OEM Must-have Message-Based DAQ
Mike Pisapia,
General Manager
With a keen eye on emerging trends in DAQ developments, Measurement Computing have created a simple and flexible DAQ solution for OEMs that uses a new Message-Based DAQ architecture to save development time and simplify set-up.
As products become increasingly more complex and technology budgets are cut, OEMs wield an increasingly hefty wish-list that’s often difficult to fulfil. When sourcing components, they're looking for affordable, accessible, well-designed off-the-shelf products from proven suppliers to minimise risks and speed up time to market. And thanks to increased customer demand for smaller, more portable systems and devices, OEMs are also seeking boards and components with a correspondingly small footprints, as well as detachable screw terminals, high-retention USB and a stackable form factor.
To meet these needs, Measurement Computing is developing a unique new line of data acquisition products perfect for OEMs who choose to develop applications by writing code instead of using development environments such as LabVIEW or DASYLab. This new product line - the USB 7000 series - combines a compact size (just 3.5” x 3.75”), bus-powered USB hardware and an easy-to-learn Message-Based DAQ (MBD) API which greatly simplifies and streamlines driver and application development. MBD's simple, versatile, cross-platform messaging protocol eliminates the need to learn device-specific commands, because all DAQ operations are programmed through a single common command interface. This allows users to focus on the application and not the programming language of the device. What's more, the MBD software API is open source, so OEM developers can strip it down, enhance it and modify it depending on their specific needs.
The MBD firmware parses text-based messages through a device driver and converts these messages into DAQ specific commands that control the device. This flexible and efficient interface allows users to develop drivers on one platform and then deploy it on multiple operating systems to save time.
The USB-7202 and 7204 multi-function measurement and control devices are just the first two in a series of MBD products under development.
The USB-7202 features eight 16-bit analogue input channels and eight digital I/O lines with one A/D converter per channel for simultaneous sampling at rates of 100 kS/s max total throughput or 200kS/s in burst mode. It also includes a 32-bit event counter and external pacer.
The USB-7204 offers eight single-ended or four 12-bit differential analogue inputs, two 12-bit analogue outputs and 16 digital I/O lines, with sample rates of up to 50 kS/s.
Both devices are shipped as open stackable boards without enclosures – ideal for space-limited applications. They come with two USB connection options (High retention B-type and OEM header) and detachable screw terminals. Included accessories comprise a 2-metre length USB cable, a CD containing the MC7000 DAQ
Software API, USB-7000 Series Firmware Architecture, a Windows® installer file (msi), and a Zip file containing installation files for Linux operating systems
You can learn more about the USB-7000 series and the cross-platform benefits of adopting MDB devices by requesting our Message-Based DAQ Whitepaper or Contact
our product specialists for more
information.
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