DATA ACQUISTION AND

PROCESSING

SYSTEM

(DAS)
M.GANESH KARTHIKEYAN
FACULTY OF MECHANICAL ENGG.
TRP
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 Gathering
 Processing
 Storing
 Displaying
 Signal conditioning
 Signal transmission

Systems available today for rapidly

collecting a great bulk of data, processing
it, and displaying the desired results in
printed form.
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 Essential element is the instrument transducer.
 Gives electrical signal which is indicative of

physical variable being measured.

 Signal may be an analog voltage, current,

resistance or frequency or digital representation

in the form of series of electric pulses.
Ex:
Thermocouple gives voltage representation
of temperature.
Strain gauge gives a resistance
representation of strain.

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4
 Collect the data.
 Process them in desired fashion.
 Record the results in the form suitable for storage,
presentation or subsequent processing.

MAJOR ELEMENT OF DAS:

I. INPUT STAGE – consists of transducers and an input
circuit, additional signal conditioning circuits as needed
(Amplifiers, Filters, etc.)
II.SIGNAL CONVERSION STAGE
 Information is readied for transmission.
 Consists of transmission and receiving equipments and
necessary data processors like analog-to-digital (AD)
converters.

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III.OUTPUT STAGE

Provides two functions: Data display and data

storage.

Ex:
Data display and storage in printed form on a
sheet of paper or in graphical form on suitable
paper, storage on magnetic tapes or disks or in
internal memory of computer.

Must include suitable coupling circuits to convert

the data to a form which is used to drive a printer,
graphics device or computer unit.

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MULTI CHANNEL DAS:
 Multi channels should be provided to
collect multiple data inputs.
 Must have an individual channel for
each variable to be studied.
 Due to equipment duplication, cost will
be high.
 Scanner/ programmer is normally
employed for multiple - channel work.

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SCANNER
 Devices that samples the data channels in rapid sequence so that
only one conversion and output stage is necessary.
 Programmed to collect any desired range of variables in any
order.
DIGITAL CLOCK
Used to collect the data at regular time intervals or in some
particular time sequence.
 Perform the timing function automatically.
SIGNAL CONDITIONING
Output of the scanner should be signal conditioned.
 It may be amplification, A\D conversion, filtering, distortion or
harmonic analysis of wave form.

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FLEXIBLE SYSTEM
 Use of such system depends on its cost.

 Development of microprocessors and digital signal

processing (DSP) greatly reduced the cost.
 Microprocessors are widely used as scanners.
COMPUTER & SOFTWARE
 Software input used to process the data (or) cause the
computer to execute some process control operation.
 Output from the computer fed to a printer for text or
graphical displays.
 Standard software packages are available to perform
computer operations.
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INTERFACE UNIT
 Used to connect the measurement system to PC.

 Two types: Plug-in and stand alone.

 Plug-in systems are designed for a particular
type of computer (IBM PC or Apple Macintosh)
 Consists of special terminal boards for
connections for thermocouples, RTDs or other
sensors and outputs.

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  Menu driven software is included used to set up scale,
range, units, digital input and output, data logging and
process control for any of the channels.
 Hundreds or thousands of analog inputs can be
allowed for a single PC.
Stand alone interface does not depend on the type of
computer.
 Can incorporate single or multiple variables channels.
 May or may not be supplied with software capability.
 User can use his own software using BASIC,
FORTRAN, C and other languages.

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ONBOARD MICROPROCESSORS
 Some DAS uses on-board
microprocessors for data analysis and
storage.
 Possible to analyze some data
channels while storing the output for
later manipulation.
 Digital oscilloscope may be provided in
CPU.

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SIGNAL CONDITIONING
Filters are used to prevent noise transmission.

PASSIVE FILTERS
 Consists of passive elements like resistors, capacitors and
inductors.
 Inductors increase the size of filters, hence no compactness.

ACTIVE FILTERS
 More amplifiers can be added.
 Based on using integrated circuits.
 No need for inductors.
 Combination of R,C and operational amplifiers will replace and

outperform passive filters.

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 Circuit compactness and integration can be
obtained.
 Low pass, band pass and high pass active filters are
used.
 Smaller values of R and C may be used and hence
cost and size reduced.
 In some situations filtering the signals, both before
and after the transmission may be advantageous.
 In other cases, filtering either before or after the
transmission will be adequate.
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DATA TRANSMISSION
If transducer is in one location and display unit is in
another location, then signal has to be transmitted.
Ex: 1. Current and voltage on copper wires.
2. Propagation of electromagnetic waves through space.
3. Light signals through an optical fiber.
While selecting communicating channel two things to be
considered viz. cost and noise immunity.
COAXIAL CABLE
Consists of a central conductor through which signals
of interest are sent, which is surrounded by another conductor
at zero voltage.
Any stray E.M. noise is attenuated by this outer shield.
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 When signals are transmitted in digital form
noise protection obtained.

 Transmitting information over channels and

protecting it from noise.

 Such systematic approach to build noise

immunity into a data transmission link are
called codes.

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USING CODES
Ex: Transmission of temperature in the
form of a four-bit word.
 If voltage produced by the transducer

indicates the T is between 30-35oC, the

binary signal 0110 will be sent by the
transmitter.

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 Used to provide limited degree of
protection against noise.
 Receiver can determine any one of
the bit in 4-bit word is incorrect.
 In such case, receiver can ask a
second transmission. This is called
parity checking.
 Signal-conditioning circuits add a
fifth binary bit such that total
number of 1s in the 5-bit word is
even.
 Ex: Temperature values are 57,52 &
48o C corresponding 4-bit words are:
1011,1010,1001
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 Parity checking bit would be added
such that three 5-bit words would be
10111,10100,10010.
 If the words arrived at receiving
stage are 10111,10110,10010;
 Then presence of an odd number of
1’s in second word would initiate a
request for retransmission.
 But here even number of errors (Ex :
10111 sent & 10001 received),
multiple errors can’t be detected.

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Analog representation – physical variable
treated as continuous quantity
Digital representation – quantity restricted
to discrete, non continuous
 2n different ranges can be designated by an

n-bit binary word.

 Selection of 8-bit allows the quantity to be

discretized into 28 or 256 segments.

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Why A/D conversion ?

• Noise immunity
• Codes can be used
• Error detection and error correction is possible
• Data processing capability of digital computers
can
be used
• Digital signals can be transmitted for long
distances

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SUCCESIVE – APPROXIMATION A/D CONVERTER
 Stable reference voltage Eref is fed to the
resistance and switch network.
 Output of the network is fed to an operational
amplifier.
 Output of an OP-AMP is fed to voltage comparator
which compares the signal with a given analog input.
 If it is too large, zero is recorded; If it is too small, a
unity bit is recorded.
 This process is continued to the least significant bit.
 Sequence of 0’s & 1’s represent value of analog
signal. 26
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ADVANTAGES
• Rapid conversion time (2µs for an 8-bit device).

DISADVANTAGES
• Input signal changes during the bit- by- bit process ,
error will results in final representation.

• Sample hold amplifiers (SHA) can be used to reduce

error, which holds input signal during conversion.
Faster scan rates(1MHz) may be achieved with SHA.

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 Incoming analog signal is digitized in time steps which
increase by factors of 2 up to 2M, where M is the No. of bits.
 Signals are fed to an integrator and operated for time
interval T.
 Reference voltage of opposite polarity is then impressed and
∆T measured for the output of integrator to return to zero.
 Input voltage Ei = Eref (∆T/T)
 Advantage – High accuracy.
 Disadvantage – Slow conversion rate.

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RESOLUTION
Fraction of the least significant bit (LSB) to the largest number represented
in terms of the full-scale voltage of the device.( minimum signal that could be
detected )

Resolution Q = (EFS / 2M)

Least significant bit = (1/2M), M is number of bits

Ex : 8 – bit converter has

Resolution = (EFS / 28) = (EFS / 256)

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QUANTIZATION
Quantization of a device =± ½ LSB
Ex : for an 8 – bit A/D converter with an EFS of 10 V
Resolution = (EFS / 2M)=(10 / 28) = (10 / 256) = 0.0391 V
= 39.1mV

If this converter receives an input less than 39.1mV, then it

indicates a value of zero. This indicates the necessity of signal
amplification.

Quantization = ± 1/2 LSB = ± (1/2)(1/256)

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STRAIGHT BINARY CODE GRID BINARY CODED DECIMAL (BCD)

When numbers are represented by the binary

code of successive powers of 2, it is said to be a
straight binary code.
Alternatively each digits of a decimal number is
indicated by a separate 4-bit binary code.
(4- bit is required to represent largest digit 9)
This representation is called binary coded decimal
(BCD) and is used widely for data transmission.

Ex : Number 846 may be represented as

1000 0100 0110

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BIPOLAR OR COMPLEMENTARY CODE
 To represent positive and negative number in binary
form a convention is used.
 Zero designates positive numbers.
 One designates negative numbers.
 This conversion is called bipolar or complementary code.
-9 is indicated by 11001
+9 is indicated by 01001
specification of A/D converter:
Ex : 16-bit, bipolar, 15-bit resolution indicates one bit
used for sign designation.
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DATA STORAGE AND DISPLAY
Display and storage :
 Storage of data & display of data do not always
require different apparatus.
 Relatively simple methods of data display
system provide simultaneous storage.
Ex : xy plotter, strip-chart recorder,
paper tape output from calculator or computer
recording of data by pen in note book.
storage oscilloscope memories (limited memory as
long as it is left on).

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ONLY STORAGE
Some devices are intended to provide only storage
functions.
Ex : magnetic tape, CD’s, magnetic disks,
semiconductor materials.

Semiconductor memories are of both the permanent &

volatile type. Stored information in volatile memory may
be lost if power is removed.

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DISPLAY DEVICES :
 Some devices are intended to provide only
display.
Ex : 1. Light-emitting-diode (LED)
 Semiconductor diodes which emit light under
positive voltages are used as light sources.
 No filaments or other parts that can burn out.
 Have very impressive operating lives.
 Requires significant amount of power.
 Tend to ‘wash out’ in bright ambient lighting
 Digital watch – when time is required, button
may be pressed and after noting the time, it
may be switched off to save the battery life.

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 EX: 2 LIQUID CRYSTAL

 When voltages are applied to them, they display different

light-reflecting properties.

 Requires less power than LED array.

 Not easily visible in dim surroundings, since it depends on

light reflection.

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HARD WIRED LOGIC ARRAYS :
 In addition to gathering, storing,

processing & displaying data, DAS has to

perform a control function.
Ex : If nuclear core temperature exceeds
some operational limit in nuclear power
plant, DAS automatically shut down the
nuclear reaction.
 The entire data acquisition & control

system must be able to make logical

judgments.
 Electronic system is used to take logical

decision.
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 In addition to conventional elements of
DAS, a new element may be provided to
take decision electronically.
 In this example, “ is the temperature T is
greater than the safe operating Tmax ? “
is electronically answered.
 If the answers is “ yes” , the system
generates an electronic signal which
begins an automatic emergency shutdown
of the nuclear reaction.
 If the answers is “no”, the system allows
the core to continue to operate.

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SCHMITT TRIGGER :
• To take logical decision, a single integrated circuit called
Schmitt trigger can be used.
• Threshold voltage VT can be electronically controlled.
• This voltage is equal to the output of transducer when
nuclear core T = Tmax
• When operating T < Tmax, the output voltage of Schmitt
trigger is positive, & it is fed through appropriate interface
circuits to the emergency shutdown equipments. This is
called logic design.

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EXAMPLE FOR LOGIC DESIGN :
Circuit to monitor traffic control signal
 It generates errors message when

illegal combination of light appears.

 Legal light combinations are red only,

yellow only, green only& red-yellow

together.
 All others are illegal.

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 Error messages occur whenever three or no lamps are lit, &
any two lamps other than red-yellow are lit.
Logical processing can be carried out by means of digital
logic circuits.

Logical AND gate – used to decide if all three lamps are ON.
 It will produce a positive output voltage only if each of the input is
positive.
 In this case an output will occur only if all three of the lamps are
simultaneously lit.
 Since this is an error condition, this output signal could be used to
generate the necessary error message.

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 The logical decisions can be made by wiring together various
gates & connecting them in the appropriate way to the input & output
circuits.
Such systems are called hard-wired logic arrays.
Microprocessors now provide logic circuits that may be
programmed to perform needed logic function for a particular
application.
Within limits set by the available instructions, the size of the
memory, the interface circuits & cleverness of designer, the
microprocessor is a universal logic circuit.
Rather than having to manufacture a wide array of custom-
designed circuits, only one microprocessor can be designed.

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2.1. A 12-bit A/D converter is to be employed with a chromel-
alumel thermocouple such that the resolutions of 10F is
obtained at 1000F. What is the maximum full-scale voltage
that may be accommodated for this application ?
solution : from table, for chromel- alumel thermocouple
T(0F) E(mV)
50 0.412
150 2.667

Sensitivity at 1000F
∆ output ∆E
S= =
∆ input ∆T

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 2.667 – 0.412
= = 0.02254 mV / 0F
150 – 50
For 10F resolution the ADC must have a resolution of
0.02254 mV.
Hence resolution
EFS
Q= = 0.02254 mV
2M
 EFS= 0.02254 * 212 = 92.324 mV

The max. recommended temperature for chromel-

alumel thermocouple is 25000F which corresponds to
54.8mV (from table).
Thus the 12-bit ADC with EFS = 92 mV should provide a
10F resolution over the entire range of thermocouple.
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2.2 For the thermocouple in Pm 2.1, what temperature
resolution would be expected with a 16-bit ADC operating
with a full-scale voltage of 100mV?
solution : EFS 100 mV
resolution of ADC = Q = = =
2M 216
0.00153mV
Thermocouple sensitivity = 0.002254 mV / 0F
This resolution corresponds to
0.00153 mV
∆T = = 0.068 0F
0.02254 mV / 0F

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2.3 An ADC is to operate with a full-scale voltage of 10V. How
many bits should be employed to obtain a resolution of
0.01 percent ?
Resolution EFS
Q=
2M
Resolution is equal to 0.01% of full-scale voltage
Q
= 0.01% = 0.001
EFS

Q 1
 = = 0.0001
EFS 2M

Ln(1/0.0001)
M = = 13.29
Ln2 55
It is rounded up to 14 bits

For 14-bit converter, the resolution would be

Q 1
= = 0.000061
EFS 214
=0.0061 %

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 MICROPROCESSOR
It is an large scale integration chip that is capable of performing
arithmetic and logic functions as defined by a given program.
Microprocessor forms only a part of microcomputer.

Microcomputer comprises the following elements:

1. Microprocessor / Central Processing Unit (CPU)

2. Random access memory (RAM)
3. Read only memory (ROM)
4. Input / output devices (I/O)
5. Interface components

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 BLOCK DIAGRAM OF MICROCOMPUTER

INPUT/OUTPUT ARITHMETIC/
MEMORY
DEVICES LOGIC CIRCUITS

CONTROL

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 Microcomputer comprises an ALU (arithmetic
logic unit), memories of temporary and semi-
permanent storage, input/output devices, and a
control unit.
 The arithmetic and logic operation to be
performed by ALU.
 Information is transferred from outside the
computer into it and vise versa by the i/o
devices.
 The control units co-ordinate the activities of
the various elements.
 The micro processor used in micro computer
consist of the control unit and ALU which is in
combination forms the CPU.
 It has the ability to control the I/O devices and
to transfer information to and from the memory.

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The basic functional building blocks of a
microprocessor are:

1. The arithmetic logic unit

2. Internal registers
3. Instruction decoder
4. Control and synchronization.

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 MICROPROCESSOR ARCHITECTURE
DATA
BUS

INSTRUCTION
ALU
INTERNAL DECODER
ADDRESS REGISTER
BUS

Ø1
CLOCK
Ø2 TIMING
&
SYNCHRO
CONTROL
NIZATION

EXTERNAL
CONTROL

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 With reference to these basic building
blocks shown, the microprocessor may
be considered to be an IC component
that is capable of performing arithmetic
and logic operations under program
control, in a bit parallel fashion.
 The ALU performs basic arithmetic and
logical operations on binary data stored
in two registers of the microprocessor.
 Such operations are performed by an
‘adder’ as well as by “logic gates”.
 The instruction decoder is typically an
internal read only memory which
translates the machine instruction code
into micro-instructions which are
executed by the processor.
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 Thecontrol and synchronization block
interprets the micro-instructions, to put
out appropriate control and
synchronization pulses to other parts of
the system.

 Transferdata, addresses and control

signals between the system elements are
carried out by time shared busses.

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 Microprocessor is used in data logging.
 A typical data- logging system (DLS)
can use varied types of signal
conditioners, amplifiers and output
devices.
 A printer is most commonly employed
in the data logging of slowly varying
data.
 A certain amount of processing of data
may be involved in certain cases, such
as linearization of thermocouple
output, computation of the average
value of a certain set of data inputs or
conversion to engineering units.
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 In addition the comparison of the
measured data with preset maximum
and minimum limits and actuation of
out-of-limit indicators or initiation of
alarms can also be carried out.
 Eventually, the system can also be

made to sequentially shutdown when

maximum tolerable limits of working
systems are reached.

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 The requirements of data-logging
system which is to collect data
periodically from 100 locations are:

1. The provision to collect load

information from 60 location transducer
used load cell. The load information
from each individual station is to be
measured at least once in every five
seconds. The measured data with the
time at which measurement is made
should be printed out as well as stored
in digital cassettes for analysis later.

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2. The provision to monitor
temperature at 20 points.
Temperature range 0-1000oC.
 Transducer used – k type
thermocouple.
 Output data are to be linearized to
provide direct display of
temperature to within ±0.1%
±0.1oC.
 Visual indicators are to be actuated
when the set temperature limits
are exceeded.
Reading rate : once in every 5
minutes.
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3. The provision to monitor 20 control point
voltages. Alarms are to be set when any of
them falls out of the range of ± 5V.
Simultaneous visual indication of the
particular station where the voltage is out of
range is to be displayed.

A data logger of this nature can be efficiently

handled by a microprocessor-based system.
The system can be designed in such a way
that a built in clock is used to function as a
“real time’’ clock so that each measurement is
logged along with that time at which is done.

Invariably, the channel number identifying

the channel on which measurement is made
can also be logged.

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 CHANNEL SELECT

GAIN SELECT
DISPLAYS
CONVERT COMMAND

REAL TIME
LOAD CELL-1

CH
LOAD

PROGRAMMABLE GAIN DATA

LOAD CELL-2 No

CH
LOAD CELL-60 TEMP
INPUT OUTPUT No
MULTIPLEXER

S/H and ADC

PORTS PORTS CH

AMPLIFIER
CONTROL POINT
THERMOCOUPLE-1 No VOLTAGE
MICRO
COMPUTER
OVER VOLTAGE &
THERMOCOUPLE-2 OVER LIMIT INDICATORS

THERMOCOUPLE-20 TELE TYPEWRITER

CONTROL POINT
VOLTAGE-1 CASSETTE RECORDER

CONTROL POINT
VOLTAGE-20

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 The processor can command low-level or
high-level multiplexers at appropriate
time to access the data from a desired
channel, convert the data into digital
values, store this in RAMS within the
system and proceed to log data from
other locations.
For monitoring and display of
temperature, thermocouple output will
be amplified and linearized by look-up
tables stored in the system in read only
memories.
The linearized output can be
transferred to be output ports that
controlled the displayed comparison can
be made of the temperature with the
limit values alarm can be activated based
on this comparison when the limits are
exceeded. 70
The monitoring of other 20V levels
corresponding to the control functions can
also be carried out in much the same way.

The data logging system can have

incorporated with in it programmable data
amplifiers & multiplexers to handle the
inputs. it also have the fast ADC for
conversion of the analog inputs its output
device can be a tele-printer or a line-printer
that will provide the print out of the data.

It can have on operating console with

keyboards for the entry of necessary and
commands, a panel display that displays the
temperature of the various stations
monitoring by it, and visual & other alarms.

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 It can also have a cassette interface
for recording the “load cell” data from
the 60 stations.
When the microprocessor has to be
necessarily operate on instruction
sequentially, the fast speed at which it
operate enables it to access, convert,
compute, display & record information
from various stations.
It is thus ideally suited for logging of
many parameters and to take
intelligent decisions based on
computations carried out on these
measured data.
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