Chapter3: Data Acquisition system(DAQ)

May 2023
  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
Contents  Data Acquisition Software
 Data Acquisition System (DAS) - Overview

 Data Acquisition = gathering of information in system or process.

 Parameter information (i.e. temperature, pressure or flow..) gathered by
sensors, then convert the information into electrical signals.
 The sensors signals transferred to instrument using medium (i.e. wire, optical-
fibre or wireless link).

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 Data Acquisition System (DAS) - elements
1. Signals : Analogue/digital signal
2. Transducers/sensors : Sense physical variables
3. Signal-conditioning hardware: to make it readable by an A/D board
4. DAQ device or module :Convert the signal into a digital format
acceptable by a computer.
5. Driver Software: Enables the DAQ device to communicate with
Application software.
6. Application software :Process, analyse, store, and display the
acquired data.

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 Data Acquisition System (DAS) - elements

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 Block diagram of (DAS)

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 Data Acquisition System (DAS) - elements

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 Data Acquisition System (DAS) - elements
Transducers/Sensors : Transducer converts a physical phenomenon into a measurable electrical signal

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 Data Acquisition System (DAS) - elements
Signal conditioning : Transducer converts a physical phenomenon into a measurable electrical signal

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 Signal conditioning
Signal Amplification
 When input signal is as small as microvolts, electrical noise can drown out the
signal itself, leading to meaningless data.
 That means the noise signal magnitude becomes greater than the measure
signal and will be dominated.
 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.

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 Signal conditioning
Signal Filtering
 Signal filtering is used 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.
 Examples:
-Butterworth Filter
- Bessel Filter
- Chebyshev Filter
-Simple RC Filter Passive & Active Filters

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 Signal conditioning
Signal Isolation
 Signal isolation is way to eliminate ground loop errors.
 A ground loop is basically what happens when two separate
devices (A and B) are connected to ground via different paths
and then also connected to each other by another path, creating
a loop.
 When a ground loop is created, current may flow in
unanticipated directions.
 The current may flow to ground via the device’s own ground
path or it may flow first to the other device before going to
ground due to the difference of electrical potential between
devices.
 This unintended current flow causes system noise or
interference to be transmitted to nearby devices.

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 Signal conditioning
Signal Isolation
Grounding Issues:
 To get correct measurements
you must properly ground your
system.

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 Signal conditioning

Grounded signal source Floating signal source

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 Signal conditioning

The “ground” point on the power supply is a chassis ground while

the load has an earth ground reference.

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 Signal conditioning

The “ground” point on the power supply is a chassis ground while

the load has an earth ground reference. Ground loop due to difference in potential on
chassis ground of source and chassis ground of load

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 Signal conditioning
Signal Isolation
 Isolation breaks ground loops, rejects high common-mode voltages, and
protects expensive DAQ boards.
 Protects from power lines, lightning.
 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.

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 Signal conditioning : ground loops

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 Signal conditioning : ground loops

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 Data acquisition and control hardware

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 Data acquisition and control hardware

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 Factors to be considered for DAQ device selection

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 Factors to be considered for DAQ module selection
1. Connection to the Internet
2. Is there software support?
3. Type of input channels - single-ended
input channels or differential input
channels.
4. Compatible with a variety of bus
protocols
5. Number of analogue input channels
6. Sampling rate
7. Resolution
8. Accuracy
9. Reduced board size Plug-in data
acquisition cards DAQ device DAQ DEVICE

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 Factors to be considered for ADC
1. Number of input channels
2. Single-ended or differential input signals
Sampling rate (in samples per second)
3. Resolution (usually measured in bits of
resolution)
4. Input range (specified in full-scale volts)
-Gain
ADC

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 Factors to be considered for ADC
ADC sampling rate

 The higher the sampling rate, the better signal

we get
 Acquired signal gets distorted if sampling rate
is too small.

ADC sampling rate

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 Factors to be considered for ADC
ADC Gain
 Minimum & 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 Range

ADC Resolution

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 Factors to be considered for ADC
ADC gain
 Gain settings amplifies the signal for best fit in ADC range.

 Code Width is the smallest change in the signal your system can
detect (determined by resolution, range, and gain) range
ADC code width:

 Smaller Code Width = more precise representation

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 DAQ software
DAQ software
 DAQ software 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

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
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 DAQ software
Data acquisition software package
 Does not require programming.
 Enables developers to design the custom instrument best suited to their application.
Examples: TestPoint, SnapMaster, LabView, DADISP, DASYLAB, etc

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 Basic DAS
Basic Data acquisition system

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 Multi-channel DAS
• Multiplexed system = timely shared of
various sub systems of the data acquisition
from two or more sources
• Several types of multiplexing system
used in multiple channels data
acquisition
• Multi-Channel Analog Multiplexed System
• Multiplexing the Outputs of Sample-
Holds
• Multiplexing after ADC
• Multiplexing Low-level Data

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 Multiplexing in DAS
Why multiplex?

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 Multiplexing in DAS

i) Multi-Channel Analogue Multiplexed System

• Individual signal applied directly or
after signal conditioning if necessary
• Multiplexer controlled by logic circuit seeks the next channel
to be converted.
• Previous data stored in Sample Hold(S/H) before convert
to digital forms.
• After conversion is complete status line from converter
causes S/H to return to sample mode and acquire signal
• On completion of acquisition, the S/H switched to hold mode
& conversion begins again.
• Slow but low cost.
• Sufficient accuracy achieved

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 Multiplexing in DAS
ii) Multiplexing the Outputs of S/H
• Used to monitor large number of channels at the same
time but moderate speeds.
• Individual S/H assigned to each channel is updated
synchronously by logic.
• Application: radar and fire alarm system, wind-tunnel
measurement, seismographic experimentation

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 Multiplexing in DAS
iii) Multiplexing After ADC
• ADC is employed for each analog input and multiplexed
digital outputs

• analog signal digitized at the source, digital transmission of

data to data centre provides enhanced immunity against
line frequency and other ground loop interferences

• Sometimes ADC outputs are passed through a processor

which acts on data in a prespecified manner to produce
digital word corresponding to a function of data input
• Provides additional advantages to large plant areas where
many sensors:
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 DAS & Data loggers
• Adata logger (also data recorder) = Examples
electronic device that records data over
time or in relation to location either • Aflight data recorder (FDR),
with a built in or via external • An event data recorder (EDR),
instruments and sensors • Avoyage data recorder (VDR),
• available in various shapes, • Ultra Wideband Data Recorder,
sizes,
range from simple economical single • ADepth Recorder
channel fixed function loggers to more
powerful programmable devices
capable of handling hundreds of
inputs.

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 Applications Data loggers
• Unattended weather station recording (such as wind speed
/ direction, temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation).
• Unattended hydrographic recording (such as water level,
water depth, water flow, water pH, water conductivity).
• Unattended soil moisture level recording.
• Unattended gas pressure recording.
• Offshore buoys for recording a variety of environmental
conditions.
• Road traffic counting.
• Environmental monitoring.
• Vehicle Testing
• Monitoring of relay status in railway signalling.

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 DAS vs Data loggers

• Data logging • Data acquisition

• Data logger is a data • Data acquisition system is
• acquisition system not necessarily a data
• Typically have slower sample rates. logger.
• Data loggers are implicitly stand-alone • Typically have fast sample
devices rates.
• Data loggers used magnetic tape , punched • Data acquisition system must
paper tape remain tethered to a
• ,directly viewable recorders computer to acquire data.
• Such as strip chart recorders • Data acquisition used Static
RAM, flash memory, EEPROM.

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