Data acquisition system

Abstract

A data acquisition apparatus acquires an analog input signal from an analog sensor, and generates digital data based on the analog input signal for processing by a personal computing apparatus. The analog input signal generated by the analog sensor has a voltage component which varies according to a condition sensed by the analog sensor. The data acquisition apparatus includes a first conversion circuit, such as a voltage-to-frequency converter, coupled to the analog sensor which receives the analog input signal and generates an analog information transfer signal having a signal component which varies in relation to the voltage component of the analog input signal. A signal transfer device, such as a portable audio record/playback device, records the analog information transfer signal and transfers it to a first audio input of the personal computing apparatus. A second conversion circuit, such as a computer sound card in the personal computing apparatus, generates a digital information signal based upon the analog information transfer signal. A processor in the personal computing apparatus operates on the digital information signal to generate an information output signal based upon the signal component, where the information output signal varies in relation to the voltage component of the analog input signal. The processor preferably includes a frequency-to-voltage converter module for generating the information output signal based upon the frequency component of the analog information transfer signal.