Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: data acquisition
Explanation:
Introduction / Context: Many systems must sense real-world analog variables (temperature, sound, vibration), convert them to digital samples, and store or process them in a computer. The umbrella term for this end-to-end process is important vocabulary in embedded and test instrumentation domains.Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach: “Data acquisition” denotes the entire workflow: sensing, conditioning, sampling, quantization, and transfer to storage or CPU. Individual actions like “sampling” or “multiplexing” are sub-steps and do not by themselves describe the complete process.Step-by-Step Solution:
Select sensor(s) and condition the signal (gain, level shift, filter).Digitize with an ADC at appropriate sample rate and resolution.Move digitized data into memory via DMA or CPU for analysis.Verification / Alternative check:
Textbooks and DAQ hardware manuals define “data acquisition” as the integrated process from sensor to digital memory.Why Other Options Are Wrong:
sampling: A step within data acquisition, not the whole workflow.multiplexing: Channel selection technique; not the complete process.prescaling: Frequency/level division step; again, only a subcomponent.Common Pitfalls:
Using “sampling” as a synonym for the entire DAQ chain.Ignoring conditioning and transfer logistics when planning DAQ.Final Answer:
data acquisition
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