TS-15100 Overview

The TS-15100 is a 32-channel single-ended/16-channel differential analog input module. The TS-15100 provides connections for the 32 single-ended or 16 differential analog input channels, as well as one digital input channel, COM, and AI SENSE.

The TS-15100 has a 37-pin DSUB connector. Each analog input channel has an AI terminal or pin to which you can connect an analog output device. The TS-15100 is capable of an aggregate sampling rate of 250 kS/s. The TS-15100 also supports triggering. Refer to the software help for information about input trigger modes.

The TS-15100 channels share a common ground that is isolated from the other modules in the system. All channels share a programmable gain instrumentation amplifier and are multiplexed to an ADC. Each channel also has ±30 V overvoltage protection. For more information about overvoltage protection, refer to the Specifications section. Refer to the following figure for an illustration of the input circuitry for one analog input channel on the TS-15100.

The main blocks featured in the TS-15100 analog input circuitry are as follows:

• I/O Connector—You can connect analog input signals to the module through the I/O connector. The proper way to connect analog input signals depends on the analog input ground-reference settings, described in the Analog Input Ground-Reference Settings section.
• Mux—Each TestScale AI module has one analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The multiplexers (mux) route one AI channel at a time to the ADC through the NI-PGIA.
• Ground-Reference Settings—The analog input ground-reference settings circuitry selects between differential, referenced single-ended, and non-referenced single-ended input modes. Each AI channel can use a different mode.

• Instrumentation Amplifier (NI-PGIA)—The NI programmable gain instrumentation amplifier (NI-PGIA) is a measurement and instrument class amplifier that minimizes settling times for all input ranges. The NI-PGIA can amplify or attenuate an AI signal to ensure that you use the maximum resolution of the ADC.

  TestScale I/O modules use the NI-PGIA to deliver high accuracy even when sampling multiple channels with small input ranges at fast rates. TestScale AI modules can sample channels in any order at the maximum conversion rate, and you can individually program each channel in a sample with a different input range.

• A/D Converter—The analog-to-digital converter (ADC) digitizes the AI signal by converting the analog voltage into a digital number.
• AI FIFO—TestScale AI modules can perform both single and multiple A/D conversions of a fixed or infinite number of samples. A large first-in-first-out (FIFO) buffer holds data during AI acquisitions to ensure that no data is lost. AI modules can handle multiple A/D conversion operations with DMA, interrupts, or programmed I/O.