Keithley DAS-TC User manual

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DAS-TC/B
User’s Guide
A GREATER MEASURE OF CONFIDENCE

WARRANTY
Hardware
Keithley Instruments, Inc. warrants that, for a period of one (1) year from the date of shipment (3 years for Models 2000,
2001, 2002, 2010 and 2700), the Keithley Hardware product will be free from defects in materials or workmanship. This
warranty will be honored provided the defect has not been caused by use of the Keithley Hardware not in accordance with
the instructions for the product. This warranty shall be null and void upon: (1) any modification of Keithley Hardware that
is made by other than Keithley and not approved in writing by Keithley or (2) operation of the Keithley Hardware outside
of the environmental specifications therefore.
Upon receiving notification of a defect in the Keithley Hardware during the warranty period, Keithley will, at its option,
either repair or replace such Keithley Hardware. During the first ninety days of the warranty period, Keithley will, at its
option, supply the necessary on site labor to return the product to the condition prior to the notification of a defect. Failure
to notify Keithley of a defect during the warranty shall relieve Keithley of its obligations and liabilities under this
warranty.
Other Hardware
The portion of the product that is not manufactured by Keithley (Other Hardware) shall not be covered by this warranty,
and Keithley shall have no duty of obligation to enforce any manufacturers' warranties on behalf of the customer. On those
other manufacturers’ products that Keithley purchases for resale, Keithley shall have no duty of obligation to enforce any
manufacturers’ warranties on behalf of the customer.
Software
Keithley warrants that for a period of one (1) year from date of shipment, the Keithley produced portion of the software or
firmware (Keithley Software) will conform in all material respects with the published specifications provided such Keithley
Software is used on the product for which it is intended and otherwise in accordance with the instructions therefore.
Keithley does not warrant that operation of the Keithley Software will be uninterrupted or error-free and/or that the Keithley
Software will be adequate for the customer's intended application and/or use. This warranty shall be null and void upon any
modification of the Keithley Software that is made by other than Keithley and not approved in writing by Keithley.
If Keithley receives notification of a Keithley Software nonconformity that is covered by this warranty during the warranty
period, Keithley will review the conditions described in such notice. Such notice must state the published specification(s)
to which the Keithley Software fails to conform and the manner in which the Keithley Software fails to conform to such
published specification(s) with sufficient specificity to permit Keithley to correct such nonconformity. If Keithley deter-
mines that the Keithley Software does not conform with the published specifications, Keithley will, at its option, provide
either the programming services necessary to correct such nonconformity or develop a program change to bypass such
nonconformity in the Keithley Software. Failure to notify Keithley of a nonconformity during the warranty shall relieve
Keithley of its obligations and liabilities under this warranty.
Other Software
OEM software that is not produced by Keithley (Other Software) shall not be covered by this warranty, and Keithley shall
have no duty or obligation to enforce any OEM's warranties on behalf of the customer.
Other Items
Keithley warrants the following items for 90 days from the date of shipment: probes, cables, rechargeable batteries, diskettes,
and documentation.
Items not Covered under Warranty
This warranty does not apply to fuses, non-rechargeable batteries, damage from battery leakage, or problems arising from
normal wear or failure to follow instructions.
Limitation of Warranty
This warranty does not apply to defects resulting from product modification made by Purchaser without Keithley's express
written consent, or by misuse of any product or part.

Disclaimer of Warranties
EXCEPT FOR THE EXPRESS WARRANTIES ABOVE KEITHLEY DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER WARRANTIES,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANT-
ABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. KEITHLEY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH
RESPECT TO THE OTHER HARDWARE AND OTHER SOFTWARE.
Limitation of Liability
KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS SHALL IN NO EVENT, REGARDLESS OF CAUSE, ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR
OR BE LIABLE FOR: (1) ECONOMICAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE OR
EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, WHETHER CLAIMED UNDER CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY,
(2) LOSS OF OR DAMAGE TO THE CUSTOMER'S DATA OR PROGRAMMING, OR (3) PENALTIES OR PENALTY
CLAUSES OF ANY DESCRIPTION OR INDEMNIFICATION OF THE CUSTOMER OR OTHERS FOR COSTS, DAM-
AGES, OR EXPENSES RELATED TO THE GOODS OR SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THIS WARRANTY.
Keithley Instruments, Inc. 28775 Aurora Road • Cleveland, Ohio 44139 • 440-248-0400 • Fax: [phone]
1-888-KEITHLEY (534-8453) • www.keithley.com
Sales Offices: BELGIUM: Bergensesteenweg 709 • B-1600 Sint-Pieters-Leeuw • 02-363 00 40 • Fax: [phone]
CHINA: Yuan Chen Xin Building, Room 705 • 12Yumin Road, Dewai, Madian • Beijing 100029 • 8610-6202-2886 • Fax: [phone]
FINLAND: Tietäjäntie 2 • 02130 Espoo • Phone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
FRANCE: 3, allée des Garays • 91127 Palaiseau Cédex • 01-64 53 20 20 • Fax: [phone]
GERMANY: Landsberger Strasse 65 • 82110 Germering • 089/84 93 07-40 • Fax: [phone]
GREAT BRITAIN: Unit 2 Commerce Park, Brunel Road • Theale • Berkshire RG7 4AB • 0118 929 7500 • Fax: [phone]
INDIA: Flat 2B, Willocrissa • 14, Rest House Crescent • Bangalore 560 001 • 91-80-509-1320/21 • Fax: [phone]
ITALY: Viale San Gimignano, 38 • 20146 Milano • 02-48 39 16 01 • Fax: [phone]
JAPAN: New Pier Takeshiba North Tower 13F • 11-1, Kaigan 1-chome • Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0022 • 81-3-5733-7555 • Fax: [phone]
KOREA: 2FL., URI Building • 2-14 Yangjae-Dong • Seocho-Gu, Seoul 137-888 • 82-2-574-7778 • Fax: [phone]
NETHERLANDS: Postbus 559 • 4200 AN Gorinchem • 0183-635333 • Fax: [phone]
SWEDEN: c/o Regus Business Centre • Frosundaviks Allé 15, 4tr • 169 70 Solna • 08-509 04 679 • Fax: [phone]
SWITZERLAND: Kriesbachstrasse 4 • 8600 Dübendorf • 01-821 94 44 • Fax: [phone]
TAIWAN: 1FL., 85 Po Ai Street • Hsinchu, Taiwan, R.O.C. • 886-3-572-9077• Fax: [phone]
4/02

DAS-TC/B User’s Guide
Revision C - June 2002
Part Number: 95630

Basic™ is a trademark of Dartmouth College.
IBM®is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
PC, XT, and AT®are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation.
Microsoft®is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Turbo C®is a registered trademark of Borland International.
DriverLINX is a registered trademark of Scientific Software Tools, Inc.
All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective companies.
Information furnished by Keithley Instruments is believed to be accurate and reliable.
However, Keithley Instruments assumes no responsibility for the use of such information nor
for any infringements of patents or other rights of third parties that may result from its
use. No license is granted by implication or otherwise under any patent rights of Keithley
Instruments.
WARNING
Keithley Instruments assumes no responsibility for damages consequent to
the use of this product. This product is not designed with components of a level of
reliability suitable for use in life support or critical applications.

The following safety precautions should be observed before using this product and any associated instrumentation.
Although some instruments and accessories would normally be used with non-hazardous voltages, there are situations
where hazardous conditions may be present.
This product is intended for use by qualified personnel who recognize shock hazards and are familiar with the safety
precautions required to avoid possible injury. Read and follow all installation, operation, and maintenance information
carefully before using the product. Refer to the manual for complete product specifications.
If the product is used in a manner not specified, the protection provided by the product may be impaired.
The types of product users are:
Responsible body is the individual or group responsible for the use and maintenance of equipment, for ensuring that
the equipment is operated within its specifications and operating limits, and for ensuring that operators are adequately
trained.
Operators use the product for its intended function. They must be trained in electrical safety procedures and proper use
of the instrument. They must be protected from electric shock and contact with hazardous live circuits.
Maintenance personnel perform routine procedures on the product to keep it operating properly, for example, setting
the line voltage or replacing consumable materials. Maintenance procedures are described in the manual. The proce-
dures explicitly state if the operator may perform them. Otherwise, they should be performed only by service personnel.
Service personnel are trained to work on live circuits, and perform safe installations and repairs of products. Only
properly trained service personnel may perform installation and service procedures.
Keithley products are designed for use with electrical signals that are rated Installation Category I and Installation
Category II, as described in the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Standard IEC 60664. Most mea-
surement, control, and data I/O signals are Installation Category I and must not be directly connected to mains voltage
or to voltage sources with high transient over-voltages. Installation Category II connections require protection for high
transient over-voltages often associated with local AC mains connections. Assume all measurement, control, and data
I/O connections are for connection to Category I sources unless otherwise marked or described in the Manual.
Exercise extreme caution when a shock hazard is present. Lethal voltage may be present on cable connector jacks or
test fixtures. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) states that a shock hazard exists when voltage levels
greater than 30V RMS, 42.4V peak, or 60VDC are present. A good safety practice is to expect that hazardous volt-
age is present in any unknown circuit before measuring.
Operators of this product must be protected from electric shock at all times. The responsible body must ensure that
operators are prevented access and/or insulated from every connection point. In some cases, connections must be ex-
posed to potential human contact. Product operators in these circumstances must be trained to protect themselves from
the risk of electric shock. If the circuit is capable of operating at or above 1000 volts, no conductive part of the circuit
may be exposed.
Do not connect switching cards directly to unlimited power circuits. They are intended to be used with impedance
limited sources. NEVER connect switching cards directly to AC mains. When connecting sources to switching cards,
install protective devices to limit fault current and voltage to the card.
Before operating an instrument, make sure the line cord is connected to a properly grounded power receptacle. Inspect
the connecting cables, test leads, and jumpers for possible wear, cracks, or breaks before each use.
S
afety Precautions
5/02

When installing equipment where access to the main power cord is restricted, such as rack mounting, a separate main
input power disconnect device must be provided, in close proximity to the equipment and within easy reach of the
operator.
For maximum safety, do not touch the product, test cables, or any other instruments while power is applied to the cir-
cuit under test. ALWAYS remove power from the entire test system and discharge any capacitors before: connecting
or disconnecting cables or jumpers, installing or removing switching cards, or making internal changes, such as in-
stalling or removing jumpers.
Do not touch any object that could provide a current path to the common side of the circuit under test or power line (earth)
ground. Always make measurements with dry hands while standing on a dry, insulated surface capable of withstanding the
voltage being measured.
The instrument and accessories must be used in accordance with its specifications and operating instructions or the
safety of the equipment may be impaired.
Do not exceed the maximum signal levels of the instruments and accessories, as defined in the specifications and op-
erating information, and as shown on the instrument or test fixture panels, or switching card.
When fuses are used in a product, replace with same type and rating for continued protection against fire hazard.
Chassis connections must only be used as shield connections for measuring circuits, NOT as safety earth ground con-
nections.
If you are using a test fixture, keep the lid closed while power is applied to the device under test. Safe operation re-
quires the use of a lid interlock.
If or is present, connect it to safety earth ground using the wire recommended in the user documentation.
The symbol on an instrument indicates that the user should refer to the operating instructions located in the manual.
The symbol on an instrument shows that it can source or measure 1000 volts or more, including the combined
effect of normal and common mode voltages. Use standard safety precautions to avoid personal contact with these
voltages.
The WARNING heading in a manual explains dangers that might result in personal injury or death. Always read the
associated information very carefully before performing the indicated procedure.
The CAUTION heading in a manual explains hazards that could damage the instrument. Such damage may invalidate
the warranty.
Instrumentation and accessories shall not be connected to humans.
Before performing any maintenance, disconnect the line cord and all test cables.
To maintain protection from electric shock and fire, replacement components in mains circuits, including the power
transformer, test leads, and input jacks, must be purchased from Keithley Instruments. Standard fuses, with applicable
national safety approvals, may be used if the rating and type are the same. Other components that are not safety related
may be purchased from other suppliers as long as they are equivalent to the original component. (Note that selected parts
should be purchased only through Keithley Instruments to maintain accuracy and functionality of the product.) If you
are unsure about the applicability of a replacement component, call a Keithley Instruments office for information.
To clean an instrument, use a damp cloth or mild, water based cleaner. Clean the exterior of the instrument only. Do
not apply cleaner directly to the instrument or allow liquids to enter or spill on the instrument. Products that consist
of a circuit board with no case or chassis (e.g., data acquisition board for installation into a computer) should never
require cleaning if handled according to instructions. If the board becomes contaminated and operation is affected,
the board should be returned to the factory for proper cleaning/servicing.
!

Table of Contents
ix
Preface
1 Overview
Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Supporting Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
DriverLINX Driver Software for Windows 95/98/NT . . . . . . 1-2
TestPoint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
LabVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
2 Functional Description
Control Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Operational Flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
3 Installation
Inventorying Required Installation Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Installing the Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Installing Application Software and Drivers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Installing the TestPoint software and driver. . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Installing the LabVIEW Software and Driver . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Installing DriverLINX Software Components and
Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
DriverLINX Installation Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-4
DriverLINX Installation Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Configuring Your Installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Preparing and Installing Your Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Unwrapping and Inspecting Your Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-8
Setting the Base Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Installing the Board. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Checking Your Installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11

x
4 Cabling andWiring
Using Screw Terminal Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Features of Screw Terminal Accessories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Cold Junction Compensation (CJC) Temperature Sensor . 4-4
Open-Thermocouple Detection Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-5
Ground Terminals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
Connecting an STC-TC/B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7
Connecting an STA-TC/B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7
Connecting Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7
Understanding the DAS-TC/B Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8
Connecting an Ungrounded Thermocouple . . . . . . . . . . .4-10
Connecting a Grounded Thermocouple . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-12
Connecting Other Signal Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-13
Connecting a Floating Signal Source. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
Connecting a Grounded Signal Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-14
5 The DAS-TC/B Data Logger
Features of the DAS-TC/B Data Logger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-1
Starting the DAS-TC/B Data Logger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Using the DAS-TC/B Data Logger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-2
6 Calibration
7 Troubleshooting
Problem Isolation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Testing the Board and Host Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
Testing the Accessory Slot and I/O Connections . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
A Specifications
B Connector Pin Assignments
C CE Information
for the DAS-TC/B
Limitation of Certification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-1
Declaration of Conformity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-2
Cabling Instructions for the CE Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-3

xi
List of Illustrations
Figure 2-1. Block Diagram of DAS-TC/B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-2
Figure 3-1. Base Address Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-10
Figure 4-1. STC-TC/B Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-2
Figure 4-2. STA-TC/B Layout. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3
Figure 4-3. Schematic for CJC Temperature Sensor Circuit . .4-4
Figure 4-4. Attaching an STC-TC/B to a DAS-TC/B . . . . . . .4-7
Figure 4-5. Attaching an STA-TC/B to a DAS-TC/B . . . . . . .4-7
Figure 4-6. DAS-TC/B Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-8
Figure 4-7. Connecting an Ungrounded Thermocouple. . . . .4-11
Figure 4-8. Connecting a Grounded Thermocouple. . . . . . . .4-12
Figure 4-9. Connecting a Floating Signal Source,
Method 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-13
Figure 4-10. Connecting a Floating Signal Source,
Method 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-14
Figure 4-11. Connecting a Grounded Signal Source . . . . . . . .4-15
Figure 6-1. Test Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-1
Figure B-1. Pin Assignments for DAS-TC/B
Main I/O Connector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1
Figure C-1. Connecting a DAS-TC/B Board
to an STC-TC/B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-3
Figure C-2. Connecting a DAS-TC/B Board
to an STA-TC/B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-3

xii
List of Tables
Table 7-1. Troubleshooting Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-1
Table A-1. Analog Input Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1
Table A-2. Conversion Rate Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2
Table A-3. Temperature/Voltage Specifications . . . . . . . . . . A-2
Table A-4. Voltage Input Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2
Table A-5. Thermocouple Input Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . A-3
Table A-6. Noise Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-3
Table A-7. Maximum Gain Error Temperature Coefficients A-4
Table A-8. Environmental and Physical Requirements. . . . . A-4
Table A-9. Power Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4
Table A-10. Board Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-5

xiii
Preface
The DAS-TC/B User’s Guide contains information and instructions for
handling and using a DAS-TC/B thermocouple/voltage measuring board.
To follow the information and instructions contained in this manual, you
must be familiar with data-acquisition principles, with your application,
and with the Windows
®
95/98/NT operating system and compatible
computers. This product works best with a computer having a
Pentium-series processor.
The
DAS-TC/B User’s Guide is organized as follows:
• Section 1 describes board features, software, and accessories.
• Section 2 describes operating features of a board in more detail. This
section contains a block diagram and brief descriptions of the features
as they relate to your options for setting up and using a board.
• Section 3 contains instructions for inspection, software installation,
configuration, and board installation.
• Section 4 shows the preferred methods of making I/O (Input/Output)
connections, using the available accessories and cables.
• Section 5 summarizes the features of the DriverLINX DAS-TC/B
Data Logger program, how to start the program, how to access
detailed information, and instructions.
• Section 6 describes calibration requirements.
• Section 7 contains information on troubleshooting and on obtaining
technical support.

xiv
• Appendix A contains specifications.
• Appendix B contains pin assignments for the main I/O connector.
• Appendix C contains CE mark certification.
• The index provides hyperlinks, as well as written page numbers, to
locate various subjects in the manual.

Features 1-1
1
Overview
The DAS-TC/B is a thermocouple/voltage measuring board that accepts
up to 16 inputs. You can configure input channels individually to accept
inputs from thermocouples or other voltage sources. Channels configured
for thermocouple inputs provide readings in degrees (Celsius or
Fahrenheit), while channels configured for voltage inputs provide
readings in volts.
This section describes the DAS-TC/B features, software, and accessories.
Features
DAS-TC/B features are as follows:
●
The board fits an accessory slot of a computer.
●
All 16 channels are differential inputs.
● Thermocouple inputs can be any mix of up to seven standard types, as
follows: B, E,
J, K, R, S, and T.
●
Thermocouple measurements are linearized by an onboard
microprocessor for readings in degrees.
●
Open-thermocouple detection is selectable.
●
Automatic CJC (cold-junction compensation) is performed on a
per-channel-basis and is continuous.
●
Calibration of the CJC and board logging parameters is automatic and
continuous.
● Inputs to the DAS-TC/B enter through either a plug-in screw-terminal
block (the STC-TC/B) or an external screw-terminal box (the
STA-TC/B).

1-2 Overview
●
CMRR (Common Mode Rejection Ratio) is greater than 100dB for
gains greater than one.
● The rejection rate is configurable for 50, 60, or 400Hz.
●
Analog inputs (measurement section) are electrically isolated from
the PC.
● The board can perform onboard averaging.
Supporting Software
Available software allows you to take two different approaches to
configuring and running your DAS-TC/B board. You can use a fully
integrated data acquisition software package (TestPoint or LabVIEW) or
write a custom program in Visual C/C++, Visual Basic, or Delphi using
DriverLINX (included with the hardware). A summary of the pros and
cons of using integrated packages or writing custom programs is provided
in the Keithley Full Line Catalog. The DAS-TC/B has fully functional
driver support for use under Windows 95/98/NT.
Note: DriverLINX must be installed to run any applications for the
board, whether they are custom-programmed applications or integrated
software packages, such as TestPoint or LabVIEW.
The characteristics of DriverLINX, TestPoint, and LabVIEW are
summarized below.
DriverLINX Driver Software for Windows 95/98/NT
DriverLINX software, supplied by Keithley with the DAS-TC/B board,
provides convenient interfaces to configure and set I/O bits without
register-level programming.
Most importantly, however, DriverLINX supports those programmers
who want to create custom applications using Visual C/C++, Visual
Basic, or Delphi. DriverLINX accomplishes foreground and background

Supporting Software 1-3
tasks to perform data acquisition. The software includes memory and data
buffer management, event triggering, extensive error checking, and
context sensitive online help.
More specifically, DriverLINX provides application developers a
standardized interface to over 100 services for creating foreground and
background tasks for the following:
●
Analog input and output
●
Digital input and output
● Time and frequency measurement
●
Event counting
●
Pulse output
● Period measurement
In addition to basic I/O support, DriverLINX also provides:
●
Built-in capabilities to handle memory and data buffer management
● A selection of starting and stopping trigger events, including
pre-triggering, mid-point triggering, and post-triggering protocols
●
Extensive error checking
● Context-sensitive on-line help system
DriverLINX is essentially hardware independent; its portable APIs work
across various operating systems. This capability eliminates unnecessary
programming when changing operating system platforms.
TestPoint
TestPoint is a fully featured, integrated application package that
incorporates many commonly used math, analysis, report generation, and
graphics functions. TestPoint’s graphical drag-and-drop interface can be
used to create data acquisition applications, without programming, for
IEEE-488 instruments, data acquisition boards, and RS232-485
instruments and devices.

1-4 Overview
TestPoint includes features for controlling external devices, responding to
events, processing data, creating report files, and exchanging information
with other Windows programs. It provides libraries for controlling most
popular GPIB instruments. OCX and ActiveX controls plug directly into
TestPoint, allowing additional features from third party suppliers.
LabVIEW
LabVIEW is a fully featured, graphical programming language used to
create virtual instrumentation. It consists of an interactive user interface,
complete with knobs, slides, switches, graphs, strip charts, and other
instrument panel controls. Its data driven environment uses function
blocks that are virtually wired together and pass data to each other. The
function blocks, which are selected from palette menus, range from
arithmetic functions to advanced acquisition, control, and analysis
routines. Also included are debugging tools, help windows, execution
highlighting, single stepping, probes, and breakpoints to trace and
monitor the data flow execution. LabVIEW can be used to create
professional applications with minimal programming.
Accessories
The following accessories are available for the DAS-TC/B:
● STC-TC/B — a panel containing a CJC sensor and screw terminals
for all DAS-TC/B I/O connections. The STC-TC/B plugs directly into
the main I/O connector of the DAS-TC/B and extends from the rear
of the computer.
●
STA-TC/B — contains a CJC sensor and screw terminals for all
DAS-TC/B I/O connections. Use a C-1800 cable to connect the
STA-TC/B to the DAS-TC/B.
●
C-1800 — an 18-inch ribbon cable for connecting the STA-TC/B to
the DAS-TC/B. This cable is available in longer lengths that must be
specified in the part number (for example, to specify three extra feet
use C-1803).
●
S-1800 — a shielded version of the C-1800 cable.

2-1
2
Functional Description
This section describes the operating features of the DAS-TC/B.
The DAS-TC/B consists of two sections: the isolated input section and
the control section. The isolated input section handles the measurement
functions, while the control section handles data processing. Figure 2-1 is
a block diagram of the two sections and their stages.

2-2 Functional Description
+5V
+15V
−15V
Figure 2-1. Block Diagram of DAS-TC/B
Address
Decode
Logic
Interrupt
Control
Logic
Dual-Port
Static
RAM
PC Bus
Static
RAM
ROM
PC I/O
Decode and
Control
Pulse
Signal
Conditioning
4MHz
Clock
CPU
16MHz
Xtal
CPU
Control
Register
Opto-
Isolator Opto-
Isolator
V/F
Converter
Opto-
Isolator
Opto-
Isolator
Inst.
Amp.
Gain
Mux
Voltage
Ref.
Input
Mux
Input
Channel
Mux
CH00
CH15
Differential
Input
Channels
00 to 15
CJC Input
+10V
Precision
Voltage
Reference
DC/DC
Power
Supply
+9.9V
Ref.
IsolatedInput
Section
Control
Section