What is PC Card DAQ? PC Card is the new term used to describe the PCMCIA slots found in most laptop computers. PC Card DAQ typically refers to a data acquisition board or card designed to interface with a slot laptop Personal Computer.. Typical data acquisition products include Analog I/O, Analog Output, Digital I/O and Serial Communications boards that are designed to interface with the bus of a personal computer.

      When a PC Card DAQ product is used in conjunction with the microprocessor in side a personal computer, a wide variety of automated measurement and control functions can be accomplished.

      A PC Card DAQ based system convert analog signals into a digital output form, which can be manipulated with software. Using software in conjunction with the personal computer, analog data can be displayed, logged, charted, graphed, or stored in memory as needed.

      Stored data can then be used and compared with a set of established limits. Control decisions are made if the stored data is at the limit, above or below the limit. With repetitive measurement made by a PC Card DAQ system, continues monitoring and control can be performed.

      Based on matching, meeting or exceed the set limits, a digital control signal (in the form of single bit output signal) can be used to turn on or turn of a relay. This in turn can be used to turn on various control elements like, fans, pumps, motors, etc.

      Alternatively, based on the difference between an input and an established set point, a precise analog output signal can be generated. This signal can be used to provide a complete closed loop control patch providing continuous control of a process.

      Measurement Computing Corporation offers the largest selection of PC card based data acquisition and measurement products. Shop our online catalog by selecting a category above. From PCI, USB, PC104, ISA, and PCMCIA bus boards to external systems based on USB, RS-232, RS-422, RS-485 and GPIB interfaces; Measurement Computing has everything you need for your PC-based data acquisition and control applications.