Measurement Computing USB-5201, User Manual

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8
Chapter 1
Introducing the USB-5201
Overview: USB-5201 features
This user's guide contains all of the information you need to connect the USB-5201 to your computer and to the
signals you want to measure.
The USB-5201 is a USB 2.0 full-speed, thermocouple input device that is supported under popular Microsoft
®
Windows
®
operating systems. The USB-5201 is fully compatible with both USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 ports.
The USB-5201 provides eight differential thermocouple input channels and two integrated cold junction
compensation (CJC) sensors. You can take measurements from type J, K, R, S, T, N, E, and B thermocouples.
An open thermocouple detection feature lets you detect a broken thermocouple. An on-board microprocessor
automatically linearizes the measurement data.
Eight independent, TTL-compatible digital I/O channels are provided to monitor TTL-level inputs,
communicate with external devices, and to generate alarms. The digital I/O channels are software
programmable for input or output.
The USB-5201 features eight independent temperature alarms. Each alarm controls an associated digital I/O
channel as an alarm output. The input to each alarm is one of the temperature input channels. The output of each
alarm is software configurable as active high or low. You set up the temperature threshold conditions to activate
each alarm. When an alarm is activated, the associated DIO channel is driven to the output state.
You can log your measurements to a CompactFlash
®
memory card. CompactFlash is a removable non-volatile
storage device. A 256 MB CompactFlash memory card is shipped with the device to store your data. For more
information, refer to the section "Logging data with the USB-5201" below.
External power is required for data logging operations
Due to processing limitations, you cannot log data to the memory card when the USB-5201 is connected to your
computer's active USB bus. When operating as a data logger, disconnect the USB cable from the computer, and
connect the external power supply shipped with the device.
The USB-5201 is a standalone plug-and-play device. External power is required for data logging mode only. All
configurable options are software-programmable. The USB-5201 is fully software-calibrated.
Logging data with the USB-5201
The USB-5201 has many software-configurable options for setting up data logging.
You can record:

temperature ( C) or raw data from selected input channels

timestamp data

CJC sensor readings
You specify the number of seconds between samples. You can begin logging data at power up, when you press
the data logging button, or at a specific date and time.