Messmodule

Messmodule is a term used in electronics and instrumentation to describe a modular measurement unit designed to acquire, condition, and transmit sensor signals to a host system. In German-speaking contexts, Messmodul (or Messmodule) refers to plug-in cards or stand-alone modules that form part of a modular measurement or data acquisition system.

A typical Messmodule is built as a plug-in card for a backplane-based chassis, such as PXI, PXI Express, VXI, or PCIe-based architectures. It contains one or more analog-to-digital converters, signal conditioning circuits (amplification, attenuation, filtering, isolation), input multiplexers, and may include digital I/O, timing and triggering, or counters. The backplane provides power, a data bus, and precise timing to synchronize measurements across multiple modules.

Key features include resolution and sampling rate of the ADCs, input range and signal conditioning options, galvanic isolation for safety and noise reduction, channel count, calibration data, and built-in self-test capabilities. Messmodule designs emphasize accuracy, reliability, and interoperability with software drivers and measurement libraries, commonly using SCPI or IVI standards.

Applications span laboratory research, automotive and industrial testing, process control, energy monitoring, and environmental sensing. The modular approach enables flexible system scaling, easier maintenance, and straightforward upgrades by swapping modules rather than entire instruments.