Introducing the wls-temp, Overview: wls-temp features, Remote wireless operation – Measurement Computing WLS-TEMP User Manual
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Chapter 1
Introducing the WLS-TEMP
Overview: WLS-TEMP features
This user's guide contains all of the information you need to configure the WLS-TEMP for remote wireless
operation, and to connect to the signals you want to measure.
The WLS-TEMP is a wireless-based USB 2.0 full-speed temperature measurement module that is supported
under popular Microsoft
®
Windows
®
operating systems. The WLS-TEMP is fully compatible with both
USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 ports.
The WLS-TEMP provides eight differential input channels that are software programmable for different sensor
categories including thermocouple, RTD, thermistor and Semiconductor sensors. Eight independent, TTL-
compatible digital I/O channels are provided to monitor TTL-level inputs, communicate with external devices,
and to generate alarms. The digital I/O channels are software programmable for input or output.
You can take measurements from four sensor categories:
Thermocouple – types J, K, R, S, T, N, E, and B
Resistance temperature detectors (RTDs) – two, three, or four-wire measurements of 100 Ω platinum RTDs
Thermistors – two, three, or four -wire measurements
Semiconductor temperature sensors – LM35, TMP35 or equivalent
The WLS-TEMP provides a 24-bit analog-to-digital (A/D) converter for each pair of differential analog input
channels. Each pair of differential inputs constitutes a channel pair. You can connect a different category of
sensor to each channel pair, but you can not mix categories among the channels that constitute a channel pair
(although it is permissible to mix thermocouple types).
The WLS-TEMP provides two integrated cold junction compensation (CJC) sensors for thermocouple
measurements, and built-in current excitation sources for resistive sensor measurements.
An open thermocouple detection feature lets you detect a broken thermocouple. An onboard microprocessor
automatically linearizes the measurement data according to the sensor category.
The WLS-TEMP features eight independent temperature alarms. Each alarm controls an associated digital I/O
channel as an alarm output. The input to each alarm is one of the temperature input channels. The output of each
alarm is software-configurable as active high or low. You set up the temperature threshold conditions to activate
each alarm. When an alarm is activated, the associated DIO channel is driven to the output state.
All configurable options are software programmable. The WLS-TEMP is fully software-calibrated.
You can operate the WLS-TEMP as a standalone plug-and-play device which draws power through the USB
cable. You can also operate the WLS-TEMP as a remote device that communicates with the computer through
the WLS-IFC USB-to-wireless interface device. An external power supply is shipped with the device to provide
power during remote operations.
Remote wireless operation
When operating as a remote device, the WLS-TEMP communicates with the computer through the WLS-IFC
device connected to the computer's USB port
Before you can operate the WLS-TEMP remotely, you must connect it to the computer's USB port and
configure the network parameters required to establish a wireless link with the interface device. Only devices
with the same parameter settings can communicate with each other. All configurable options are programmable
with InstaCal.
LEDs on the WLS-TEMP indicate the status of communication over the wireless link. An LED bar graph shows
the fade margin of signals received by the WLS-TEMP.
For more information on setting up network parameters, refer to "