Acquisition Logic AL81G 1 GHz High-Speed A/D Converter Board Overview

Brand Background

Acquisition Logic (developed in association with UTEX Scientific Instruments) specializes in high-speed, high-resolution data acquisition hardware and digitization solutions. Primarily focused on ultrasonic non-destructive testing (NDT), acoustic imaging, and high-frequency signal processing, Acquisition Logic devices are engineered to convert rapidly changing analog signals into high-fidelity digital data for analysis on industrial PC platforms.

Model Overview: AL81G

The Acquisition Logic AL81G is a single-channel, high-speed 1 GHz Analog-to-Digital (A/D) Converter and Digitizer Board.

Designed as an expansion card (PCI architecture) for industrial PCs and automated scanner systems, the AL81G is built to digitize ultra-high-frequency radio frequency (RF) signals—such as those produced by ultrasonic pulser-receivers (e.g., UT340). It captures fast transient events and high-frequency acoustic waves with low latency, storing captured waveforms in onboard memory before transferring data for advanced signal analysis.

ACQUISITIONLOGIC AL81G Module

Key Technical Specifications and Parameters

• Manufacturer: Acquisition Logic / UTEX Scientific Instruments

• Model Designation: AL81G

• Product Type: High-Speed Single-Channel A/D Converter / Digitizer Board

• Sampling Rate: Up to $1\text{ GSa/s}$ ($1\text{ GHz}$) real-time sampling rate

• Vertical Resolution: 8-bit resolution

• Input Configuration: Single-channel analog input via standard BNC connector

• Onboard Memory: 64 MSamples onboard acquisition buffer memory

• Bandwidth & Frequency Handling: Optimized for RF signals with center frequencies up to $\sim 200\text{ MHz}$

• Dynamic Range: ~40 dB usable dynamic range

• Motion & Trigger Interface: Integrated inputs for quadrature encoders or step/direction signals to synchronize digitization with high-speed scanning motion

• Triggering Modes: Software trigger, hardware external trigger, and signal threshold triggering

Operating Industries

The AL81G digitizer board is deployed across high-precision testing and research sectors requiring rapid waveform capture and micro-level flaw detection:

• Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) & Quality Inspection: Ultrasonic testing (UT) in aerospace, automotive, rail, and heavy manufacturing.

• Aerospace & Defense: Inspection of advanced composite structures, turbine blades, and critical weldments.

• Materials Science & Metallurgy: Grain structure analysis, coating characterization, and sub-surface flaw detection.

• Research & Development Laboratories: High-frequency pulse analysis, laser acoustics, and transient signal digitizing.

• Medical & Biomedical Imaging: Acoustic microscopy and high-frequency biomedical transducer testing.

Common Usage Scenarios

1. Ultrasonic Pulse-Echo Waveform Digitization

   Digitizing high-frequency ultrasonic signals from transducers and pulser-receivers to inspect internal material structures for delamination, voids, or micro-cracks.

2. Automated Scanner Motion Synchronization

   Utilizing on-card encoder interfaces to capture A-scan acoustic waveforms at precise physical position increments during automated X-Y or C-scan ultrasonic tank inspections.

3. Acoustic Microscopy & Thin-Layer Thickness Measurement

   Capturing sub-nanosecond transient pulses to measure thin material layers, coatings, or near-surface defects with sub-micron precision.

4. Transient High-Speed Signal Analysis

   Recording fast electrical or optical pulses in physics experiments and electronics signal integrity testing where high sampling bandwidth is required.