Measurement Daq PC-Cards User Manual

Daq PC-Cards

(Daq/112B & Daq/216B)

User's Manual

Data Acquisition for Notebook, Desktop, and Tower PCs

the smart approach to instrumentation ™

IOtech, Inc.

25971 Cannon Road

Cleveland, OH 44146-1833

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

E-mail (sales): [e-mail]

E-mail (post-sales): [e-mail]

Internet: www.iotech.com

Daq PC-Cards

Data Acquisition for PCs

p/n

457-0908

(Daq/112B & Daq/216B)

Rev.

2.0

© 1998 … 2003 by IOtech, Inc.

Printed in the United States of America

928596

Daq PC-Cards User’s Manual

Warranty Information

Your IOtech warranty is as stated on the product warranty card. You may contact IOtech by phone,
fax machine, or e-mail in regard to warranty-related issues.
Phone: [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]

Limitation of Liability

IOtech, Inc. cannot be held liable for any damages resulting from the use or misuse of this product.

Copyright, Trademark, and Licensing Notice

All IOtech documentation, software, and hardware are copyright with all rights reserved. No part of this product may be
copied, reproduced or transmitted by any mechanical, photographic, electronic, or other method without IOtech’s prior
written consent. IOtech product names are trademarked; other product names, as applicable, are trademarks of their
respective holders. All supplied IOtech software (including miscellaneous support files, drivers, and sample programs)
may only be used on one installation. You may make archival backup copies.

FCC Statement

IOtech devices emit radio frequency energy in levels compliant with Federal Communications Commission rules (Part 15)
for Class A devices. If necessary, refer to the FCC booklet How To Identify and Resolve Radio-TV Interference Problems
(stock # 004-000-00345-4) which is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.

CE Notice

Many IOtech products carry the CE marker indicating they comply with the safety and emissions standards of the
European Community. As applicable, we ship these products with a Declaration of Conformity stating which
specifications and operating conditions apply.

Warnings, Cautions, Notes, and Tips

Refer all service to qualified personnel. This caution symbol warns of possible personal injury or equipment damage
under noted conditions. Follow all safety standards of professional practice and the recommendations in this manual.
Using this equipment in ways other than described in this manual can present serious safety hazards or cause equipment
damage.

This warning symbol is used in this manual or on the equipment to warn of possible injury or death from electrical
shock under noted conditions.

This ESD caution symbol urges proper handling of equipment or components sensitive to damage from electrostatic
discharge. Proper handling guidelines include the use of grounded anti-static mats and wrist straps, ESD-protective
bags and cartons, and related procedures.

This symbol indicates the message is important, but is not of a Warning or Caution category. These notes can be of
great benefit to the user, and should be read.

In this manual, the book symbol always precedes the words “Reference Note.” This type of note identifies the location
of additional information that may prove helpful. References may be made to other chapters or other documentation.

Tips provide advice that may save time during a procedure, or help to clarify an issue. Tips may include additional
reference.

Specifications and Calibration

Specifications are subject to change without notice. Significant changes will be addressed in an addendum or revision to
the manual. As applicable, IOtech calibrates its hardware to published specifications. Periodic hardware calibration is
not covered under the warranty and must be performed by qualified personnel as specified in this manual. Improper
calibration procedures may void the warranty.

Quality Notice

IOtech has maintained ISO 9001 certification since 1996. Prior to shipment, we thoroughly test our products and
review our documentation to assure the highest quality in all aspects. In a spirit of continuous improvement, IOtech
welcomes your suggestions.

Daq PC-Cards User’s Manual

iii

897197

CAUTION

Using this equipment in ways other than described in this manual can cause
personal injury or equipment damage. Before setting up and using your
equipment, you should read all documentation that covers your system.
Pay special attention to Warnings and Cautions.

Note:

PDF

457-0908

PDF

457-0909

During software installation, Adobe

®

PDF versions of user manuals will automatically
install onto your hard drive as a part of product support. The default location is in the
Programs group, which can be accessed from the Windows Desktop. Initial navigation
is as follows:

Start [on Desktop] ⇒ Programs ⇒ IOtech DaqX Software

You can also access the PDF documents directly from the data acquisition CD by using
the <View PDFs> button located on the opening screen.

Refer to the PDF documentation for details regarding both hardware and software.

®

A copy of the Adobe Acrobat Reader

is included on your CD. The Reader provides
a means of reading and printing the PDF documents. Note that hardcopy versions of
the manuals can be ordered from the factory.

Daq PC_Card Users Manual.pdf

Provides instructions for installing a Daq/112B and Daq/216B PC-Card.
The following PDFs are companion documents.

DaqView_DaqViewXL.pdf

Discusses how to install and use these “out-of-the-box” data acquisition programs.

iv

PostAcquisition Analysis.pdf

Discusses eZ-PostView, a free post-data acquisition analysis program and two others,

PDF

1086-0926
1086-0922

eZ-FrequencyView and eZ-TimeView. These last two applications have more features
and are available for purchase. They can; however, be used freely during a 30-day
trial period.

DBK Options.pdf

The DBK Option Cards and Modules Manual discusses each of the DBK products

PDF

457-0905

available at the time of print.

Note: Only passive DBKs, i.e., DBK1, DBK11A, and DBK40 pertain to the

Daq PC-Card.

ProgrammersManual.pdf

The programmer’s manual pertains to developing custom programs using

PDF

1008-0901

Applications Program Interface (API) commands.

Programmers should check the readme.file on the install CD-ROM for the location of
program examples included on the CD.

897197

Daq PC-Cards User’s Manual

Table of Contents

1 – Daq Systems, A Brief Overview

Daq Systems, the Modular Concept ……1-1
DaqBooks, DaqBoards, & Daq PC-Cards….1-2
Using DBK Cards & Modules for Signal Conditioning …1-3
Daq Software …… 1-3

2 – Installing Daq PC-Cards

Appendix A - Specifications, Daq PC-Cards

Appendix B - Removal of .inf files and Device for PCMCIA Card Applications

Your order was carefully inspected prior to shipment. When you receive your system, carefully
unpack all items from the shipping carton and check for physical signs of damage that may have
occurred during shipment. Promptly report any damage to the shipping agent and your sales
representative. Retain all shipping materials in case the unit needs returned to the factory.

Daq PC-Cards User’s Manual

v

897197

This page is intentionally blank.

vi

897197

Daq PC-Cards User’s Manual

Daq Systems, a Brief Overview 1

Daq Systems, the Modular Concept …… 1-1
DaqBooks, DaqBoards, and Daq PC-Cards …… 1-2
Using DBK Cards and Modules for Signal Conditioning ….. 1-3
Daq Software ……1-3

Daq Systems, the Modular Concept

Daq equipment and software form a modular, interrelated family of products that provide great flexibility
in data acquisition system design. This flexibility allows for the development of custom systems that are
unique to the user, and which can be optimized for his or her specific application needs. With the Daq
product line, system expansion or redesign can typically be accomplished with relative ease.

• Primary Acquisition Device. This is the main data acquisition device, e.g., a DaqBook, DaqBoard,
or Daq PC-Card. These devices provide a vital data conversion and communications link between
the data source of transducers and signal conditioners and the data processor of the host computer.
Note the DaqBoards can be one of three types: (1) ISA, (2) PCI, or (3) compact PCI (cPCI).

• DBK Option Cards and Modules. Over 35 DBK cards and modules (the number is constantly
growing) provide various types of signal conditioning and system expansion. Note that certain DBK
modules exist for the purpose of supplying power to other members of the acquisition system. The
DBK options are discussed in a DBK Basics document module and in the detailed DBK Option
Cards and User’s Manual (p/n 457-0905).

Note: Only passive DBKs, such as the DBK1 BNC module, the DBK11A screw terminal card, and

the DBK40 BNC analog interface, can be used with a Daq PC-Cards.

Reference Note:
DBK options are discussed in the DBK Option Cards and Modules User’s Manual
(p/n 457-0905). As a part of product support, this manual is automatically loaded onto
your hard drive during software installation. The default location is the Programs
directory, which can be accessed through the Windows Desktop.

• Software. DaqView out-of-the-box software provides a graphical user interface with easy to read
spreadsheet formats for viewing channel data, as well as a choice of analog, digital, and bar-graph
meters. Waveform analysis can be performed, when applicable. A product support option, included
on the data acquisition CD, provides a means of performing post data analysis. More information is
included in the software-specific PDF documents that are installed on your hard-drive as a part of
product support.

In addition to the included out-of-the-box software, Daq products can be controlled via user-written
custom programs through Applications Program Interface (API). Several languages are supported,
e.g., C/C++, VisualBASIC, Delphi.

Daq Systems

Reference Note:
Programming topics are covered in the Programmer’s User Manual (p/n 1008-0901).
As a part of product support, this manual is automatically loaded onto your hard drive
during software installation. The default location is the Programs group, which can
be accessed through the Windows Desktop.

Overview 1-1

978697

DaqBooks, DaqBoards and Daq PC-Cards

Daq products connect to one or more DBKs on their signal input side and a computer on their output side.
Each type of Daq device connects to the computer in a different way:

• The DaqBook is an external module that connects to a computer’s enhanced parallel port (EPP)
interface or PC-Card link.

• The DaqBoard [ISA type] board is an internal card that plugs into an ISA-bus slot within a
computer.

• DaqBoard/2000 Series Boards plug into a PCI-bus slot, within a host PC.

• cPCI DaqBoard/2000c Series boards plug into a cPCI-bus slot, within a host PC.

• The Daq PC-Card slides into the PCMCIA slot of a host computer, typically a notebook PC.

Features common to the Daq products include:

• 100-kHz channel-to-channel scan and gain switching (10 µs);
200-kHz for DaqBoard/2000 Series and DaqBoard/2000c Series Boards.

• 512-location sequence memory that can be loaded with any combination of channels and gains.

• Ability to access up to 256 different channels of DBK signals while maintaining the channel-to-

channel scan rate. The DBK expansion options can accommodate mixed-signal inputs from
thermocouples and RTDs to isolated high-voltage inputs and strain gages.

• Ability to handle 8 differential or 16 single-ended signal inputs without DBK expansion units.

• Ability to handle fixed digital I/O up to 4 TTL lines in and 4 TTL lines out (accessible only if no

analog expansion cards are in use).

The following table lists various features of DaqBooks, ISA-DaqBoards, and Daq PC-Cards. Note that
PCI and cPCI-type DaqBoards (the DaqBoard/2000 Series and DaqBoard/2000c Series Boards) are
covered in separate documentation.

Daq Products, Models and Features

Models

DaqBooks

DaqBook/100 12 bit 2 Jumper Jumper 16 high speed

DaqBook/112 12 bit 2 Jumper Jumper N/A N/A 8.5×11

DaqBook/120 12 bit 2 Jumper Jumper 16 high speed

DaqBook/200 16 bit 2 Software Software 16 high speed

DaqBook/216 16 bit 2 Software Software N/A N/A 8.5×11

DaqBook/260 16 bit 2 Software Software 16 high speed

ISA-DaqBoards

DaqBoard/100A 12 bit 2 Sequencer Software 16 high speed

DaqBoard/112A 12 bit 2 Sequencer Software N/A N/A 4.5×13.125 970 mA @ 5V
DaqBoard/200A 16 bit 2 Sequencer Software 16 high speed

DaqBoard/216A 16 bit 2 Sequencer Software N/A N/A 4.5×13.125 1340 mA @ 5V

Daq PC-Cards

Daq/112B 12 bit N/A Bipolar

Daq/216B 16 bit N/A Bipolar

* Does not include power consumption of internal DBK options.

A/D

Resolution

Analog
Output

Channels

Unipolar/

Bipolar

Selection

Only

Only

Single-

ended/

Differential

Selection

Software N/A N/A 3.375×0.2 160 mA @ 5V

Software N/A N/A 3.375×0.2 160 mA @ 5V

Programmable

Digital I/O

Lines

24 gen purpose

24 gen purpose

24 gen purpose

24 gen purpose

24 gen purpose

24 gen purpose

Program

mable

Counter/

Timers

5 ch

7 MHz

5 ch

7 MHz

5 ch

7 MHz

5 ch

7 MHz

5 ch

7 MHz

5 ch

7 MHz

Size

(inches)

8.5×11
×1.375

×1.375

8.5×11
×1.375

8.5×11
×1.375

×1.375

11×13

×3.5

4.5×13.125 1330 mA @ 5V

4.5×13.125 1700 mA @ 5V

Power

Consumption

510 mA @ 12V

360 mA @ 12V

510 mA @ 12V

620 mA @ 12V

600 mA @ 12V

mA @ 12V

620

*

1-2 Overview

Daq Systems

978697

Using DBK Cards and Modules for Signal Conditioning

The DBK signal-conditioning cards and module are designed for use with DaqBooks, LogBooks, and
various types of data acquisition boards, i.e., ISA, PCI, and compact PCI (cPCI) types. The DBKs perform
best when used with an acquisition device that can dynamically select channel, gain, and range. DBK
cards and modules with dynamic channel and gain/range selection allow for high channel-to-channel scan
rates with a variety of transducers.

Note: Only passive DBKs, such as the DBK1 BNC module, the DBK11A screw terminal card, and the

DBK40 BNC analog interface, can be used with Daq PC-Cards.

DBK output signals can be bipolar, e.g., -5 to +5 V, or unipolar, e.g., 0 to 10 V. The user can select a
range of relevant values to correspond to the lowest signal (e.g., -5 or 0 V) and the highest signal (e.g., 5 or
10 V) signal. This type of range selection guarantees the highest resolution in 12-bit or 16-bit conversion.

DBK modules share the same footprint as the DaqBook and a typical notebook PCs; allowing for
convenient stacking. The majority of these modules have their own power supply; however, several
options exist for packaging and powering the DBKs.

Reference Note:
DBK options are detailed in the DBK Option Cards and Modules User’s Manual
(p/n 457-0905). As a part of product support, this manual is automatically loaded onto your
hard drive during software installation. The default location is the Programs directory, which
can be accessed through the Windows Desktop.

Daq Software

The Daq devices have software options capable of handling most applications. Three types of software are
available:

Ready-to-use programs are convenient for fill-in-the-blank applications that do not require programming
for basic data acquisition and display:

• ready-to-use graphical programs, e.g., DaqView, DaqViewXL, and post acquisition data analysis
programs such as PostView, DIAdem, and eZ-View

• drivers for third-party, icon-driven software such as DASYLab and LabView

• various language drivers to aid custom programming using API

• DaqView is a Windows-based program for basic set-up and data acquisition. DaqView lets you

select desired channels, gains, transducer types (including thermocouples), and a host of other
parameters with a click of a PC’s mouse. DaqView lets you stream data to disk and display data
in numerical or graphical formats. PostView is a post-acquisition waveform-display program
within DaqView.

• DaqViewXL allows you to interface directly with Microsoft Excel to enhance data handling and

display. Within Excel you have a full-featured Daq control panel and all the data display
capabilities of Excel.

• Post acquisition data analysis programs, e.g., PostView, DIAdem, and eZ-View, typically allow

you to view and edit post-acquisition data.

• The Daq Configuration control panel allows for interface configuration, testing, and

troubleshooting.

Each Daq system comes with an Application Programming Interface (API). API-language drivers include:
C/C++, Delphi, and Visual Basic. The latest software is a 32-bit version API.

Daq Systems

Overview 1-3

978697