Wireless Data Acquisition Systems.

Quatech, Inc, a leader in the communication, data acquisition and signal conditioning industries for over 17 years, has leveraged its extensive experience to provide a reliable, easily-configured, low-cost wireless data acquisition solution for industrial monitoring and control applications. Building on the popular QTM-8000 Series of remote data acquisition and signal conditioning modules for serial networks, the company's new QTM-8524 Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) RF modem modules take the system wireless.

TLA techs are trained on the leading leachate & gas collection pumping systems (including, EPG, Blackhawk & QED), system controls, wireless data acquisition systems, and HDPE fusion welding. All techs carry equipment required for proper installation including ground to resistance meters as recommended by pump manufacturers.

QTM-8524 modules convert RF signals to serial RS-232 or RS-485 for communication with a PC or a serial network. They can be used to network two PCs, a PC and a PLC, or they can be used in conjunction with Quatech's QTM-8000 data acquisition modules to create a flexible, low-cost modular data acquisition and control system that is ideal for a wide range of process and monitoring applications. Signal conditioning is provided for RTDs, thermocouples, and strain gages. Relay control and counter/timer modules round-out the series for complete system solutions.

QTM-8524 modules convert RF signals to serial RS-232 or RS-485 for communication with a PC or a serial network. They can be used to network PCs and PLCs, or they can be used in conjunction with Quatech's QTM-8000 data acquisition and signal conditioning modules to create a flexible, low-cost modular data acquisition and control system that is ideal for a wide range of process and monitoring applications.

Nancy went back to work and provided food and moral support during the lean years when money was going out but not coming back. Both kids worked during high school and college. The business finally made the turnaround to self sustaining operations in 1989. The new year will mark the 20th year of being in business as Invocon, Inc. The company has built over 25 different wireless data acquisition systems for Shuttle and the International Space Station. IVC has delivered a system for the JEM (Japan) module of the ISS. When the Shuttle returns to flight it will have 10 different IVC systems aboard.

Williston, VT - - MicroStrain develops and produces innovative, smart, wireless, microminiature displacement, orientation, and force sensors. Wireless data acquisition systems capable of simultaneous, high-speed data acquisition, for use with wireless strain gauges, accelerometers, temperature, and millivolt level inputs.

Test and measurement engineers as well as control system engineers require strain, acceleration, torque, force, pressure, and temperature measurements to be made at high data rates and in real time. The sensing nodes need to be distributed over their structure or machine under test and the wireless data obtained in real-time is used to protect valuable process equipment from overloads, or to help research engineers to better visualize and interact with the system under test.

Test and measurement applications often require the combination of wireless strain measurement systems to be used alongside hard-wired sensors, all connected to an existing analog data acquisition system. In order to easily support these applications, MicroStrain has released Agile-Link base stations which reconstruct the analog voltage waveforms on their outputs. Figure 4 is a block diagram of the frequency agile system with analog output. The analog output base station includes a microprocessor, hardware low pass filter, and 12-bit digital to analog converter (DAC). The serial data stream is converted by the base station into high level analog output voltages, ranging from 0 to 5 volts full scale.

Helping highway engineers and managers make decisions that lead to more durable, user-responsive, and cost-effective roadways has been the goal of the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) program since it was initiated in 1987. It has done so by collecting, processing, and analyzing data from over 2400 test sections throughout North America. The data provides the highway community with the most comprehensive source of information on pavement performance in the world.

Wireless data acquisition is very common these days. Devices are generally used for wireless alarms such as harmful gas leak, high voltage, high current, high radiation, Tsunami waves, Weather etc.

entitled DYNAMIC CONTROL OF A PATIENT MONITORING SYSTEM, issued to Dempsey discloses a patient monitoring system with a telemetry subsystem which monitors and transmits an RF signal representing the signals it receives from one or more physiological monitoring instruments. Unlike Mortara and Schmidt et al., Dempsey teaches a receiving subsystem which can receive RF signals in a backchannel arrangement in order to control the operation of the system. However, Dempsey does not include the capability to adjust or modify the input by programming or otherwise in response to different physiological signals.

All data acquisition systems generally operate in a similar fashion. They receive an external input from some type of sensing device, condition and/or convert the input to a format suitable for transmission, as necessary, and transmit it to another piece of equipment usually a monitor or controller, which may be a computer, and more specifically, a personal computer. The external input is generally an analog signal, although digital signals, frequently on-off switching, pulse-width modulation, or serial data protocols, are also involved. The inputs, though, come in many forms with many different characteristics, be they pneumatic, hydraulic or electronic, to list a few. Modern applications, control schemes and devices usually necessitate the use of electronic inputs in one form or another. For example, electronic analog inputs may have ranges of 4-20 mA, +/-5 volts, +/-15 volts, or microvolts to millivolts.

Company Profile: Custom manufacturer of software including wireless data collection and acquisition systems. Wireless data collection systems are available with 11 Mbps speed and 2.4 GHz band capacity.

Radio frequency (RF) wireless data acquisition systems can convert the input to a conditioned electronic signal which is used to modulate a carrier frequency which is then transmitted as a radio frequency signal to equipment in another location. The conditioned signal is encoded with data corresponding to the status of the input. In the United States the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations govern RF transmissions, and similar agencies regulate RF transmissions in other countries, specifically as to the frequency band that can be utilized to transmit the signal and the strength of the signal. Other data transmission means, such as infrared, optical, or any means which does not require a mechanical connection is understood to offer similar advantages as RF transmission.

Company Profile: Manufacturer of wireless and broadband data acquisition and communication systems for government applications. Types of data communication and acquisition systems include electro optic polymer modulators and millimeter wave wireless communication system.

The Fluke corporation manufactures a wireless data acquisition system under the trade name of"Wireless Logger". The"Wireless Logger"is an integration of Fluke's Hydra Data Logger, a portable instrument monitor/analyzer, which accepts wired external inputs, with an RF modem. The Hydra Data Logger includes a universal input module which accepts and conditions external inputs. The resulting signals are transmitted by the modem to another modem interconnected to a personal computer. The separate modem and universal input module are-relatively large and consume up to ten watts of power.

Company Profile: Manufacturer of data acquisition systems including wireless data acquisition systems. Data acquisition systems include keyboards, keypads, trackballs, data entry devices, point of sale/purchase data capture devices and kiosk and security devices.

Rigling is currently working with two technologies. One involves the design of high-voltage control circuitry for an electrical discharge device. The device has many aerodynamics applications including drag reduction and the creation of lift in aerodynamic vehicles. The other project involves writing software for a processor embedded in miniature wireless data acquisition systems.

Company Profile: Designer and developer of engineered test, measurement and automation systems including data acquisition systems for wireless applications. Regulatory compliance and standards RF verification, wireless ATE, radio test, manufacturing functional test, LabVIEW toolkits, test system development and consulting.

In general, the prior art attempts at monitoring and transferring patient data are illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. In none of these cases is the same patient connected device used to transfer data to either a patient monitor processor or a central station with the same underlying wireless technology. Accordingly, a need remains for a system based on the same underlying technology that allows patient monitoring data collected by multiple monitors connected to a patient to be wirelessly transferred to another device such as a Patient Monitoring Processor for the purpose of displaying, synchronizing and processing the data.