Hardware / Software

Hardware Hardware components include a data acquisition interface unit with sample-n-hold circuitry, the TMSI card cage capable of holding up to fourteen (14) TMSI bridge type sensor amplifier cards, or a combination of squib fire, frequency generator, and sensor amplifier cards.

Click on the topic of interest:
Card Cage | Analog

Cardcage
The TMSI Card Cage System is a flexible laboratory test platform that accepts modular card units designed to gather data and provide control during testing. There are seven types of cards that can be installed in the CardCage: Airbag SquibFire™, Sensor Amplifier, ICP Amplifier, Servo Amplifier, Time Zero, Frequency Generator, Control Unit. Typical applications include crash test laboratory, static testing of automotive components, and tire uniformity testing.
Learn more! (pdf)

Control Unit Card
The TMSI Control Unit Card is the necessary link between the host computer and all of the cards in the Card Cage. The card is installed into slot 16 in the 16-slot Card Cage and is controlled through the digital interface. The Control Unit also monitors the power buses in the Card Cage.

Sensor Amplifier Card
The TMSI Sensor Amplifier Card is used for programmable amplification of sensors. It excites, amplifies, and filters most sensor types to a usable level. The card is installed into one of the 14 slots in the 16-slot Card Cage and is programmed and controlled through the Card Cage backplane.

ICP Amplifier Card
The TMSI ICP Amplifier Card is used to excite, amplify, and filter ICP type transducers, such as load cells and accelerometers.

Servo Amplifier Card
The TMSI Servo Amplifier Card is used to output servo valve drive current that is proportional to input command voltage.

Airbag Squib Fire™ Card
The TMSI Airbag SquibFire Card is used for precise and controlled firing of a single airbag and to gather data concerning the electrical characteristics of the squib while it is deploying. The card is installed into anyone of the 15 slots of the 16-slot Card Cage and is programmed and controlled through the Card Cage backplane.

Time Zero Card
The TMSI Time Zero Card is used to monitor sensors and generate simultaneous time-zero outputs after external triggering is received. The output synchronizes multiple devices to the same point in time. The card is installed into slot 15 of the 16-slot Card Cage and is programmed and controlled through the Card Cage backplane.

Frequency Generator Card
The TMSI Frequency Generator Card is used to generate a variable-frequency TTL square wave.

Analog

Data Acquisition Interface
Provides physical terminations for analog signals to be input for A/D conversion or output from D/A converter as well as similar terminations and optical isolation for digital inputs and outputs from their sources and to their destinations, respectively.

Digital I/O
Monitors digital input data channels to record the state (low or high) for the input channels; output section provides a proper digital state (low or high) for output channels

Signal Conditioning
This generally takes the form of amplification and filtering but ranges to integration, differentiation, signal averaging, and transfer function compensation.

Analog Output Interface
Servo Valve Controller
Output is from a Digital PID (Proportional Integrative Derivative) controller to define an error signal that is sent to a servo valve amplifier to provide valve driving current that is proportional to the error signal.