The DASCON-1 is a multifunction analog/digital I/O expansion board for the IBM Personal Computer. It is designed for low speed high precision data acquisition and control. Using the latest data conversion components, the DASCON-1 has been designed to combine in a single board most of the features usually provided as plug-in options to expensive external data systems with a significant savings in cost.

The following functions are implemented on the DASCON-1: There are 4 analog input channels with a full-scale input of +2.047 volts. Two of these channels are equipped with LM 3630 instrumentation amplifiers. The other 2 channels are switch selectable for direct inputs or RTD's. Channels 0 and 1 of the A/D converter may be equipped with optional instrumentation amplifiers by plugging into the sockets provided and selecting appropriate gains by switches. The amplifiers provide gain scaling for thermocouples and all types of resistance bridge transducers such as load cells and strain gauges.

There are 2 optional channels of 12-bit D/A output available. The industry standard DAC-80-Z-|CBI-V converters are a user option, and are easily installed by plugging them into the provide sockets.

Two precision adjustable voltage and fixed current reference outputs are included. These references are useful for exciting strain gauge bridges and other user supplied circuits. 12 bits of digital I/O on the main connector are composed of one port of 8 bits and another of 4 bits. Each port may be independently programmed as an input or output and is TTL/CMOS compatible. The board also contains a battery backed up real time clock/calendar. For multiplexing up to 64 inputs, the ISO-4 or EXP-16 may be used.

Software
Software is included with the DASCON-1. Included are utility programs for installation assistance, graphics, an algorithm to linearize most transducers, a easy to use I/O driver subroutine, and step by step CRT assisted calibration setup procedures for the entire board.

Accessories
The STA-01 screw terminal board makes all analog and digital I/O ports available to the user. LED indicators check the status of all 12 digital I/O lines, with a small breadboard area for custom user-built circuits. The STA-01 can be daisy-channed to either the ERA-02 or the SRA-01 for specified applications.
The ERA-01 provides eight SPDT electromechanical relays which can be connected to 4 digital outputs (dedicated outputs) and 4 digital I/O ports (selectable as either inputs or outputs) of the DASCON-01. Each relay has an LED status indicator, which illuminates when the relay is energized.
The SRA-01 accepts OMEGA SSS solid state switches for digital I/O. The user can have either 8 digital outputs or 4 input and 4 output channels. Each channel has an LED indicator for check status.