PXI Express module interrogates optical strain gauges

The NI PXIe-4844 optical sensor interrogator is the latest addition to the NI SC Express family of sensor measurement modules for PXI Express. It features four optical channels that are simultaneously scanned at 10Hz. Each channel has an 80nm wavelength range (1510-1590nm), which can scan 20 or more FBG sensors per channel (more than 80 FBG sensors per module, depending on the sensor range). For high-channel-count applications, engineers and scientists can further extend the maximum number of FBG sensors per module by connecting one or more optical channels to an external optical multiplexer or by adding more NI PXIe-4844 modules in the same PXI chassis.

In addition to multiple channels, the NI PXIe-4844 features an optical core that combines a high-power, low-noise swept wavelength laser with fibre Fabry-Perot tunable filter technology from Micron Optics. The module delivers a wavelength accuracy, repeatability and stability of 1pm, which is equivalent to sensor accuracies of approximately 1.2 microstrain and 0.1degC for FBG strain and temperature sensors, respectively. Unlike most instruments, the interrogator does not require periodic external calibration because every scan made by the NI PXIe-4844 is calibrated to an onboard NIST-traceable wavelength reference.

Easy to configure

Engineers and scientists can program the NI PXIe-4844 with easy-to-use configuration and driver software to shorten setup and configuration time. The module includes the NI-OSI Explorer utility for automatic sensor detection and simplified sensor configuration as well as the NI-OSI driver software with easy-to-use LabVIEW API for acquiring measurements in scaled physical units. Using NI LabVIEW software, engineers and scientists can view, log and analyse the sensor data. Applications in LabVIEW can easily be extended to include synchronisation with other sensor types, instruments or control systems using intuitive graphical icons and 'wires' that resemble a flowchart. LabVIEW also offers integration with thousands of hardware devices and provides hundreds of built-in libraries for advanced analysis and data visualisation.

The industry-standard PXI platform for measurement and automation is said to provide the industry's highest-performance timing and synchronisation capabilities and the high-throughput PCI Express bus. The NI PXIe-4844 can be integrated into the same chassis as other PXI modules including SC Express for complementary electrical data acquisition and control. With the PXI platform, engineers and scientists can simplify complex measurement systems located in remote, challenging environments by combining both optical and electrical measurements into the same PXI chassis.

Applications that can benefit from the NI PXIe-4844 include: civionics, for distributed measurements over long distances including bridges, dams, tunnels and other civil structures; energy, for monitoring wind turbine blades, pipelines, nuclear reactors, offshore platforms and power generators; and transportation, for testing and monitoring marine vessels, rail vehicles and aircraft components.

Follow the link for more information about the new NI PXIe-4844 optical sensor interrogator.