Hey there! In this blog post I’ll be explaining our own unique Signal Conditioning System, a product we offer here on the site!
Signal Conditioning is an important aspect of any test system. The signal conditioner converts the signal from a transducer into a voltage that represents the physical attribute the transducer is designed to quantify. There are several different types of transducers that will measure different physical properties (too many to discuss here). The important consideration for a signal conditioner system is the range of transducers that must be interfaced. Some transducers have large voltage output signals, others have very small output signals, some use variable current, others require a constant current source, and to add to the complexity, some have AC characteristics and others have DC characteristics. Typically, a test system or a machine tool will use several different types of sensors and therefore requires a means to convert each into a signal that can be used for processing.
Why another Signal Conditioner System?
Oneiric Systems main purpose is to design and develop test and analysis equipment for product development and manufacturing. These systems range from stand-alone systems to systems that are integral to a production line. One of the common threads for each piece of equipment is the need for a signal conditioner.
Our Oneiric Engineers have used or evaluated several different types of signal conditioners. Some conditioners are tied to a specific “bus” system or type of equipment (ie. PXI, VME or a vendor’s PLC, stuff we may discuss in a future post). Other systems are stand alone, but have plastic housings to separate the conditioners between channels (not very convenient), still others incorporate multiple channels cages, where a card that conditions several transducers must be purchased. There are even systems that have a very nice housing, and are single channel configurable, but are so expensive, it is difficult to justify the cost. Several different systems have been used for various pieces of equipment, but a suitable, reasonably cost system, seemed elusive.
For these reasons, Oneiric Systems embarked on designing a reasonably cost, single channel configurable, flexible, and expandable system for internal project use. The result of this effort has been used for internal projects for the last 5 years with systems installed at several different customers in the United States and Canada. Since the feedback has been so positive, the conditioner system is now being offered as a stand-alone product here on the site!
About the Oneiric Systems, Inc. Signal Conditioning System:
- 16 Channel Rack Mount or DIN rail mounted card cage.
- 3 different plug-in conditioning cards (1 required each slot of the card cage)
- Universal Card (Strain Gages, ICP accelerometers & microphones, 4-20 ma powered or unpowered, voltage input, constant current)
- AC/AC LVDT & RVDT Card
- 4, 5, and 6 wire LVDT
- Designing option to allow use with load cells and torque cells
- Thermocouple Card
- Option between Type J or K type
- Screw Terminals for channel inputs, outputs, and power input
- Requires ±15 VDC and 24VDC input power
- Can be interfaced directly to National Instruments 68 Pin devices
- With the NI interface plugged in, an optional digital and analog out expansion board is available
Products mentioned here:
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AC/AC LVDT Input Card$226.22 – $229.48 -
Signal Conditioning Backplane$374.88 – $1,082.16 -
Thermocouple Conditioner Card$131.65 – $140.95 -
Universal Input Conditioner Card$141.59 – $160.41
