From: ramesh@world.std.com (ramesh m chandak)
Subject: System for Acquisition and Analysis of Data : T-Cube Enterprise
Followup-To: poster
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 00:36:01 GMT

Technology Cube Enterprise is pleased to announce the release of
The System for Acquisition, Analysis and Measurement.

S A A M - II

1.1 INTRODUCTION

SAAM - II is a modular system for Acquisition, Analysis, and Measurements
of transient or repetitive phenomena.  Due to extensive modularity,  the
system can be adapted to a plethora of acquisition situations including
slow - speed data acquisition.

The software - selectable data acquisition options include :

- selection of a variable sampling rate,

- triggering threshold levels and

- variable number of thresholds

- split sampling can also be easily achieved.

The system is controlled via the industry - STANDARD IEEE - 488 General
Purpose Interface Bus ( GPIB ), allowing ease of expansion. 

1.1.2   HARDWARE

SAAM - II is composed of three different modules which perform different
functions.  Depending on the type of data acquisition situation,  they can be
configured to fulfill a specific purpose.  Modules can be easily added and
removed as they are in the form of plug - in cards and are available 
immediately.

SAAM - II has the following modules : -

The SAAM - PAD module 		This module consitutes the A/D converter
				with programmable amplification and onboard
				memory.

The SAAM - PTB module		This is the programmable timing module and
				is the heart - beat of the data acquisition.
				This module controls the overall timing
				activity of the system including sampling
				rate selection,  memory splitting in pre -
				and post - trigger blocks.

The SAAM - PTG module		This module is used for generation of pulses
				from a predefined point on the input waveform.
				This can be used as a trigger signal to the
				system or can also be used in an external
				application such as process control.

1.1.3 	Software

As a system is only as good as its user - friendliness, a lot of effort has
been spent in developing a friendly intuitive user interface.   The software
has been written to allow easy programming of the hardware and is pull down
menu driven.  A number of validation checks are performed internally and
intelligently.  The acquired data can be converted into LOTUS spreadsheet
format of can be exported to the DaDisp package.  Development and
implementation of customer specific software for data analysis is also 
possible and can be incorporated into the system.

1.2	Areas of Applications

The SAAM - II system can be used for Data Acquisition from

* 	Accelerometers

*	Load Cells

* 	Pressure Transducers

*	Strain Gauges

It can also be used in Measurement Systems for

*	Vibration Testing

*	Impact Testing

*	Internal Combustion Engine Testing

*	Computer Development - for simultaneous signal monitoring over various
	digital signal lines

*	RADAR Research

*	Ballistics Research

*	Electro - Chemistry

*	Nuclear Physics


1.3	Salient Features of SAAM - II

*	Modular Design for maximum application flexibility and ease of
	maintenance

*	12 - bit resolution

*	Programmable Sampling Rate ( upto 165K samples / second )

*	On Board Memory upto 32K samples per channel

*	Maximum number of A/D channels upto 16

*	True simultaneous Sampling on all 16 channels

*	Programmable Amplification Factor for the input signals in units
	of 1 - 2 - 5 - 10 - 20 - 50 times the input

*	Window Triggering Facility allowing generation of trigger signal when
	input is between or outside two predefined Thresholds

*	Slope Selection Facility for generation of trigger signal
	( positive or negative )

*	System functions as one of the GPIB Bus Controlled Instrument

*	Conversion of the acquired data to Lotus - 123 format for or
	DaDisp format

*	Selection of the number of pre-triger and post-trigger samples
	( sum being equal to the total onboard memory )

*	Software selectable facility of constant addition and multiplication
	factor ( sample point displayed = actual input * multiplication
	factor + constant offset )

* 	Clock pulse initiating each conversion could be external or internal

*	Trigger source can be from comparator, from external source or from
	software

*	Generation of trigger by the comparator could be from 0% to 100% of
	the range set for the comparator


1.4	SAAM - II System Specifications

	a. SAAM - PAD Module
	This is a single channel module and contains its own programmable
	gain amplifier and 12 - bit analog to digital converter which can
	sample at a rate of upto 165,000 samples per second.  It can have
	an on-board memory for upto 32K data samples.  ( Choices of 4K, 8K,
	16K, 32K possible ).

	Hardware Specifications of the SAAM - PAD Module
	
	* Analogue Inputs	1 per module
	* Programmable Ranges	0-200 mv, 500 mV, 1V, 2V, 5V, 10V, +/- 500 mV,
				+/-1V, +/-2.5V, +/-5V
	* A-D Converter		12 bits, sample and hold circuit, maximum
				conversion rate upto 165K samples per second
	* Onboard Memory	upto a maximum of 32K samples


	b. SAAM - PTB Module
	The Programmable Timing Module controls the timing for the one or
	more channel input modules and at least one Timebase module must be
	used with any number of channel input modules.   The Timebase 
	module can be programmed to set to the number of pre - trigger / post
	- trigger samples,  the sampling rate, etc..  Two or more time base
	modules can be used simultaneously, to provide SPLIT SAMPLING RATE
	waveform capture.

	Hardware Specifications of the SAAM - PTB Module
	* Max. sampling rate 	165 K samples / sec
	* Clock Source		External or Internal
	* Trigger Facilities	External Input, from SAAM - PTG module
				or from software

	c. SAAM - PTG module
	The comparator module allows the specifications of analog trigger
	levels.  The module can provide a trigger from the rising or falling
	edge of the input analog signal.

	WINDOW TRIGGERING can be provided by the linking of two SAAM-PTG
	modules, to provide a trigger when the trigger signal crosses
	two defined bounds.

	Hardware Specifications of the SAAM - PTG Module :
	* Trigger Threshold 	Expressed as a percentage of the input 
				voltage range.  Programmable 0 - 200 mV,
				500 mV, 1V, 2V, 5V, 10V, +/- 100 mV, 
				+/- 250 mV, +/- 500 mV, +/- 1V, +/- 2.5V,
				+/- 5V
	
	* Trigger Slope		Either positive or negative slope of input
				signal

For more information, please contact :

Technology Cube Enterprise
37 Lyman Street, Suite 2
Waltham, MA 02154
USA
617 899 8657
Email : ramesh@world.std.com