Specturm adds I/O lines to LXI-digitisers for mixed-mode testing
Spectrum Instrumentation has added a mixed-mode testing option to its LXI/Ethernet-digitisers. The option is available on four models, all featuring eight analogue input channels that synchronously sample signals at rates up to five Msamples per second, 20Msamples per second, 40Msamples per second or 125 Msamples per second with 16-bit resolution.
The option adds eight digital lines to the three multi-purpose I/O lines that come as standard with each unit. The enhanced digitisers simultaneously acquire both eight analogue and 11 digital signals in a fully synchronous fashion, with access to all 19 channels via front panel BNC connectors. The units are supplied with software and all the tools necessary to integrate them into virtually any test system, including mechatronics, robotics, vibrational studies, control systems, data bus analysis, automation and motion control, says Spectrum.
Controlling and accessing the data collected by the digitizerNetBox is done by simply connecting it with GBit Ethernet to a host computer or anywhere on the corporate network. This allows easy remote control and, as the units are fully programmable, makes them suitable for most automated testing applications. The digitizerNetBox is LXI-compliant (following Core 2011 Specifications) and offers an IVI-compatible interface for the IVI Scope and IVI Digitiser classes.
Spectrum’s SBench 6 Professional software is supplied with the products. It lets users control all the modes and settings of the hardware via an interface. The software also has built-in features for data analysis and documentation. These include FFT analysis, analogue and digital waveform display modes, XY display, a function interpreter, parameter measurements, export into ASCII, Wave, MATLAB, comment functions (for annotating signals or displays) and even a report and printout function.
The analogue input channels of the digitizerNetBox products provide software selectable, single-ended and differential input modes. Each channel has its own ADC and an independent amplifier. The amplifiers have selectable input impedance (50 Ohms and 1 MOhms) with calibrated gain ranges from ±200 mV to ±10V full scale. Variable gain allows input signals to be scaled, so that they cover the full dynamic range of the ADC and maintain the best possible measurement accuracy, says Spectrum. All the channels are synchronously clocked so that phase error is minimised and inter-channel measurements can be made with absolute precision. Large on-board memories also make it possible to acquire and store the longest and most complex of waveforms, Spectrum adds.
The units include an array of smart triggering capabilities and acquisition modes. Triggering on problem signals (like glitches, spikes, bursts or even when specific logic patterns occur) allows storing the recorded waveforms in the most memory efficient way possible. Transient capture, Multiple (burst) Recording, Gated Sampling, ABA sampling and data streaming (FIFO) modes are all supported.
When using the DN2.59x-08-Dig option, the digital data is stored inside the 16-bit analogue samples by reducing a channel’s resolution. This allows phase synchronisation of both the analogue and digital signals, as the one-bit digital signals are placed in the high order bits of the analogue waveforms.
Software drivers allow customised setups that can generate perfectly matching mixed-mode solutions. The option is supported by the software development kit (SDK) which includes programming using C++, C#, VB.NET, Python, JAVA, LabVIEW or MATLAB. The SDK is included as standard with every unit.
The new option DN2.59x-08-Dig could be ordered DN2.591-08 (five Msamples per second), DN2.592-08 (20 Msamples per second), DN2.593-08 (40 Msamples per second) and DN2.596-08 (80/125 Msamples per second).
