Data Acquisition Synchronization Module Released
Benefits xDAP Systems
NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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Bellevue, WA, December 18, 2013 -- Microstar Laboratories, Inc., maker of Data Acquisition Processor (DAP) systems for PC-based high-performance measurement applications, has released a new Time Base Synchronization module for real-time alignment of acquired data sets at multiple measurement stations using xDAP data acquisition equipment. This software requires no elaborate time protocols or complicated communication stacks. A simple timing pulse stream is sufficient, but better if IRIG-B or GPS receivers are available to provide a time-base signal.
Difficulty of Synchronizing Multiple Data Acquisition Stations
Large distributed data acquisition applications using multiple measurement stations can either let each station capture data on its own stable but independent time clock, or lock the stations to a common time base signal. Either approach presents challenges.
Operating on their own local timing clocks, tolerances of a few parts per million on the sample rates will accumulate over time so that each station captures a different number of samples. Post-processing the discordant data streams to align them for a unified analysis is relatively difficult.
Alignment is assured when every station connects to a common timing source. However, pulse rates for available time base signals often are unsuitable for clocking the data acquisition sampling directly. For example, IRIG-B delivers highly accurate timing reference pulses at 1/10 second intervals, but only occasionally is this rate suitable for driving data acquisition. Pure hardware solutions to derive a sample clocking signal from a timing signal are temperamental and expensive.
The Time Base Synchronization Solution
Instead of trying to force hardware synchronization, the Time Base Synchronization module observes the timing reference signal and the measured signals in a common multichannel data stream. It should seem reasonable that when you can see the timing pulses and the data samples together in the same data set, it is clear where they align. Using basic sampling theory, samples that form a valid representation of the signal are sufficient to determine the value of the signal at any point, not just at sample positions. So the Time Base Synchronization module picks the points where you want them, so that they line up with the reference time base, at exactly the sample rate that you want.
Configuring this processing requires two commands: one to perform the timing analysis, and the other to apply the numerical evaluations.
Platform Support
The Time Base Synchronization Module is available with the DAPtools Standard software package, with purchase of an xDAP data acquisition system from Microstar Laboratories, or as a software upgrade. DAPtools Software also provides the DAPL 3000 system, the processing engine that controls all of the real-time processing within the embedded xDAP environment. DAPtools supports Windows® 8, Windows® 7, Windows Vista®, Windows® XP, Windows Server®, and Windows® 2000 on the PC host system. Also included with DAPtools Standard software are modules for advanced rotating machinery rate analysis and for digital countermeasures to aliasing.
Resources
The DAPtools Standard edition software is available now. Contact Microstar Laboratories to obtain a copy for your xDAP system. The one-time license fee for the DAPtools Standard package, includes the Time Base Synchronization processing module.
For more information, contact Microstar Laboratories via telephone, USA 425-453-2345, or via the Web form.
Background information about the DAPL 3000 operating system is available online.
Learn more about the xDAP data acquisition systems.
Conclusion
The new Time Base Synchronization module from Microstar Laboratories provides a modern, DSP-based approach to obtaining time-aligned sampled data sets from multiple measurement stations that monitor a common time base signal. Instead of using complicated and expensive hardware-based methods, this package uses simple hardware and relatively sophisticated processing to achieve high-quality measurements with much more flexibility than typical hardware-only solutions.
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Editorial Overview:
Microstar Laboratories has released the new Time Base Synchronization module, now available with DAPtools Standard software. This module provides a real-time software-oriented approach to the problem of aligning data streams from widely-distributed data acquisition stations. Rather than using highly specialized hardware to directly synthesize synchronized digitizer clocking signals, this approach uses straightforward local clocking to drive the sampling, but then applies processing to align the sampled data streams to a common reference timing signal. This software runs on xDAP data acquisition systems and is hosted by the DAPL 3000 embedded operating system, included with DAPtools Software.
Note to the Editor:
Microstar Laboratories suggests this text as a caption for the available image:
Use an xDAP system and the Time Base Synchronization module to align data streams from multiple stations.
Chain image: Shashkin/Shutterstock.com
Clock image: Dimedrol68/Shutterstock.com
Microstar Laboratories, Inc. claims Microstar Laboratories, Data Acquisition Processor, DAP, xDAP, DAPcell, DAPtools, and DAPstudio as trademarks. Microsoft Corporation has registered Windows, Windows 7, and Windows Vista as trademarks. Other organizations may claim – or may have registered – as trademarks any trade names, logos, and service marks that appear in this document but not in the list above.
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