Assistant lecturer Baraa Saad Abdulhakeem 

Data acquisition (DAQ) is the devises that can collect and processing of data in order to uses in automated control. The DAQ systems is available as an integral part that used with many systems. These systems are designed to measure specific factors by used a transducer or a sensor (an instrument that can converts the measurable physical quantity to an electrical signal. Then store these measurements and analyses it then display it. Due to the large application of DAQ and its usage there is a challenge to design low cost DAQ system that will Analog input channels can vary in number from one to several hundred or thousands. Building low cost DAQ system with multi functionality is one of the most challenge that can reduce cost of systems and make it available for everyone. Microcontroller is low cost, convenient and flexible device, it has been developed rapidly and the application of it become widely in recent years, which can be utilized in DAQ system prototype. In this work we have designed a PC based DAQ system that can be used to control laser system and accruing the effect on laser signal when changes the parameters which is display in scope within user interface program in real time. The proposed system composed from three main types sensor, where LDR sensor has been used to detect the laser signal. The processing unit, we have used Arduino UNO a microcontroller to control the operation and gathering information from sensor. The third part is PC, in which, we have designed a DAQ and controls program under LabVIEW software. This program offers a user-friendly graphic user interface (GUI) that allowing the operator to control the DAQ with ability to change some laser parameters such as increase or decrease the laser beam power, convert continues laser to pulses laser with ability to determine the pulses time by controls the switching function. Furthermore, the LDR will record any change in laser signal and send it to microcontroller and then to PC where the program will show the signal. The test result show that the proposed DAQ system operate smoothly and affectivity and can gathering data with accuracy and the result has been closed to traditional oscilloscope system. The system is low in cost as it dependent on relatively low-cost component. The proposed system can serve to add a DAQ and controller for oldest laser devise or fabricated lasers.