The new charge amplifier module from Kistler Instruments allows a wide variety of force, pressure, torque and acceleration piezoelectric sensors to be used directly with National Instruments (NI) flexible CompactRIO platform without the use of external amplifiers. The charge signals from the sensors are directly digitized, using Delta-Sigma ADC, for processing by the FPGA and the real-time operating system. For the best possible resolution, four hardware measuring ranges have been implemented and innovations in the analog front-end allow impressively low drift values.

One and four channel versions are available, both with 24-bit analog-to-digital conversion up to 52.7 kSps per channel, providing direct integration into CompactRIOTM systems. Configuration, control & operation, including reset/measure signal, range selection and data transfer, are programmed using the graphical programming tools LabVIEW™, LabVIEW Real-Time™ and LabVIEW FPGA™. Example ”Virtual Instruments” are supplied as standard to facilitate quick integration into LabVIEW™ projects.

Wherever piezoelectric force, pressure, acceleration or torque signals need to be measured and processed in real-time, the new Kistler Charge Amplifier Module in combination with the NI CompactRIO™ provides an easy to implement and use system. The rugged design makes the system equally suitable for use in production environments, mobile data-acquisition applications and the laboratory.