Precision Data Acquisition System

Channel type selection depends on your signal characteristics. Use high-speed channels (ACM1604) for signals with frequency content above 1kHz, such as vibration, audio, switching waveforms, or control loops. The 1 MSPS sampling rate supports signals up to 500kHz bandwidth (Nyquist). Use precision channels (ACM2420) for DC or low-frequency signals requiring high resolution, such as temperature sensors, strain gauges, pressure transducers, or battery voltage monitoring. The 24-bit resolution provides 20 effective bits for microvolt-level measurements. Many applications benefit from both: for example, motor testing might use high-speed channels for current waveform capture and precision channels for temperature monitoring. The system allows flexible assignment - you can configure any mix of 16 high-speed and 16 precision channels up to the 32-channel total limit.

Use high-speed channels for > 1kHz signals. Use precision channels for DC/low-frequency requiring > 16-bit resolution.

The Precision Data Acquisition System includes comprehensive software support for rapid application development. Windows drivers include a kernel-mode driver for maximum performance and a user-mode API (DLL) compatible with C/C++, C#, and VB. NET. LabVIEW support includes a complete VI library with examples for common applications. MATLAB support provides a toolbox with data acquisition and analysis functions. Python support includes a wrapper for the C API with NumPy integration for data processing. Linux support includes a kernel driver and C library. All drivers support continuous streaming, triggered acquisition, and multi-rate sampling. Example code is provided for common use cases including FFT analysis, data logging, and real-time display. The communication protocol is also fully documented for custom driver development. Software updates and technical support are provided through LiTong Electronics.

Choose driver based on your development environment. LabVIEW for test systems, MATLAB for analysis, Python for flexibility.

Synchronized sampling is achieved through a distributed timing architecture. A master clock generator provides a common timebase to all ADC modules. Sample clock signals are distributed via low-skew clock buffers to ensure simultaneous sampling. The ACM1604 SAR ADCs use a common conversion start signal, while the ACM2420 sigma-delta ADCs use synchronized modulator clocks. All ADCs sample within 1 microsecond of each other, providing true simultaneous sampling. This is critical for applications like 3-phase power measurement where phase relationships must be preserved, or structural monitoring where vibration mode shapes are calculated from multiple sensor readings. The system also provides a trigger input that can synchronize acquisition with external events. Post-acquisition, samples from all channels are time-stamped and aligned in the data buffer, presenting a coherent multi-channel data set to the host application.

Synchronized sampling is automatic - No configuration is needed. Use trigger input for external event synchronization.

Yes, the system supports expansion through multiple units synchronized together. Up to 8 systems (256 total channels) can be synchronized using the SYNC IN/OUT connectors. One system acts as the master, distributing the sample clock and trigger signals to slave units. This maintains the < 1μs skew specification across all channels in the expanded system. For very large channel counts, consider using the Ethernet interface which allows distributed placement of acquisition units up to 100 meters apart. The software API presents multiple units as a single logical device with unified channel numbering. For example, two 32-channel systems appear as a single 64-channel device. Expansion requires no firmware modifications - simply connect the sync cables and configure the master/slave settings via software. Contact our FAE team for recommendations on large-scale system architecture and cabling requirements.

Use SYNC connectors to link multiple systems. Up to 8 systems (256 channels) can be synchronized.

Latency depends on the channel type and digital filtering configuration. For high-speed channels (ACM1604), the ADC conversion time is approximately 1 microsecond. With minimal digital filtering, total latency is 2-3 microseconds from analog input to USB output. For precision channels (ACM2420), the sigma-delta architecture introduces more latency due to the digital filter. At the default 10 SPS output rate, latency is approximately 200 milliseconds (dominated by the sinc filter group delay). At higher output rates (2 kSPS), latency reduces to approximately 5 milliseconds. The built-in FIR and IIR filters add latency proportional to their tap count - typically 1-10 milliseconds depending on configuration. For real-time control applications, use high-speed channels with minimal filtering. For measurement applications where latency is less critical, use precision channels with appropriate filtering for noise reduction. The software API provides time-stamping so you always know the exact acquisition time for each sample.

High-speed channels: 2-3μs latency. Precision channels: 5-200ms depending on output data rate.