Data acquisition systems with intelligent trigger capability

Two data acquisition systems, based on two solutions for improving the performance, are here presented. The first one, fully analog, is able to generate a voltage impulse at the occurrence of a transient phenomenon on the stationary waveform being monitored. In the second system the acquisition process is regulated by absolute value of the derivative of the signal under analysis. This system is realized with Field Programmable Gate Array technology.All theoretical relations underlying the proposed solutions are first discussed. Their most relevant hardware and software features are then described. A suitable measurement apparatus is set up for assessing the performance of both solutions, and the obtained results are finally given.