National Instruments intros X Series multifunction DAQ for USB

National
Instruments
announced NI X Series multifunction data acquisition
(DAQ) devices for USB. USB X Series devices integrate
high-performance analog measurement and control channels, digital I/O
and counter/timers onto a single plug-and-play device. Scientists can
use these devices for a wide variety of portable test, measurement
and data-logging applications. The devices include up to 32 analog
inputs, four analog outputs, 48 digital I/O lines and four counters.
The eight new devices range from 500 kS/s multiplexed AI to 2
MS/s/channel simultaneous sampling AI.

NI
LabVIEW graphical programming makes it easy for engineers and
scientists to develop completely custom test and measurement
applications for USB X Series using intuitive graphical icons and
wires that resemble a flowchart. LabVIEW 2010 simplifies data logging
and analysis with a new technical data management streaming option
within the NI DAQ Assistant and the ability to export data from a
waveform graph to Microsoft Excel or NI DIAdem for post processing.
These devices use the same multi-threaded NI-DAQmx driver software as
other National Instruments DAQ devices, making it easy to port
LabVIEW or text-based code from previous applications for use with X
Series.

The
devices include two key technologies that make them as powerful as
they are easy to use: NI-STC3 technology for advanced timing and
triggering and NI Signal Streaming for high-speed, bi-directional
data streaming.

At
the core of all USB, PCI Express and PXI Express X Series devices is
NI-STC3 timing and synchronization technology, which coordinates the
timing and triggering of the analog, digital and counter subsystems.
NI-STC3 technology provides X Series devices with independent timing
engines for the onboard analog and digital I/O subsystems, making it
possible for analog and digital I/O to execute independently at
different rates or together with synchronization. X Series devices
include four enhanced 32-bit counters for frequency, pulse-width
modulation (PWM) and encoder operations, as well as a new 100 MHz
time base that can generate analog and digital sampling rates with
five times better resolution than previous devices.

These
devices
include NI Signal Streaming, a patented technology that uses
message-based transfers and device-side intelligence to deliver
high-speed, bi-directional data transfer over USB, making it possible
to perform analog, digital and counter operations concurrently. With
this technology, simultaneous sampling now is available on two new
devices, which can sample at 1.25 MS/s and 2 MS/s on each of their
eight analog inputs. These devices are available with 32 or 64 MS
onboard memory to guarantee finite acquisitions even with heavy USB
traffic. The high sampling rates on all channels make these devices
well suited for portable ultrasonic test and transient recording
applications.

Each
USB X Series device features a redesigned, extruded aluminum
enclosure. The new enclosure offers an easy-access lid to keep signal
wiring secure and shielded, and device-specific pin out labels on the
lid make it possible to quickly determine the corresponding screw
terminals for a given channel. The enclosure also includes a lockable
USB port to prevent accidental removal during operation.