Multifunction USB Device Breaks the Speed Barrier

By DE Editors

IOtech(Cleveland, OH) has broken the USB data acquisition speed barrier withthe new Personal Daq/3000 Series; according to Iotech, the industry’sfirst 1MHz/16-bit multifunction USB devices. Three models are beingoffered with extensive software bundles. These bundles include DaqView8.0, a full-featured data logging and viewing application, pluscomprehensive support for VisualBasic, VisualBasic.NET, Visual C++,Visual C#, and LabVIEW programming environments.

The Personal Daq/3000 Series packs a wide variety of synchronous,multifunction I/O, and features eight differential or 16 single-endedanalog inputs, with seven programmable input ranges from ±100 mV to±10V full scale; simple expansion results in 32DE/64SE analog inputsvia the PDQ30 option; the ability of any analog input to measurevoltage or thermocouples; and an over-sampling mode, includingline-cycle rejection for ultra stable TC and low-level voltagemeasurements, even in the presence of AC power line noise. The seriesalso offers 1MHz/16-bit analog outputs on 0, 2, or 4 channels; 24digital I/O; four counter inputs capable of measuring frequency,period, pulse width, or quadrature encoders up to 20MHz; two timeroutputs; synchronous I/O—where all analog inputs, analog outputs,digital I/O and counter/timer I/O can occur synchronously—for precisetime correlation; and low latency control outputs capable of respondingto inputs in as fast as two microseconds.

The number of analog input channels on the Personal Daq/3000 Series canbe quadrupled with the addition of the PDQ30 option, increasing from 8diff/16 single-ended inputs to 32 diff/64 single-ended inputs. All ofthe features of the built-in analog channels are included when thePDQ30 is attached, including the ability to measure thermocouples onany channel. The user can simply plug the PDQ30 into the Personal Daq,or use an optional cable if it is necessary to have some distancebetween the two modules, say, for rack mounts.

The Personal Daq/3000 Series has a unique, low-latency control outputmode, where any input-analog, digital our counter, can control anoutput-digital, analog, or timer, based on pre-defined limits,including hysteresis. The outputs are controlled directly from thePersonal Daq and do not require PC intervention, resulting in responsetimes that are deterministic and measured in microseconds. This isnearly 1,000 times faster than other products that require PC softwareto make decisions.

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

DaqView 8.0, with new features such as high-speed scope viewing modesand many other data logging features, is included. DaqViewXL/Plus,which provides direct real-time export of acquired data to Excelspreadsheets and graphics and viewing options, and DaqView/Pro, whichadds real-time frequency domain analysis functions such as FFTs, areoffered as add-ons.

The Personal Daq will be available in October. Price: $899 (no analogoutputs) ; $999 (2 analog outputs) ; $1099 (4 analog outputs) ; $399(PDQ30 analog-input expansion module).

For more information, visit iotech.com.