Like all X20 analog modules, the measurement function of each individual channel can be configured for current (0..20 mA) or voltage (+/- 10 V). The software filters are also configured. In this way, nearly all application requirements can be fulfilled with only one module. Because the module has an extremely fast 50 µs conversion time, it includes an internal electronic slave pointer for minimum and maximum values. That means the minimum and maximum values are continually resaved independently of the bus or CPU clock. They can be read by the CPU at any time. Additionally, various sampling methods can be configured using definable trigger conditions or a direct start from the CPU:
- Sample a defined numbers of measurement values when a trigger occurs.
- Sample a defined number of measurement values when a trigger occurs in addition to a defined number of values that are available before the trigger occurs.
- Start recording in the past, i.e. before the time when the trigger occurs and record the values until the memory is depleted.
- Start recording with a delay after the time when the trigger occurs.
In particular, recording before the time when the trigger occurs is possible by continually saving the measurement values in parallel during normal operation and not just when the trigger conditions is met. The sample rates can be configured from 100 Hz to 20 kHz. It doesn't matter if only one channel or multiple channels are sampled. The memory size (12 KB) allows recording of extensive current or voltage processes.
Values that have been saved are transferred to the backplane asynchronously to the CPU without influencing cyclic data transfer so that they can be analyzed in the application. An advantage of the B&R CPUs that are based on PC technology.
