products 3000 series 3100 series 3200 series 3400 series 3500 series 3600 series 3800 series 3900 series 5000 series

ProDac 3911 24-Channel
Current Exitation
Function Card

  • 24 Channels
  • Pulsed Output for reduced Heat Dissipation
  • 250µA, 500µA or 2mA Output Current
  • Hardware controlled Synchronisation with ProDAQ ADCs
  • Up to 0.1 C Accuracy when used with ProDAQ 3411 Enhanced ADC
  • ± 0.01% Absolute Accuracy
  • Broken Wire Detection
The ProDAQ 3911 Pulsed Current Source Function Card is one of the ProDAQ high density cards, which can be fitted into ProDAQ Motherboards. ProDAQ modules are the most versatile VXIbus modules on the market. They provide the user with the highest channel density and functionality available today.

The 3911 Pulsed Current Source Function Card is designed as a switched (pulsed) current source and can be operated either as a standalone, high-accuracy current source or together with one of the ProDAQ 3410 or 3411 ADC Function Cards. As with all ProDAQ Function Cards it is designed to be fitted to one of the ProDAQ Motherboards.

It provides 24 output channels with an output current of either 250µA, 500µA or 2mA, depending on the model. The current is generated by a common current source and then distributed to the channels by a multiplexer. Therefore only one channel is active at a time. The active channel is monitored to detect a failure due to a bro-ken wire or unattached equipment. All outputs are protected to ± 15V.

There are two basic modes of operation, the ProDAQ ADC controlled mode and the self- controlled mode with individual on/off timing for each channel.

In the ProDAQ ADC controlled mode the Pro-DAQ 3911 Pulsed Current Source is synchro-nized with one of the ProDAQ ADCs via the in-ternal trigger lines. During setup the user defines the channels on which to take data. The operation is than coltrolled by the hardware, making sure that only the selected ADC channels will be provided with excitation current and that only these channels will be measured. This process operates without any software interference.

In the self-controlled mode the ProDAQ 3911 Pulsed Current Source can operate with any ADC. During setup the user defines the channels to energize and measure, as well as the intervals for the measuring time on each channel and the delay time between channels.

A trigger starts the data collection. This can be generated by software, by the motherboard, by an ADC or received through the front panel connector.

It should be noted that approx. 80µs are needed for the current source to settle to an accuracy of 0.01%.

The ProDAQ 3911 Pulsed Current Source Function Card is supplied with VXIplug&play drivers, that can be used with all popular software packages. The driver automatically detects and initializes the ProDAQ 3911 Pulsed Current Source Function Card as well as all other function cards installed in the ProDAQ motherboard, removing any possibility of configuration errors.

ProDAQ modules allow the user to safely and simply expand their existing hardware and software systems.

Download the datasheet for the ProDAQ 3911 Function Card ...