Data acquisition and processing: A systems approach

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Abstract
A new nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data acquisition and processing system is described. Designed at a fraction of the cost of most commercially available systems, it in many ways exceeds their capabilities. The use of state-of-the-art components in an open-architecture system where each component is relatively loosely coupled to the rest of the system and thus can be chosen, upgraded, or replaced without major changes to other components, provides for a flexible and expandable system. The principle of incorporating sufficient intelligence into each of the system components allows the use of serial protocols for all noncritical intrasystem communications, simplifying the task of system integration and reducing cost. Such ‘‘unbundling’’ of the hardware also results in a superior adherence to industry standards at the level of individual components. While the technical details are directed primarily at the NMR researchers, a number of general considerations and the description of the principles and criteria used in designing a laboratory data system are of general interest.