A Trigger (English for „trigger“) is a signal, condition, or event that automatically starts, stops, or influences a defined action in a measurement, testing, or automation system. Triggers are used to precisely control processes and to capture relevant data exactly when a specific event occurs.
In measurement data acquisition, triggers enable event-driven recording and prevent unnecessary data from being stored.
How does a trigger work?
A trigger continuously monitors specific measured values, signals, or states. As soon as a specified condition is met, the system automatically initiates a defined sequence of events.
Examples of trigger events include:
- Exceeding a Threshold Value
- Falling below a threshold value
- Modification of a Digital Signal
- Reaching a temperature
- Starting a Machine
- Occurrence of a Malfunction
- Detecting a Vibration Event
- Time-controlled activation
The trigger then triggers one or more actions.
Typical trigger actions
For example, a trigger can start or stop the following processes:
- Data Storage
- Data acquisition
- Alarm functions
- Turning On a Digital Output
- Sending Notifications
- Start an Analysis
- Activating a Test Sequence
- Event Logging
This automates processes and ensures that important events are documented.
Types of Triggers
Threshold Trigger
A measured value exceeds or falls below a defined threshold.
Example: When the temperature rises above 80 °C, recording starts automatically.
Edge Trigger
A trigger responds to a change in a signal.
Example: A digital signal changes from 0 to 1 and initiates a measurement process.
Time Trigger
Actions are triggered at specified times or intervals.
Example: Data is saved automatically every hour.
Event Trigger
A specific event within a process triggers an action.
Example: Starting the motor initiates the vibration measurement.
Advantages of Triggers
The use of triggers offers numerous advantages:
- Automated Processes
- Reducing Unnecessary Data Volumes
- Targeted recording of relevant events
- Faster Error Analysis
- Optimized Memory Usage
- Greater process reliability
- Less manual effort required
Triggers are indispensable, especially for long-term monitoring and transient events.
Triggers in Measurement Data Acquisition
In modern measurement systems, triggers are often used to:
- Recording Malfunctions
- To record vibration events
- To start test runs
- Documenting violations of limit values
- To trigger alarm messages
- Monitoring process states
This ensures that only the data relevant for later analysis is stored.
Triggers in Delphin Measurement Systems
The measurement data acquisition solutions from Delphin Technology support event-driven measurements and automatic data logging. Measured values, software channels, digital signals, or process states can be used as trigger sources to specifically trigger recordings, calculations, or alarms. This enables efficient data acquisition for long-term measurements, test benches, fault analysis, and process monitoring.
Triggers are particularly useful during transient events or rare error conditions, as they help automatically capture relevant measurement data and make it available for later analysis.
Typical areas of application
- Measurement data acquisition
- Test Bench Technology
- Process monitoring
- Vibration measurement
- Fault analysis
- Condition Monitoring
- Energy Monitoring
- Research and development
- Quality Control
- Automation Technology
Why are triggers important?
Without triggers, many measurement systems would have to continuously record large amounts of data. By triggering actions only when necessary, storage space and system resources are used efficiently. At the same time, this ensures that critical events can be fully documented and analyzed.
Triggers are therefore a key feature of modern measurement, testing, and monitoring systems.