CAS’it measurement software

<What have you done in the last 25 years?> - series.

What:

A Windows PC data-acquisition application showing signal levels and trending, triggered values and curves with auto PDF reporting.

Result:

A Windows program developed in NI (part of Emerson) LabVIEW.

How:

This is software program evolved from the virtual control panel of an internally designed 24-bits data acquisition unit developed by my former business-partner (before 2000).

The initial idea was an accurate configurable analog system where digital signal processing could emulate analog systems. Applications like emulating sensors and/or controllers but also adding filtering and processing capabilities that traditional passive sensors do not have.

This idea was born from experiences in an R&D environment where often signal-converters do not do a great job at low-noise signal-conversion. The combination of high-quality signal conversion and digital processing options should give the ideal combination of fixing these low-quality sensors/signals.

The Windows software was meant primarily as a way of presenting the signals and configuring the settings to fit its specific task.

So in the software the measured or calculated value is presented in a graph and in a clear numeric read-out. Logging of the values is possible in the background.

Now:

(An ongoing project; not even an alpha-version.) In recent years (mostly COVID-19 period) the application has grown by adding extra inputs like a connected microphone for audio signal-levels or an internally developed light-level sensor. The original internally developed “CAS” hardware device was not developed further, so alternative signal inputs should be used.

Further a smart trigger-option is added to automatically capture events on the signals. A smart trigger because it is the result of a calculation; however simple level-crossing is possible also. Of the event/trigger, measured values are presented in a table and stored together with the graphic trend, much like on an oscilloscope. Auto-reporting means that by the press of a button you generate a measurement-report with a select-able lay-out so your tests are easily documented.

Conclusion:

Existing software development projects could be re-used by keeping the original idea, but adopting newer inputs or outputs. This with little sacrifice to the original idea and existing code that took (mostly unpaid) hard work going into the developments/programming.

Call for action:

Companies interested in me, the projects or the stories about it are welcome to contact me.