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data acq.: Definition and Recommended Links

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Data acquisition is the sampling of the real world to generate data that can be manipulated by a computer. Sometimes abbreviated DAQ or DAS, data acquisition typically involves acquisition of signals and waveforms and processing the signals to obtain desired information. The components of data acquisition systems include appropriate sensors that convert any measurement parameter to an electrical signal, which is acquired by data acquisition hardware.

Acquired data are displayed, analyzed, and stored on a computer, either using vendor supplied software, or custom displays and control can be developed using various general purpose programming languages such as BASIC, C, Fortran, Java, Lisp, Pascal. Specialised programming languages used for data acquisition include, EPICS used to build large scale data acquisition systems, LabVIEW, which offers a graphical programming environment optimized for data acquisition and MATLAB provides a programming language but also built-in graphical tools and libraries for data acquisition and analysis.

Source: Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_acquisition)

other great electronics sites:ee toolbox site

• • data acq.
    • Data acquisition is the sampling of the real world to generate data that can be manipulated by a computer. Sometimes abbreviated DAQ or DAS, data acquisition typically involves acquisition of signals and waveforms and processing the signals to obtain desired information. The components of data acquisition systems include appropriate sensors that convert any measurement parameter to an electrical signal, which is acquired by data acquisition hardware.

      Acquired data are displayed, analyzed, and stored on a computer, either using vendor supplied software, or custom displays and control can be developed using various general purpose programming languages such as BASIC, C, Fortran, Java, Lisp, Pascal. Specialised programming languages used for data acquisition include, EPICS used to build large scale data acquisition systems, LabVIEW, which offers a graphical programming environment optimized for data acquisition and MATLAB provides a programming language but also built-in graphical tools and libraries for data acquisition and analysis.

      Source: Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_acquisition)

      (Note: The Electronic Engineers Toolbox provides an alternative set of featured links for this word at http://www.cera2.com/data-acquisition.htm)

      Featured Links:

      Technical Notes: Data Acquisition Techniques

      This is a good starting point for engineers new to data acquisition, and it's a good place for experienced engineers to brush-up on fundamentals on data acquisition. Many important points are covered such as voltage and current measurement, temperature measurement, etc.
      http://www.microlink.co.uk/dataaq.html

      Data acquisition From Wikipedia

      Data acquisition is the sampling of the real world to generate data that can be manipulated by a computer. Sometimes abbreviated DAQ or DAS, data acquisition typically involves acquisition of signals and waveforms and processing the signals to obtain desired information. The components of data acquisition systems include appropriate sensors that convert any measurement parameter to an electrical signal, which is acquired by data acquisition...
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_acquisition

      Accelerating Embedded System Design

      From consumer electronics to industrial machinery and automotive computers, the engineers that design embedded systems are working in a fiercely competitive global market. The risks and potential rewards are great. A successful product could see production volumes in the millions of units per year while a failure could spell disaster for a company with thousands of development hours at risk. While competitive pressure to get products to...
      http://zone.ni.com/devzone/conceptd.nsf/webmain/192B97BC9C8B071D862570FA007DACE6

      Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Data Acquisition

      This is the first of a three part series designed to introduce the key aspects of computer-based data acquisition and control to new users. It should also serve as a useful review or reference document for existing DAQ customers. The presentation is provided in three parts. Part 1 Analog Inputs, covers the myriad of topics related to making measurements with a computer. Part 2 Analog Outputs and Digital I/O, provides a discussion of...
      http://www.ueidaq.com/daq-intro/

      National Instruments Introduces High-Performance PXI Express Data Acquisition…

      National Instruments today announced the company’s first data acquisition (DAQ) modules with integrated signal conditioning for scalable, high-performance measurements on PXI Express. The new NI SC Express family delivers increased accuracy, high data throughput and best-in-class synchronization for measuring strain gauges, bridge-based transducers, thermocouples and high-voltage analog inputs. PXI Express provides 250 MB/s of dedicated...
      http://digital.ni.com

      National Instruments: Getting Started with Data Acquisition

      Introduction to Data Acquisition This white paper gives an introduction to the basic elements of a PC-based data acquisition system.. Introduction to PC-Based Data Acquisition - Featuring USB Devices* In this 45-minute web presentation, learn how to create measurement tasks and a fully functional measurement application in minutes! To view the presentation, you will need Windows Media Player. Learn How to Install and Use a Data...
      http://digital.ni.com/express.nsf/bycode/daqekit

      Electronic Products Design - Reference Design Library

      Over 1,200 fully tested designs, from over 100 manufacturers in 14 application areas. By Application(s): Audio Cable Cellular Computing DAQ Imaging Instrumentation Lighting Motion Multimedia Networking Power Video Wireless By Function(s): Amplification Control Conversion Driver Interface Memory/Storage Processing Sensing Signal Generation Switching System on Chip Transmit/Receive By...
      http://www.electronicproducts.com/referencedesign/

      SBC ComEx - eInstrument PC - embedded PCs in rugged, compact enclosures

      The SBC ComEx is a user-customizable, turnkey embedded instrument that includes a full Windows/Linux PC and supports a wide assortment of ultimate-performance XMC modules. With its modular IO, scalable performance, and easy to use PC architecture, the SBC ComEx reduces time-to-market while providing the performance you need. FEATURES: * Combines industry standard COM Express CPU module and dual XMC modules in a compact, stand alone design * Scalable CPU performance from Celeron to dual-core Pentium using COM Expresswith up to 4 GB memory * Small form factor: 250 x170 mm. APPLICATIONS: * Embedded Control * Remote Data Acquisition * Industrial Test & Measurement * OEM Instrumentation. Click for details!
      http://www.innovative-dsp.com

      Introduction to Data Acquisition

      This tutorial is part of the National Instruments Measurement Fundamentals series. Each tutorial in this series, will teach you a specific topic of common measurement applications, by explaining the theory and giving practical examples. This tutorial gives an introduction to the basic elements of a computer-based data acquisition system.
      http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/3536

      Measurement Computing Releases New Multifunction Data Acquisition Loggers

      Measurement Computing Corporation (MCC), the market leader of value-priced data acquisition hardware and software, today announced the release of the LGR-5320 series of stand-alone, multifunction data acquisition loggers. The new data acquisition devices allow users to collect high-speed correlated analog and digital data without a computer. The LGR-5320 devices, with 16-bit resolution, 16 analog and 16 digital inputs and four encoder...
      http://www.mccdaq.com/press_releases/pr_104.aspx

      Explanation: these links are provided as part of our EE glossary project, which seeks to identify the most prominent keywords in embedded systems, embedded software, realtime and rtos, dsp (digital signal processing), system-on-a-chip, microprocessors and microcontrollers, and other constituent elements for embedded systems. While we seek to keep most of the links up-to-date, the user is refered to other primary electronic-based search sites such as: cera2.com, embedded.com, or EDN Magazine. If you have any suggestions of links or definitions, please email!

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