I designed a "PC Data Acquisition Board" for the ISA bus a few years back. I didn't call it a PC O-scope becasue it was not real time but with some modifications it could be. It just took as much data as it could fit into its memory and then sent it to the PC via the ISA bus. Then it displayed it to the user in an o-scope fasion and saved the data for further analysis as a data file. The most important part about this project is to use low noise techniques for layout and design because if you don't you will loose some resolution. The great thing about this project was that it was almost free. If you didn't know this already some companies will GIVE samples to students working on projects.
Company Part# Description
Maxim MAX197 8ch. 12bit 5MHz A/D!
Maxim MAX503 10bit D/A
Phillips 89C51RD+ 64K FLASH 1K RAM
Intel 82C55A ISA Control logic
If anyone out there needs very accurate waveform data on there PC and has more time than money than this may be the way to go. I have the entire project documented and if anyone wants it I can .pdf it up and send it your way. I have the embedded c-code and the VB GUI code as well that people are free to use. It might be a good senior design project for someone to update my design to make it real time by using a faster bus like a PCI or FIREWIRE! Another great magazine that I have not seen mentioned here yet is "Circuit Cellar Ink." They have a lot of information and ads related to PC data aquisition. Let me know if anyone wants the documentation/code to build this. Makes a great stocking stuffer...
