21AR43 Instrumentation & Control Systems

2. Data Acquisition System

Data Acquisition (DAQ) System:

• Data acquisition (DAQ) systems are the main instruments used in laboratory research
from scientists and engineers; in particular, for test and measurement, automation, and so
on.
• Typically, DAQ systems are general-purpose DAQ instruments that are well suited for
measuring voltage or current signals.
• However, many sensors and transducers output signals must be conditioned before that a
board can acquire and transform in digital the signal.

Elements of DAQ

The basic elements of DAQ are:

• Sensors and transducers
• Field wiring
• Signal conditioning
• DAQ hardware
• DAQ software
• PC (with operating system)

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Benefits of Data Acquisition Systems

The advantages of data acquisition systems include:
 Accuracy
 Flexibility
 Scalable
 High Efficiency and Reliability of Processes
 Faster Analysis and Resolution of Problems
 Reduced Data Redundancy
 Decrease in Update Errors
 Improved Integration of Data through Less Reliance on Other Programs
 Improved Access to Data for Users
 Supervision of Processes without Human Interaction
 Improved Data Security
 Cost-Effectiveness
 Quality Control
 Data Acquisition Systems are Highly Versatile
 Better File Processing and Transfer Capabilities

DAQ Systems

The functional diagram of a typical DAQ system can be described of the following main
components:
• Input multiplexer
• Input signal amplifier
• Sample and hold circuit
• A/D converter
• Memory (DMA)
• Timing system and filtering
• Bus interface
• Digital signal processing
• Microprocessor and/or Field-Programmable Gate Array

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Types of Data Acquisition Systems

The types of data acquisition systems include:

Data Loggers

 Data logging is the process whereby collected data is recorded. This data is collected over
a defined amount of time. Data loggers tend to be small and they are mostly used for the
measurement of relatively small signals. Many of these data acquisition systems are
intended for the collection of data over a long period of time.
 Depending on the type of application, the data can be used to read voltages, temperature
measurements, humidity levels, currents, or other signals of interest. Data loggers are
self-contained data acquisition systems with built-in processors and predefined software
embedded in the unit.
 A data logger is capable of running as a standalone device. Data loggers are popular due
to their portability as well as ease of use for specific tasks. Every data logger consists of
local storage capacity for saving data. Some data loggers include SD (secure digital) slots
as a means for providing additional memory through the utilization of memory cards
(featuring memory chips). The data may be collected and temporarily stored on an
individual data logger and then sent via a data link ( a removable memory card) at

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regular, convenient intervals. Some web-enabled data loggers can even be configured to
directly share their data over a network.
 Some data loggers are battery-powered for additional portability. By definition, a data
logger will consist of a more limited set of inputs and tend to have a more basic format
like the already mentioned signals including temperature, current, voltage, etc. Data
loggers can also be used for the collection of geological data for long-term monitoring of
many items.

Data Acquisition Devices

 Data acquisition devices contain signal conditioning circuitry, as well as an analog-to-

digital converter. However, they need to be connected to a computer in order to function.
Data acquisition devices are a popular choice because they are very flexible and very
useful in various applications. Data acquisition devices are DAQ systems that are more
complex than data logging systems. However, they do not have the complexity of a full
rack-based DAQ system. Data acquisition devices are likely to utilize single devices to
which all the sensors can be connected into a full DAQ system.
 Data acquisition devices are capable of providing more functionality than data loggers
and they are less costly than full rack-based systems. Most of these items are USB data
acquisition systems. There are plug-in devices that are used in data acquisition. Users of
these devices can either use predefined data acquisition software such as DAQami, or
they can also make use of a programming environment like C++, MATLAB, Python, and
DASYLab. Data acquisition devices offer a customizable solution for unique
applications, with different BUS options as well as the flexibility to function as a part of a
larger DAS system.

Modular Data Acquisition Systems

 Modular data acquisition systems are designed for high-channel count devices offering
many input channels, as well as complex systems that require integration and
synchronization of many types of sensors. These systems are utilized in more demanding
situations. The integration and use of these systems are more complex, but they are
extremely flexible. These modular systems are the most expensive data acquisition
option. However, based on the complex functions performed, many DAQ systems
contain features that can only be provided by a modular data acquisition system like PXI.
 Both static, as well as dynamic measurements, can be performed by these DAQ systems;
therefore, they are capable of both low-speed and high-speed sampling.
 Modular data acquisition systems usually have a high-powered computer associated with
them due to the demands that are placed on them. The computer associated with these
systems is either built-in or connected to them. In this way, data acquisition systems offer
maximum as well as flexible performance, but this comes with an additional cost.
Modular data acquisition systems can come in larger racks although many compact DAQ
systems are also available.

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A/D converters

• An ADC is an electronic device that converts an input analog voltage or current to a

digital number proportional to the magnitude of the voltage or current.
• However, some non-electronic or only partially electronic devices, such as rotary
encoders, can also be considered ADCs. The number of output bits from an ADC doesn’t
fully specify its behavior.

Parameters of AD Converters
Some important factors can be described in the following points:
• Input voltage range: The input voltage range of an ADC is determined by the reference
voltage applied to the ADC.
• Resolution: The resolution, expressed in bits, of the converter indicates the number of
discrete values (binary) that can be produced over the range of analog values.

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• Quantization error: Quantization error is an artifact of representing an analog signal

with a digital number
• Conversion mode: A conversion mode is a method in which the ADC processes the
input. A standard ADC has two types of conversion modes: single ended conversion
mode and differential conversion mode
• Offset error: The offset error is defined as the deviation of the actual ADCs transfer
function from the perfect ADCs transfer function related at the point of LSB.

D/A converters

• A DAC is an electronic device that converts a digital (usually binary) signal to an analog
signal (current, voltage, or electric charge).
• A common use of DACs is the generation of audio signals from digital information in
music players.

Parameters of DA Converters
The most important characteristics of these devices are:
• Resolution: This is the number of possible output levels the DAC is designed to
reproduce.
• Monotonicity: Ability of a DAC’s analog output to move only in the direction that the
digital input moves.
• Full scale range (FSR): Maximum output signal for the DAC.
• SFDR, Spurious Free Dynamic Range: The difference between the RMS power of the
fundamental frequency and the largest spurious signal in the bandwidth.

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Organisation of the DAQ VI system

Opto-isolation (Opto-coupler)

• An optoisolator (also known as an optical coupler, photocoupler, optocoupler) is

a semiconductor device that transfers an electrical signal between isolated circuits using
light.

• These electronic components are used in a wide variety of communications and

monitoring systems that use electrical isolation to prevent high voltage emitters from
affecting lower power circuitry receiving a signal.

Working of Opto-isolation:

1. The schematic of an optoisolator consists of an emitter, in this case an infrared light-

emitting diode (IRED) or laser diode for input signal transmission and a photosensor (or

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phototransistor) for signal reception. In this way, the input signal can either generate
electric energy or modulate an electrical current that's coming from an electronic device
or other power supply.
2. When the input current is applied to the LED photodiode (a common type
of photosensor), infrared light is produced and passes through the material inside the
optical isolator. The beam travels across a transparent gap and is picked up by the
receiver, which acts as a converter. Using signal isolation, the sensor is able to transform
the modulated light back into an output signal.
3. The input side of optoisolators could be a photoresistor, a photodiode, a phototransistor, a
silicon-controlled rectifier or a triac. An optocoupled solid-state relay contains a
photodiode optoisolator that drives a power switch on the output side, usually a
complementary pair of MOSFETs.

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3 Virtual Instrumentation
Virtual Instrumentation

• Virtual instrumentation combines mainstream commercial technologies, such as the PC,

with flexible software and a wide variety of measurement and control hardware.
• Engineers use virtual instrumentation to bring the power of flexible software and PC
technology to test, control and design applications making accurate analog and digital
measurements.
• Engineers and scientists can create user-defined systems that meet their exact application
needs.
• Industries with automated processes, such as chemical or manufacturing plants use virtual
instrumentation with the goal of improving system productivity, reliability, safety,
optimization and stability.

Architecture for Virtual Instruments

A virtual instrument is composed of the following blocks:

– Sensor module
– Sensor interface
– Information systems interface
– Processing module
– Database interface
– User interface

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Sensor Module:

The sensor module performs signal conditioning and transforms it into a digital form for further
manipulation. Once the data are in a digital form on a computer, they can be displayed,
processed, mixed, compared, stored in a database, or converted back to analog form for further
process control. The database can also store configuration settings and signal records. The sensor
module interfaces a virtual instrument to the external, mostly analog world transforming
measured signals into computer readable form.

Sensor Interface:

There are many interfaces used for communication between sensors modules and the computer.
According to the type of connection, sensor interfaces can be classified as wired and wireless.

Processing Module:

Integration of the general purpose microprocessors/microcontrollers allowed flexible

implementation of sophisticated processing functions. As the functionality of a virtual instrument
depends very little on dedicated hardware, which principally does not perform any complex
processing, functionality and appearance of the virtual instrument may be completely changed
utilizing different processing functions.

Database Interface:

Computerized instrumentation allows measured data to be stored for off-line processing, or to

keep records as a part of the patient record.

Information System Interface:

Virtual instruments are increasingly integrated with other medical information systems, such as
hospital information systems. They can be used to create executive dashboards, supporting
decision support, real time alerts, and predictive warnings.

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Traditional Instruments versus Virtual Instruments

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Programming Techniques VI

Lab VIEW programs are called virtual instruments (VIs).

Controls are inputs and indicators are outputs.

Each VI contains three main parts:

 Front Panel – How the user interacts with the VI.

 Block Diagram – The code that controls the program.
 Icon/Connector – Means of connecting a VI to other VIs.

Front Panel

The front panel can include knobs, push buttons, graphs and various other controls (which are
user inputs) and indicators (which are program outputs). Controls are inputs used to simulate
instrument input devices and supply data to the block diagram of the VI, and indicators are
outputs displays used to simulate instrument output devices and display data the block diagram
acquires or generates. The front panel is customized to emulate control panels of traditional
instruments, create custom test panels, or visually represent the control and operation of
processes.

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Block Diagram

The block diagrams accompany the program for the front panel. Front panel objects appear as
terminals on the block diagram and the components wired together. After the front panel is built,
codes are added using graphical representations of functions in the block diagram to control the
front panel objects. The block diagram contains the graphical source code composed of nodes,
terminals, and wires. The components of a block diagram are lower-level VIs, built-in functions,
constants and program execution control structures.

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