Configurable Dynamic Strain System

Crossfield Technology proposes a configurable dynamic strain system based on low-cost 100BaseT Ethernet technology. Each 24-channel data acquisition module is connected through a Category 5 (CAT5) cable that delivers power to the module and provides 100 Mbps of full-duplex bandwidth for dynamic module configuration and streaming of sensor data over distances of up to 100 m. The proposed sensor system uses new Ethernet switch technology that provides Power over Ethernet (PoE) over CAT5 cables and a 1000 Mbps uplink over CAT5e or CAT6 cables. Each 24-channel module will be capable of streaming data at nearly 40 Mbps, and a 200-channel sensor system will produce over 320 Mbps of streaming data, both well within the capacity of the Ethernet network. Each data acquisition module is an IEEE 1588 clock source client, and will receive precision time over the network using Precise Time Protocol (PTP) for a GPS reference master clock.