DI-159 PLC Data Acquisition Starter Kit

Model DI-159 PLC (programmable logic controller) is a first-of-its-kind product to leverage low cost, but extremely powerful 32-bit microcontrollers to provide a fully integrated solution that is easily programmed for a vast array of data acquisition and control applications. Alternative products (both PACs and PLCs) use complex programming language environments like C, .NET, LabVIEW, Domore!, Productivity3000, or other proprietary software that requires either a major time investment to understand and apply, or the need to hire expensive system integrators and consultants. In contrast, the integrated BASIC programming approach of the DI-159 PLC allows anyone with rudimentary programming skills to construct effective control systems in mere minutes. The product so tightly integrates the programming language with data acquisition and I/O hardware that many complex control scenarios may be implemented with only a few BASIC instructions.

The DI-159 PLC offers most of the data acquisition features of the popular DATAQ Instruments DI-149 Data Acquisition Starter Kit. It provides eight protected analog input channels, each with a ±10 VFS range and 10 bits of ADC resolution. Also provided are four each general purpose digital inputs and outputs. The outputs can switch up to 30 V/500 mA loads, and the inputs detect TTL thresholds over a maximum applied range of ±30 V peak. Also provided for general-purpose use are two LEDs and one pushbutton switch.

Wrapped around this data acquisition core is an embedded BASIC language compiler called StickOS from www.CPUStick.com that provides single-instruction access to each analog input, digital I/O port, as well as the LEDs and switch. The language supports real time performance to allow precisely timed operations that are so critical for many process control applications. It features four tick timers, each independently programmable to 250 µs resolution. This real time core is then leveraged by a powerful and familiar BASIC command set that supports block statements (IF, THEN, ELSE, etc.), strings, arrays, mathematical expressions, and much more.

The DI-159 PLC provides a USB port interface and can be used under any operating system that can run a terminal emulator and hook a COM port. A connected terminal emulator provides direct access to the DI-159 PLC's embedded BASIC programming environment and, depending upon the emulator, the ability to save and load an unlimited number of programs beyond the DI-159 PLC's built-in flash memory limit of three.

Emulators that are available online for free are Terminator and Konsole (Linux), iTerm2 (OS X), and PuTTY and TeraTerm (Windows). Also for the Windows environment the DI-159 PLC is supplied with an open source Visual Basic.NET application that allows terminal emulation, and BASIC program storage and retrieval. The DI-159 PLC's BASIC compiler is pre-programmed with a demo application that works with the Windows application to record DI-159 PLC analog and digital data to a connected PC in a Microsoft Excel-compatible format. Also included with the DI-159 PLC is a USB cable. The optional AC adaptor (connects to USB cable) for stand-alone, computer-independent control applications.