The DaqBook module is enclosed in a 8.5” × 11” × 1.375” metal box external to the computer,
(11” × 13” × 3.5” for the DaqBook/260). The DaqBook attaches to a PC’s parallel port via 25-wire parallel
port cable and can transfer data bi-directionally at up to 170 Kbytes/s for a standard printer port (SPP) and
up to 800 Kbytes/s for an enhanced parallel port (EPP). Data is stored in the PC’s memory and hard drive,
not in the DaqBook.

Input power for a DaqBook can come from various sources (e.g., a 12 V car battery, the included
AC adapter, or a rechargeable nicad battery module). This power flexibility is ideal for portable and remote
data acquisition, such as automotive and aviation in-vehicle testing.

Output power from the P1 connector includes +5 VDC (pin 1) and ±15 VDC (pins 21 and 2). The section
External Analog Expansion Power (JP1) explains how to set JP1 based on power use in the system. Also,
refer to the section

Power Management

at the beginning of chapter 7,

DBK Options Cards and Modules

DaqBooks have capabilities that previously required several plug-in DAS boards. All DaqBooks provide
16 analog inputs (expandable up to 256), 2 analog outputs, and 4 digital inputs and outputs. Some models
have built-in expansion slots; other models have additional digital I/O and counter/timer capabilities.

•

The DaqBook/112 and /216 models provide 1 slot for an expansion DBK card.

•

The DaqBook/100, /120, and /200 models do not have the expansion slot but do have 24 general-
purpose digital I/O channels (expandable up to 192), 16 high-speed digital inputs, and 5
frequency/pulse I/O channels.

Note: The /120 adds an EPP port capability to the /100.
Note: The /260 has 3 expansion slots for DBK cards.

The various DaqBook models have either 12-bit or 16-bit binary resolution.

•

12-bit models include model #s /100, /112, and /120.

•

16-bit models include model #s /200, /216, and /260.

Analog input capabilities are very flexible. The A/D maximum sample rate is 100 kHz (divide by number
of channels for scan rate) with a 16-channel multiplexer and a programmable-gain input amplifier. Users
can expand channel capacity to 256 analog inputs via expansion modules for multiplexing RTDs,
thermocouples, strain gages, anti-aliasing filters, and simultaneous sample and hold amplifiers. Expansion
cards and modules attach to the P1 I/O connector (refer to

Connector Pinouts

later in this chapter).

P1 (DB37 interface) is compatible with multiplexers and signal conditioners from several manufacturers.

The DaqBooks perform 100 kHz scan sequences with programmable delays from 10 µs to 10 hours. The
100 kHz conversion rate fixes the time skew between channels at 10 µs. The 512-location scan sequencer
allows selection of the input amplifier gain for each channel. The DaqBook/100, /120, /200, and /260 can
scan 16 digital inputs in the same sequence used for analog inputs (such inputs are thus time-correlated).
Optional simultaneous-sample-and-hold (SSH) cards enable DaqBooks to sample up to 256 channels at the
same instant. Scanning and timing specifications are met even with a full complement of expansion
modules. All types of transducers are scanned within the same scan group without PC intervention.

DaqBooks offer a wide selection of triggering capabilities. The scan can be triggered by software, a TTL
signal, or an analog input level (including slope). The analog input trigger is hardware-based and
minimizes trigger latency to less than 10 µs.