|
When defining a Data Acquisition System, this can be can be accurately described by explaining what a Data Acquisition System does not what it is. A Data Acquisition System catches or captures data about an actual system and stores that information in a format that can be easily retrievable for purposes of engineering or scientific review and analysis. Another requirement of a Data Acquisition System should be that it captures information programmatically or automatically in other words, without any hands-on human intervention or guidance.
Generally speaking, there are seven elements or functions in a Data Acquisition System. The seven elements/functions are (in no particular order) data collection, measurement, timing and triggering, a real-time clock, system control, data communication and data archiving. All seven elements must be in place for a structure to be considered a Data Acquisition System. If only a number of these elements are part of the system, the module could be defined as a component of a Data Acquisition System. If a system has all seven elements along with additional features, it is probably a larger system with a Data Acquisition System being part of the larger structure.
The actual components or elements of a Data Acquisition System to perform the seven essential functions are critical to the efficiency of the system. There must be a series of sensors as inputs to a Data Acquisition Board; in addition, there must be a trigger to synchronize the sensor inputs (the data stream), as well as a control for the Data Acquisition Board. Between the Data Acquisition Board and the processor of the system and system clock, a data communications bus (I/O) is also required. While the data is being stored real-time, the analysis and review of the information is performed after data is gathered. By definition, information cannot be analyzed in real-time, otherwise data events will be missed or overlooked. The Data Acquisition System must collect, sort, catalog and store data to be reviewed and analyzed in a meticulous (read: offline) manner.
© Copyright 2000 - 2009, by Engineers Edge, LLC All rights reserved.
Disclaimer
|
