Data Acquisition (DAQ) and Sensor I/O

Counter/timer hardware handles digital I/O, clock, and synchronization signals. Use these products for measuring quadrature encoders, event counting, period measurement, pulse generation, pulse-train generation, two-edge separation measurement, pulse width modulation (PWM), and more. Hardware in this section is counter-only functionality. Multifunction DAQ devices (USB/PCI Express/PXI Express) and NI CompactDAQ systems also include counter/timer functionality.

Current products measure up to 50 A or communicate with 4 mA to 20 mA (4–20 mA) equipment for high-performance control and monitoring applications. Another option is to connect low-voltage current transducers (CTs) to I/O hardware for voltage measurement.

Digital I/O products acquire and generate digital signals and patterns at multiple logic levels. With them, you can characterize circuits, toggle control lines, control relays, and meet many other digital application needs. Hardware in this section is digital only. For other hardware options with digital capability, all multifunction NI DAQ devices (USB, PCI Express, PXI Express) include 5 V TTL digital lines.

Position Displacement products measure linear and rotary displacement. You use them to measure signals from linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs) and rotary variable differential transformers (RVDTs).

Sound and vibration hardware connects to IEPE and ICP® microphones and accelerometers to acquire acoustic and vibration signals. Use these products for noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) applications, audio test, and machine condition monitoring.

Strain, pressure, and force products measure signals from bridge-based sensors such as strain gages, load cells, pressure transducers, and more. Use this hardware for structural test and research.

Temperature I/O hardware connects to sensors such as thermocouples and resistance temperature detectors (RTDs). Use these products for thermal characterization in environmental chambers, compliance labs, and other thermal tests.

Voltage measurement hardware is the most ubiquitous in the catalog with options that include measuring microvolts to 600 VDC, 12- to 24-bit resolution, and sample rates up to 14 MS/s/ch. All NI platforms have an option for measuring voltage from the entry-level USB devices to high-performance test equipment.