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Posts Tagged ‘data acquisition systems’

Data acquisition systems are used for sampling, recording, storing and analyzing real time data. Data acquisition systems, also known as DAQ or DAS, records signals and wave forms of numerous physical quantities such as temperature, pressure, humidity, density, and real life data such as ECGs, EEGs, etc. This recorded data is then fed into a computing device, usually a computer, and is then stored for future analysis.

Data recording finds a wide range of application in wide variety of scientific and medical research purposes, which includes Eco cardiology, laser Doppler flow, micro electrode recording, etc. From the recording of data, to the actual analysis, it involves several minute components that make up the unit as a whole.

Apart from research purposes, data logging is also used in large scale domestic as well as generic data recording and analysis purposes, such as weather broadcasting, studying seismic activity, wireless and PC data acquisition, Supervisory Control & Data Acquisition (SCDA), manufacturing, power, water treatment, production purposes etc. Data recording is indeed one of the major aspects of quality and quantity control, which determines the ultimate success in a research or a production or manufacturing process.

DAQ systems are equipped with a host of electronic devices that help in recording data, storing them and analyzing the stored data over a period of time. The first step in data acquisition is recording the signals itself, which is done using transducers or electrodes, which are extremely sensitive to change in environment. These signals are then converted to a digital form, which can then be stored on a computer, and can be retrieved during the analysis phase.

Data loggers are significantly different to data acquisition systems, however, in context, both are used interchangeably to a certain extent. It might be noteworthy to notice that a data logger is a subset of DAQ systems, and all data loggers may be termed as data acquisition systems.

You can get more information on data acquisition systems and data loggers by visiting Biopac.com.

Article Source: Data Acquisition Systems & Research

In short data acquisition systems are also referred to as DAS or DAQ which generally includes acquisition of signals and waveforms and then interpretation of signals to obtain desired information. These different properties which are analyzed through data acquisition are facts such as temperature, pressure, density, viscosity etc.

Data acquisition systems have a huge use in scientific and medical research purposes such as magnetic resonance imaging, microelectrode recording, and Eco cardiology, remote monitoring, laser Doppler flow etc.

They serve as an important part of gathering any vital information using data analysis software and equipments.

Some of the common forms of data acquisition at larger scale are seismic data acquisition, wireless data acquisition, pc data acquisition and SCADA (supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) which is the most widely used system referring to a computer system monitoring industrial, infrastructure or facility based processes like manufacturing, production, power generation, water treatment distribution and energy consumption.

Let’s get familiar with some more technical terms in data acquisition:

• Analog-to-digital converter (ADC) An electronic device that converts analog signals to an equivalent digital form. The analog-to-digital converter is the heart of most data acquisition systems.

• Digital-to-Analog Converter (D/A)
An electronic component found in many data acquisition devices that produce an analog output signal.

• Digital Input/Output (DIO)
Refers to a type of data acquisition signal. Digital I/O is discrete signals which are either one of two states. These states may be on/off, high/low, 1/0, etc. Digital I/O is also referred to as binary I/O.

• Differential Input
Refers to the way a signal is wired to a data acquisition device. Differential inputs have a unique high and unique low connection for each channel. Data acquisition devices have either single-ended or differential inputs, many devices support both configurations.

• General Purpose Interface Bus (GPIB)
Synonymous with HPIB (for Hewlett-Packard), the standard bus used for controlling electronic instruments with a computer. Also called IEEE 488 in reference to defining ANSI/IEEE standards.

• Resolution
The smallest signal increment that can be detected by a data acquisition system. Resolution can be expressed in bits, in proportions, or in percent of full scale. For example, a system has 12-bit resolution, one part in 4,096 resolutions, and 0.0244 percent of full scale.

• RS232
It’s a standard for serial communications found in many data acquisition systems. RS232 is the most common serial communication, however, it is somewhat limited in that it only supports communication to one device connected to the bus at a time and it only supports transmission distances up to 50 feet.

• RS485
It’s a standard for serial communications found in many data acquisition systems. RS485 is not as popular as RS232, however, it is more flexible in that it supports communication to more than one device on the bus at a time and supports transmission distances of approximately 5,000 feet.

• Sample Rate
The speed at which a data acquisition system collects data. The speed is normally expressed in samples per second. For multi-channel data acquisition devices the sample rate is typically given as the speed of the analog-to-digital converter (A/D). To obtain individual channel sample rate, you need to divide the speed of the A/D by the number of channels being sampled.

• Single-ended Input (SE):
Refers to the way a signal is wired to a data acquisition device. In single-ended wiring, each analog input has a unique high connection but all channels share a common ground connection. Data acquisition devices have either single-ended or differential inputs. Many support both configurations.

With the progress in technology data acquisition has become more advanced and reliable have come all the way from using simple devices to highly sophisticated computer systems and has proved to be the greatest engineering marvel in achieving data precision.

To learn more about data acquisition systems and the process of data logging, visit the official website of Biopac.

Article Source: Engineering marvel of Data Acquisition Systems

Data represents the basis of research and other processes that involve collection of useful information. Data retrieval, organizing and analysis have been part of the world for many years. It is due to data accrued over the years that enabled us to land our flag on the moon. So, why is data necessary in the modern day context?

If you ask the various research scientists, doctors, engineers, and even businessmen, you will find one thing in common, and that is the accumulation of valuable data. The success of any project lies in testing different methodologies, acquiring data, and then analyzing them to transform into something meaningful. Even from the businessman’s perspective, client satisfaction data and client history can provide him with some valuable information on how the market is reacting to his products and services, and can ultimately decide the success or failure of his/her enterprise.

In life sciences and research projects, data acquisition plays a major role. Often the lack of efficient data acquisition systems can result in prolonged research time and loss of valuable data that can result in the project being a failure. For every venture, the flow of data from one interface to the other must be smooth and efficient. Data management is one thing that finds utmost importance in various research universities around the globe.

There is also another important factor to consider in data analysis and acquisition, and that is data recovery. It is quite natural in very tense working environments, and quite often data gets replaced or entirely deleted in odd circumstances. There have been incidents in the history where this type of data loss has led to the loss of millions of dollars. But data acquisition and analysis is an evolving science, and newer systems are being developed and created on a daily basis to ensure that data is neither replaced, nor lost.

If you are a part of a scientific research, or if you are on a life sciences project that involves data of immeasurable quantity, you would like to consider the option of investing in these data collecting and analyzing systems that can certainly provide you with peace of mind. Why should you take the risk when there are options available to you?

To get more information on data acquisition systems and data loggers, please visit Biopac.com

Article Source: Data Acquisition Systems

When realizing the term data acquisition (DAC) it’s important to first know what is being acquisitioned: real world data. And real world data translates directly into the life sciences.

Life science, or biology, is a discipline of science that has, for hundreds of years, formed opinions of scientists, doctors, and thinkers alike. Theories and medications have been created with the study of life science, just as crimes have been solved, and organisms understood. The basic way living organisms interact with one another and their surroundings, how these organisms are structured, how they grow, what their origin may be, and their general evolution, is more or less what the term ‘life science’ encapsulates.

Real world data gets manipulated by a computer, where its signals and waveforms are processed, extracting critical information and storing it digitally in a computer processed machine. The data gets measured by components of data acquisition systems where sensors convert measurements and electrical signals before a computer manipulates the data and its signals and waveforms are processed. Critical information is then obtained and stored digitally in a computer processor, completing the first and second steps of the data acquisition process.

After life science has been converted to wavelength data, it is recorded by a data logger. Data logging is an electronic device that collects data over time, or in a specific radius, and is collected by one of three means, which include: built in instruments and sensors, or external instruments and sensors. After said data is collected, manipulated, and transformed, useful information is highlighted to suggest different types of scientific conclusions.

This process, seemingly lengthy, has allowed many growths in scientific understanding and continues on a number of levels to produce further understanding of organisms, and their relationship to the world at large.

For more information on data acquisition and data acquisition systems, please visit Biopac.com

Article Source: Data Acquisition