LabJack U12 USB DAQ Unit

Now available in the UK from Audon Electronics is the LabJack U12 USB data acquisition and control unit.

The Labjack features 8 single ended or 4 differential analogue inputs,
2 analogue outputs, 20 digital I/O including a 32 bit counter and
watchdog timer. This is all crammed into a sturdy unit measuring only
150mm x 110mm x 35mm. 

The LabJack has a ±10V input range at 12-bit resolution. Differential
channels can make use of the low noise precision amplifier with gains
of 1,2,4,8,16,20, giving an effective resolution of greater than 16-bits.
Data can be streamed to disk at 1kHz and a bursts mode allows over
4000 samples to de taken at a 8kHz rate. The two 0-10V analogue
output channels can be updated at a 50Hz rate with 10-bit resolution.
All analogue I/O are accessed via screw terminals.

The LabJack has 20 digital I/O channels which can be individually
configured as input or output. Four digital I/O's are accessed via
screw terminals whilst the remaining 16 are accessed through a
25-way D connector; an optional relay/opto-isolator expansion
board is available.There is also one 32-bit counter available on
the LabJack U12, capable of counting frequencies up to 1 MHz. 
The LabJack U12 also has a watchdog timer function available
which can change the states of digital I/O if the LabJack does not
successfully communicate with the PC within a specified time-out
period. This function could be used to reboot the PC allowing for
reliable unattended operation.

The use of the PC's USB port allows for a simple plug-and-play
installation process and by using USB hubs, up to 80 LabJacks
may be connected to a single USB port.

Included with the LabJack are the free example applications
LJlogger and LJscope. LJlogger provides datalogger type
functionality. It reads all inputs, controls all outputs, writes real
time data to the Internet or hard disk, and sends email when
events are triggered. LJscope is a virtual oscilloscope program
with FFT display.

Drivers are provided as a DLL which can be called from most
programming languages. Also included are an ActiveX wrapper
and LabVIEW VIs which call all the functions in the DLL.