Spectrum Instrumentation has added digital inputs to a series of analogue LXI/Ethernet-digitisers, to increase synchronous acquisition to eight analogue channels plus eight digital channels plus three multi-purpose I/O lines – 19 channels in total.

Four models are available in the digitizerNetbox family:

• 5Msample/s DN2.591-08
• 20Msample/s DN2.592-08
• 40Msample/s DN2.593-08
• 125Msample/s DN2.596-08

The option to add eight digital channels changes the name to DN2.59x-08-Dig.

In use, the option borrows bits from the normal 16bit analogue resolution.

“This allows phase synchronisation of both the analogue and digital signals, as the one-bit digital signals are placed in the high order bits of the analogue waveforms,” according to Spectrum. “As an example, if eight digital channels are in use then the resolution of the analogue channels would be reduced from 16 to 14 bits and two of the digital signals would be appended to each analogue channel of the digitiser.”

Access to all 19 channels is via front panel BNC connectors.

Analogue input channels provide software-selectable single-ended and differential input modes, and selectable 50Ω or 1MΩ input impedance.

A front-end amplifier per channel offers calibrated gain ranges from ±200mV to ±10V (full scale) to allow the full dynamic range of the ADC to be used. Synchronous clocking minimises inter-channel phase error.

Triggering includes options for problem signals like glitches, spikes, bursts or specific logic patterns, and these can trigger sampling modes including transient capture, multiple (burst) recording, gated sampling, ABA sampling and data streaming (FIFO).

Control, programming and data access is through Gbit Ethernet to a local or remote host computer.

DigitizerNetboxs are LXI compliant (Core 2011 specifications) and offers an IVI compatible interface for the IVI Scope and IVI Digitizer classes.

Spectrums_SBench_6_program_shows_analog_and_digital_waveformsSpectrum’s own SBench 6 Professional software (left) comes as standard with the products.

“This program lets users control all the modes and settings of the hardware via a simple interface,” said the company. ” The software also has built-in features for data analysis and documentation including FFT analysis, analogue waveform display, digital waveform display modes, XY display, a function interpreter, parameter measurement, export into ASCII, Wave, MATLAB, comment functions for annotating signals or displays and even a report and printout function.”

A software development kit (SDK) includes programming using C++, C#, VB.NET, Python, JAVA, LabVIEW or MATLAB.

Applications are foreseen in mechatronics, robotics, vibrational studies, control systems, data bus analysis, automation and motion control.