How to remotely control a spectrometer?

[Qifu]

Hi,

We bought a spectrometer (IS 78345) from Newport. It has its own driver. It does data acquistion, filtering, signal processing using hardware, and simple post-processings using its own software (TracqBasic). The spectrometer has one USB connector and two BNC connectors for trigger signals. For our research, we want to access the spectrometer remotely and wirelessly instead of connecting it directly to a computer through a USB cable. Is there any way we can do?

Thanks, Bei   

[Justin_E]

Hey Bei,

I don't think there would be any way to do this. Wireless USB has different specifications than regular USB, and I would think that any USB to wireless adapters would require the USB bus to be powered, which I don't think the IS 78345 can provide.

[Qifu]

Hi Justin,

Thanks for the reply. I am not very familiar with data transfer through USB.

Here is my plan. Use one NI wireless DAQ to send out an analog signal to trigger the spectrometer, and use another NI wireless DAQ to receive the digital signal from the spectrometer. Both DAQs have USB connectors. Is it a doable plan? 

Thanks, Bei

[Wayne.C]

Bei,

Something like this http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=356042 might work.

[Qifu]

Hi Wayne,

Thanks for your suggestion. It seems to be a better option for my research. I sort of mixed instrment control with data acquisition.

I have one question about using wireless USB hub. The range is usually around 30 ft. Do you know if the data can be uploaded to a wireless broadband network through the wireless USB hub? So the data can be accessed remotely (up to miles).

Thanks, Bei 

[Wayne.C]

Bei,

If you need that kind of functionality, then I would look for an USB hub that can be connected direct to ethernet.   Something like this  http://www.bb-elec.com/product.asp?SKU=ANYWHEREUSB/5&Trail=16&TrailType=Top

[Qifu]

Wayne,

Thanks for all suggestions.

I am doing some research on CRIO R series expansion system. Do you know if it works for our application? I drew a schematic of the system setup. Basically, on one side, the spectrometer is connected to the R series expansion system through a USB cable. The CRIO is connected to a modem (from digi.com), which is connected to an external antenna. On the other side, another modem is connected to a PC. Can we use this setup to monitor or stream the data acquired from the spectrometer? The spectrometer needs driver and software to run.

Bei

[Wayne.C]

Bei,

You can double check with NI directly, but I'm pretty sure that the USB port on cRIO only supports mass storage devices.  I don't think it will support the connection to your instrument.

[David_L]

Wayne is correct, the USB port can only be used for external storage.  I would definitely suggest using a USB Ethernet device like suggested earlier for what you need to do.

[Qifu]

David,

Thanks for the information. We plan to use broadband antenna, instead of Ethernet, to transmit and receive data. Because the spectrometer might be placed somewhere Ethernet is not available.

The spectrometer also has a BNC connector which can be used to have external TTL signals control trigger of acquisitions. Do you think if the following setup will work? 

A TTL signal will be generated and sent to BNC connector via a DAQ to trigger an acquire. The USB cable has 4 wires, 2 of which carry data. These two wires will be connected to a DAQ. With this setup, can be obtain digital signals sent from the spectrometer?

Thanks, Bei