|
The eDAQ e-corder units are used for the collection, display and analysis of signals from many types of laboratory instruments. They connect to Windows or MAC computers via USB and are supplied with Chart and Scope software.
The e-corder is available with 2, 4, 8 and 16 analog channels. A programmable analog output signal can be used to drive external instruments, eg a potenstistat.
 eDAQ web site
The eDAQ advantage
Although simple laboratory data acquisition can be built using an interface card and a programming environment like LabView, eDAQ data recording systems do not require programming, cards or switches. Just plug-and-play with USB connection to your computer! Multiple channels of analogue data are recorded, displayed, filtered and analysed in real time right out of the box, saving countless hours of coding.
The eDAQ e-corders are delivered with the Chart and Scope software applications.
Chart emulates a chart recorder displaying input or processed data in real time. Data can be zoomed, inspected and exported while recording continues. Data can be pasted directly into Excel for further analysis and reporting.
Scope emulates an oscilloscope and is used with repetive waveforms
e-corder hardware
Unlike many specialist data acquisition systems, e-corder can be used to collect data from completely different types of sources on different channels (e.g. pH, oxygen concentration, and temperature) because channel sensitivity and filtering is independently adjustable.
Replace your chart recorder, XY plotter, or oscilloscope (to 200 kHz), with e-corder to get the benefits of the latest generation of computer technology in your laboratory.
e-corder can be used with most devices supplying an analog voltage signal up to ±10 V.
Typical instruments used with e-corder units include:
- photometers and colorimeters
- pH and ion meters
- dO2 meters
- temperature monitors
- accelerometers and vibration sensors
- load cells
- pressure, force and displacement transducers
- calorimeters
- stopped-flow and other kinetics systems
- potentiostats and galvanostats
- chromatographs
e-corder connectors
The front panel of e-corder units have connectors for the analog input signals, an analog output signal, and a trigger connector so that recording start and stop times can be synchronized with other instruments.
Analog inputs
Each analog input channel is fitted with an BNC connector. The gain of each input can be independently adjusted in software to record signals from microvolts to a maximum of ±10 V. Input channels 1 and 2 for e-corder 201 and 401 units (plus 3 and 4 in e-corder 821 and 1621 units) also have alternative 8-pin DIN connectors for connection of eDAQ Pods, or for signals requiring differential input. Each input channel also has a range of low pass filter settings from 20 kHz to 1 Hz.
Analog output
The e-corder unit can generate a voltage signal via its analog output sockets, giving bipolar (simultaneous positive and negative) signals up to ±10 V.
Trigger
An external device can provide a trigger signal to the e-corder to synchronize recording.
e-corder software: Chart and Scope
e-corder is supplied with both Chart and Scope software. Chart software records data continuously to hard disk, on one to sixteen channels (depending on e-corder model). Scope software records data on one or two channels in a series of sweeps.
Chart and Scope software have many features in common, so as you use one program you gain experience in using the other!
Both programs can graphically display data in a number of ways: use the Zoom Window to expand a selection of data; overlay data from different channels; or use XY plotting to graph the data on one channel versus the data on a second channel.
Advanced Features
Both Chart and Scope software have many advanced features for recording and analyzing data, some of which are listed below.
the Data Pad
The Data Pad is an internal spreadsheet that can extract various parameters (mean, standard error, slope, maximum and minimum values etc.) from selections of your raw data. It can be very useful as the preliminary tool for processing your results.
the Notebook
The Notebook is a convenient place to make observations about your experiment and to record experimental details - much as you would in any laboratory notebook. Notebook contents are stored with your data file and can be printed, or copied to other documents, when required.
Comments (Chart) and Page Comments (Scope)
Add comments to a data file to annotate results and locate events of interest when the data is analyzed. Use comments to record external conditions (such as temperature), or events (such as reagent addition), at specific times during the experiment.
Computed Input
Computed Inputs process signals in real time as they are recorded.
Copy & Paste
Cut, Paste, and Copy commands are used to export data to other spreadsheets, word processors, or graphing software.
Triggering
Pre- and post-triggering are amongst the many trigger options. Also trigger from the external trigger input or from any of the signals on the various channels.
Stimulator Output
Generate waveforms and pulses at the analog outputs of the e-corder unit. Pulses can be used to trigger external equipment such as pumps, heaters, or motors.
Menu Editor
Hide or lock various commands to simplify software appearance. Ideal for student lab classes or routine technician usage. You can save your preferences as Settings files.
Macros
Use Macros to perform a succession of software commands to automate data collection and/or analysis.
Virtual Channels (Chart software only)
Data can be transformed using the many functions available in Chart software. Results can be displayed graphically on unused channels (up to 16 channels can be simultaneously displayed).
Curve Fitting (Chart software only)
The signal can be fitted with mathematical function of time, y = f(t). Standard equations include polynomials, single and double exponentials, logistic, hyperbolic, Gaussian, and Lorentzian waveforms. User-defined functions can also be used.
Mathematical transformations
Examples of mathematical transformation of data using the analysis features of Chart or Scope software include:
- Smoothing (Savitzky-Golay, or triangular weighting)
- Digital filtering (low pass, high pass, band stop, notch, band pass)
- Channel arithmetic (e.g. channel 3 = channel 1 + channel 2)
- Fourier transformations (Power Spectrum analysis)
- Differentiation and Integration
- Frequency determination, or counting, of pulses or periodic waveforms
- Peak calculations (areas, risetimes, heights above baseline etc.)
- RMS power calculations
|
|
|
