What is data acquisition?
Data acquisition is the process of sampling signals that measure real-world physical conditions and converting the resulting samples into digital numeric values that a computer can process. Data acquisition systems, abbreviated as DAS, DAQ, or DAU, typically convert analog waveforms into digital values for processing.
A DAQ system consists of sensors, measuring instruments, and a computer. The sensors measure physical quantities such as voltage, current, temperature, pressure, sound, or motion. The computer then receives the converted signals, stores them, and analyzes them.
Where data acquisition is used
DAQ systems are used in scientific research, industrial automation, environmental monitoring, and medical equipment. In each case, the system records measurements over time so that operators or software can review and act on them.
Requirements for a DAQ computer
A computer used for data acquisition must receive signals reliably and store the resulting data. Key specifications include processor core count, memory capacity, storage size, and the number of I/O ports. A fanless industrial design and a wide-range power input help the computer run in factory and field environments.
Thinvent products for data acquisition
The Thinvent range includes Industrial PCs, Aero and Treo Mini PCs, and a Micro thin client. The table below lists the processor and memory of each model.
| Product | Processor | Cores | Max frequency | Cache | Memory | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thinvent Industrial PC IPC5 (i5) | Intel Core i5-1240P | 12 | 4.4 GHz | 12 MB | 16 GB | 512 GB SSD |
| Thinvent Industrial PC IPC5 (i5) | Intel Core i5-1240P | 12 | 4.4 GHz | 12 MB | 32 GB | 1 TB SSD |
| Thinvent Industrial PC IPC3 | Intel Core i3-1215U | 6 | 4.4 GHz | 10 MB | 8 GB | 256 GB SSD |
| Thinvent Aero Mini PC | Intel Core i3-1215U | 6 | 4.4 GHz | 10 MB | 8 GB | 256 GB SSD |
| Thinvent Industrial PC IPC5 (i7) | Intel Core i7-1255U | 10 | 4.7 GHz | 12 MB | 16 GB | 512 GB SSD |
| Thinvent Industrial PC IPC5 (i7) | Intel Core i7-1255U | 10 | 4.7 GHz | 12 MB | 32 GB | 1 TB SSD |
| Thinvent Aero Mini PC | Intel Core 5 120U | 10 | 5.0 GHz | 12 MB | 16 GB | 512 GB SSD |
| Thinvent Treo Mini PC | Intel N5095A | 4 | 2.9 GHz | 4 MB | 4 GB | 128 GB SSD |
| Thinvent Treo Mini PC | AMD Ryzen 5 7430U | 6 | 4.3 GHz | 16 MB | 16 GB | 512 GB SSD |
| Thinvent Industrial PC IPC5 (i5) | Intel Core i5-1240P | 12 | 4.4 GHz | 12 MB | 32 GB | 1 TB SSD |
| Thinvent Micro 5R Thin Client | ARM Cortex A53 | 4 | 2.0 GHz | - | 2 GB | 16 GB eMMC |
The Industrial PC IPC5 models with an Intel Core i7-1255U processor include Dual LAN ports. These ports connect the computer to two networks.
Thinvent Industrial PCs and Mini PCs for data acquisition
Thinvent products for data acquisition include the Industrial PC IPC5, Industrial PC IPC3, Aero Mini PC, Treo Mini PC, and Micro 5R Thin Client. Choose a model by core count, memory, and storage for the measurement workload.
