Solutions for PC-based Measurement

Pen Recorder Data Recording System

Pen Recorder is a measure software which, by importing maximum 8-channel analog signals from CONTEC DAQ products, allows you to use your PC like a pen recorder.
By accumulating in real time the sampled analogue data on a high-storage PC hard disk, this software enables measurement over a long time. (The measurement time will vary depending on the availability of hard disk space.)

This DAC software also allows you to simulate data acquisition without requiring an analog-to-digital converter.
Try out its basic features before purchasing the hardware.
(API-PAC(WDM) software driver for the demo board must be installed on your PC.)

 
 index
About system Setup / Operation
  Description   Details of log setup
  Basic configuration of data recording system   Details of device setup
  Specifications   Details of testing
  Required environment   Details of mail
download Introduction / Operation procedures
  Downloading Pen Recorder   Introduction / Operation procedures
Setup / Operation Contact address
  Screen operation   Contact address
 
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Description

  • Pen Recorder can acquire maximum 8-channel data from one piece of CONTEC hardware which supports analog input, allowing you to display data in trend graph or to save it in a CSV-format file.

  • In addition to saving the data in a file, you can store event logs such as alarm and range-over, and read the saved file on Excel. Error and alarm information generated during the execution can be transmitted as a mail.
    You can also specify the sampling period as well as the number and color of the trend graph pen.

  • Pen Recorder is highly suited for use in an environment which involves low-speed monitoring. It has already been used in the following applications:
           Temperature measurement, humidity measurement, weight measurement
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    Basic composition figure

     You can select a system configuration that optimally meets the desired application and the analysis environment.
     For the evaluation samples of our data acquisition products, please contact our sales department.
    Basic configuration of data recording system

    5Return to INDEX
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    Specifications
    spec table

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    Required environment

    Precision of measure: Approx.±1.5mV at ±10V range
    (This is when using a signal source which incorporates a high-speed operational amplifier.
     When the ambient temperature is either 0°C or 50°C, there may be an error of 0.1% with the maximum range.)

    While this software can be set to maximum 1msec (100msec by default), the maximum sampling speed will vary depending on the PC CPU, memory and hard disk performance.

    In order to use an e-mail function, you need to have a mail software which supports MAPI client (ex. Microsoft Outlook/Outlook Express). Check that your mail software is enabled for use.
    Downloading Pen Recorder
    For Windows XP/2000/Me/98 download (Version: 3.20   Data capacity: 2,027KB   Last updated: 2005/10/01)
    Screen operation

     

    Screen operation

    (1) Read setting / Save setting / Exit program
    (2) Set data log / Event log
      Details of log setup
    (3)   Details of mail setup
    (4)

    Displaying Help file
    (5)

    Set hardware / Display board name
      Details of device setup
    (6) Select range/number of channels/sampling period
      Details of testing
    (7) Display data log / Event log
      Details of log setup
    (8) Start/end execution using a button
    (9)

    Recorder
    Display the pen color and value for each channel / Set mail transmission on error /
    Set the length of time-axis in the trend graph
    (10) Display alarm and range-over events
    (11) Data display area

    Details of log setup
     
    1. Data log setting
    Specify the file name under which you wish to save the data.

     

    Data log setup

     
    2. Event log setting
    Setting alarm and range-over events
    With the alarm event, you can set low/high alarm values, status bar display, file name and mail transmission. With the range-over event, you can set file name and status bar display as well as error logging.


    Event log setting
    Details of device setup
     
    Select the board or PC card to be used. If it is not displayed in the list, check that the hardware is installed properly. (Refer to the manual and FAQ.) FAQ 

     

     

    Device setup

     
    Details of testing
     
    Click Test button to acquire data from the hardware and display it in Input Data field.

     

     

    Boad test

     
    Details of mail setup
     
    Set mail transmission for error and alarm information.
    You can enter address, subject, header and comment in this field. Click Send Mail Test button to send the mail.

     

     

    Details of mail setup

     
    Introduction / Operation procedures 
     
    Setup/insertion of hardware

    When using either PCI or Low Profile PCI board
    1) Set the board ID. (See the hardware manual for the details.)
    When mounting more than one board of the same type on one PC unit, you need to differentiate each board by allocating a board ID.
    2) After confirming that PC power is off, insert the board onto PCI bus slot.
     

    When using PC card
    1) Connect the cable to PC card.
    2) Insert it onto CardBus slot. (See the hardware manual for the details.)
     
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    Wiring
    1) Connect the connector portion of the board or PC card to the connector portion of the terminal block with a cable.
    2) Connect the terminal block to the probe.
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    Installing a driver
    A driver software must be installed to let each OS recognize the hardware.
    API-TOOL
    Download the latest version of the driver software API-AIO(WDM) from the download page.
    Also, download the driver for timer API-TIMER(W32) from the download page.
    The required software is execution environment (runtime).
    Install the driver that matches your OS.
    For the details of the installation procedure, download the online HELP.
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    Installing software
    1) Downloading the software
      Download data recording system (Pen Recorder).
    2) Executing the downloaded file
      Execute the downloaded file (PenRec_System.xx.exe). When the installation program is automatically started, proceed with the installation by following the instruction.
    3) Starting the program
      When the installation is complete, "Contec PC Measure" will be created in the Start Menu program. Execute "Data Recording System (Pen Recorder)" you can find inside "Contec PC Measure".
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    Operating the software
    The basic operation procedure is as described in the following. See Pen Recorder HELP for the setup details.
    1) Registering the hardware
      Select the board or PC card to be used.
    2) Set the range
    3) Set the number of channels
    4) Test
      Check that data acquisition can be performed properly.
    5) Log setting
      This is the setting for saving data.
    6) Click the power button and execute.
     
    Contact address 

     

       For further inquiries concerning Pen Recorder, please contact us at the following e-mail address:

    E-mail: tsc@contec.co.jp