UNIT – 2
ANALOG and DIGITAL CONTRILLERS
LECTURE – 8:
DATA ACQUISITION
SYSTEMS
Meaning of Data Acquisition (DAQ)
• Data acquisition (DAQ or DAS) is the process of
sampling signals that measure real-world physical
phenomena and converting them into a digital
form that can be manipulated by a computer and
software.
• Unlike earlier forms of recording to tape
recorders or paper charts methods, the signals
are converted from analog domain to digital
domain and then recorded to a digital medium
such as ROM, flash media, or hard disk drives.
Components of Data Acquisition System
• Modern digital data acquisition systems consist of
four essential components that form the entire
measurement chain of physical phenomena:
– Sensors
– Signal Conditioning
– Analog-to-Digital Converter
– Computer with DAQ software for data logging and
analysis,
• Typical data acquisition systems have multiple
channels of signal conditioning circuitry which
provide interface between external sensors and
A/D conversion subsystem.
Purposes of Data Acquisition
• To acquire and store data;
• To provide real-time and post-recording
visualization and analysis of the data.
• Most data acquisition systems have some
analytical and report generation capability built
in.
DAQ Hardware
• DAQ hardware is what usually interfaces between the
signal and a PC.
• It could be in the form of modules that can be;
– Connected to the computer's ports (parallel, serial, USB,
etc.) or
– Cards connected to slots (S-100 bus, AppleBus, ISA, MCA,
PCI, PCI-E, etc.) in the motherboard.
• Usually the space on the back of a PCI card is too
small for all the connections needed, so an external
breakout box is required.
– The cable between this box and the PC can be expensive
due to the many wires, and the required shielding.
DAQ Device Drivers
• DAQ device drivers are needed in order for the
DAQ hardware to work with a PC.
• The device driver performs low-level register
writes and reads on the hardware, while
exposing a standard API for developing user
applications in a variety of programming
environments.
– API – Application Programming Interface.
DAQ Software
• Data acquisition applications are controlled by
software programs.
• Specialized DAQ software may be delivered
with the DAQ hardware.
• This software can provide tools for building
large-scale data acquisition systems.
How Signal Transmitters are connected to a
PLC.
• Transmitters are connected to a PLC by using;
– Two-wire wiring configuration
– Four-wire wiring configuration,
• What is a Transmitter?
– A transmitter is an instrument that converts the small
signal from a sensor to a signal which represents the
variable being measured.
Transmitters come in all different shapes and
sizes and connect with several types of sensors
The transmitter output signal
representing the variable being
measured can be voltage or current.
Transmitter analog output loops
• A transmitter analog output loop contains;
– Transmitter,
– Power supply, and
– Receiving device which could be a PLC or DCS.
• Just like any other instrument, transmitters need a
power supply to operate.
• The actual wiring connection between the
transmitter and the power supply depends upon
which type it is
Difference between 2- and 4-wire
Transmitters
• In a 2-wire current loop, the transmitter, DC
power supply, and PLC are connected in series.
– Not only are the 2 wires providing power for the
transmitter, but they are also the signal lines!
• A 4-wire transmitter has 2 wires connected to a
power supply, and 2 signal wires connected to the
PLC.
– The power supply can be AC or DC depending upon
the vendor and model.
Advantages of 4-wire transmitters
• Current is by far the most common transmitters’
output signal for the following reasons;
– If the wires between the transmitter and the PLC are
very long, there could be significant voltage losses
across these wires.
– Regardless of the length of wire in a current loop,
basic electrical theory tells us that the current is the
same in the circuit regardless of where that current is
measured! So…no loss at all!
