Patent Publication Number: US-9430351-B2

Title: Data acquisition

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The Present Application claims priority from and is a Continuation Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/712,308 filed on 12 Dec. 2012, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to data acquisition. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a data acquisition system for providing status data from a module. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Data acquisition is the process of sampling signals that measure real world physical conditions and converting resulting samples into digital numeric values that can be analyzed and/or manipulated by a computer. Data acquisition systems can, in some examples, convert analog waveforms into digital values for processing. 
     Data acquisition systems can include, for example a sensor that can convert physical parameters into electrical parameters. Data acquisition systems can also include signal conditioning circuitry to convert sensor signals into a form that can be converted into digital values as well as analog to digital converters (DACs) that can convert conditioned sensor signals to digital values. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a data acquisition system. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates another example of a cabinet for a data acquisition system. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example of a multiplexing system that can be employed in a data acquisition system. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an example of an input/output (I/O) interface that can be employed in a data acquisition system. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates another example of a data acquisition system. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates yet another example of a data acquisition system. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates still yet another example of a data acquisition system. 
     
    
    
     SUMMARY 
     One example relates to a data acquisition system that can include a central controller to provide a data acquisition signal. The data acquisition signal can include a column address and a row address. The data acquisition system can also include a cabinet to receive the data acquisition signal. The cabinet can have an array of modules installed therein. The cabinet can include a backplane connected to each module of the array of modules. The backplane can provide a status request signal to a given module in the array of modules if the given module is assigned a module address identified by the data acquisition signal. The given module can provide status data characterizing an operational status of the given module in response to the status request. 
     Another example relates to a data acquisition system that can include a central controller to provide a data acquisition signal for each module in an array of modules. Each data acquisition signal can include a column address identifying a specific column of modules in the array of modules, a row address identifying a specific row of modules in the array of modules and a cabinet address identifying a specific cabinet in an array of cabinets. The array of cabinets can receive the data acquisition signal, each cabinet can have a proper subset of the array of modules installed therein, such that at least two of the modules in the array of modules are assigned an address with the same row and the same column. A given cabinet in the array of cabinets can include a cabinet interface to provide only the column address and the row address of the data acquisition signal if the cabinet address of the data acquisition signal identifies an address assigned to the given cabinet. A backplane can be connected to each module in the proper subset of the array of modules installed in the given cabinet. The backplane can receive the column address and the row address of the data acquisition signal. The backplane can also provide a status request signal to a given module in the proper subset of array of modules installed in the given cabinet if the given module is assigned a module address identified by the column address and the row address of the data acquisition signal. The given module can provide status data characterizing an operational status of the given module in response to the status request. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates still yet another example of a data acquisition system. The data acquisition system can include a central controller to provide a data acquisition signal to each module in an array of modules. Each data acquisition signal can include a module address identifying a given module in the array of modules. A ribbon cable can connect the central controller to each cabinet in an array of cabinets. The array of cabinets can receive the data acquisition signal via the ribbon cable. Each cabinet can have a proper subset of the array of modules installed therein. A given cabinet of the array of cabinets can include a backplane connected to each module in the proper subset of the array of modules installed in the given cabinet. The backplane can provide a status request signal to the given module in the array of modules if the given module is installed in the given cabinet. The given module can provide status data characterizing an operational status of the given module in response to the status request. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This disclosure relates to a data acquisition system wherein a central controller can provide a data acquisition signal to a plurality of cabinets (e.g., electrical racks) that can house an array of modules (e.g., electronic modules). The data acquisition signal can identify a specific module in the array of modules. Moreover, each cabinet can analyze the data acquisition signal to identify the specific module. Upon identification of the specific module, the specific module can be sent a status request signal. In response to the status request signal, the specific module can provide status data that characterizes operational conditions of the specific module. The data acquisition signal and the status data can be multiplexed such that a relatively large number of modules can be implemented in the array of modules, while only needing a relatively simple ribbon cable to connect the central controller to each of the plurality of cabinets. Employment of this system allow as an efficient addressing of the modules in the array of modules and reduction of cable clutter. Additionally, since each module would need to only include basic logic for determining the status data, relatively little configuration of each individual module is needed. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a data acquisition system  2 . The system  2  can include a central controller  4  that can communicate with K number of cabinets  6 , where K is an integer greater than or equal to one. The central controller  4  can be implemented, for example, as a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a standalone computer, etc. Each of the K number of cabinets  6  (e.g., electrical racks) can be implemented as a standardized frame or enclosure to mount multiple modules  10 , such as electrical equipment modules. In some environments of application, each of the K number of cabinets  6  can house modules  10  for communicating over radio frequency (RF) channels, such as a RF transmitter, an RF receiver and/or a power amplifier. 
     Cabinet  1  of the K number of cabinets  6  (labeled n  FIG. 1  as “CABINET  1 ”) can house an array of modules  8 . In some examples, the array of modules  8  can be a two-dimensional array of modules  8 . For instance, in one example, there can be M×N number of modules  10  house in the cabinet  1 , where both M and N are integers greater than or equal to one. Each of the modules  10  can communicate over a cabinet backplane  12  that can be implemented, for example, as a printed circuit board with slots that can receive the modules  8 . The cabinet backplane  12  can be designed with a bus (e.g., a group of wires) that interconnects each of the modules  8 . In some examples, the array of modules  8  can span multiple cabinets  6 , such that two modules  10  can have the same column and row, but be installed in different cabinets  6 . In the present example, each module  10  in cabinet  1  can be uniquely identified by a column and row. 
     Each of the modules  10  can be configured to perform a particular function. For instance, in one example module  1 ,  1  could be implemented as a power amplifier, while module  1 , N could be implemented as an RF receiver and module M,  1  could be implemented as an RF transmitter. Moreover, in some examples, the modules  10  could be implemented to perform multiple tasks. Each module  10  can be configured to provide status data to the central controller  4 . The status data can indicate health and/or operational status of a given module  10 . For instance, in some examples, the status data can be indicative of fault status, operational temperature, operational power (e.g., current and/or voltage measurements), etc. 
     Each module  10  can be configured to provide the status data via the cabinet backplane  12  and a cabinet interface  14  to the central controller  4 . The cabinet interface  14  could be implemented, for example, as a controller with a communications port (e.g., a parallel port, a serial port, etc.) that can communicate with the central controller  4 . In some examples, the central controller  4  can be coupled to each of the K number of cabinets  6  through a single ribbon cable. In some examples, the ribbon cable can have 40 conductors, but in other examples, the ribbon cable can be nearly any size. 
     Each module  10  in each cabinet  6  can have a unique address. For instance, in examples where there is only 1 cabinet  6  employed, a given module  10  can have an address corresponding to the given module&#39;s  10  position in cabinet  1 . As one example, module  1 ,  1  can have an address of (1,1), while module M, N can have an address of (M,N). In this manner, the central controller  4  can directly address each module  10  in the array of modules  8 . Moreover, in other examples, such as situations where there is more than one cabinet  6 , a given module can still have a unique address corresponding to the given module&#39;s cabinet  6  and the given module&#39;s position within the associated cabinet  6 . As one example, module  1 ,  1  in cabinet  1  can have and address of (1,1,1), while module M, N in cabinet  1  can have an address of (1,M,N). Similarly, module  2 ,  3  in cabinet K  6  could have an address of (K, 2, 3). Thus, the central controller  4  can still uniquely address each module  10  in each array of modules  8  in each of the K number of cabinets  6 . 
     In some examples, the unique address of each module  10  in each cabinet  6  can be set on the corresponding cabinet backplane  12 . For instance, in some examples, each cabinet backplane  12  can include a set of dip switches that can assign module addresses to associated slots in the associated cabinet  6 , and a given module  10  can be installed in a given slot. For purposes of simplification of explanation, in the present examples, it is presumed that the module address assigned to the given slot corresponds to a position within the corresponding cabinet  6  in a manner described above. However, is to be understood that in other examples, different techniques for addressing can be employed. 
     In some examples, the central controller  4  can provide a data acquisition signal that identifies a given cabinet address and a given module address to each cabinet interface  14  in the K number of cabinets  6 . In one example, each cabinet interface  14  can determine if the given cabinet address corresponds to its cabinet address. For instance, upon receiving the data acquisition signal, the cabinet interface  14  of cabinet  1  can determine if the given cabinet address in the data acquisition signal is 1. In such a situation if the given cabinet address and the data acquisition signal is 1, the cabinet interface  14  of cabinet  1  can forward the data acquisition signal that identifies the given module  10  to the cabinet backplane  12 , while (in some examples) not forwarding (e.g. blocking) the given cabinet address in the data acquisition signal. The cabinet backplane  12  can employ the data acquisition signal to open a channel between a given module  10  in the array of modules  8  with the given module address and the central controller  4 . In some examples, to open the channel, the cabinet backplane  12  can close a switch associated with the given module  10 . Additionally or alternatively, the cabinet backplane  12  can provide the given module address to a demultiplexer (DEMUX) and provide a status request signal to the given module  10  from the DEMUX to the central controller  4 . 
     Upon opening the channel, the given module  10  can provide status data to the central controller  4  via the cabinet backplane  12  and the cabinet interface  14 . Moreover, the cabinet interface  14  can forward the status data to the central controller  4 . The central controller  4  can analyze the status data and provide another data acquisition signal to acquire status data for the given module  10  or another module  10 . In some examples, the central controller  4  can send the data acquisition signals for each of the M×N modules  10  in a sequential order and receive the status data from each of the M×N modules  10  in the same sequential order. Moreover, upon acquisition of the status data, the central controller  4  can analyze the status data from each module  10  to facilitate a monitoring system. For instance, the central controller  4  can be coupled to a computer  16  that can display a graphical user interface (GUI)  18  such that a user can view the status of each module  10  in the cabinet in the system  2 . 
     By employing the system  2 , a relatively simple, low-cost array of modules  8  can be realized. Each module  10  would only need to include minimal logic and circuitry for acquiring and providing status data. Moreover, in some examples, each of the K number of cabinets  6  can communicate with the central controller  4  via the same ribbon cable, which can reduce the complexity of the wiring that couples the central controller  4  to each of the cabinets  6 . Moreover, since the address for each module  10  can be set by the cabinet backplane  12 , upon failure of a given module  10 , the given module  10  would be replaceable with minimal or no configuration effort, thus reducing maintenance costs of the system  2 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an example of a portion of cabinet  50  (e.g., cabinet  6  illustrated in  FIG. 1 ). The cabinet  50  can include a cabinet interface  52  that can communicate with a central controller (e.g., the central controller  4  illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) through a ribbon cable. The cabinet  50  can also include a backplane  54  (e.g., the cabinet backplane  12  illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) electrically coupled to a power amplifier module  56 , which could be employed to implement one of the modules  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1 ). The power amplifier module  56  can be considered to be installed in a slot of the cabinet  50 . In the present example, for purposes of simplification of explanation, it is presumed that the power amplifier module  56  is installed in slot column  1 , row  1  of cabinet  1 , such that the power amplifier module  56  has an address of (1,1,1). 
     The power amplifier module  56  can be implemented as a dual power amplifier module, with the power amplifier A  58  (labeled in  FIG. 2  as “AMP A”) and the power amplifier B  60  (labeled in  FIG. 2  as “AMP B”). The power amplifier A  58  and the power amplifier B  60  can each receive an RF input signal (labeled in  FIG. 2  as “RF IN”). The RF input signal provided to the power amplifier A  58  can be the same or a different RF input signal provided to the power amplifier B  60 . The power amplifier A  58  and the power amplifier B  60  can provide an RF output signal (labeled in  FIG. 2  as “RF OUT”) that can be an amplified version of the corresponding RF input signal. 
     The backplane  54  can receive a data acquisition signal from a cabinet interface  52 . The data acquisition signal can originate from the central controller. The data acquisition signal can include, for example, a cabinet address signal (labeled in  FIG. 2  as “CABINET ADDRESS”, a column address signal (labeled in  FIG. 2  as “COLUMN ADDRESS”, a row address signal (labeled in  FIG. 2  as “ROW ADDRESS”) and an amplifier selector signal (labeled in  FIG. 2  as “AMP SELECTOR”). In other examples, the data acquisition signal can include more or less signals. 
     The cabinet interface  52  can include a cabinet DEMUX  62  that can receive the cabinet address signal, the column address signal and the row address signal of the data acquisition signal. The cabinet DEMUX  62  can include a cabinet address encoded therein. The cabinet DEMUX  62  can be configured such if the cabinet address signal identifies the cabinet address encoded in the cabinet DEMUX  62 , the column address signal and the row address signal of the data acquisition signal can be provided to a module DEMUX  64  of the backplane  54  (labeled in  FIG. 2  as “MOD DEMUX”). Additionally, the cabinet interface  52  can provide the amplifier selector signal to the backplane  54 . 
     The backplane  54  can provide the amplifier selector to a power amplifier module controller  66  of the power amplifier module  56 . The power amplifier module controller  66  can be implemented, for example, as a microcontroller, a logical gate array, a field programmable logic controller (FPGA), etc. The power amplifier module controller  66  can receive input signals from the power amplifier A  58  and the power amplifier B  60 . In some examples, the input signals provided from the power amplifier A  58  and the power amplifier B  60  can be analog signals or digital signals that can provide real-time status data related to operation of the respective power amplifier. 
     The module DEMUX  64  of the backplane  54  can be configured to provide a status request signal to the power amplifier module  56  in response to receiving a column address signal and a row address signal that identifies the power amplifier module  56 . For instance, as noted, it is presumed that the power amplifier module  56  has an address of (1,1,1) indicating that the power amplifier module  56  is seated in column  1 , row  1  of cabinet  1 . Moreover, since, in the present example, the backplane  54  does not receive the cabinet address signal, the module DEMUX  64  can be controlled with only the column address signal and the row address signal of the data acquisition signal. Thus, if the column address signal identifies column  1  and the row address signal identifies row  1 , the status request signal (labeled in  FIG. 2  as “STATUS REQUEST”) can be provided to the power amplifier module controller  66  from the module DEMUX  64 . 
     In response to the status request signal and the amplifier selector signal, the power amplifier module controller  66  can employ the input signal provided from the amplifier identified by the amplifier selector signal (power amplifier A  58  or power amplifier B  60 ) to determine status data for the identified amplifier. 
     In one example, the power amplifier module controller  66  can include a temperature sensor  68  that can determine an operating temperature of the identified amplifier, which can be referred to as operational temperature. The temperature sensor  68  can be implemented, for example, as a thermistor. Additionally or alternatively, the power adapter module controller  66  can include a power detector  70  that can determine an amount of power employed at a given point in time by the identified power amplifier, which can be referred to as operational power. In such a situation, the power detector  70  can include a voltage and/or a current meter. Yet further, the power amplifier module controller  66  can include a fault detector  72  that can detect whether or not the identified amplifier has a fault which can be referred to as a fault status. For instance, the fault detector  72  can include logic circuitry for determining if the amount of power employed by the identified power amplifier is above or below a certain threshold and/or if the operational temperature of the identified power amplifier is above a certain threshold. The operational temperature, the operational power and the fault status can be provided to a status multiplexer (MUX)  74 . The status MUX  74  can output the status data that includes the operational temperature, the operational power and the fault status for the identified power amplifier. The status data can be provided to the backplane  54 , such that the backplane  54  can provide the status data to the cabinet interface  52 , such that the cabinet interface  52  can provide the status data to the central controller. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example of a multiplexing system  100  with components and signals that can be employed to implement one of the cabinets  6  illustrated in  FIG. 1  and/or the cabinet  50  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In the present example, it is presumed that the cabinet can house up to 16 different modules, in a 4×4 array of modules. However, in other examples, a different number (and non-symmetric) array of modules could be housed by the cabinet. In the present example, the multiplexing system  100  can include 16 two-input AND gates  102  that could be implemented, for example, in a module DEMUX (e.g., the module DEMUX  64  illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). The output of each AND gate  102  can control 8 switches  104 . Although the present example employs AND gates  102 , in other examples, different gates and/or switches can be employed to perform a similar function. 
     Each of the AND gates  102  can receive two input signals that identify a unique column and a unique row of the array of modules. The two input signals can be implemented as X, Y coordinates. In the present example, four input wires (lines) can be assigned as X coordinates, while four input wires (lines) can be assigned as Y coordinates. Thus, there can be 16 unique combination of a one X wire and one Y wire. Table 1 lists the unique combinations of X and Y wires that can be employed to address a given module of the array of modules. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Signal  
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Group 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Selected 
                 Selection 
                 Y4 
                 Y3 
                 Y2 
                 Y1 
                 X4 
                 X3 
                 X2 
                 X1 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 1 
                 Y1X1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
               
               
                 2 
                 Y2X1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
               
               
                 3 
                 Y3X1 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
               
               
                 4 
                 Y4X1 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
               
               
                 5 
                 Y1X2 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
               
               
                 6 
                 Y2X2 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
               
               
                 7 
                 Y3X2 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
               
               
                 8 
                 Y4X2 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
               
               
                 9 
                 Y1X3 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
               
               
                 10 
                 Y2X3 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
               
               
                 11 
                 Y3X3 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
               
               
                 12 
                 Y4X3 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
               
               
                 13 
                 Y1X4 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
               
               
                 14 
                 Y2X4 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
               
               
                 15 
                 Y3X4 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
               
               
                 16 
                 Y4X4 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     An output signal of each of the 16 AND gates  102  can be provided as a status request signal to an associated module. In the present example, each module can be represented as the 8 different switches  104  that each receives a signal from an associated module controller (e.g., the power amplifier module controller  66  illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). Moreover, when both of the input signals to the corresponding AND gate  102  is a logical ‘1’, each of the 8 switches  104  close, thereby providing 8 corresponding output signals. For instance, in  FIG. 3 , the signal labeled as SIGNAL 16×0+1 can be implemented as a wire  1  provided from module  1 ,  1  in the array of modules. In the present example, each module controller can provide up to 8 different output signals on 8 different wires. Thus, module  1 ,  1  can provide SIGNALS 16×0+1 through 16×7+1, in response to a logical ‘1’ being provided on wires X- 1  and Y- 1 , as output signals (labeled in  FIG. 3  as “OUTPUT SIGNALS  1 - 8 ”) that can employed to implement the status data described in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . A given set of the 8 output signals can be referred to as a group of output signals. Accordingly, the 8 input signals (X 1 -X 4  and Y 1 -Y 4 ) can be employed to select a set of 8 output signals. In a similar fashion each of the other fifteen modules can also provide a group of 8 output signals. Moreover, although the present example illustrates 8 output signals in each group of output signals, in other examples, more or less outputs signals can be provided in each group of output signals. It is noted that each group of output signals can be digital signals, analog signals or a combination thereof. Further, it is noted that in the present example, 16 output signals (1 output signal for each of the 16 groups of output signals) are provided on the same output wire (line), since only the output signal of a single selected group would be active at any one time. Accordingly, the central controller can receive all output signals provide by modules from the same group of conductors on a ribbon cable. This can significantly reduce the number of wires needed to couple the cabinet backplane to the backplane interface and to the central controller. 
     The multiplexing system  100  can be scaled to accommodate a larger or smaller number of modules. In the present example, for a given number of selection output signals (inputted to the cabinet backplane), I, a maximum number of different groups of output signals, O can be provided. Equation 1 defines the relationship between the I and O. 
                     O   =     2     I   2         ;           Equation   ⁢           ⁢   1               
Wherein:
 
     I is the number of selection output signals; and 
     O is the maximum number of different groups of output signals. 
     For instance, in the above example, there are a total of 8 input signals (X 1 -X 4  and Y 1 -Y 4 ) and there are 16 groups of output signals. Table 2 includes a list of several possible relationships between I and 0. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Selection Output 
                 Maximum Output 
               
               
                   
                 Signals (I) 
                 Groups (O) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 4 
                 4 
               
               
                   
                 8 
                 16 
               
               
                   
                 16 
                 256 
               
               
                   
                 20 
                 1024 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As noted with respect to  FIG. 1 , in some examples, a 40-conductor ribbon cable can be employed to connect the central controller to each of the cabinets. In such a situation, by allocating 16 conductors to output signals (inputted into the central controller) and 16 conductors to output selection signals (input into the cabinet backplane), a total of 256 unique groups of output signals can be can be provided to the central controller, where there are  8  output signals in each group of output signals (2048 total output signals). Thus, with employment of a single 40-conductor ribbon cable to connect the central controller to each of the cabinets, up to 256 modules (e.g., the module  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1  and/or the power amplifier module  56  illustrated in  FIG. 2 ) can be uniquely addressed and accommodated. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an example of an input/output (I/O) interface  150  that can be employed, at each AND gate  102  in the multiplexing system  100  illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The I/O interface  150  can include an AND gate  152  coupled to 8 different input wires, X 1 -X 4  and Y 1 -Y 4 . The I/O interface  150  can include a dip switch  154  at each input wire (line). To set the address of a slot with a module installed (represented as a plurality of switches  156 ), one of the dip switches  154  associated with wire X 1 -X 4  can be closed as well as one of the dip switches  154  associated with Y 1 -Y 4 . By closing a particular pair of dip switches  154 , an address for an associated slot can be set, where the module can be installed in the slot. For instance, in the present example, the dip switches  154  that receive wires X 1  and Y 1  are closed, thus setting the module address to 1, 1. In the present example, there are 16 different possible combinations of pairs dip switches  154 . Upon receiving a logical ‘1’ at wires X 1  and Y 1 , the plurality of switches  156  can be closed thereby passing SIGNALS 16×0+1 through 16×7+1 as OUTPUT SIGNALS  1 - 8  in a manner described herein. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates another example of a data acquisition system  200 . The data acquisition system  200  can include a central controller  202  to provide a data acquisition signal. The data acquisition signal can include a column address and a row address. The data acquisition system  200  can also include a cabinet  204  to receive the data acquisition signal. The cabinet  204  can have an array of modules  206  installed therein. In one example, there can be M×N number of modules  208  in the array of modules. The cabinet  204  can include a backplane  210  connected to each module  210  of the array of modules  206 . The backplane can to provide a status request signal to a given module in the array of modules if the given module is assigned a module address identified by the data acquisition signal. The given module can provide status data characterizing an operational status of the given module in response to the status request. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates yet another example of a data acquisition system  250 . The system  250  can include a central controller  252  to provide a data acquisition signal for each module  254  in an array of modules  256 . It is noted that in the present example, the array of modules  256  extends across an array of K number of cabinets  258 . Each data acquisition signal can include a column address identifying a specific column of modules  254  in the array of modules  256 , a row address identifying a specific row of modules  254  in the array of modules  256  and a cabinet address identifying a specific cabinet  258  in an array of cabinets  258 . The array of cabinets  258  can receive the data acquisition signal, each cabinet  258  can have a proper subset of the array of modules  256  installed therein, such that at least two of the modules  254  in the array of modules  256  are assigned an address with the same row and the same column. Moreover, although  FIG. 6  illustrates each subset of the array of modules  256  as having M×N number of modules  256 , in other examples, each cabinet  258  can be a different number of modules  256  installed therein. A given cabinet  258  in the array of cabinets  258  can include a cabinet interface  260  to provide only the column address and the row address of the data acquisition signal if the cabinet address of the data acquisition signal identifies an address assigned to the given cabinet  258 . A backplane  262  of the given cabinet  258  can be connected to each module  254  in the proper subset of the array of modules  256  installed in the given cabinet  258 . The backplane  262  can receive the column address and the row address of the data acquisition signal. The backplane  262  can also provide a status request signal to a given module  254  in the proper subset of modules of the array of modules  256  installed in the given cabinet  258  if the given module  254  is assigned a module address identified by the column address and the row address of the data acquisition signal. The given module  254  can provide status data characterizing an operational status of the given module  254  in response to the status request. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates still yet another example of a data acquisition system  300 . The data acquisition system  300  can include a central controller  302  to provide a data acquisition signal to each module  304  in an array of modules  306 . In the present example, the array of modules  306  extends across an array of cabinets  308 . Each data acquisition signal can include a module address identifying a given module  304  in the array of modules  306 . A ribbon cable  310  can connect the central controller  302  to each cabinet in the array of cabinets  308 . The ribbon cable  310  can have J number of conductors, where J is an integer greater than 1. The array of cabinets  308  can receive the data acquisition signal via the ribbon cable  310 . Each cabinet  310  can have a proper subset of the array of modules  306  installed therein. Moreover, in  FIG. 7  each cabinet  310  is depicted as having M×N number of modules  304  installed therein, in other examples, different cabinets  310  can each have different numbers of modules  304  installed therein. Each cabinet  310  can include a backplane  312  connected to each module  304  in the proper subset of the array of modules  306  installed in the given cabinet  308 . The backplane can provide a status request signal to the given module  304  in the array of modules  306  if the given module  308  is installed in the given cabinet  308 . The given module  304  can provide status data characterizing an operational status of the given module  304  in response to the status request. 
     What have been described above are examples. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies, but one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many further combinations and permutations are possible. Accordingly, the disclosure is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of this application, including the appended claims. As used herein, the term “includes” means includes but not limited to, the term “including” means including but not limited to. The term “based on” means based at least in part on. Additionally, where the disclosure or claims recite “a,” “an,” “a first,” or “another” element, or the equivalent thereof, it should be interpreted to include one or more than one such element, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.