Data Logging System for a PC

Supervisor: David Adams <dja@doc.ic.ac.uk>

Objective
To design and construct a data logging system for a PC

Description
The system would be able to sample a varying voltage input. The results can be stored and displayed on the PC. Further signal analysis can then be performed.

Requirements
The system is split into two parts:

• Hardware
  Using an A to D converter, the analogue input voltage can be converted into a digital signal suitable to be read into the PC via the serial or parallel port.

  With further development, more than one input channel could be accommodated.

• Software
  The PC should be able to sample the incoming data at sufficient speed typically 10kHz upwards. The data obtained should be stored and displayed graphically, possibly using a windows interface.

  Further analysis could provide measurement functions e.g.

  • V peak to peak
  • V r.m.s.
  • V mean
  • Frequency
  • Spectrum analysis
    
  etc.

Details
Commercial Analogue to Digital converters are available with both parallel and serial outputs. The PC parallel printer port can be programmed to accept input signals.

Reference
PC Parallel Printer Port

ISE1 Group Project Summary June 96 (dja) • June 96 (smc) • June 97