What is a data acquisition board? The simplest answer is that it is a basic A/D converter coupled with an interface that allows a personal computer to control the actions of the A/D as well as to capture the digital output information from a conversion. Data acquisition boards are designed to plug directly into a personal computer's bus. All the power required for the A/D converter and associated interface components is obtained directly from the PC bus.

      However, at present, data acquisition boards are more than a simple A/D function on a board. Today’s data acquisition boards offer measurements of up to 64 channels at a resolution of 16 bits, (one part in 65,536) with data throughput rates up to 20 million samples per second. A data acquisition board can also include discrete digital bi-directional I/O lines, counter timers, and D/A converters for outputting analog signals for control applications.

      These high-performance data acquisition boards are designed to work in a very wide range of test and measurement and control applications. Combined with powerful software, data acquisition boards turn personal computers into powerful measurement systems that may be used to automate experiments, construct product test stands, monitor and control production equipment, or be embedded in products ranging from airport security systems to jet fighter test simulators.

      Measurement Computing Corporation offers the largest selection of PC-based data acquisition and measurement products. Shop our online catalog by selecting a category above. From PCI, USB, PC/104, ISA, and PCMCIA bus to RS-232, RS-422, RS-485, and GPIB interfaces; Measurement Computing has everything you need for your PC-based data acquisition and control applications.