors
magnetic isolation:- Transformers
16
Eliminating Ground Loop :
17
Signal conditioners are also
sometimes referred to as:
signal transmitters,
ground loop isolators,
4-20ma transmitters,
4-20ma converters,
4-20ma isolators,
analog signal converters
analog signal isolators
18
Data acquisition and control hardware :
YourSignal
Your Signal
DAQ Device
Cable Q Device Computer
Computer
Cable
Terminal
TerminalBlock
Block
DAQ Hardware turns your PC into a

19
measurement and automation system
Terminal Block and Cable
50 pin connector
YourSignal
Your Signal
Cable
Terminal
TerminalBlock
Block
Terminal Block and Cable route

your signal to specific pins on 20
your DAQ device
Some things to consider:
Connection to the Internet

Is there software support?
Type of input channels - single-ended input channels
differential input channels.
Compatible with a variety of bus protocols
Number of analog input channels

Sampling rate
Resolution
Accuracy
Reduced board size
DAQ device
Plug-in data acquisition cards 21
Functions of a DAQ device :
- analog input- digital output
- digital input- analog output
- counter/timer functions
22
Analog Inputs (A/D)
when selecting A/D hardware :
 Number of input channels

 Single-ended or differential input signals
Sampling rate (in samples per second)
 Resolution (usually measured in bits of
resolution)
 Input range (specified in full-scale volts)
 Gain
23
A/D Converter:
Sampling Rate
 The higher the sampling rate,

the better signal we get
 Acquired signal gets distorted if sampling
rate is too small.
24
Nyquist Sampling Theorem
Nyquist sampling theorem tells us that we must

sample the signal at more than twice the rate of
the maximum frequency component in the
analog input signal.
According to the Nyquist Theorem, the sampling rate

must be at least 2fmax.
Where , highest frequency component = fmax
25
Range
Minimum and maximum voltages the ADC

can digitize
Ranges are selectable
Pick a range that your signal fits in
Smaller range = more precise representation

of your signal
26
Resolution
Number of bits the ADC uses to represent a signal
changes can be measured

Example: 12-bit resolution
2resolution = 212 = 4,096 levels
Larger resolution = more precise representation
27
Gain
Gain setting amplifies the signal for best fit

in ADC range
Gain settings are 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, or

100 for most devices
Proper gain = more precise representation
28
Code Width
 Code Width is the smallest change in the signal your

system can detect (determined by resolution, range,
and gain)
range
 code width =
gain * 2 resolution
 Smaller Code Width = more precise representation
29
Analog Outputs (D/A)
 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.
30
Counters/Timers
Counter/timer devices provide a variety of measurement

solutions, including measuring a number of time-related
quantities.
Use counter/timers for:

 Frequency measurement
 Edge or event counting (totalizing)
 Pulse-width measurement
 Event timestamps
 pulse-width modulation (PWM)
31
Data Acquisition Software
It can be the most critical factor in obtaining reliable,

high performance operation
Transforms the PC and DAQ hardware into a complete

DAQ, analysis, and display system.
Different alternatives:
– Programmable software.
– Data acquisition software packages
32
Programmable Software
Involves the use of a programming language,
such as:
– C++, Visual C++
– BASIC, Visual Basic + Add-on tools (such as
VisuaLab with VTX)
• Advantage: flexibility
• Disadvantages: complexity and steep
learning curve 33
Data Acquisition Software Packages
• Does not require programming.

• Enables developers to design the custom
instrument best suited to their
application.
• Examples: TestPoint, SnapMaster, LabView,

DADISP, DASYLAB, etc
34
Example of Computer DAQ System
Trigger
Timer
Digital Control
Circuit Interrupt
Sensor
Instrumentation
Input
Amplifier
Strobe
+
Parallel/Series Computer
Filter S/H A/D
- Input Port
Bridge
Display Parallel/Series
D/A Output Port
Control
Output Strobe 35
Presented by
Shiv Chamkure 36
2011BIN004

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Data Acquisition

Data acquisition (DAQ) is the process of

1. Sense of physical variables ( transducers )

2. Signal Conditioning for electrical signal to make it

3. Convert the signal into a digital format acceptable by

4. Process, analyze, store, and display the acquired

converts a physical phenomenon into a

Noisy, Low-Level Signal Filtered, Amplified

For reducing the effects of noise on your signal is to

e.g. A J-type thermocouple outputs a very low-level

e.g Butterworth Filter

There is no physical wiring between the input and output.

The input is normally transferred by converting it to an optical or

Isolation breaks ground loops, rejects high common-mode

Protects from power lines, lightning. 11

To get correct measurements you must properly

Signal is referenced to a system ground

Signal is NOT referenced to a system

magnetic isolation:- Transformers

DAQ Hardware turns your PC into a

Terminal Block and Cable route

Connection to the Internet

Number of analog input channels

- analog input- digital output

- digital input- analog output

 Number of input channels

 The higher the sampling rate,

Nyquist sampling theorem tells us that we must

According to the Nyquist Theorem, the sampling rate

Minimum and maximum voltages the ADC

Ranges are selectable

Pick a range that your signal fits in

Smaller range = more precise representation

Number of bits the ADC uses to represent a signal

changes can be measured

Gain setting amplifies the signal for best fit

Gain settings are 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, or

Proper gain = more precise representation

 Code Width is the smallest change in the signal your

 Smaller Code Width = more precise representation

 D/A devices allow the computer to control real-

 Analog output signals may directly control

 The process can give feedback in the form of

 This is referred to as a closed loop control

Counter/timer devices provide a variety of measurement

Use counter/timers for:

It can be the most critical factor in obtaining reliable,

Transforms the PC and DAQ hardware into a complete

• Does not require programming.

• Examples: TestPoint, SnapMaster, LabView,

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