PCI-IDO-xxA Series

PCI-IDO-xxA Series cards offer a range of 16, 32, or 48 individual, optically isolated differential outputs. These cards are ideal for use in control and instrumentation applications where high-voltage protection is required. Individual channel-to-channel isolation allows every channel to be physically and electrically separated from the others.

The opto-isolated outputs use solid-state, P-Channel FET switches, providing a much faster turn-on and turn-off time and higher life expectancy than electromechanical relays. User-supplied load voltages can range from 5V to 60V.

The outputs simultaneously apply the commanded state only upon a rising edge at an external input pin (pin 50 on P2, the first connector). An error register indicates if a rising input occurs before output values were updated by software (underflow). The logic on the chip allows the application to read what was written to the latches. Diodes are included across the load for inductive-spike protection.

These cards are especially useful in applications where high common-mode external voltages are present. Isolation is required to guard electronics from transient voltage spikes and offers greater common-mode noise rejection in electronically noisy surroundings containing industrial machinery and inductive loads. These applications include factory automation, energy management, industrial ON/OFF control, security systems, manufacturing test, and process monitoring. In addition to protecting industrial applications from accidental contact with high external voltages, the isolation provided eliminates troublesome ground loops. Connections are available via 50-pin IDC type headers, ribbon cables, and a variety of screw terminal boards. A strain relief bar where the cables exit the card assures that the cables will not interfere with adjacent cards. Standard cables are six feet long but alternate lengths are available.

SOFTWARE

These cards are supported for use in most operating systems and include a free DOS, Linux (including Mac OS X) and Windows XP -> 10, both 32 & 64 bit compatible software package. This package contains sample programs and source code in "C" for DOS, and Visual Basic, Delphi, and Visual C++ for Windows. Also incorporated is a graphical setup program in Windows. Linux support includes installation files and basic samples for programming from user level via an open source kernel driver. Third party support includes a Windows standard DLL interface usable from the most popular application programs, and includes example LabVIEW VIs. Embedded OS support includes Windows Xpe, WES7, etc.

Drivers and Downloads

Full list of available Downloads: Software Packages, Drivers, Manuals, and other documents

Information about our Free Software packages:

ACCES is proud to provide a full suite of software support with every Data Acquisition product. We are committed to supporting the most popular operating systems and platforms for our customers. Currently we are actively supporting Windows XP through Windows 10, including "Server 2008," "Embedded," and "Compact" flavors in both 32-bit and 64-bit for all plug-and-play products including PCI, PCI Express, USB, and more. Many products continue to ship with support for additional operating systems such as DOS, Windows 95, 98, Me, NT4, and 2000.

Samples

Among the software we deliver with our products are sample programs in a wide variety of programming languages. These samples are used to demonstrate the software interfaces to our products — and many can be used as-is in your production environments, or to test functionality of the devices out-of-the-box. We're currently actively supporting sample programs in Visual C# and Delphi with many devices including samples in Visual Basic and Visual C/C++, as well as Borland C/C++ 3.1 for DOS. Additionally we provide National Instruments LabVIEW compatible DLLs and demonstration VIs for many of our devices.

Drivers

Drivers for various operating systems are also provided, including active support for Windows XP -> 10 — all in both 32-bit and 64-bit flavors, and including consumer, server, and embedded varieties — as well as the Linux kernels 2.6 and newer and recent macOS versions. Many products continue to ship with driver support for Windows 95, 98, Me, NT4, and Windows 2000, but support for these operating systems is considered deprecated.

Setup Programs and Utilites

Our Data Acquisition devices also include a graphical setup utility that walks you through the process of configuring any option jumpers or switches on the device, as well as explaining a little about the various connectors present.

Many devices also include utility programs - little tools to make your use of the device easier, such as WinRISC, a "Really Incredibly Simple Communications" terminal program that lets you get started instantly with serial devices.

"Register Level" Documentation

Besides all this software in all these languages and operating systems ACCES has a policy of open and transparent development: none of our lowest-level "register" interfaces are hidden from you — we document every register in every bus card, every command in every serial board, and every usb control transfer in every USB Data Acquisition board. These lowest-level interfaces allow you to develop for our products in ANY operating system or language, regardless of our actively supporting it or having a driver for it. We have customers actively developing in ADA, Android, Python, Java, MATLAB, Solaris, and more, just by referring to our complete low-level interface documentation! And we provide the full source code to all of our drivers, regardless of operating system, to give you an even bigger head start in your own development tasks.

No Fees or Royalties

All of this software is provided at no additional charge, and is licensed under any of a variety of flexible — and royalty free — options. Check out our software license explanation if you'd like more information.

Custom Software

ACCES also offers Custom Software Services for our products. Our prices are unbelievably low, often as inexpensive as free! If you need something tweaked to support your needs, or an entire enterprise application developed from scratch, it is definitely worth your time to inquire with us, first.

Further information about available ACCES Software:

Redistributing Windows Drivers

A list of ACCES drivers and the files that compose them under different versions of Windows, so you can easily redistribute ACCES cards and drivers.

Specifications

Outputs

• Number of Channels: 16, 32, or 48
• Load Voltage Range: 5V to 60V (Voltage supplied by User)
• Load Current per Channel: 1A max. steady state, 2A pulse (Note: Current may be limited by the cable. Certain ribbon cables limit current to 0.5A.)
• Isolation: Optically isolated Channel-to-ground and channel-to-channel (* see note)
• Switching Time:
  • Turn-On 50µs
  • Turn-Off 5µs, inductive-spike protection via a diode
• Switch Resistance: 0.4Ω when saturated
• Switch Leakage Current: 100 to 300µA
• Power Required: +5VDC @ 245mA (48 bits)

*Note on Isolation: Opto-Isolators and connectors are rated for at least 500V, but isolation voltage breakdowns will vary and are affected by factors like cabling, spacing of pins, spacing between traces on the PCB, humidity, dust and other environmental factors. This is a safety issue so a careful approach is required. For CE certification, isolation was specified at 60V DC. The design intention was to eliminate the influence of common mode. Use proper wiring techniques to minimize voltage between channels and to ground. Tolerance of higher isolation voltage can be obtained on request by applying a conformal coating to the board.

Environmental