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When the PLC cycle is too
long for your measuring task

Acquire and process fast signals with a real-time solution designed for the task.

Short events can be captured incompletely if the temporal resolution is unsuitable. What matters is how fast data have to be recorded, processed and made available for a response.

IQstruct Engineering develops measurement and control solutions with LabVIEW and NI hardware as well as Beckhoff TwinCAT. CompactRIO, PXI and DAQ systems are selected according to the signal and the response requirement. FPGA-based NI hardware can support fast acquisition and preprocessing.

Start now at no cost

In a free first conversation we clarify sampling rate, required cycle time and the number of channels, and say whether a PLC will do.

See the person in charge

Scope of services

Derive the timing requirement from the task

Signal curve, acquisition rate and response determine the design.

Connect measurement and processing

Data are recorded and processed further at the appropriate level.

Pass results on to other systems

Higher-level applications receive the agreed measurement and status information.

Real time where the PLC cycle is not enough

IQstruct Engineering develops measurement and control solutions with LabVIEW and NI hardware as well as Beckhoff TwinCAT.

Typical PLC cycles are around 5 to 20 milliseconds. Some measuring and control tasks need a finer temporal resolution; real-time systems then acquire and process data down to the microsecond range. CompactRIO, PXI and DAQ systems are selected according to the signal and the response requirement, and FPGA-based NI hardware handles fast acquisition and preprocessing.

Sampling rates in kS/s and MS/s describe how many samples are acquired per second. For a control task, what also counts is when a piece of information is processed and a response follows. Acquisition, preprocessing and the higher-level system are therefore designed together.

Controller modules on a DIN rail with blue wiring

Real-time systems

Short events are captured completely

Acquisition and processing follow the timing requirement of the measuring task, down to the microsecond range.

Approach in the project

  1. Three people discuss signals and measured variables at an electronics workstation, a circuit diagram on the screenAi

    1

    Plan the measuring task

    Signals, measured variables and test task are discussed at the electronics workstation.

  2. An engineer configures a modular measurement system on the screen and holds a measurement moduleAi

    2

    Select measuring hardware

    A suitable NI system with analogue and digital modules is configured.

  3. An engineer shows a colleague a graphical measurement program on the screenAi

    3

    Program the measuring system

    The measuring sequence is developed in LabVIEW to suit the task.

  4. An engineer measures a circuit board with a probe and an oscilloscopeAi

    4

    Test the electronics

    Oscilloscope measurements on the test circuit prove the function.

Platforms

NI CompactRIO

LabVIEW Real-Time with FPGA for fast acquisition and preprocessing.

NI PXI and DAQ

Measuring systems for high channel counts and sampling rates.

Beckhoff TwinCAT

Real-time control in the automation environment.

Project experience

Fast signal transmission over optical fibre

Signal events in the microsecond range determined the measurement and control task.

Together with a customer, IQstruct Engineering developed a system that transmitted signals over optical fibre to optical receivers. The processing had to react to events in the microsecond range. The specific measurement and control task therefore determined the technical solution and made very fast control sequences possible. For comparable tasks, the signal path, the electrical interfaces and the higher-level software are considered together; the achievable times are to be checked on the actual setup.

Frequently asked questions

We are glad to answer your detailed questions in a personal conversation.

Is the sampling rate the same as the response time?

The sampling rate describes acquisition. Latency and jitter are designed and tested per system.

When is a real-time system needed?

When PLC, edge or middleware cycles do not achieve the required temporal resolution or deterministic processing.

Which times do you commit to?

Binding cycle and response times result from the design and testing of your system.

Further industry solutions

Every industry has its particularities. That calls for a reliable partner who knows the requirements and delivers suitable solutions.

First conversation

Arrange a free first conversation

Describe your task. We agree a date and discuss the possible project scope.

  1. Notebook on a desk with an open calendar and a selected appointmentAi

    1

    You request an appointment

  2. Experts at a meeting table discussing an extensive software architecture on the screenAi

    2

    We discuss your requirements

  3. Workstation with a measuring application built with graphical programming and a web interfaceAi

    3

    You receive a quotation for the agreed scope

Philipp Niemann-Stryczek
Philipp Niemann-StryczekManaging DirectorLeads the company on the commercial side and answers questions on IT/OT security, asset administration shells, compliance and research projects.
Free first conversation

Describe your task in the contact form. We come back with a proposed date.

Arrange a first conversation

Not quite what you need?

Discover further suitable services.

Measurement engineering

Match signal, measuring range and resolution to your specific measuring task.

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FPGA-based measuring systems, microcontrollers and electronics

Connect FPGA-based NI systems and STM32 microcontrollers with application-specific electronics.

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Industrial data acquisition

Acquire production and energy data from PLCs, meters and existing devices.

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