DataSpider - USB Data Acquisition Module User Manual
Contents
1. PCDataSpider com 16 March 2015 DataSpider USB Data Acquisition Module User Manual Description The Data Spider is a module that allows interfacing electrical instruments or devices with a computer It can take up to 4 analog electrical signals from OV to 5V and up to 4 digital electrical signals OV or 5V converts them into digital data and sends that data to a computer It can also receive commands from a computer to generate up to 2 analog electrical signals from OV to 4V and up to 4 digital electrical signals OV or 5V The Data Spider module incorporates a programmable controller Propeller from Parallax along with a dedicated circuitry to process the different electrical signals and communicate with a computer via a USB link The module is pre programmed with a standard firmware written in Spin and Propeller Assembly and a standard set of instructions but can also be custom programmed to perform specific functions or respond to specific commands The module also comes with a basic data acquisition software SpiderScope written in Python that can run on almost any personal computer Both the firmware and the SpiderScope data acquisition software are available as Open Source on Github https github com pcDataSpider The Github repository has more detailed information on both The module is also offered as Open Source Hardware on the Open Hardware Repository www ohwr org under USB Projects as usb adc2. Basic software is released as Open Source github pcdataspider Saves data in csv comma separated values file format Main control panel window with all channels Data acquisition with timing sampling rate averaging trigger Analog and Digital output signals Simple display tools Large billboard display numeric value and bar graph Simple time graph Data scan single point acquisition from push button or trigger Basic function generator pulse square wave saw tooth sine wave e Easily expandable add your own tools or functions How to install the SpiderScope application From the internet https github com pcDataSpider SpiderScope You can download the full source code from our Github repository make sure to select the testing branch Read the Wiki information on how to install the application From the provided CD Simply copy the bin zip file on your computer in any location of your choice and then un zip it This will install all the components you need You may then want to crate a shortcut on your desktop to point to the SpiderScope exe file Page 5 of 13 PCDataSpider com 16 March 2015 How to run the SpiderScope application To launch the application If you have the full source code Such as downloaded from the internet double click open the file main py lf you have the built distribution code such as from the provided CD double click open the file DataSpider exe In either
3. a new window in which you can enter the desired duration in hr min sec format If the timer is not activated the data acquisition or output activation will last as long as the Stop Start button is lit The control panel includes a single Record button grey red circle at top right corner of panel When activated the state of all 8 digital channels will be recorded and saved in a file Data is recorded and saved only when the state of any digital channel changes Page 8 of 13 PCDataSpider com 16 March 2015 Special tools Plugins EE SpiderScope Our SpiderScope application also includes a set of File Plugins Help additional functions or plugins which are accessed from Average Filter fal Fibe the Plugins menu on the top left corner of the main Graphing tool window These tools include oe 7 Line Scan e Average Filter on board averaging sz a e Graphing Tool _ ill e Billboard Line Scan Analog Input 1 Pulsed Experiment Sample Rate 200 0 Set Timer The Average Filter performs on board averaging of the sampled data This allows keeping the maximum effective acquisition rate of 3000 samples per seconds while still performing an average processing The actual sampling rate then increases proportionally to the number of samples to be averaged up to a maximum actual sampling rate of 50000 samples per seconds The Billboard is a large display illustrated be
4. case the following window should appear EE SpiderScope es File Plugins Optical Fiber Systems Analog Input 0 9 Analog Output 0 5 Sample Rate 200 0 Output Power 0 1000 0 Set Timer set Timer v Analog Input 1 Analog Output 1 Sample Rate 200 0 Output Power 0 1000 0 Set Timer Set Timer Analog Input 2 Digital 1 0 a Sample Rate 200 0 Input Output wo Set Timer Input Output Input Output Analog Input 3 a w Sample Rate 200 0 v Set Timer This is the main control panel window This lets you access all the functions for all the channels including start stop acquisition file saving channel selection graph display etc If you just want to acquire data and save it in a file it is best to do this directly from this window This window control panel can be divided into 2 portions one for the analog channels and one for the digital channels Page 6 of 13 PCDataSpider com 16 March 2015 Controlling the Analog Channels All analog channels Analog Input 0 and Analog Output 0 1 have similar controls Each analog channel has its own control panel and all channels are controlled independently Controls are implemented with buttons and input fields on the panels All buttons are activated by clicking on them with your mouse The control panels for the
5. 2k12b4ch dac2k10b2ch dio8ch Page 1 of 13 PCDataSpider com 16 March 2015 How to use the DataSpider The DataSpider can be used to connect with a computer various devices such as instruments equipments devices sensors and actuators The general use connection is illustrated below For your convenience we offer the DataSpider in 3 versions e BNC the DataSpider has convenient BNC connectors e the DataSpider has terminal blocks for flexible connections e OEM the DataSpider is a bare PC board with a single 2 rows header connector Cable Wire The DataSpider can be used to e Transfer an analog signal from an instrument or sensor to a computer e Generate an analog signal to control a device such an actuator e Generate digital signals to control or synchronize instruments or equipments Examples of applications are illustrated in the following pages Page 2 of 13 PCDataSpider com 16 March 2015 Interfacing analog instruments with a computer Many instruments or sensors generate an analog electrical signal in response to events or phenomena Most instruments mostly older instruments bring this analog electrical signal as an output on a BNC connector You can connect this BNC output directly to one of the Analog Input AI of the DataSpider BNC and connect the DataSpider to your computer platform via the USB cable link Then from your computer using our SpiderScope application or your own applicat
6. analog channels include the following Analog Input Channels e Record button grey and red circle at top right corner of panel e Sample rate input field Sample Rate 100 0 e Set Timer button e Start Stop button blue circle at bottom right corner of panel Analog Output Channels e Record button grey and red circle at top right corner of panel v g e Output Power input field Output Power 0 1000 0 e Set Timer button e Start Stop button green circle at bottom left corner of panel gt The record button activates the file saving feature When activated a new window will open to specify the location and name of the file that will be used to save the data Once activated the button will light up with a bright red center THIS DOES NOT START DATA ACQUISITION Data is saved in cvs format and includes a header with a date and time stamp and the channel being recorded The data is saved in 2 columns one for the actual time in decimal seconds for each sample and one for the value The sample rate input field is self explanatory You can enter any positive value however the maximum that can be implemented is 3000 samples per second for a single channel Decimal values correspond to sampling rates less than 1 sample per second 0 1 corresponding to 1 sample every 10 sec The output power field is also self explanatory You can enter any positive integer value b
7. e Rate sec 200 Stop Page 10 of 13 LLP PCDataSpider com 16 March 2015 The Line Scan is a combination of a simple graph display with a triggered data sampling and acquisition With this tool one data point will be acquired each time a trigger signal is detected When the Line Scan is selected a first window will open asking you to select which analog channels you want to acquire Then a second window will open asking you to select which digital input channel you want to use as a trigger One data point will be acquired each time the selected input digital channel receives a positive pulse positive edge trigger This tool was designed to acquire data while one independent and external parameter is varied We thus assumed that this parameter is scanned in an incremental fashion and the program thus will ask you what the starting and incremental values are These will become the values on the X co ordinate or X variable of the graph The X value will start at the starting value and will be incremented by the incremental value each time a trigger signal is detected This tool also has the option to take an average of several samples The samples will be acquired at the rate selected on the control panel of each channel being acquired and then the selected number of samples will be averaged before being acquired and displayed on the graph To stop the Line Scan go to the File menu and select Save This will o
8. etween 1 and 1000 The Set Timer button enables an internal timer that will control the duration of the acquisition for input channels or activation output channels When activated it will open a new window in which you can enter the desired duration in hr min sec format If the timer is not activated the data acquisition or output activation will last as long as the Stop Start button is lit The Start Stop button controls the data acquisition or output activation Data acquisition will start as soon as it is activated When activated the button will light up Clicking a second time will turn it off and stop the acquisition Page 7 of 13 PCDataSpider com 16 March 2015 Controlling the Digital Channels All digital channels Digital Input 0 and Digital Output 0 3 are controlled from a single panel The controls are very simple as there is no specific sampling rate nor any specific output level to be controlled The channels are simply either ON digital value of 1 or OFF digital value of 0 The status of each Digital Input channel is indicated by the blue buttons on the left side and the status of each Digital Output channel is controlled by the green buttons on the right side The control panel includes a single Set Timer button that enables an internal timer that will control the duration of the acquisition for input channels and activation output channels When activated it will
9. ion you can receive the data from your instrument display it on the screen and save it to your hard drive You can connect up to 4 instruments and simultaneously acquire the data from all 4 instruments on your computer This is illustrated below BNC Coax Cables Computer USB Page 3 of 13 PCDataSpider com 16 March 2015 Controlling analog instruments from a computer Some instruments also have capabilities to respond to an external digital signal such as a trigger pulse The DataSpider can generate such signal in respond to a command from the computer This command can be generated easily with a click of the mouse or push of a key on the computer display when using our SpiderScope application software or you can easily develop your own application In this configuration the acquisition of the data by the computer can be synchronized with the trigger pulse BNC Coax Cables Analog Out Instrument 1 Trigger In An alternate variance would be to use an external trigger generator connected to both the instrument and one of the DataSpider Digital Input DI as illustrated below BNC Coax Cables Analog Out USB Instrument 1 Trigger In Pulse Generator Page 4 of 13 LLP PCDataSpider com 16 March 2015 SpiderScope application SpiderScope Le r ee Fite Plugins He Optical Fiber Systems Main features e Compatible with Windows MacOS Linux written in Python
10. low that includes both digital and analog side bar graph value for any given analog input channel Activating the Billboard DOES NOT start an acquisition One Billboard displays only one channel Four Billboards can be displayed at the same time BillBoard Analog Input 2 co e 0670 Page 9 of 13 LLP PCDataSpider com 16 March 2015 The Graph Tool is a simple graph display of the analog input channel value being acquired The actual acquisition can be controlled either from the main control panel or from the graphing window This tool allows to simultaneously acquire and save data from several input channels The Graph also allows you to perform an averaging of the acquired data using the edit sample size menu The averaging is performed after the data is acquired and transmitted to the computer so if you have selected a sample rate of 200 samples per second and a sample size of 10 the data points displayed on the screen and saved in memory are displayed at a rate of only 20 data points per seconds At any moment the axis of the graph can be re scaled using the edit dimensions menu The graph displays a maximum of 4000 points earlier points are dropped off the graph but are kept in memory When the acquisition is stopped you will be asked if you want to save the data S Graph Analogs 0 1 2 3 fol ss File Edit Graph Analogs 0 1 2 3 Seconds Sampl
11. pen a new window where you can select the location and name of the file in which you want to save your data 98 Line Scan Analog 2 File Edit Line Scan Analog 2 1400 1200 1000 co Intensity D ri 4 200 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 Distance Page 11 of 13 PCDataSpider com 16 March 2015 The Pulsed Experiment allows to perform a timed and triggered acquisition With this tool one data point will be acquired each time a trigger signal is detected When the Line Scan is selected a first window will open asking you to select which analog channels you want to acquire Then a second window will open asking you to select which digital input channel you want to use as a trigger input One data point will be acquired each time the selected input digital channel receives a positive pulse positive edge trigger This tool also has two additional timing features you will be asked to specify a Delay a Duration and a Sample Rate The DataSpider will then sample the specified input channel s starting only at the specified Delay after the positive edge of the trigger pulse and for the specified Duration at the specified Sample Rate This is illustrated below Pulsed Experiment File Edit Trigger Pulse _ LL Duration Delay sec je 5 Duration sec 0 001 On board sampling Sample Rate samples sec 10000 start Sampling The DataS
12. pider module will perform on board averaging of all the samples acquired during the specified duration before sending them to the computer A sampling rate of up to 50 000 samples per seconds can be specified The Trigger pulses can repeat at a frequency of up to 3 000 Hz Page 12 of 13 PCDataSpider com 16 March 2015 Mechanical Outline Option BNC BNC Connectors 0 1 a WO p _ __i 7 Option TB Terminal Block aJ 1 GND GND gi D 0 GND GND 17 79979 g adag 01 1 Ww Page 13 of 13
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