Measurement Computing PCI-DAS4020/12 User manual

PCI-DAS4020/12
Analog & Digital I/O
User’s Guide
Document Revision 9A, May, 2009
© Copyright 2009, Measurement Computing Corporation

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HM PCI-DAS4020-12.doc
Trademark and Copyright Information
Measurement Computing Corporation, InstaCal, Universal Library, and the Measurement Computing logo are
either trademarks or registered trademarks of MeasurementComputing Corporation. Refer to the Copyrights &
Trademarks section on mccdaq.com/legal for more information about Measurement Computing trademarks.
Other product and company namesmentioned herein are trademarks or trade names of their respective
companies.
©2009 MeasurementComputingCorporation. All rights reserved. No part of this publicationmay be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form by any means, electronic,mechanical, by
photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of Measurement Computing
Corporation.
Notice
Measurement Computing Corporation does not authorize any Measurement Computing Corporation product for
use in life support systems and/or devices without prior written consent from Measurement Computing
Corporation. Life support devices/systems are devices or systems that, a) are intended for surgical implantation
into the body, or b) support or sustain life and whose failure to perform can be reasonably expected to result in
injury. Measurement Computing Corporation products are not designed with the components required, and are
not subject to the testing required to ensure a level of reliability suitable for the treatment and diagnosis of
people.

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Table of Contents
Preface
About this User's Guide.......................................................................................................................7
What you will learn from this user's guide.........................................................................................................7
Conventions in this user's guide .........................................................................................................................7
Where to find more information.........................................................................................................................7
Chapter 1
Introducing the PCI-DAS4020/12.........................................................................................................8
Overview: PCI-DAS4020/12 features................................................................................................................8
Software features................................................................................................................................................8
Chapter 2
Installing the PCI-DAS4020/12.............................................................................................................9
What comes with your PCI-DAS4020/12 shipment?.........................................................................................9
Hardware .......................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Additional documentation................................................................................................................................................. 9
Optional components........................................................................................................................................................ 9
Unpacking the PCI-DAS4020/12 .....................................................................................................................10
Installing the software ......................................................................................................................................10
Installing the PCI-DAS4020/12........................................................................................................................10
Configuring the PCI-DAS4020/12...................................................................................................................10
Connecting the board for I/O operations ..........................................................................................................11
Connectors, cables –I/O connectors................................................................................................................................11
BNC connectors...............................................................................................................................................................11
Pin out –auxiliary connector...........................................................................................................................................12
Cabling.............................................................................................................................................................................12
Field wiring, signal termination and conditioning ...........................................................................................................16
Chapter 3
Functional Details...............................................................................................................................17
PCI-DAS4020/12 block diagram......................................................................................................................17
Analog input signal path...................................................................................................................................17
Analog output...................................................................................................................................................18
Digital I/O.........................................................................................................................................................18
Power distribution.............................................................................................................................................18
Input impedance configuration.........................................................................................................................18
Chapter 4
Calibrating the PCI-DAS4020/12........................................................................................................21
Calibration theory.............................................................................................................................................21
Chapter 5
Specifications......................................................................................................................................22
Analog input.....................................................................................................................................................22
Timing and throughput ....................................................................................................................................................22
Accuracy..........................................................................................................................................................................23
Temperature.....................................................................................................................................................................23
Dynamics and noise.........................................................................................................................................................24
Trig/Ext Clk BNC.............................................................................................................................................24
Analog output...................................................................................................................................................24
Accuracy..........................................................................................................................................................................25
Digital input / output.........................................................................................................................................25
Interrupts...........................................................................................................................................................25

PCI-DAS4020/12 User's Guide
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Environmental ..................................................................................................................................................25
Power consumption ..........................................................................................................................................26
Connector and pin out.......................................................................................................................................26
Auxiliary connector P3 pinout.........................................................................................................................................26
Declaration of Conformity..................................................................................................................27

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Preface
About this User's Guide
What you will learn from this user's guide
This user's guide explains how to install, configure, and use the PCI-DAS4020/12 so that you get the most out
of its analog and digital I/O features.
This user's guide also refers you to related documents available on our web site, and to technical support
resources.
Conventions in this user's guide
For more information on …
Text presented in a box signifies additional information and helpful hints related to the subject matter you are
reading.
Caution! Shaded caution statements present information to help you avoid injuring yourself and others,
damaging your hardware, or losing your data.
< : > Angle brackets that enclose numbers separated by a colon signify a range of numbers, such as those assigned
to registers, bit settings, etc.
bold text Bold text is used for the names of objects on the screen, such as buttons, text boxes, and check boxes. For
example:
1. Insert the disk or CD and click the OK button.
italic text Italic text is used for the names of manuals and help topic titles, and to emphasize a word or phrase. For
example:
The InstaCal installation procedure is explained in the Quick Start Guide.
Never touch the exposed pins or circuit connections on the board.
Where to find more information
For additional information relevant to the operation of your hardware, refer to the Documents subdirectory
where you installed the MCC DAQ software (C:\Program Files\Measurement Computing\DAQ by default), or
search for your device on our website at www.mccdaq.com.
If you need to program at the register level in your application, refer to the Register Map for the PCI-
DAS4020/12 Series (available at www.mccdaq.com/registermaps/RegMapPCI-DAS4020-12.pdf

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Chapter 1
Introducing the PCI-DAS4020/12
Overview: PCI-DAS4020/12 features
This manual explains how to install and use the PCI-DAS4020/12 board.
The PCI-DAS4020/12 is a multi-function high-speed data acquisition I/O board that is designed for the PCI bus.
It provides the following features:
Four high-speed 12-bit analog input channels
The input range for each channel is software-configurable for ±1 V or ±5 V. The sample rate is from 10 to
20 MHz, depending on the number of channels accessed. Triggering sources and A/D gating are via
hardware or software, and can be internal or external. Four different modes are software selectable. Analog
input connectors are standard BNC types.
Two 12-bit analog output channels
Each analog output channel can be configured by software for an output range of ±10 V or ±5 V.
Throughput is system-dependent. Triggering mode is software gate. D/A pacing is software paced. The
analog output channels terminate at a 40-pin auxiliary connector.
24 digital I/O channels
An on-board industry standard 82C55A I/O chip provides 24 digital I/O channels configured as two banks
of eight and two banks of four. You can configure each bank independently as input or output. Signal levels
are TTL. The digital I/O channels terminate at a 40-pin auxiliary connector.
Software features
For information on the features of InstaCal and the other software included with your PCI-DAS4020/12, refer
to the Quick Start Guide that shipped with your device. The Quick Start Guide is also available in PDF at
www.mccdaq.com/PDFmanuals/DAQ-Software-Quick-Start.pdf.
Check www.mccdaq.com/download.htm for the latest software version or versions of the software supported
under less commonly used operating systems.

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Chapter 2
Installing the PCI-DAS4020/12
What comes with your PCI-DAS4020/12 shipment?
The following items are shipped with the PCI-DAS4020/12.
Hardware
PCI-DAS4020/12
Additional documentation
In addition to this hardware user's guide, you should also receive the Quick Start Guide (available in PDF at
www.mccdaq.com/PDFmanuals/DAQ-Software-Quick-Start.pdf). This booklet supplies a brief description of
the software you received with your PCI-DAS4020/12 and information regarding installation of that software.
Please read this booklet completely before installing any software or hardware.
Optional components
If you ordered any of the following products with your board, they should be included with your shipment.
Cables
C40FF-x
C40-37F-x
BP40-37F-x
Signal termination and conditioning accessories
MCC provides signal termination products for use with the PCI-DAS4020/12. Refer to "Field wiring, signal
termination and conditioning" on page 16 for a complete list of compatible accessory products.

PCI-DAS4020/12 User's Guide Installing the PCI-DAS4020/12
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Unpacking the PCI-DAS4020/12
As with any electronic device, you should take care while handling to avoid damage from static
electricity. Before removing the PCI-DAS4020/12 from its packaging, ground yourself using a wrist strap or by
simply touching the computer chassis or other grounded object to eliminate any stored static charge.
If any components are missing or damaged, notify Measurement Computing Corporation immediately by
phone, fax, or e-mail:
Phone: [phone] and follow the instructions for reaching Tech Support.
Fax: [phone] to the attention of Tech Support
Email: [e-mail]
Installing the software
Refer to the Quick Start Guide for instructions on installing the software on the Measurement Computing Data
Acquisition Software CD. This booklet is available in PDF at www.mccdaq.com/PDFmanuals/DAQ-Software-
Quick-Start.pdf.
Installing the PCI-DAS4020/12
The PCI-DAS4020/12 board is completely plug-and-play, with no switches or jumpers to set. Configuration is
controlled by your system's BIOS. To install your board, follow the steps below.
Install the MCC DAQ software before you install your board
The driver needed to run your board is installed with the MCC DAQ software. Therefore, you need to install the
MCC DAQ software before you install your board. Refer to the Quick Start Guide for instructions on installing
the software.
1. Turn your computer off, open it up, and insert your board into an available PCI slot.
2. Close your computer and turn it on.
If you are using an operating system with support for plug-and-play (such as Windows 2000 or
Windows XP), a dialog box opens as the system loads, indicating that new hardware has been detected. If
the information file for this board is not already loaded onto your PC, you are prompted for the disk
containing this file. The Measurement Computing Data Acquisition Software CD supplied with your board
contains this file. If required, insert the disk or CD and click OK.
3. To test your installation and configure your board, run the InstaCal utility installed in the previous section.
Refer to the Quick Start Guide that came with your board for information on how to initially set up and
load InstaCal.
If your board has been powered-off for more than 10 minutes, allow your computer to warm up for at least
15 minutes before acquiring data. This warm-up period is required in order for the board to achieve its rated
accuracy. The high speed components used on the board generate heat, and it takes this amount of time for a
board to reach steady state if it has been powered off for a significant amount of time.
Configuring the PCI-DAS4020/12
All of the hardware configuration options on the PCI-DAS4020/12 are software controlled. Use InstaCal to
select the number of channels to sample (one, two or four channels), and the analog output range (±10 V or
±5 V.) Once selected, any program that uses the Universal Library will initialize the hardware according to your
selections.