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Portable Peripheral Puts Data-Acq In Palm Pilots

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New Datastick DAS-1245 Data-Acquisition System Records Up to 400 Samples per Second—Significantly Expanding Data-Acquisition Capabilities on Palm Handhelds DAS-1245 Hardware and New Datastick Connection Pro Software Take Full Advantage of the Increased Power of the Newest Palm Handhelds Santa Clara, Calif.--Datastick Systems, Inc., the leader in data-acquisition hardware and software for the Palm OS, announced a powerful new data-acquisition system for Palm handhelds. Like the popular DAS-1206 system, the first Palm peripheral to provide multi-channel, real-time measurement and display, the Datastick DAS-1245 Data-Acquisition System breaks new ground in data acquisition. Combined with the DAS-1245 snap-on module, two distinctly different software packages provide an unparalleled combination of power and flexibility. The new Datastick Connection Pro software permits high-speed data acquisition and analysis at sample rates up to 400 samples per second by using a capture-and-review mode. Datastick Connection 2.0 software provides measurement and monitoring in real time at rates from 12 samples per second to 1 sample every 12 hours. The DAS-1245 hardware module snaps snugly onto Palm handhelds that use the Universal Connector (m125, m130, m500, m505, m515, i705), and forms an extremely portable, well-integrated unit. It provides 4 input channels of 12-bit A/D conversion, one digital input channel, and a switchable power outlet for powering sensors. With either software package, users can record sophisticated scientific and industrial measurements such as temperature, pressure, vibration, rates of acceleration, etc., and display them on a Palm OS handheld, monitoring up to all five input channels simultaneously. With Datastick Connection 2.0, data are collected and displayed in real time, and can be viewed in any of four different modes: numeric, bar chart, line graph vs. time, and a gauge view—with needle and dial—with numerous user-adjustable features. The software allows users to compensate easily for a sensor's nonlinear response curve. Datastick Connection Pro has a different feature set, best suited for high data-acquisition rates. Rather than display the input data in real time, Datastick Connection Pro achieves a much higher sampling rate because the software dedicates the full power of the Palm handheld's CPU to reading measurements. When recording is complete, the user can review any time slice of the data recorded without having to export the data to another application or device. The user interface features take full advantage of the Palm OS user interface by allowing the user to move up and down as well as zoom in and out to see the overall patterns and nuances of a captured analog signal. "By providing two different software packages, we're able to satisfy two distinctly different sets of requirements without compromising one set of features to accommodate the other," explained Steve Sabram, Datastick's president. Either software package allows all five channels to be displayed simultaneously, and each display channel can be labeled for quick identification. Users can save channel configurations for a particular sensor suite, and quickly load the necessary settings when swapping out different sensor arrays. Data can be downloaded to a personal computer for further analysis and long-term storage using Palm's HotSync technology. "The high sampling rates now open the door to a host of new applications," said Penny F. Melrose, vice president of marketing for Datastick Systems. "From facilities maintenance to product testing to process control to environmental monitoring to education, the higher sampling rates permit more industries to take advantage of the convenience of Palm handhelds." An optional product, Datastick Connection Plus, increases the already exceptional versatility of Datastick Connection software by adding an array of user-selectable display, automatic recording, and alarm features. Datastick Systems, Inc. 275 Saratoga Ave. Ste. 160 Santa Clara, CA 95050 Phone: (408) 615-5774 FAX: (408) 615-5778 Web: www.datastick.com E-mail: info@datastick.com

Do you use a Palm Pilot? If so, have you ever run custom or engineering software on it, in addition to the usual bundled office and communications packages? This product lets you measure and record, putting your Palm Pilot to work in conjunction with external sensors to measure parameters such as temperature, pressure, or even acceleration. The calculating power of the PDA's microprocessor is also put to work to perform number crunching for data reduction and display, as well as sensor operations. Datastick's software can perform sensor conversion functions, including linear, exponential, quadratic, and natural log conversions, as well as inverse quadratic (first root), inverse quadratic (second root), Steinhart-Hart, and polynomial (third-order) conversions. In the summer of 2000, a review in this column covered Datastick's early involvement as a member of the CrossLink Partners program. At the time, Datastick was already supporting the Palm Pilot with a general-purpose PDA data-acquisition system called the MyCorder DAS-1206. We reported that Datastick was also readying a pair of thermocouple-based systems for the Palm platform. As you can tell from reading Datastick's press release, the DAS-1206 is superseded by the DAS-1245 Data-Acquisition System, with its snap-on module. The DAS-1245 is supported by the earlier software though, as well as new bits. The predecessor Datastick Connection 2.0 software let you operate the PDA acquiring data at rates from 12 samples/s to 1 sample every two hours. This latest Datastick Connection Pro boosts acquisition and analysis with sample rates as high as 400 samples/s (running one channel). The trade-off is that it does this in a non-real-time capture-and-review mode. Datastick's software packages support recording on conditional triggers for automatic recording, or recording based on user-selectable thresholds. There's also a handy software and hardware on/off pushbutton. The software also gives you up to three visual and audible alarms per channel. This function can be used to alert you to a threshold passing. The Peripheral Hardware As the release notes, the hardware provides one digital input channel, and four analog inputs feeding an A/D converter that provides 12 bits of resolution. A Model SB-675 Multirange Signal Adapter Board is a signal-conditioning accessory that gives you independently selectable signal ranges for each analog input channel. In use, the DAS-1245's inputs exhibit a high-impedance (1 MW), and can accommodate signals spanning from zero to 5 V. The Datastick platform also packs its own high-accuracy voltage reference. You can also order an option that supports operation of the Datastick in 4–20 mA current loops. Let's get back to the software, as it's really key to the DAS-1245's operation, especially the aforementioned Datastick Connection Pro data-acq software for the Palm operating system (specifically Palm OS v4.0). Datastick Connection Pro uses a capture-and-review mode that provides detailed views of up to eight channels of data after recordings have been made. Once that's done, you can use the PDA's stylus to zoom in on a selected area and channel. You can also zoom in on multiple channels, and the system's time and amplitude lines can be toggled on or off individually. The PDA's display also reveals the system's sample rate, the number of channels recorded, and the size of the resulting data files stored on the Palm. The Datastick Connection Pro software also supports some sensor conversion, as well as sampling at a rate based on the communications link speed with other instruments. For storage, readings are recorded in user-configurable databases. Significantly, all Datastick Connection programs include so-called conduits that let database information be transferred automatically to Windows PCs using tab-delimited text files. That means that you can readily use these files in spreadsheets, other database programs, and Windows applications. Datastick data can also be exported in Memo Pad, Memo Pad CSV (comma-separated values), DOC, and DOC CSV formats. Datastick Systems says it will also support Macintosh and Linux platforms. Meeting Your Connections Datastick Systems also offers a number of accessories for its PDA systems. The Model BB-8P Breakout Board for the earlier DAS-1206, priced at $45, helps set up and calibrate sensor arrays. The BB-8P includes screw-terminal inputs where you can wire up to six sensors. The board also has external triggering inputs. The newer counterpart for the DAS-1245 is the Model BB-7P Breakout Board, priced at about $75. In addition to aiding initial set-up and cal of sensors like the BB-8P, the BB-7P is what permits the DAS-1245 to be used in 4–20 mA loops. For its part, a Model SB-675P Multirange Powered Signal Adapter Board provides for selectable sensor power, and gives you independent selection of signal range for each analog input channel. It also powers the DAS-1245. This product can also power the Palm Pilot, if it is attached to a DAS-1245, and recharge the PDA if it contains rechargeable batteries. Datastick also offers a Model SB-675ZP, dubbed the High-Impedance Multirange Powered Signal Adapter Board. This signal-conditioning accessory offers the functions of the aforementioned SB-675, plus it gives high-Z (20 MW) amplification of signals on all four analog inputs. The SB-675ZP also gives you optical isolation on the DAS-1245's digital input channel. A power supply is included. Note that all of Datastick's outboard signal-conditioning boards accept both uni- and bipolar signals in the ranges of 0 to 2 V (± 1 V), 0 to 3.3 V (± 1.65 V), 0 to 5 V (± 2.5 V), 0 to 10 V (± 5 V), and 0 to 24 V (± 12 V). There are also two low-voltage ranges spanning 0 to 50 mV (± 25 mV), and 0 to 200 mV (± 100 mV). On the output side, the Models SB-675P and SB675-ZP provide adjustable power outputs of 3.3 V, 5 V, 10 V, 12 V, 15 V, and 24 V DC. Power Options Although the DAS-1245 is self-powered from a pair of AAA cells, it can power your sensors, delivering up to 5 switchable volts, at up to 20 mA. However, it's not likely that the internal dual-cell pack will last very long under those conditions. As such, Datastick provides an optional regulated power supply for the DAS-1245. It's called the Model UPA-5 Universal Power Adapter. Priced at $45, it delivers a stiff 5 V DC when operating from 110 V to 240 V AC 50/60 Hz lines. So, what will one of these mini-systems set you back? Datastick doesn't mention price in its press statement, but the DAS-1245 sells for just under $400 sans software. The Datastick Connection Pro executables will add about $225 to the cost of your handheld system. When you consider what can be done with a tiny handheld computer, that's really quite remarkable. However, when you expand that capability and price-vs.-performance ratio to include the ability to off-load your findings to an associated PC using the Palm's well-known HotSync link-up, the possibilities are greatly expanded.

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