The components of data acquisition systems include: Sensors, to convert physical parameters to electrical signals.
Signal conditioning circuitry, to convert sensor signals into a form that can be converted to digital values.
Analog-to-digital converters, to convert conditioned sensor signals to digital values.
Data acquisition (DAQ) is the process of measuring an electrical or physical phenomenon, such as voltage, current, temperature, pressure, or sound.
A DAQ system consists of sensors, DAQ measurement hardware, and a computer with programmable software such as LabVIEW.
A data acquisition system consists of three key elements: a sensor, a signal conditioner and an analog-to-digital converter, also known by its acronym CAD or ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC).