Combine this fully featured 1 lb. 7" x 3" x 1-5/8" data acquisition system with a Pocket PC for true portability! Software for Pocket PC and desktop PC included.

Let us help you determine if the Black Lab will meet your needs. Email or phone us with your questions.

CIM

Battery Option

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Black Lab

BLACK LAB

THE PORTABLE DATA ACQUISITION SOLUTION

WHAT IS IT? WHAT DATA ACQUISITION NEEDS DOES IT MEET?

The Black Lab is a fully integrated, portable data acquisition system

Please read on to find out more....

Download Black Lab brochure as a PDF file

HARDWARE

The Black Lab portable data acquisition system provides six differential analog and four optically isolated digital input channels. The Black Lab weighs 1 lb and is 7" x 3" 1-5/8".

The Black Lab connects to a Pocket PC OR desktop (notebook) computer via RS-232 (serial).

As shown in the picture on the right, the small, 1 lb. Black Lab system combined with a 6 oz. Pocket PC gives the user a very portable data acquisition system. An optional battery provides another level of portability.

For more information about Pocket PC's and a list of recommended Pocket PCs compatible with the Black Lab go to Pocket PC's.

Black Lab front (left) and rear panels

   The front panel:

     The rear panel:

Power ON/OFF Switch

RS-232 connector

Connector for input signals using CIM modules

AUX connector (power for CIM modules)

System status indicator lights

Fuse

Battery (optional) connector

USB (future)

Connecting Analog and Digital Inputs

In order to make interfacing signals to the Black Lab as simple as possible, Analog Interfaces provides a variety of Connector Interface Modules (CIM's.)

Analog and digital inputs are connected to the Black Lab using Connector Interface Modules (CIM's). CIM1 (furthest left in picture) comes standard with the Black Lab and provides a simple screw terminal connection. Other CIM modules provide for easy to use pluggable connections to allow fast attachment and removal of sensors to the CIM module and the Black Lab.

In addition some CIM’s provide sensor excitation at the plug to power the sensor. CIM 3 allows excitation voltages to be set for each channel. See the Connector Interface Modules link for more information.

Battery Option

Adding a battery to the Black Lab allows the system to be truly mobile. The Optional Battery provides many hours of operation from a rechargeable Lithium Ion battery. This option also comes with a clip to mount the Black Lab on your belt, strap or other framework. The batteries and charger are sold separately so you can maintain any number of charged batteries to suit your testing needs.

The battery is very compact and slides in and out of the battery holder easily for fast replacement with a fresh battery. Tracking battery charging and discharging is also simple with the use of a remaining charge indicator located on the side of the battery.

The battery can also function also as an excellent back up battery source in case AC power becomes unavailable. The battery will switch over automatically in the event of power loss.

Note that the battery version of the Black Lab system must be specified when the order is placed. The battery holder and clip can only be added at the factory.

SOFTWARE

Software is included with the Black Lab for both the Pocket PC and the desktop computers. Both versions have a very similar appearance and are extremely easy to configure and use.

The Black Lab software provides for configuring and saving tests, collecting data, viewing the data graphically, and importing the data into a spreadsheet or your favorite analysis package. Both the Pocket PC and desktop versions support all the functions listed above so testing can be performed on either platform.

Math Tablet (a popular Pocket PC program for performing graphing, arithmetic, statistical, logical, etc functions) is included with the Pocket PC software version. Black Lab and Math Tablet work together to provide fully functional graphing capabilities in addition to calculation options.

For more information on the software and screen examples, go to Software page.

APPLICATIONS

The Black Lab has been designed for more demanding users that want to take data in the field where it isn’t possible or convenient to take a notebook PC and a larger data acquisition box. It also addresses the needs of users that need to travel with a data acquisition system. The Black Lab and Pocket PC easily fit into a brief case or carrying bag. Although designed for portability, the Black Lab is equally useful in the lab using the Desktop program included and will reduce the amount of space required for test equipment on your table.

DESIGN OBJECTIVES

Portability – To provide “true” portability, i.e. a system that can be easily transported in a carrying bag or briefcase. Also a system that can run from battery. Here's a check list with some features to evaluate how portable a system really is!

Power – To accomplish the portability objective without having to give up key data acquisition features that customers need to accomplish sophisticated testing (like triggering, differential inputs, etc.) Go to Specifications for information about the powerful features of the Black Lab.

Pocket PC – To provide a system that is interfaced to a Pocket PC to take advantage of “true portability” on the PC side of the system. Please consult Using a Pocket PC for data acquisition for more information.

OTHER IMPORTANT OBJECTIVES

Ruggedness - the system must be able to stand up to use in the field. The Black Lab electronics are housed in a rugged metal case. If the system is going to be used in the field with a Pocket PC, Analog Interfaces strongly recommends the purchase of the "ruggedized iPAQ" option which protects the Pocket PC with a metal case and provides a strain reliefed cable connection. Details regarding this option are on the Pocket PC Page.

Ease of use - hardware and software setup and configuration are designed for ease of use, including drop down lists, so you can be up and taking data in minutes.

Quick connectivity - the Black Lab system uses convenient durable connectors that allow quick connection of sensors. A variety of Connector Interface Module options provide for different connection methods.

Same user interface on Pocket PC and Desktop - whether working in the field with the Pocket PC or in the lab where you can take advantage of the large screen and keyboard of desktop / notebook PC's, the software is essentially the same - minimizing learning time.

Easy data transfer from Pocket PC to desktop - a variety of methods are available to suit your preferences including ActiveSync, SD card (or other Pocket PC supported card types), Infrared, Bluetooth, etc.

FAQ page (click here for answers to questions about the Black Lab)

Links and Resources page (click here for other web sites and additional resources related to portable data acquisition)