Back to System 10
GENERAL PAGE

Standard Command Set  [Back ]

Simple ASCII mnemonic commands initiate standard user-selected SETUP and "RUN-TIME" functions.  Since no "programming" is involved in configuring the data acquisition system, it can be up and running in a very short time.

System 10 "WRITE" and "READ" Commands 

Specific commands may be issued to the system

• by the operator, via mainframe keyboard or keypad, or via connected ASCII terminal

• by a connected computer via the mainframe's main or auxiliary Computer Interface Port

• internally, by automatic "EXECUTE" function

Every System 10 emulates a standard full-duplex RS232, IEEE-488, or RS422 data terminal—a device with which, regardless of the operating system or user programming language employed, virtually all computers are capable of communicating.

All commands are transparent to a supervisory computer, if present, which only "sees" the finished engineering-unit data it has requested.  The computer need intervene in the actual data acquisition process only when it deems appropriate.

Every System 10 is completely stand-alone to ensure maximum system uptime.  When multiple System 10 units are networked, each node operates as a fully independent stand-alone system, even when the host computer is down.

Analog Inputs  [Back ]

A large family of premium single- and multichannel SIGNAL CONDITIONING CARDS, including

• Standard cards for Thermocouples, Thermistors, RTD's, LVDT's, Frequency Sources, Analog Voltage and Current Sources, and DC/AC Strain Gage Transducers

• Specialized conditioner cards (TC Conditioner with Isolated Inputs; High-Voltage Isolation RTD Conditioner; Linear RTD Conditioner; Encoder Conditioner, Linear or Rotary; AC RMS Conditioners, 2- and 4-channel; Low-Level Voltage Conditioner; Vibration Conditioner for Amplified Piezoelectric Accelerometer; and others)

Exceptional measurement STABILITY and ACCURACY result from

• Separate amplifier for each input channel, with gain/noise/drift characteristics optimized for each specific input type

• Remotely sensed excitation, allowing accurate calibration with long cable runs

• Powerful low-pass active filtering on an individual-channel basis, for removal of unwanted high-frequency signal components; "AA" cards offer programmable filtering (important for elimination of aliasing)

• Precise control of internal reference voltages

• Precise built-in calibration and excellent interchangeability of cards

• Premium low-drift components

Special commands for precise "y = mx + b" scaling of transducer outputs

Optional run-time auto-zeroing (taring) of inputs

Custom linearization of nonlinear sensor inputs

Optional auxiliary excitation

Analog Outputs  [Back ]

Independent, digitally-controlled ±5 VDC outputs for commanding servo loops and for driving external recorders, plotters, indicators, etc.  The "data source" for a given output may be a specified data channel or a fixed millivolt value (see the "ANO" command, below).

Analog error signal for stable, high-speed PID closed-loop control

Conversion of voltage outputs to ±10 VDC or standard 4-20 mA "process control" outputs

Scaled buffering or unscaled buffering of standard system ±5 V signals for output to an oscilloscope, strip-chart recorder, or other receiver

Isolated ±10-V buffering of standard system ±5-V signals

Logic and Digital I/O  [Back ]

Up to 1000 internal logic bits, assignable to individual terminal pins (input or output, latching or nonlatching) of the Models 10AIO-16 and 10BIO-16 Universal Logic I/O Cards (click here for a diagram showing the correspondence of the 10BIO-16's LOGIC I/O PORTS and SYSTEM BITS)

Direct control of bits via internal system conditions (including the "limit logic" established for specific data channels), external inputs, special bit-setting commands, etc.

Binary, Binary Coded Decimal (BCD), and Hexadecimal I/O (see the discussion of 10BIO-16 BINARY and BCD I/O for full details).

Dual Limit Monitoring  [Back ]

Continuous, automatic per-channel HI-LO limit evaluation, with activation of specified logic outputs based on current "limit status"

Continuous display/transmission of limit-status data

Each limit value can be either fixed or equal to the existing reading of any system channel (this makes possible the continuous display of limit setpoints and direct comparison of two channels' data values)

"Limit Logic" commands specify the particular latching or nonlatching logic output to be activated whenever data for a given channel lies within any of three alarm zones: "GREATER THAN," "BETWEEN," and "LESS THAN"

Calculation Channels  [Back ]

Permit real-time computation of such process variables as Efficiency, Horsepower, Specific Fuel Consumption, Power Factor, Lift-Drag Ratio, Spring Modulus, etc.; also instantaneous conversion from one engineering unit to another

Conventional mathematical functions, including "+," "-," "x," "÷," SQUARE ROOT, ABSOLUTE VALUE, MAXIMUM (most positive value), MINIMUM (least positive value)—see the complete "CLC" list, below, along with a few examples of the use of this command; updated each scan cycle for real-time readings; may be sequentially chained to achieve complex algebraic computations

"Identity" function (CHN x = (CHNy) + 0) can be used to duplicate a given data channel (y) any number of times

Download and
Counter/Timer Channels  [Back ]

Volatile and nonvolatile data registers for computer-downloaded constants.  These may represent identifying part or operator numbers, mathematical constants, constant setpoint reference values, etc.

Allows remote control of limit values, gains, etc.; may also be used for block transfer of internal data sets (see the "CHN" command, below)

Event-controlled counter channels, both incremental and decremental

Automatically incremented or decremented timer channels

Extensive optional COUNTER/TIMER functions via plug-in card, including totalization and measurement of frequency and period; controllable by software command or logic input

Automatic execution of pre-entered command strings upon detection of specific system logic events—specifically, on detection of predefined LOGIC CONDITIONS or upon receipt of an external LOGIC INPUT—see the EXECUTE (EXU) command and the examples in the box below.  This extremely useful feature lets you set up process-interactive control strategies.  By specifying preplanned, intelligent System 10 reactions to predictable situations and events, you can greatly reduce communications and processing burdens.  More importantly, proper and prompt reactions to emergency conditions can be assured, even though the supervisory computer may be unable, at the time, to give attention to the process.

In response to a specific process condition or event, a System 10 can, for example

• send a prespecified warning message or interrupt string to the supervisory computer

• initiate peak-capture operation

• activate multiple logic outputs in a given pattern

• increment a counter channel

• change the video page on display

• "dump" selected data to a printer

• initiate digital "history" recording of a list of data channels

• redefine limit setpoints "on the fly" for ramp-soak operations

• rescale an analog output or switch it to a different source channel

• "lock" or "unlock" specific measured or calculated data values

• ...to name just a few of the many useful functions that can be effectively automated

"EXECUTE" command queue may be continuously monitored by a specially assigned system logic bit—see the COMPUTER STATUS BIT (CSB) command

"Conditional" execution of command strings based on the occurrence of prespecified Boolean combinations of system logic, limit, and/or time-interval conditions (available to "B-sized" mainframes only—see the CONDITIONAL (CDL) and COMMAND (CMD) commands, and the example in the box below; click here to see a typical system "CONDITIONALS DIRECTORY" video page)

High-Speed Data Communications  [Back ]

A variety of single-and multichannel data transfer modes to an external RS232 computer, terminal, modem, printer, recorder, etc., including "random channel," "dump," "datastream," "snapshot" (for a time-coherent data set), and "hard copy"—see the following table for details; standard baud rates from 110 through 153.6K.  When computer input buffering is limited, or when true hardware handshake is desired, the Daytronic Model PC-HSICA High-Speed Serial Interface Card is available.

More advanced printer outputs with custom format "templates" for presentation of channel data are possible for "B-sized" mainframes equipped with an optional Model 10VFO132 Formatted Output Card 

Additional transmission types include

• configuration data (in response to a specific "READ" command)

• bit-state data, in response to a BIT command

• a pre-entered character string, on receipt of a command such as INTERRUPT (ITR) or SEND (SND)

Optional conversion of RS232 output to IEEE-488 or RS422

Extending the maximum distance for high-speed serial communications (at 153.6K baud) up to about 3000 ft. via Serial Range Extender

Auxiliary interfaces for simultaneous high-speed communication with more than one external device (RS232, IEEE-488, or RS422)

Optional conversion of "10BACI-488" data output to either IEEE or DEC floating-point format (available on special request; contact the factory for details)

Selectable intertransmission delay—see the DELAY (DLY) command

Automatic timeout alert—see the TIMEOUT (TMO) command

Networking of
Multiple System 10 Mainframes  [Back ]

Any "B-sized" mainframe can become a central "host" unit for an RS485 Satellite Network of up to 31 independent System 10 data acquisition and control units.  Intercommunicating transparently with the host—and, in some cases, even among themselves—such "satellite" nodes can provide complete remote-site data acquisition, data display, process control, or entry of "global" system commands.

The Satellite Operation ("S") Option permits any "A-sized" mainframe that does not support "VFD" display to act as a "node" unit with a System 10 Satellite Network.

The Model 10K488 Data Concentrator can link up to 19 individual "B-sized" mainframes to a supervisory computer's IEEE-488 bus.  All mainframes can "listen" simultaneously to a request for data, and then "talk" (issue data) simultaneously to individual buffer cards in the 10K488 for subsequent high-speed access by the computer.

FIFO Storage of Data Outputs  [Back ]

Optional Model 10AFIFO First-In-First-Out Buffer Memory Card may be used with any "A-sized" mainframe to provide nonvolatile buffer storage of data outputs issued from the Computer Interface Port; both "destructive" and "nondestructive" I/O modes are available, plus checksum verification of data integrity and true erasure of data for high-security operations

Digital History Recording and Playback
with Optional On-Line SPC  [Back ]

Four independently controllable RAM recorders are provided by the optional Model 10BDR64 History Card

Automatic recording of selected data channels at preset time intervals or triggered by Boolean combinations of system logic, limit, and/or time-interval conditions