New Multifunction USB Device Breaks the Speed Barrier

IOtech has broken the USB data acquisition speed barrier with the introduction of their new Personal Daq/3000™ Series – the industry’s first 1-MHz /16-bit multifunction USB devices. Three models are offered, providing a wide variety of analog, digital, and frequency I/O in one compact and low-cost package. Software included with the Personal Daq is extensive, including new DaqView™ 8.0, a full-featured Out-of-the-Box™ data logging and viewing application, plus comprehensive support for all popular programming environments including VisualBasic®, VisualBasic. NET®, Visual C++®, Visual C#®, and LabVIEW®.

Unlike other suppliers who offer low-cost USB devices ($200-$500) that only offer a single function, or multifunction high-speed devices that are very expensive ($2,000 and above), the Personal Daq/3000 Series packs a wide variety of synchronous, multifunction I/O in a single device priced from $1,399 to $1,599. The PersonalDaq/3000 Series advantage over other multifunction USB devices is it is less than half the price, yet offers more than twice the performance plus a host of additional features. The Personal Daq advantage over using multiple, single-function I/O devices is lower-cost, higher-performance, synchronicity, and the convenience of having everything in one package.

Features

• 1-MHz/16-bit A/D converter
• 8 differential or 16 single-ended analog inputs, with 7 programmable input ranges from ±100 mV to ±10V full scale
• Simple expansion (via PDQ30™ option) results in 32DE/64SE analog inputs
• Any analog input can measure voltage or thermocouples – any TC type on any channel
• Over-sampling mode, including line-cycle rejection for ultra stable TC and low-level voltage measurements, even in the presence of AC power line noise
• 1-MHz/16-bit analog outputs (0, 2, or 4 channels)
• 24 digital I/O
• 4 counter inputs capable of measuring frequency, period, pulse width, or quadrature encoders up to 20 MHz
• 2 timer outputs
• Synchronous I/O, where all analog inputs, analog outputs, digital I/O and counter/timer I/O can occur synchronously, resulting in precise time correlation between all I/O
• Low latency control outputs capable of responding to inputs in as fast as 2 µs

The number of analog input channels on the Personal Daq/3000 Series can be quadrupled with the addition of the PDQ30 option, increasing from 8 diff/16 single-ended inputs to 32 diff/64 single-ended inputs. All of the features of the built-in analog channels are included when the PDQ30 is attached, including the ability to measure thermocouples on any channel. The user can simply plug the PDQ30 into the Personal Daq, or they can use an optional cable if it is necessary to have some distance between the two modules, for example if they are din-rail mounted in a rack.

The Personal Daq/3000 Series has a unique, low-latency control output mode, where any input – analog, digital our counter, can control an output – digital, analog, or timer, based on pre-defined limits, including hysteresis. The outputs are controlled directly from the Personal Daq and do not require PC intervention, resulting in response times that are deterministic and measured in micro-seconds, vs. non-deterministic response times measured in milli-seconds for PC-based control outputs. For example, a digital output can be programmed to be a logic 1 when an analog input channel is above 5 volts, and a logic zero when below 5 volts. Unlike other products that require PC software to make decisions, with typical, non-deterministic output rates of 1 to 10 milliseconds, the Personal Daq/3000 Series can respond to inputs in as fast as 2 µs max – nearly 1,000 times faster.

Trigger modes are extensive on the Personal Daq, ranging from analog trigger with 1µs max latency, to multi-channel triggering, where any combination of analog, digital and counter input channels can be combined to initiate the trigger. Other trigger modes include digital pattern, level, edge, inside/outside window, and pre- and post- trigger.

Included with the Personal Daq is new DaqView 8.0 software, offering new features such as high-speed scope viewing modes, as well as a host of other data logging features. With included DaqView, most users won’t need to purchase any additional software for the majority of their applications.

Two add-ons to DaqView™ are also offered. DaqViewXL/Plus™ provides direct real-time export of acquired data to Excel® spreadsheets, as well as additional graphics and viewing options. DaqView/Pro™ includes all of the features of DaqViewXL/Plus, and in addition offers real-time frequency domain analysis functions such as FFTs.

For users who prefer to program, the Personal Daq also includes comprehensive drivers for VisualBasic®, VisualBasic. NET®, Visual C++®, Visual C#®, LabVIEW®, MATLAB®, and DASYLab®.

The Personal Daq packaging is designed to make it easy for the user to use in a variety of applications. Removable screw terminals facilitate attaching and removing I/O without having to turn dozens of screws, and makes it easy to remove the Personal Daq for calibration without having to re-wire each time. The Personal Daq can be easily DIN-rail mounted for applications where the device is mounted in a rack or with a protective enclosure.